Education Appeals Clerk

Overview

The Education Appeals Team facilitates over 1,000 school admission appeals throughout the year for parents of children of primary and secondary school age who have been refused the school of their choice.

We are seeking to recruit three Clerks on a casual basis for the Buckinghamshire Independent Appeal Panel (IAP). The IAP is made up of three volunteer members of the public who consider the parent’s reasons for appeal and the school’s reasons for refusal before deciding to uphold or dismiss the appeal. The appeals take place within the school term with the peak period occurring from May to October. Appeals usually take place virtually or within Aylesbury.

Hourly rate - £20.09 plus an additional 12.07% uplift for annual leave.

About us

Buckinghamshire Council is a relatively new organisation that combines the strengths and expertise of the previous five councils in the county to create positive change for local people, communities, and businesses. We are firmly focused on the future and have made a clear commitment to serve residents better and to provide stronger representation for Buckinghamshire, both locally and nationally.  

About the role

As a clerk to the IAP, you will offer advice to the IAP on points of law and procedure, as necessary, to ensure all parties have a fair and independent hearing, according to the School Admission Appeals Code, and that the IAP’s decisions are made within the law and based on the information available.

The clerk to the IAP is required to order the business at an appeal hearing and produce an accurate record of the proceedings and the IAP’s decisions. You will liaise with the Appeals Team, reporting to the Education Appeals Manager, and act with integrity, remining calm and courteous under pressure.

Please see the job summary attached for further information on the role. 

About you

The successful candidate will have excellent oral and written communication skills with experience of providing guidance and advice to a decision-making body and minute/note taking at meetings.

As the clerk to the IAP you will possess the ability to comprehend and interpret guidance and to remain focussed in stressful situations. The clerk will be expected to attend relevant training as and when required, be willing to work flexible hours to meet demands and legal deadlines and agree to all Buckinghamshire Council’s policies on confidentiality and Data Protection.

Other information

Interviews will be conducted virtually. Full training will be provided to successful candidates.

This is a casual role meaning that clerks agree with the manager when they will work and are paid an hourly rate of £20.09 (plus an additional 12.07% uplift for annual leave). Appeal hearings take place from about 8.30am to 4pm on school days only throughout the year, although the peak season is May to July.

For further information on this role, please see the attached job summary.

If you would like to have an informal conversation with the recruiting manager, please contact: Louise Thompson at [email protected]

This post is covered by the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 and therefore applicants are required to declare:

• All unspent cautions and/or unspent convictions

For further information on how long it takes for cautions and convictions cautions to become spent, please refer to our guide on the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 (updated 2023) | Nacro

We understand that candidates may use AI tools to assist with their applications. While we welcome innovation, we expect all submissions to reflect your own experience, skills, and achievements accurately. Please ensure your application is truthful and demonstrates your personal capabilities, as this will be assessed during the selection process.

We reserve the right to close the vacancy once we have received sufficient applications, so please be advised to submit your application as early as possible.

Our values and culture

We have a set of values, which our employees have chosen, that represent what we are – Proud, Ambitious, Collaborative and Trustworthy.

By joining Buckinghamshire Council, you can expect:

a fair and inclusive culture

• the chance to really make a difference to those around you
• health and well-being initiatives including an Employee Assistance Programme, Mental Health First Aiders and mindfulness workshops
• a unified voice through our Employee Representative Group
• ongoing support, and the opportunity to develop and progress in your career with us
• opportunities to take part in fun activities such as fundraising and social events

At Buckinghamshire Council, we know that our biggest strength comes from the people that work for us, and that’s why we’re working hard to ensure we continue to be an accessible and inclusive organisation.

From dedicated staff networks overseen by our Equality, Diversity and Inclusion Steering Group, to proudly standing as a Disability Confident employer, it’s important to us that all our colleagues feel engaged, listened to, and valued. Our offer of flexible working empowers a productive and happy workforce and allows employees to combine work with other responsibilities and commitments.

We believe our workforce should reflect the diverse communities we service in Buckinghamshire, and are looking for like-minded individuals to join us in promoting equality, fairness, and inclusion for everyone.

 

About the Business Unit

The Assistant Chief Executive directorate is central to Buckinghamshire Council’s journey to establish itself as one of the best councils in the country. With a clear focus on service improvement through transformation and a drive to build better relationships with the local community, the directorate is fast-paced; but extremely rewarding. Our teams are not only proactively delivering on projects and plans but also reacting to developing situations. If you are ambitious, innovative, and would relish the opportunity to influence change - a role within our service area could be your next career move.

The team includes exciting areas of work, including our Policy and Communications, Legal and Democratic Services teams – innovating the way we communicate with our colleagues, Members and the local community, and role-modelling best practice through policy, planning and legal services. If you think you can help us achieve our goals, and want to be a part of this exciting journey, we would love to hear from you!

We recognise and reward you

Hard work and success deserves recognition. That’s why we pride ourselves on the benefits we give our people. We actively encourage a good work-life balance and promote flexible and agile working arrangements. We provide discounts on various Cafés, restaurants, shops and auto enrolment onto our generous Pension Scheme. In addition to the opportunity to gain membership to Costco, we have discounted gym memberships, travel discounts with Arriva and much more.

https://jobs.buckinghamshire.gov.uk/working-buckinghamshire-council/