Flintshire County Council, the Governing Bodies of foundation schools and all the Roman Catholic and Church in Wales voluntary aided schools within the Dioceses of Wrexham and St Asaph, invite applications for new members to join their Independent Education Appeal Panels.

Each panel is made up of three members who are independent of the Local Authority.  The task of a Panel is to hear and decide parents’ appeals either against the exclusion of a pupil, or refusal of admission of their child to their preferred school.  By law the Panel must include lay members and members with education experience.

Expressions of interest are invited from people of all backgrounds as the panel is made up of lay members and those with experience in education. A Lay Member is a person without personal experience in the management or provision of education in any school (disregarding experience as a school governor or in another voluntary capacity).  Panels dealing with Admission Appeals must also have a member with experience in education (a person who is familiar with education conditions in the local authority’s area or is a parent of a registered pupil at a school).  Panels dealing with Exclusion Appeals must also have a School Governor Member and an Education practitioner.

The work is unpaid but all travel expenses are paid (if applicable). Training will provided to all panel members.

If you are interested in becoming a panel member authority, please contact the Clerks to the Education Appeal Panels, Flintshire County Council, Legal Services, County Hall, Mold, Flintshire, CH7 6NR for additional information and an application form please e-mail: appeals.schools@flintshire.gov.uk

Whatever your reason for becoming a volunteer there are huge benefits for you and your community.  We can help you to achieve your personal goals.  

Volunteering provides the experience and qualifications employers look for, it shows that you are committed and have employability.

You will receive training to prepare you for Volunteering and to enhance your activities.  You should not be out of pocket, where possible we will reimburse pre-agreed expenses such as mileage and car parking.

• A full induction into your role within the service
• Regular support and feedback from a supervisor
• A written description of your volunteer activities
• Recognition of the different roles and responsibilities of volunteers and paid employees
• Ongoing opportunities for training 

While carrying out your Volunteering Activities, you are expected to be ambassadors for Flintshire County Council.  Your volunteering activities will add great value to the services we offer to the people of Flintshire.  

In relation to your volunteering activities you must:

• Be reliable, committed and professional
• Act in confidence and with discretion
• Embrace equality and diversity values
• Have a duty of care to safeguard and promote the welfare of all people you deal with
• Abide by all relevant health and safety and data protection legislation. 

If you are responding to a particular advertisement for a volunteer, you can complete the Volunteering Application Form and email it to the Manager who is recruiting.  An email address will be provided as part of the advertisement.  

If you just want to put yourself forward for a volunteering opportunity in general, you can register with the Flintshire Local Volunteering Council (FLVC) by emailing them at info@flvc.org.uk or phoning 01352 744000.  They will then keep your details on file and match your skills to any volunteering opportunities that may be available.