Would you like to get involved in local education?

 

Cheshire East Council is offering residents the opportunity join one of the Borough’s independent education appeals panels.

The panels oversee both admission and exclusion appeals. These are where families, or guardians, would like the panel to look again at the reasons their child was not accepted for a particular school, or excluded from a school respectively.

Each panel is made up of three members and they are independent of the local authority.

The Council wants to hear from people of all backgrounds, as panels are comprised of both people with educational experience and those who have not been involved with schools before.

Appeals are heard on weekdays during normal office hours and full training is given. The work is done on a voluntary basis, although travel expenses are paid.

Councillor Hilda Gaddum, Cabinet member with responsibility for children and family services, said: “We need to increase the number of members that sit on our panels. We would like as broad a cross section of people as possible.

“Ex-teachers and governors would be welcome, as would people who have never worked with schools before.

“The only requirement is that members have an interest in education and are able to spare some of their time.”

If you would like to find out more and receive an application form, please contact Brett Dainty on 01270 686469, or email brett.dainty@cheshireeast.gov.uk. The deadline for applications is Friday, February 17. 

Successful applicants would need to attend a training day on Monday, March 26. There will also be further training in July for the exclusion panels.