Volunteer School Appeal Panel Member
Job introduction
About the role
School Admission Appeals
Hours of work: casual basis
Working pattern: casual basis
Are you interested in children’s education?
If so, East Sussex County Council is seeking volunteers to sit on Independent Appeal Panels who hear school admission appeals. With a particular focus on individuals who have experience in education, who are acquainted with educational conditions in the local authority area, or who are parents of registered pupils at school.
What is a school admission appeal?
Parents have a legal right to appeal against the decision of an admission authority to refuse their child a place at their preferred school. Appeals must be set out in writing, as must the response of the admission authority. The written submissions are then circulated ahead of an appeal hearing, with both parties being invited to attend and put their case in person to the Independent Appeal Panel.
Appeal hearings take place both remotely, and in person. We are therefore looking for someone who would be prepared to attend hearings in both formats.
What would be my role?
Your role as a panel member would be to read the case papers in advance of the hearing, actively participate in the appeal hearing process and to help decide whether to uphold or dismiss the parent’s appeal.
The Independent Appeal Panel member
You should be sensitive to the concerns of parents and to the pressures on local schools. You will also need to be a good listener and have the ability to be objective and act impartially. We will provide you with training on the legal framework of the appeal process and local procedures. Service is voluntary, but you will be paid out of pocket expenses.
If you are interested in serving the community in this way and would like an application form and further details sent to you, please contact Hannah Matthews, East Sussex School Appeals Service via e-mail at: schoolappeals@eastsussex.gov.uk
Alternatively you can write to Hannah Matthews, East Sussex School Appeals Service, Room West E, County Hall, St Anne’s Crescent, Lewes, BN7 1UE.
If you would like to have an informal discussion about the school appeals, you are welcome to call Hannah Matthews on: 01273 335138.
We are seeking to recruit up to 10 volunteers.
Additional information
Work Permits: we may be able to obtain a Work Permit for this post but this is subject to meeting the requirements of the UK Border Agency’s Points-based Immigration System.
From 6 April 2011 the Home Office has placed a permanent restriction on the number of migrant workers that all Tier 2 (General) Sponsors can recruit. Due to the restrictions we cannot guarantee that individuals that meet the requirements of the Points-based Immigration System will be issued with clearance to obtain work permits.
Company information
East Sussex County Council is an equal opportunities employer. We welcome applications from all suitable candidates, regardless of race, gender, sexual orientation, disability or age. All applications are treated on merit.
