School appeal panel members
Lancashire County Council, Blackpool Council and Blackburn with Darwen Council require volunteers from a range of backgrounds to join independent panels to help decide on appeals for school places.
You do not need specialist knowledge or educational expertise but will need to have a good mix of skills and be able to bring different viewpoints, experience, and fresh ideas.
About school appeal panels
Appeal panels take place throughout the year, but the majority are held between May and August.
When a child is refused a place at a school or academy of their preference, their parent or carer is entitled to appeal against the decision.
Panel members will consider the reasons for the preference of school, and why a place was not allocated. The panel will then decide whether the refusal should be upheld or overruled.
A panel must comprise of a chair and at least one from each of the following category:
- Lay people (someone with no paid experience in the management of any school or provision of education in any school (except as a school governor or in another voluntary capacity
- People 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.
Each panel member must be independent of the authority, school and the families involved.
Duration
Panel members are appointed for a term of three years and can opt to renew their appointment after the first three years.
As a panel member, you will need to be available during the day, Monday to Friday and willing to attend regular meetings throughout the county, particularly during April to August.
Due to Covid-19, appeal panels are currently held by telephone or video conference. This arrangement is currently being reviewed by the Department for Education and may continue until 30 September 2022, or until face to face hearings are considered safe to take place again.
The appeal panels are arranged so that they are heard for half a day or a full day depending on the amount received. Occasionally you will need to be available for a full week.
Key tasks
Attend appeal panel meetings, as a panel member for a number of schools to:
- assess evidence to determine each appeal
- make decisions based upon current legislation and guidance
Qualities
The role would suit people with the following skills and abilities:
- excellent listening skills
- ability to put people at ease
- good interpersonal and communication skills
- good literacy and listening skills
- ability to remain firm and calm
- integrity and fairness
- ability to get on with other people and to work as part of a team
- ability to keep all information private and confidential
What the role offers you
The role would give you the opportunity of using existing skills and developing new ones. Full training will be provided, and you will have the support of a fully trained and experienced clerk.
Expenses are paid to carry out the role, including reasonable travel costs.
Apply now
If you are interested and would like to know more or request an application form please contact The Appeals Team on 01772 536776 or e-mail appeals@lancashire.gov.uk who will be happy to discuss in more detail.
Applications must be returned by 29 October 2021.
NB: If you are a current employee of the local authority, or a councillor, then you are not eligible to apply.