Job Description
Appointment of Volunteer Independent Panel Members to the Education Appeals Committee
Do you like to make a difference? Are you a decision maker? Have you got time to spare? If so, would you consider giving some time to joining the Panel that considers education catchment appeals and exclusion appeals?
The Education Appeal Committee is a panel, which offers pupils and their families a fair and impartial hearing, independent of Midlothian Council. It considers appeals relating to the school their children should attend (placing/catchment appeals); and the exclusion of a pupil from school.
The Education Appeals Committee comprises five persons as follows:
1. Elected Members or Religious Representative of the Council; and
2. Independent Volunteer Members who meet the statutory criteria; one of whom shall be the Chair.
The Appeals are heard by a Committee who are supported by an independent clerk.
We are now looking for new volunteers to join those who already make a valuable contribution to the appeals service, to sit as Independent Volunteer Members.
Requirements
The legislation requires that Independent Volunteer Members must either be:
3. parents of children of school age;
4. persons who, in the opinion of the authority, have experience in education;
5. or persons who, in the opinion of the authority, are acquainted with educational conditions in the area of the authority
Required Skills:
6. The ability to be impartial
7. Excellent communication, listening and interpersonal skills
8. Good at working as part of a team but able to express an individual view
9. Ability to ask questions in a sensitive manner
10. Ability to balance arguments and to make decisions based upon fact and not emotion
11. Ability to remain firm and calm under pressure.
12. Flexibility to give a few days throughout the year (on weekdays during school term time) – and possibly a few sessions a week during May - June if available.
Eligible applicants must have an excellent command of written and spoken English and must not be an employee of Midlothian Council.
Responsibilities
Training
Full training will be provided. This will take place on dates in April - May. Training is approx 2 hours and delivered online during business hours. Committee Members are also required to undertake pre-reading of the training manual which includes the hearing process and associated policies. This will take approx 4 – 6 hours.
Time Commitment
Appeals are approximately an hour and take place on Wednesdays, Thursdays and Fridays in May and June. You would be required to be available on those days from 28 May to 27 June. We would require you to commit to a full day session which would be approximately 4-7 hearings/session.
Remuneration
This is a voluntary position. Reasonable travel expenses will be reimbursed.
Pre-recruitment checks
You will be required to undertake a Disclosure Check. The cost of a Disclosure Check will be reimbursed in full.
The Individual
How to apply
Please complete the attached form and return to .
Please only apply if you can commit to the time required.
If you require further information on the Education Appeals Committee or would like to make an informal enquiry, please do not hesitate to contact us at prior to the closing date.
The closing date for the submission of completed forms is the 23rd of March .