Education Admission Appeal Panel Clerk

Recruitment Opportunities; Luton; Hybrid; GBP 23,000 - 32,000; Full time

Job summary

Luton Borough Council is seeking an organised Education Admission Appeal Panel Clerk to support independent school admission appeals. You will provide procedural guidance to appellants, schools and panel members, and help ensure hearings are fair and compliant with the School Admission Appeals Code.

The role involves keeping accurate records, drafting decision letters within deadlines, and liaising with Legal Services on ombudsman enquiries and judicial reviews.

Qualifications

• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills.
• Experience clerking admissions appeals, committees, or minute-taking is advantageous.
• Ability to produce accurate records and notes, and to use case management systems.

Responsibilities

• Support education admission appeal hearings, ensuring fairness and efficiency.
• Provide procedural advice to appellants, schools and panel members.
• Keep accurate records of hearings and decisions, and draft decision letters within deadlines.
• Collaborate with Legal Services on Ombudsman enquiries and Judicial Reviews.
• Travel to appeal venues across Luton to attend hearings.

Skills

Communication skills

Clerking experience

Record-keeping

Tools

Case management software

IT systems

Job description

The following content displays a map of the jobs location - Hybrid

Please note this role does not attract sponsorship.

What You’ll be doing

We are looking for an organised and impartial Education Admission Appeal Panel Clerk to support independent school admission appeal hearings on behalf of Luton Borough Council.

You will play an important role in ensuring appeals are conducted fairly, efficiently and in line with relevant legislation and the Department for Education’s School Admission Appeals Code. You will provide procedural advice to appellants, schools and panel members, support the panel on matters of law and procedure, and ensure all parties have a fair opportunity to present their case.

You will also be responsible for keeping accurate records of hearings and decisions, preparing decision letters within the required timescales, and making reasonable adjustments to ensure everyone can fully participate in the process. The role will also involve working with Legal Services on matters relating to Ombudsman enquiries and Judicial Reviews.

What we’re looking for

You will have excellent communication and interpersonal skills, with the ability to build credibility and work confidently with parents, panel members and school representatives. You’ll be able to remain calm, impartial and diplomatic under pressure, while ensuring everyone has a fair opportunity to be heard.

You’ll have experience working with the public in a professional capacity, with strong attention to detail and the ability to produce accurate records and notes. Experience of clerking admission appeals, committee work, minute-taking or using case management systems would be an advantage.

You’ll need a good understanding of equality, data protection and the legal framework surrounding school admissions and appeals, or the ability to quickly develop this knowledge. You should be confident using IT systems, committed to keeping your knowledge up to date, and able to work flexibly, including travelling to venues across Luton to attend appeal hearings.

Our ambitious Luton 2040 Vision - that no-one in Luton will have to live in poverty - is at the heart of everything we do. We recognise that our people are remarkable, talented, committed and passionate about serving our residents.

The people of Luton depend heavily on this council - and that means our workforce! Are you ready to realise the remarkable and help us deliver our vision?

Application Process

Applicants for this public-facing post will need to demonstrate the ability to converse, and provide effective help or advice, fluently in spoken English

On occasions, we may close a vacancy early due to a very high number of applications being received.