County Durham residents ae being urged to consider volunteering for a panel which reviews school admission appeals.

 

Durham County Council is recruiting members for its Independent School Appeals Panel to help the authority and local parents arrive at a fair decision in the allocation of school places.

 

The role involves listening to why a parent wants their child to attend a particular school and the reasons given by the council for why this may not be possible, before deciding whether there are exceptional circumstances to allocate the child a place at the school of their choice.

 

The main responsibilities include reading paperwork, listening to representations at the hearing, weighing up the two cases from the parent or carer and the local authority, and reaching a decision on each case and giving reasons for those decisions.

 

Volunteers serve as a panel of three members, with at least one being very experienced.

 

All volunteers receive training before starting and ongoing advice at every hearing thereafter, while an independent clerk will also be present at each hearing to offer guidance and to answer any questions.

 

Cllr Ted Henderson, Durham County Council’s Cabinet member for children and young people’s services, said: “The Independent School Appeals Panel plays an important role in the allocation of school places and we would encourage people to consider volunteering, especially those with experience of school situations.

 

“Anyone willing to volunteer can be assured that they will receive full training around the appeals process and equality issues to ensure fair decisions are made and ongoing advice and support will always be available.”

 

It is important that volunteers have good reading, listening and communication skills, ask appropriate questions based on what they read and hear and are able to make their own notes regarding each case.

 

To request an application form, residents should contact Jackie Graham or Lucy Gladders at democracticservices@durham.gov.uk or by calling 03000 269 704 or 03000 269 712.

 

Applications can be made until 17 December, with interviews being held week commencing 10 January 2022.