Independent School Admission Appeals Panel Member

Are you interested in education and want to get involved?

Do you have excellent listening skills, have the ability to put people at ease and make balanced decisions?

Would you like to become involved in an important statutory service provided to parents and schools?

**What will I be doing?**

Hearing statutory appeals for a school place, as a member of an independent panel. Parents/carers have a right to make an appeal if they have been refused a place at their preferred school for their child. Each panel is made up of three members, from a mix of education and other backgrounds.

Considering the cases put forward by the parent/carer and the school

Ensuring that participants feel they have had a fair and independent hearing, have been given the opportunity to put their case and have been taken seriously

Carefully balancing evidence provided by parents/carers and schools and making a decision that is legally binding, unless overturned by the courts

**What skills or experience do I need?**

Good interpersonal and communication skills

Good literacy, listening and questioning skills

Able to remain calm

Integrity and fairness

Ability to work with other panel members

Ability to make balanced and reasoned decisions based on the evidence provided

Role profile

**How much time do I need to give?**

This can vary, depending on the level of commitment you wish to give. Appeals are held throughout the year, but the peak months are between April and July. Appeals are arranged so that they are heard for half a day or a full day depending on the number of appeals received.

During the peak summer period, some appeal hearings can last for several days and sometimes up to a week or more. We recognise that not all panel members can commit to hearings that last more than one or two consecutive days, so please do not let that discourage you from applying.

Panel members also need to commit to preparing, by reading the paperwork in advance of each appeal hearing.

Appeals are heard during school term time and take place during the working day (no evenings or weekends)

**Where will the appeal hearings be held?**

Appeals are conducted remotely by video conference using Microsoft Teams. Panel members participate from home. On rare occasions panel members may be asked to travel within the county if necessary to make an appeal hearing accessible.

**Can anyone be a panel member?**

Yes, unless you are a North Yorkshire Councillor or an employee of the Council (teachers and teaching assistants employed by the Council may apply).

You will be asked to declare any interests relating to specific schools, and you would not hear appeals for those schools.

**Do panel members receive training?**

Yes. By law, all panel members must be trained before sitting on a panel. This includes observing an appeal hearing. There are regular update training sessions for all panel members, usually at least annually.

All panels are supported by a clerk who will provide any legal or procedural advice required.

**Do panel members get paid?**

Panel members provide a very important voluntary service. To maintain their independence and impartiality panel members are not paid. However, panel members are entitled to out of pocket expenses, such as travel when attending training. There is an annual honorarium of £150 as a contribution towards the costs of hearing appeals from home.

**What do existing panel members say?**
- “I wanted to give something back to the Education world after spending 36 years as a teacher so that my knowledge and experience would not be wasted. Having been a Panel member for more than ten years I can say that the experience is challenging, rewarding and useful to the community. In addition I have met many new people and enjoyed their company when sitting on appeals.”_

DM, Non Lay member
- “When I retired from being a magistrate I felt that I still wanted make a useful contribution to the local community and applied to become a panel member. I have found it challenging and interesting; it keeps my brain active and makes use of the skills I learned as a magistrate. It is very rewarding to be able to offer help to parents and carers at a difficult time in their lives and to sometimes be able to make a real difference to a child. My reasons have not been completely altruistic because I enjoy meeting people and have been welcomed by colleagues from all walks of life and have loved the opportunity to meet a wide variety of parents and carers.”_

AK, Lay member

**How do I found out more?**

Ready to apply? Please fill out below additional information form alongside expressing your interest in this volunteer opportunity

Additional information form