Volunteers Needed for School Admission Appeals

The Diocese of East Anglia Schools’ Service is seeking volunteers to serve as school admission appeals panel members, helping ensure parents’ rights are upheld when a child is not offered a place at their preferred Catholic school.

Panel members play a vital role in considering cases where parents wish to challenge a refusal of admission. Each hearing typically lasts between 20 and 30 minutes, although some may take longer depending on their complexity. During the busy summer term, multiple appeals may be scheduled on the same day, and volunteers may occasionally be asked to sit for two or even three consecutive days. Importantly, panel members are always able to decide their own availability, making this a flexible opportunity suited to those available during school hours.

Appeals may be heard in person or via video conferencing, and volunteers can express a preference for the type of hearings they are comfortable with. All panel members must complete initial training provided by the Diocese, which will take two to three hours.

To ensure a balanced and fair process, each panel is made up of both lay members, people without professional involvement in education, and education members, people with experience working in or understanding schools. Individuals cannot sit on panels for schools with which they have a personal connection, for example being a parent, governor or staff member.

Anyone interested in volunteering or finding out more is invited to contact Helen Bates, Assistant Director (Schools’ Service), at the Diocese of East Anglia, 21 Upgate, Poringland, Norwich, NR14 7SH, by email at ssc@rcdea.org.uk or by telephone on 01508 495509.

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