Independent Schools Admissions Appeal Panel Member

Are you interested in a volunteer position to support your local community? Do you have time to spare on weekdays during normal working hours? Would you like to support our Independent Education Appeal Panels? We are currently looking to appoint Independent Panel Members to hear school admission appeals. The Independent Appeal Panel meets when required to hear appeals on behalf of parents and pupils where a place has been refused at their preferred school. Recruitment is now underway to find volunteers for the panel. A full training package will be provided, including face-to-face training sessions and the opportunity to observe hearings.

If you:-

• Are interested in education and want to get involved?
• Have excellent listening skills, combined with the ability to put people at ease and make fair balanced and objective decisions?
• Have the time to offer? (Panels are held on weekdays with peak periods between May and July)
• Are willing to undertake training to understand the rules of school admission appeals?
• Enjoy remote working and have the equipment necessary to conduct appeal hearings via Microsoft Teams?
  
  One of our current Panel Member's said "I have always been interested in education and the work of schools so when I saw an advert for a panel member, I was interested without any particular knowledge of what the work entailed or what skills were required. The parents are often nervous about bringing their case in front of the panel of three members and need reassurance that you will listen to their case alongside that of the school. I have not regretted taking on this role, the work is rewarding because it enables me to work collectively and make decisions with others which can bring about successful outcomes for those involved."
At Stockport Council we are one ambitious team on a mission to create opportunities for everyone who lives, works and spends time in the borough. Working at Stockport Council means contributing to one of the most thriving towns in the North. We're keen to recruit people with the right values and behaviours that can help us ensure our workplace values are at the heart of everything we do. We are proud to be recognised under the Good Employment Charter as an organisation committed to the wellbeing of our colleagues. As members of the charter, we have been recognised as a great place to work for all colleagues and pledge to pay the real living wage, engage staff in key decisions and endorse fair and flexible working conditions., Stockport Council is committed to promoting a diverse and inclusive workforce culture - a place where we can all be ourselves and succeed. We welcome applicants from all backgrounds and communities to join our workforce. We want our employees to have a good work life balance and in many job roles we can offer a range of flexible/hybrid working arrangements. We also have inclusive employment policies and staff engagement forums to support our diverse workforce. We will listen to, learn from, and develop our workforce.