Minutes of meeting
Renfrewshire Council · 2 June 2026
Back to Placing Requests and Exclusions Appeals Panel — 2 June 2026 and its agenda
Text extracted from the council's PDF. Layout and reading order may differ from the original.
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Minute of Meeting Placing Requests and Exclusions Appeals Panel Date Time Venue Tuesday, 02 June 2026 09:30 Microsoft Teams Meeting, Present: Councillor Stephen Burns, Councillor Gillian Graham, Mrs Elaine Knox Chair Councillor Burns, Convener, presided. In Attendance R Graham, and F Macdonald. both Lead Solicitors (Litigation & Regulatory Services), and E Gray, Senior Committee Services Officer. Declarations of Interest and Transparency Statements There were no declarations of interest or transparency statements intimated prior to the commencement of the meeting. EXCLUSION OF PRESS AND PUBLIC The Appeals Panel resolved that the press and public be excluded from the meeting during consideration of the following item of business as it was likely, in view of the nature of the business to be transacted, that if members of the press and public were present there would be disclosure to them of exempt information as defined in paragraph 5 of Part I of Schedule 7A of the Local Government (Scotland) Act 1973. Order of Business In terms of Standing Order 16, the Convener intimated that he proposed to alter the order of business to facilitate the conduct of the meeting by considering items 6.1 of the agenda prior to item 5.1 of the agenda.
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1 Gryffe High School Consideration was given to four appeals against the refusal of a placing request for S1 at Gryffe High School. All participants had been invited to attend virtually by means of MS Teams. E Timmins, Lead Solicitor (Litigation & Advice) (Finance & Resources), and K Christie, Head Teacher of Gryffe High School and L Johnston, Strategic Manager (Improvement, Performance & Resource) (both Children's Services), all representing the Education Authority, were in attendance. The appellants in relation to appeals GRY26/01, GRY26/02, GRY26/03 and GRY26/05 were also in attendance. R Graham, Senior Solicitor (Litigation & Regulatory Services) outlined the procedure to be followed in hearing the appeals. E Timmins then presented the case for the Education Authority and led evidence from K Christie and L Johnston in relation to the circumstances surrounding the refusal of the placing requests. The appellants in relation to appeals GRY26/02, GRY26/03 and GRY26/05 were then asked to leave the meeting. 1.1 Appeal against refusal of a Placing Request - GRY26/01 The appellant in relation to appeal GRY26/01 were invited to present their case. Each side having been given the opportunity to cross examine and sum up, were thanked for their attendance and left the hearing. DECIDED: That one or more of the grounds of refusal specified in Section 28(A) (3) and (3A) of the Education (Scotland) Act 1980 existed and that in all the circumstances, it was appropriate to confirm the Education Authority’s decision and that the appeal be not upheld. This was agreed unanimously. 1.2 Appeal against refusal of a Placing Request - GRY26/02 E Timmins, K Christie, L Johnston and the appellant in relation to appeal GRY26/02 rejoined the meeting. The appellant in relation to appeal GRY26/02 was invited to present their appeal. Each side having been given the opportunity to cross examine and sum up, were thanked for their attendance and left the hearing. DECIDED: That one or more of the grounds of refusal specified in Section 28(A) (3) and (3A) of the Education (Scotland) Act 1980 existed and that in all the circumstances, it was appropriate to confirm the Education Authority’s decision and that the appeal be not upheld. This was agreed unanimously.
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1.3 Appeal against refusal of a Placing Request - GRY 26/03 E Timmins, K Christie, L Johnston and the appellant in relation to appeal GRY26/03 rejoined the meeting. The appellant in relation to appeal GRY26/03 was invited to present their appeal. Each side having been given the opportunity to cross examine and sum up, were thanked for their attendance and left the hearing. DECIDED: That one or more of the grounds of refusal specified in Section 28(A) (3) and (3A) of the Education (Scotland) Act 1980 existed and that in all the circumstances, it was appropriate to confirm the Education Authority’s decision and that the appeal be not upheld. This was agreed unanimously. 1.4 Appeal against refusal of a Placing Request - GRY26/05 E Timmins, K Christie, L Johnston and the appellant in relation to appeal GRY26/05 rejoined the meeting. The appellant in relation to appeal GRY26/05 was invited to present their appeal. Each side having been given the opportunity to cross examine and sum up, were thanked for their attendance and left the hearing. DECIDED: That one or more of the grounds of refusal specified in Section 28(A) (3) and (3A) of the Education (Scotland) Act 1980 existed and that in all the circumstances, it was appropriate to confirm the Education Authority’s decision and that the appeal be not upheld. This was agreed unanimously. 2 St Benedict's High School Consideration was given to four appeals against the refusal of a placing request for S1 at St Benedict's High School. All participants had been invited to attend virtually by means of MS Teams. E Timmins, Lead Solicitor (Litigation & Advice) (Finance & Resources), and A Taylor, Head Teacher of St Benedict's High School and L Johnston, Strategic Manager (Improvement, Performance & Resource) (both Children's Services), all representing the Education Authority, were in attendance. The appellants in relation to appeals STB26/01, STB26/02 and STB26/03 were also in attendance. R Graham, Senior Solicitor (Litigation & Regulatory Services) outlined the procedure to be followed in hearing the appeals. E Timmins then presented the case for the Education Authority and led evidence from A Taylor and L Johnston in relation to the circumstances surrounding the refusal of the placing requests. The appellants in relation to appeals STB26/02 and STB26/03 were then asked to
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leave the meeting. 2.1 Appeal against refusal of a Placing Request - STB26/01 The appellant in relation to appeal STB26/01 were invited to present their case. Each side having been given the opportunity to cross examine and sum up, were thanked for their attendance and left the hearing. DECIDED: That one or more of the grounds of refusal specified in Section 28(A) (3) and (3A) of the Education (Scotland) Act 1980 existed and that in all the circumstances, it was appropriate to confirm the Education Authority’s decision and that the appeal be not upheld. This was agreed unanimously. 2.2 Appeal against refusal of a Placing Request - STB26/02 E Timmins, A Taylor, L Johnston and the appellant in relation to appeal STB26/02 rejoined the meeting. The appellant in relation to appeal STB26/02 was invited to present their appeal. Each side having been given the opportunity to cross examine and sum up, were thanked for their attendance and left the hearing. DECIDED: That one or more of the grounds of refusal specified in Section 28(A) (3) and (3A) of the Education (Scotland) Act 1980 existed and that in all the circumstances, it was appropriate to confirm the Education Authority’s decision and that the appeal be not upheld. This was agreed unanimously. 2.3 Appeal against refusal of a Placing Request - STB26/03 E Timmins, A Taylor, L Johnston and the appellant in relation to appeal STB26/03 rejoined the meeting. The appellant in relation to appeal STB26/03 was invited to present their appeal. Each side having been given the opportunity to cross examine and sum up, were thanked for their attendance and left the hearing. DECIDED: That one or more of the grounds of refusal specified in Section 28(A) (3) and (3A) of the Education (Scotland) Act 1980 existed and that in all the circumstances, it was appropriate to confirm the Education Authority’s decision and that the appeal be not upheld. This was agreed unanimously. 3 Dargavel Primary School Consideration was given to an appeal against the refusal of a placing request for P1
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at Dargavel Primary School. 3.1 Appeal against refusal of a Placing Request - DPS26/01 All participants had been invited to attend virtually by means of MS Teams. L Mitchell, Senior Solicitor (Litigation & Advice) (Finance & Resources), and G Carlton, Head Teacher of Dargavel Primary School and L Johnston, Strategic Manager (Improvement, Performance & Resource) (both Children's Services), all representing the Education Authority, were in attendance. The appellant in relation to appeal DPS26/01, was also in attendance. R Graham, Senior Solicitor (Litigation & Regulatory Services) outlined the procedure to be followed in hearing the appeal. E Timmins then presented the case for the Education Authority and led evidence from G Carlton and L Johnston in relation to the circumstances surrounding the refusal of the placing request. The appellant in relation to appeal DPS26/01 was then invited to present their case. Each side having been given the opportunity to cross examine and sum up, were thanked for their attendance and left the hearing. DECIDED: That one or more of the grounds of refusal specified in Section 28(A) (3) and (3A) of the Education (Scotland) Act 1980 existed and that in all the circumstances, it was appropriate to confirm the Education Authority’s decision and that the appeal be not upheld. This was agreed unanimously. 4 St John Ogilvie Primary School Consideration was given to four appeals against the refusal of a placing request for P1 at St John Ogilvie Primary School. All participants had been invited to attend virtually by means of MS Teams. E Timmins, Lead Solicitor (Litigation & Advice) (Finance & Resources), and L Murray, Head Teacher of St John Ogilvie Primary School and L Johnston, Strategic Manager (Improvement, Performance & Resource) (both Children's Services), all representing the Education Authority, were in attendance. The appellants in relation to appeals SJO26/01 and SJO26/02 were also in attendance. R Graham, Senior Solicitor (Litigation & Regulatory Services) outlined the procedure to be followed in hearing the appeals. E Timmins then presented the case for the Education Authority and led evidence from L Murray and L Johnston in relation to the circumstances surrounding the refusal of the placing requests. The appellant in relation to appeal STB26/02 was then asked to leave the meeting.
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4.1 Appeal against refusal of a Placing Request - SJO26/01 The appellant in relation to appeal SJO26/01 were invited to present their case. Each side having been given the opportunity to cross examine and sum up, were thanked for their attendance and left the hearing. DECIDED: That one or more of the grounds of refusal specified in Section 28(A) (3) and (3A) of the Education (Scotland) Act 1980 existed and that in all the circumstances, it was appropriate to confirm the Education Authority’s decision and that the appeal be not upheld. This was agreed unanimously. 4.2 Appeal against refusal of a Placing Request - SJO26/02 E Timmins, L Murray, L Johnston and the appellant in relation to appeal SJO26/02 rejoined the meeting. The appellant in relation to appeal SJO26/02 was invited to present their appeal. Each side having been given the opportunity to cross examine and sum up, were thanked for their attendance and left the hearing. DECIDED: That one or more of the grounds of refusal specified in Section 28(A) (3) and (3A) of the Education (Scotland) Act 1980 existed and that in all the circumstances, it was appropriate to confirm the Education Authority’s decision and that the appeal be not upheld. This was agreed unanimously.