Volunteers needed for school appeals panels

05 Feb 2019 ARCHIVED (over 3 months old) - view latest news

 

Northumberland County Council is seeking volunteers to serve on the county’s school appeals panels.

The role would suit someone with excellent listening skills as well as an ability to put people at ease and assess evidence to determine each appeal.

The role is unpaid but travel expenses will be reimbursed.

Education Admission Appeals Panels consider appeals made by parents whose children have been refused admission to their preferred school. Members of the independent panel consider the cases put forward by the parents and the authority’s reasons for refusal, before deciding whether the appeal should be upheld.

Exclusion Independent Review Panels consider appeals by parents or carers whose children have been permanently excluded from school. The panel consider the decision of the governing body and decide whether to uphold the decision to permanently exclude a pupil, or recommend the governing body review their decision.

Each panel is made up of at least 3 trained members drawn from a pool of volunteers.

Northumberland County Councillors, members or former members of the governing body of the school in question and employees of NCC are not permitted to be on the panel.

Appeals take place throughout the year during the working day and you are free to accept or refuse any hearing offered to you. Full training is provided and the Panel is supported by a fully trained clerk and legal officer.

To find out more about this rewarding role, or to request an application pack, please contact the Clerk to the Education Appeals Panel on 01670 622606  or email schoolappeals@northumberland.gov.uk

Click here to download an application form