Maidenhead & Windsor

The search is on to find volunteers for the Royal Windsor and Maidenhead Borough's education appeal panels - the group of independent people who are called in to decide which children should be admitted to the school of their parents' choice if a place has not been awarded through the council's normal admissions system.

The three-yearly Windsor and Maidenhead recruitment drive for appeal panel members is now underway and the council is keen to find people willing to play a key part in this important service.

Currently there are around 40 Windsor and Maidenhead volunteers but there is a need for more so that in particular during the busy appeals 'season' - between May and September - there are larger numbers available to make up the panels.

Appeal panels are totally independent of the Windsor and Maidenhead council and may be of interest to newly-retired headteachers, professionals, former teachers, parents, governors, JPs, young people - in fact, anyone interested in education with free time during the day. There is also a need to involve more people from black and ethnic minority communities so that panels reflect the borough's diverse population.

There is no age barrier and no formal qualifications are needed. Informal qualifications include being a good listener and communicator, having sensitivity to parents' concerns and being able to take a common sense, objective approach to decision-making. Panel members need not be borough residents.

Cllr Eilleen Quick, lead member for Windsor and Maidenheadchildren's services, said volunteers played a key part in the borough's education community, where difficult decisions sometimes had to be taken as a result of the popularity of local, often-over-subscribed, high-achieving schools.

She said: "The independence of appeal panels is paramount, with members taking an objective view when dealing with very important and sensitive issues that affect children's education. We are very fortunate in the quality of our volunteers so far and we look forward to adding to the panels through this recruitment drive."

Independent panels are also convened from time to time to deal with appeals relating to pupils excluded from school. All volunteers are given appropriate training to equip them for the work.

Appeal hearings are normally held at the Town Hall, Maidenhead, and panel members are eligible for travel allowance and cover for loss of earnings as a result of attendance.

Further information and application forms are available from Tanya Leftwich on 01628 796345 or Julie Harford on 01628 796319. Alternatively, those interested in becoming panel members should write to Tanya or Julie at the Town Hall, St Ives Road, Maidenhead, Berkshire SL6 1RF.

The Royal Borough of Windsor and Maidenhead