Job Introduction
Hamwic Education Trust Website
Place of work: Appeals will be held for schools within the Bournemouth, Poole and Christchurch (BCP) area; appeal hearings may be conducted remotely via Microsoft Teams or in person.
Accountable to: Head of Compliance Remuneration: Volunteer position
Start Date: April 2024
Closing Date: Friday 22nd March 2024
Interviews: To be advised
We are looking to form a pool of volunteers to support our admission appeals in the Bournemouth, Poole and Christchurch (BCP) area.
Why volunteer?
- Volunteers become panel members for a variety of reasons:
- They are interested in education
- They want to be part of service to parents/carers and schools
- They have relevant experience and skills that they wish to use
- They may have been through the appeal process as parents themselves
- They enjoy meeting and working with people with similar interests
- They have a background in education or law from other roles such as a teacher or headteacher or as a school governor or magistrate.
To maintain the impartiality of the independent appeal panel, the panel member role is entirely voluntary and not paid. However, where a face-to-face hearing is necessary, travel expenses will be reimbursed, and we will provide refreshments at appeal hearings.
Please note that we work in partnership with HISP Multi Academy Trust and therefore volunteers may hear appeals for Hamwic schools and also Highcliffe School, part of HISP.
ABOUT THE OPPORTUNITY
If a child is refused a place at a school, due to the year group being full/oversubscribed, a parent/carer can appeal that decision. You will be volunteering to hear cases and reaching a decision with panel member colleagues as to whether the case made by a parent, guardian or carer should result in a successful (upheld) appeal, or an unsuccessful (dismissed) appeal, based on a balance of the evidence of prejudice heard from all parties.
These panels can sit throughout the year, although the busiest period is between June and July. Volunteers will have the opportunity to work flexibly from home as the majority of our appeals will be heard during the day in term time using Microsoft Teams. In exceptional circumstances they may need to be conducted face[1]to-face in a BCP school.
We are seeking ‘lay’ (no experience of being employed within the education sector) and ‘non-lay’ (experience of employment within the education sector) panel members to sit on our appeal hearings.
SUPPORT AND TRAINING:
Ideally, we are looking for panel members who are experienced in this role with up-to-date training. However, comprehensive training will be provided to all new volunteers.
Ongoing support and training will also be available from the Trust to all panel members throughout the year.
TASKS AND DUTIES:
Panel member duties include:
- Reading appeal packs prior to hearings in order to understand the case being put forward by the admission authority and the parent, guardian or carer
- Considering the written evidence in advance of the meeting and drafting questions you may wish to ask at the hearing
- Attending appeal hearings until all appeals have been heard and taking part in pre-meeting briefings and post-meeting deliberations. Listening to both cases made during the appeals hearing and making a judgement on the evidence heard and previously received
- Taking an active part in appeal hearings with panel member colleagues, including making notes, asking questions, and contributing the outcomes of appeals
WE ARE SEEKING A PROFESSIONAL INDIVIDUAL WHO:
- Would be able to put nervous parents at ease and make balanced decisions to ensure that parents and schools receive a fair appeal hearing
- Can ask clear and relevant questions in a calm, non-confrontational manner to elicit the relevant information and facts
- Will fully participate in the decision-making process by considering all the relevant information, to form reasoned decisions based on the relevant law and facts.
- Can understand and apply the rules of natural justice (fairness)
- Will be sensitive and respectful of the need for confidentiality
- Can recognise and disclose any potential conflict of interest
- Has excellent attention to detail
- Has good interpersonal skills
- Can travel to appeal venues
WE CAN OFFER:
- Training relevant to this volunteer position
- Hard working and supportive Trust colleagues
If you would like to discuss the role further, please contact our HR team by emailing recruitment@hamwic.org to arrange an informal chat.
APPLICATION PROCEDURE:
Should you wish volunteer please complete the application form which can be found at www.hamwic.org, under our careers section, and return to recruitment@hamwic.org
CVs will only be accepted with a completed application form.
Please note, we may close the advert prior to the advertised closing date should we have sufficient applications. We strongly encourage prospective applicants to apply as soon as possible.
SAFEGUARDING:
All schools within the Trust are committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people and expect all staff and volunteers to share this commitment.
We will ensure that all our recruitment and selection practices reflect this commitment. All successful candidates will be subject to Disclosure and Barring Service checks along with other relevant employment checks.
THE HAMWIC EDUCATION TRUST:
The Hamwic Education Trust is the Trust for schools that form part of Jefferys Education Partnership, Edwin Jones Partnership, Ridings Partnership, Greenway Partnership, Mayflower Partnership and Hillary Partnership. The Trust and its schools offer unique opportunities for those individuals that excel in education.
We aim to deliver an outstanding education to our pupils and to do so we must employ outstanding people.
We offer a training pathway for all employees including teachers, support staff and our middle and senior leaders.
Our staff have opportunities to work on cross phase projects and to work in other schools within the Trust in order to gain invaluable experience and enhance their skills.
