From time to time Denbighshire, Flintshire and Wrexham Councils call upon members to sit on independent panels, who make decisions on school admission and exclusion appeals.

If you’re eligible you can apply to become a panel member.

How do the panels work?

Panels usually hear appeals face to face.

The issues under consideration by both panels are quite different, but the panel administration is similar for both types of appeals.

The panel is supported by a clerk who makes sure that relevant facts are established and that appeal hearings are conducted fairly and appropriately. The clerk is an independent source of advice on procedure and evidence. They make a record of the proceedings, decisions and reasons, before notifying all parties of the panel's decision. The panel can invite the clerk to stay while they are considering an appeal, but the clerk does not take part in the decision making process.

The panel privately weigh up all of the evidence presented to them carefully and objectively, before reaching a final decision on the appeal.

There is no further right of appeal in these matters.

About the role of panel member

The skills we are looking for are:

  • the ability to impartially listen and evaluate the arguments and evidence presented by both sides
  • decisiveness - as an appeal decision has to be made soon after hearing the appeal
  • flexibility - you’ll need to be flexible with your time, as appeals are generally heard during working hours (your availability will always be requested before an appeal hearing is set)

Being a panellist is not a paid position, however travel costs to and from the appeal venue will be met.

The list of members is held by Denbighshire, Flintshire and Wrexham authorities. You may be called to sit on any of the panels, subject to your availability and the preferences within your application form.

Before you are asked to sit on any appeal panel you will be provided with appropriate training.

Admissions appeal panel information and eligibility

Any parent or legal guardian may appeal against a decision by a school admission authority to refuse to offer a place for their child at the school of their preference. Parents have the right to appeal to an independent appeal panel as described in The School Standards and Framework Act 1998.  

These panels are entirely independent of the admissions authority (Local Authority and/or school governing body) that made the decision against which the appeal is being made.

The right to appeal relates to all stages of compulsory education admissions. Nursery education is non-compulsory and there is no right to appeal against a refusal of admission at nursery level.

The task of the panel is to hear and decide parents’ appeals against refusal of admission of their child to their preferred school.

People of all backgrounds are invited to apply - panels are made up of lay members as well as those with experience in education. A lay member is a person without personal experience in the management of a school or the provision of education (disregarding experience as a school governor or in another voluntary capacity).

Are you able to sit on the admission appeal panel?

There may be circumstances when you are not eligible to sit on an admission appeal panel.

You will be unable to sit on...

  • any admission appeal panel if you are a member of the local authority (for example a councillor) or have had any connection with the local authority
  • any appeal panel if you are employed by the local authority, but teachers are permitted to be panellists
  • specific admission appeal panels if you are a member of the governing body of the school subject to appeal, but this does not mean that you are disqualified from sitting on appeal panels in relation to admission to other schools
  • specific admission appeal panels if you were party to a decision not to admit the child appealing or if you took part in any discussions about how that decision was reached

Exclusion appeal panel information and eligibility

The task of the panel is to hear and decide parents’ appeals against the exclusion of a pupil.

An exclusion panel is made up of three or five panellists. This includes one panellist who is a lay member, one who is currently working in education or education management and one who is or has been a school governor for 12 consecutive months within the last six years.

Are you able to sit on the exclusion appeal panel?

There may be circumstances when you are not eligible to sit on an exclusion appeal panel, if you:

  • are a member of the local authority or of the governing body of the school in question
  • are the head teacher of, or any teacher at, the school in question or any person who has held any such position within the previous five years
  • are employed by the local authority (other than as a head teacher or a teacher)
  • have, or at any time have had any connection with the local education authority or with any person mentioned in the points above or you have any connection to the pupil in question or to the incident leading to their exclusion

How can I apply?

Applications are currently closed.