Student Appeals Procedure

View the Gower College Swansea Student Appeals Procedure in PDF format.

1. Rationale

1.1. The following appeals procedure has been formulated to ensure that learners in the College are treated fairly.

1.2. Learners have the right to appeal if they consider:

    • a complaint has not been satisfactorily resolved through the College Complaints Procedure;
    • a complaint of harassment has not been satisfactorily resolved through the College Anti-bullying Policy;
    • the College has not followed it’s Student Disciplinary or Student Attendance Procedures;
    • an assessment decision has not been resolved satisfactorily under the College Assessment Procedure;
    • they have been treated unfairly under the College Admissions Policy.

1.3. In the case of appeal against an assessment decision, the learner may appeal through the Awarding Body’s appeals procedure.

2. Procedure

2.1. The learner must lodge their appeal in writing to the Principal within 5 working days of the notification from the attendance, complaints, harassment or disciplinary panel.

2.2. In the case of Student Misconduct and Admissions issues only the learner must lodge their appeal in writing to the Head of Learner Services and Support within 5 working days of notification of their exclusion from the College.

2.3. The Appeals Panel will meet within 10 working term time days of the appeal being received by the College.

2.4. The Appeals Panel will consist of 3 people drawn from the College’s management team and/or the College Governing Body.  The members of the panel will not be connected with the case in any way.

2.5. The learner may present his/her case to the Appeals Panel and may bring witnesses to support his/her case and may be accompanied by a parent, guardian or friend.

2.6. Any new evidence to be brought by the learner must be submitted to the College 5 working days before the appeal is heard.

2.7. If you cannot attend the hearing because of circumstances beyond your control you should advise the College as soon as possible. The College will make all reasonable efforts to reschedule any hearing.  However, if you do not inform the College that you cannot attend the Appeals Panel will go ahead in your absence.

3. Right to be accompanied

3.1. You have the right to bring a friend, guardian or parent to the appeal. The choice of companion is a matter for you and you must notify the College of your choice prior to the appeal hearing.  If the College believes that your choice is unreasonable, the College will ask you to choose someone else. For example, if in the College’s opinion your companion:

    • may have a conflict of interest or prejudice the meeting;
    • is unavailable at the time of the meeting, if the original meeting date has already been re-arranged once due to the companion’s non availability.

3.2. At an appeal hearing, your companion may address the panel and respond on your behalf to any views expressed. However, the hearing is essentially a hearing between you and the College and any questions put directly to you should be answered by you and not your companion, unless you request your companion to reply on your behalf.

4. Outcome

4.1. The outcome of the appeal may be:

    • To confirm the decision of the attendance, admissions, complaints, harassment or disciplinary panel or to confirm the assessment decision.
    • To modify or overturn the decision of the attendance, admissions, complaints, harassment or disciplinary panel or to modify or overturn the assessment decision.

4.2. The judgment of the appeals panel is final and there is no further right of appeal.  This will be issued in writing to the learner within 3 working term time days of the hearing.