Tribunals & Dispute Resolution (AQA GCSE Citizenship Studies): Revision Note

The work of tribunals

• A tribunal is a specialist court that deals with specific types of disputes, often involving decisions made by the government or public bodies

  • They are designed to be less formal than courts and are usually quicker and more accessible for individuals

• Tribunals operate under a two-tier system

  • The first-tier tribunal hears the original case

  • The upper tribunal hears appeals if there is a possible error of law in the first decision

Examples of tribunals

• Social Security and Child Support Tribunal (SSCS)

  • This tribunal deals with appeals about benefits, such as Universal Credit, disability benefits, and child support payments

  • It dealt with around 117,000 cases in 2024/25

• Employment Tribunal (ET)

  • The Employment Tribunal hears disputes between employees and employers, such as unfair dismissal, discrimination, or unpaid wages

  • It received about 42,000 claims in 2024/25

• Immigration and Asylum Chamber (First-tier Tribunal)

  • This tribunal deals with appeals about immigration decisions, including asylum claims and visas

  • It handled around 79,000 cases in 2024/25

• Special Educational Needs and Disability Tribunal (SEND)

  • The SEND tribunal deals with disputes about support for children with special educational needs or disabilities, often involving local authorities

  • It recorded around 24,000 cases in 2024/25

Forms of dispute resolution

• Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) refers to ways of resolving disputes without going to court

The main forms of ADR