East Sussex County Council is inviting volunteers to sit on school exclusion independent review panels. The school exclusion review process provides an opportunity for parents to request that the decision to permanently exclude their child is reviewed by an independent panel. The panel have a key role in ensuring the hearing is managed in a fair and open manner allowing both the school and parents to fully present their case and respond to any questions the panel may have.
Independent review panels are comprised of the following positions:
Lay chair: Candidates must have no prior paid experience in any school setting, disregarding any experience as a school governor or volunteer.
Headteacher Member: This position is open to current headteachers or individuals who have held the position of headteacher within the last five years.
Governor Member: Current or former school governors (of a maintained school, members of a PRU management committees and directors of academy trusts) who have served as a governor for at least 12 consecutive months in the last five years, provided they have not been teachers or headteachers during that time.
As an independent review panel member you will prepare for hearings by reading through the parent and schools' cases, attend review hearings, actively participate in the panels deliberations. Strong literacy, communication, and listening skills are essential for the role, along with the ability to remain objective and impartial at all times.
We offer training for panel members and the opportunity to observe review hearings
as part of your induction. These panel member roles are voluntary, and 'out-of-pocket' expenses will be reimbursed.
Interested candidates can contact Lucy Sargent, School Appeals Manager via:
Email:
Call on:
Write to: East Sussex School Appeals Service, Room West E, County Hall, St Anne's Crescent, Lewes, BN7 1UE
Additional Information
Your starting salary will be pro rata if the above position is part-time or term-time only.