Cotswold Chatterblog

Date: January 7, 2008

Are you interested in education and consider yourself fair and impartial? 

If you think you are, Gloucestershire County Council is seeking volunteers to sit as Panel Members on Education Appeal Panels.

Education Appeal Panels hear appeals against the decisions made by Gloucestershire County Council, as the Admissions authority (in respect of community or voluntary controlled schools) to either refuse admission to a child or to permanently exclude a pupil.

Membership of Panels must include a member with experience of education and this means parents of registered pupils at a school.  Appeal Panels are normally held during the working day at Shire Hall in Gloucester with the majority taking place in June and July.  The amount of time spent hearing appeals varies and, on occasions, some may have to sit for up to six days. The county council will pay reasonable costs and one day of training must be completed before sitting on a Panel.

Panel members must hear all appeals for the annual intake for a particular school and have no personal or professional interest in any case which they hear.  For that reason, panel members may not serve on panels for their local schools or for any child who is a relative or friend.

Councillor Joan Nash, Cabinet Member for Schools, said: “Appeal Panel members play a vital role in ensuring that appeals are independent, fair and impartial.  I hope that parents will come forward and take an active role in contributing to Gloucestershire’s education system.”

Applications for appointment as members of Appeal Panels with experience in education can be made in writing to:
Mrs J Cleaver
Democratic Services
Shire Hall
Westgate Street
Gloucester
GL1 2TG
or by telephoning 01452 425096 or email jane.cleaver@gloucestershire.gov.uk

Tags: gloucestershire | education

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