School Admissions Appeal Panel Member in Bradford

We are seeking dedicated and community minded volunteers to join our School Admissions Appeal Panel, helping to ensure a fair and transparent process for families appealing school place decisions. Parents have a right to appeal if their child has been refused a place at their preferred school. To ensure impartiality, these appeals are heard by an independent panel made entirely of trained volunteers. By volunteering as a panel member, you will play an essential role in ensuring every family is heard with fairness, dignity and respect.

The role of a panel member

Whenever a child is refused a school place, parents are entitled to an independent appeal. Panels must make fully informed, reasoned and impartial decisions based on relevant laws, guidance and evidence.

As a Panel Member, You Will Be Required To

• Thoroughly read and understand all paperwork prior to hearings
• Listen carefully to representations from both parents and the academy / ies
• Ask clear, sensitive and appropriate questions
• Work with fellow panel members to reach fair and balanced decisions

Each appeal is heard by a panel of three volunteers (including a Chair), with an independent Clerk present to advise on law and process.

Who can be a panel member?

The role is open to people from all walks of life. Each panel must include:

• At least one lay member: someone without experience in the provision of education
• At least one non-lay member: someone with experience in education

We will discuss which category you fall into during recruitment. All volunteers receive full training free of charge and must be able to participate in hearings via Microsoft Teams, using suitable IT equipment. You may be excluded from hearings if you have a connection with the school, governing body, council or appellants.

Personal attributes needed

• No legal or educational qualifications are required. We are looking for people who are:
• Strong readers and active listeners
• Clear, compassionate communicators
• Skilled at asking appropriate, sensitive questions
• Fair, impartial and committed to equality
• Reliable, punctual and resilient
• Confident in both teamwork and independent decision-making
• Friendly, patient and open-minded
• Willing to accept advice when needed

Time commitment

After initial training, panel members will be asked their availability for appeals that take place on occasional days throughout the year. There will also be opportunities for panel members who are available in May and June to sit on a longer round of appeals which take place over several weeks.

What We Offer

Volunteering as a panel member is deeply rewarding. Many volunteers value the following:

• Knowing they contribute to a fair, inclusive process for families
• Gaining transferable skills in analysis, communication, questioning and decision-making
• Working with a diverse pool of colleagues
• Refresher training every two years
• Opportunities to progress to panel chair

We Also Provide

• Reimbursement of reasonable travel expenses
• Refreshments and lunch where appropriate
• Compensation for loss of earning up to a set limit

Why volunteer with Dixons Academies Trust?

Our mission is to challenge educational and social disadvantage in the North. As a trust with schools and a college in Bradford, Leeds, Manchester and Liverpool, we are committed to high standards, strong values and inclusivity.

At Dixons, we work with humility, kindness and purpose. We prioritise fairness, diversity and representation. We are ambitious for every child and highly inclusive. We invest in the development of everyone who works with us. We operate innovative, centralised systems to allow people to focus on what matters most. By supporting the appeals process, you will help ensure families experience a rigorous, transparent and compassionate system aligned to these values.

Apply and find out more

If you would like to volunteer as a School Admission Appeal Panel Member, or to discuss the role further, please call or email. We are committed to equality of opportunity and encourage applications from people of all backgrounds, including those currently underrepresented in our volunteer community. We are happy to provide reasonable adjustments during the recruitment and training process. Successful applicants will be required to undertake an enhanced DBS check.