Democratic Services are seeking motivated and organised individuals to support the school admission appeals process and the independent appeal panels in this public-facing role.
The independent appeal panel is a statutory body established to hear parental appeals against the refusal of the admission authority to admit a child into a preferred school. The panels perform a quasi-judicial function and are supported by clerks who provide advice to enable the panels to undertake their judicial responsibilities. The current panel members include school governors, retired headteachers, and other professionals.
The clerk's role involves responding to queries from parents before the hearing, providing independent advice on procedures, maintaining accurate records of the appeal hearings, and issuing written notifications of the panel's decisions. Clerks also respond to queries from parents, schools, the Local Government and Social Care Ombudsman, and the Department for Education post-hearing, with support from Lawyers and Professional Officers. Ongoing advice and support will be provided.
Successful applicants should be highly organised, detail-oriented, excellent note-takers, and capable of translating notes into formal official letters using provided templates.
Applicants need to be assertive, confident in giving advice, able to stand their ground under pressure, and eager to learn quickly. Training and ongoing support will be provided.
If you have questions about the role, please contact Abby Hodgetts, Democratic Services Team Manager, by phone or email.
We are committed to investing in our workforce and promoting opportunities for under-represented groups. We value equality, diversity, and inclusion, aiming to increase the diversity of our workforce, especially among Black, Asian, Minority Ethnic, Disabled, and LGBTQ+ individuals, to better reflect the communities we serve. We also support staff with unpaid caring responsibilities to work flexibly.
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