Company Overview
Educationappeals Dotcom Ltd provides admission and exclusion appeal services to schools in multiple locations. We are dedicated to supporting educational institutions by ensuring fair and transparent appeal processes for school admissions.
Job Overview
We are seeking dedicated and community-minded individuals to serve as voluntary School Admission Appeal Panel Members.
School Admission Appeal Panels play an important role in ensuring that admission appeals are heard fairly, independently, and in line with the relevant law and guidance. As a panel member, you will consider appeals from parents and carers who have been refused a place for their child at their preferred school.
Duties
- Attending online appeal hearings as part of a three member independent panel
- Undergo a 4 hour initial training session, observe at least three hours of appeals over two sessions and be prepared to attend a half day re-training and briefing session in February of each year.
- Reading appeal papers in advance of hearings with an open mind.
- Listening carefully to all parties involved. Your role is to weigh up both the school’s and the parent’s case. You are not there to support one side or the other.
- Asking relevant questions to clarify information
- Reaching fair, balanced, and impartial decisions with fellow panel members
- Treating all matters with sensitivity and confidentiality
- Follow the rules of natural justice and any legal requirements under Equalities legislation.
- There are usually multiple hearings for each appeal day and each hearing usually lasts for around 20 minutes, some take longer. Appeal sessions can last from a couple of hours to all day. Some appeal days start from 8 am.
- In the summer, some hearings are held in the early evening from 4.30 pm – 6.30 pm and continue into the next day.
Experience
- Have good listening, decision-making skills and common sense!
- Can consider information objectively and fairly
- Understand, consider and appreciate the effects of adding another child into a class of 30 children
- Are confident participating in discussions and asking questions
- Can handle sensitive information with discretion
- Are committed to equality, fairness, and impartiality
- Have an interest in supporting children, families, and education
No previous experience is required. Full training will be provided.
We welcome applications from:
- People from all backgrounds and communities
- While the panel must include someone with working experience which would include a Governor, the panel must also include those with no direct experience in education.
Why join us?
This is a rewarding opportunity to:
- Support an important independent appeals process
- Make a meaningful contribution to the community
- Develop your skills in listening, questioning, and decision-making
- Gain experience in a formal panel environment
Important information
Panel members must be independent, unbiased and able to make decisions based solely on the evidence presented. Appointment may be subject to eligibility checks and completion of training. Out of pockets expenses will be paid to cover cost of online hearings from your own home. While some panel members volunteer for 30 plus days a year, others sit for far less. Being a panel member is not considered to be a job with a contract.
If you would like to help ensure a fair and transparent admissions appeals process for families, we would love to hear from you.
Benefits:
Work Location: Remote
