Casual School Admission Appeal Clerk

Job Introduction
Are you looking for a new challenge?

The role of a school admission appeal clerk is both challenging and rewarding. It’s a role that involves providing professional advice in school appeal hearings and producing reports which summarize the decisions of Independent Appeal Panels (IAPs).

The issues put before Panels are often complex and sensitive. We are therefore looking for someone who not only has good analytical skills, but also someone who has empathy, is naturally tactful and is an excellent communicator.

In recognition of the challenging nature of the role, clerks are paid a competitive hourly rate. Clerks work on a casual, demand-led basis, with days of work agreed by mutual consent.

Hours of work: hours vary depending on the individual circumstances of each hearing. Typically, a Clerk might spend 4 hours preparing for a hearing, a full day at an appeal hearing and then 4 hours post-hearing preparing decision letters.

A Clerk’s work typically involves the following three stages:

- **Preparation**: about a week in advance of the hearing clerks receive copies of the case-papers and are asked to review the papers in preparation for the hearing.
- **Hearing Attendance**: clerks play an active role at the hearing by providing support and guidance to all the participants in the process. This includes the appellants, the admission authority representative and the Independent Appeal Panel. Clerks help ensure the hearing is conducted in a fair and efficient manner and in accordance with statutory guidance. Clerks must ensure an accurate and detailed record of the proceedings is produced.
- **Post-hearing work**: once the IAP have made its decisions, clerks have the primary role of drafting the wording for the resultant appeal decision letters. Clerks are also required to assist by responding to post-hearing queries and complaints.

Other duties include attending team meetings and participating in briefing sessions.

We are looking to recruit two appeal clerks who will work at venues across East Sussex, but who would also need to be able to work from home. We estimate a clerk might work between 10 to 25 days a year, although it should be noted that the busiest time of year is between April and July. During this period, we need individuals who can commit to sometimes working up to five consecutive days (usually no more than two times a year).

Appeal hearings take place both remotely, and in person. We are therefore looking for someone who would be prepared to clerk hearings in both formats.

Interviews are due to take place between Wednesday 13 and Friday 15 December.

**If you would like to know more about this role, please call Hannah Matthews, School Appeals Manager, on 01273 335138 for an informal discussion.**

Additional Information
Your starting salary will be pro rata if the above position is part-time or term-time only.

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.

If you require any reasonable adjustments, due to disability, to enable you to participate fully in the process please contact the hiring manager on the contact details above.

Company Information

Package Description