At Bath & North East Somerset Council we have one overriding purpose to improve people s lives. SCHOOL APPEAL PANEL MEMBERS - VOLUNTEERS NEEDED Are you interested in Education and want to get involved in something new? Would you like to be involved with parents and schools, providing an important independent service? Do you have excellent interpersonal and listening skills, can you put people at ease and make balanced decisions? Appeals are held via Microsoft Teams. If so why not apply to become a volunteer School Appeal Panel Member. More volunteers are needed and applications are encouraged from all sections of the community. People living in Bath and North East Somerset or neighbouring areas are eligible. What will you do? You will hear admission appeals against an admission authority s decision to refuse a child admission to a school / academy, ensuring that parents have a fair and independent hearing. Each panel of three consists of a mix of lay members and members with a background in education, with one member being the Chair. About You What skills or experience do I need? We are looking to recruit lay members; someone without personal experience in school/education and education members; people who have experience in education or who are parents of registered pupils at school. We will be looking for someone with: Good interpersonal and communication skills Good literacy and listening skills Integrity, fairness and equality Ability to work with other panel members to reach a balanced decision Good IT skills as appeals are held remotely and are paperless. Can anyone be a panel member? Yes, unless you are a Bath and North East Somerset Councillor or an employee of the Council. How much time do I need to give? This can vary depending on the level of commitment you wish to give. Appeals are held throughout the year, usually a half-day, with the peak months in June and July with some longer days. You will be contacted by email by Democratic Services when we need to put an Appeal Panel together and you can choose to serve as a panellist as few or many times as you like. Where will the hearings take place? Appeal panel hearings are held during the school day starting at 9.30/10am and take place remotely via Microsoft Teams. Support/Training New panel members will be given training and support to help them carry out this role and this will be refreshed. Previous experience of such work is not required. This is a voluntary commitment which is unpaid. If you are interested in this post and require more details or just to chat through the role and what s involved, please contact Mrs Enfys Hughes, School Appeals Officer, Democratic Services by email at: democratic_services@bathnes.gov.uk or by telephone on 01225 394410 Applications should be returned by email to democratic_services@bathnes.gov.uk Interview date: TBC This is a rolling advert and will close once sufficient interest is received. About Bath and North East Somerset Council. Working at Bath and North East Somerset provides an opportunity to contribute to your community and make a positive impact on the lives of residents. Our values shape how we work to deliver public services, and how we communicate with the residents we serve. We care about the best outcomes for local people, through our public services. Why Bath and North East Somerset Council? We offer a wide range of benefits, to ensure that you are paid fairly for your work, have the flexibility to enjoy a great work/life balance, and have the support you need. Go to https://jobsandcareers.bathnes.gov.uk/why-work-us/our-benefits At Bath and North East Somerset Council we have one overriding purpose to improve peoples lives. Find out more about our values at https://jobsandcareers.bathnes.gov.uk/why-work-us/our-values We aspire to have a diverse and inclusive workplace and strongly encourage suitably qualified applicants from a wide range of backgrounds to apply and join us. Find out more on our commitment to Equality, Diversity and Inclusion at https://beta.bathnes.gov.uk/equality-and-diversity We are a Disability Confident Employer find out more at https://shorturl.at/ajrsW The Council is committed to having a diverse and inclusive workforce. Applications for job-share, part-time and flexible working arrangements are welcomed and will be considered in line with business needs. Safeguarding Statement: The Council is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, young people and vulnerable groups and expects all employees and volunteers to share this commitment. As part of this commitment anyone working in a post with children or vulnerable groups will be expected to undertake an Enhanced DBS check with/without barred list checks.