School Appeals Clerk

Leeds City Council; Leeds; Hybrid; GBP 41,000 - 49,000; Full time

Job summary

A local government authority in Leeds is seeking a School Appeals Clerk to support the admissions appeals process. This role involves attending hearings to take minutes, providing guidance to appeal panels, and ensuring compliance with procedural matters. Candidates should possess excellent communication skills and be committed to professional growth. The position offers flexible working arrangements and a supportive environment for career development in a public sector setting.

Benefits

Competitive salary

Annual leave and statutory holidays

Membership of the West Yorkshire Pension Fund

Flexible working arrangements

Professional development opportunities

Qualifications

• Experience in taking and writing minutes during meetings.
• Commitment to ongoing professional development.
• Ability to work under tight deadlines while balancing conflicting priorities.

Responsibilities

• Attend school admission appeal hearings to take accurate minutes.
• Communicate effectively with school appeal panels and provide guidance.
• Produce and distribute agenda and papers for school appeal hearings.

Skills

Minute taking

Effective communication

Database management

Time management

Adaptability

Education

NVQ2 or equivalent life experience

Tools

Databases

Spreadsheets

Job description

As a School Appeals Clerk, you'll thrive on being confident in producing high quality minutes, be able to work to tight deadlines, commit to on-going professional development by attending training, and be committed to providing an excellent service on behalf of the School Admissions Appeals Service. As a School Appeals Clerk, you will bring to the role:

• Use databases, spreadsheets and templates.
• Work to deadlines and balance conflicting priorities / needs.
• Present information clearly and produce standard letters and minutes.
• Communicate effectively in both written (including word processing), email correspondence and spoken word.
• Flexible and adaptable to change to assist other services as required commensurate to grade.

About the role

• Do you have experience in taking and writing minutes?
• Would you be interested in supporting the admissions appeals process in Leeds?
• Do you have any free time and are willing to support children and families?

You would be required to attend school admission appeal hearings to take accurate minutes and provide advice and guidance to the appeal panel members. We can offer training and support on admissions and appeals legislation, leading to an excellent experience of working with appeal panel members, schools and parents/carers. As our next School Appeals Clerk, you'll provide an effective procedural and administrative support role to school appeal panels at school appeal hearings. The role is integral to our School Appeals team that supports schools and families through the school appeals process.

Job purpose

To provide an effective procedural and administrative support role to school appeal panels at school appeal hearings, the post holder is specifically responsible for ensuring:

• That a professional clerking service is provided at school appeal hearings.
• The provision of professional and timely advice to school appeal panels on procedural, legal and constitutional matters and duties and powers, working within the current legislative framework.
• That excellent customer service is provided, and confidentiality requirements are observed.

The range of duties are:

• To work from home using IT equipment provided by the local authority, where necessary (own internet access is required).
• To attend face-to-face appeals where required.
• Adhering to strict administrative protocols in order to meet the service and data protection requirements.
• Produce and distribute the agenda and papers for school appeal hearings in an efficient and timely manner to meet the stringent requirements of legislation and the service level agreement.
• Advise the school appeal panels of the appropriate government legislation and procedural matters where necessary before, during and after hearings.
• Attend and take detailed notes of school appeal hearings recording all aspects of the meeting accurately including the panel's deliberations and subsequent decisions.
• Produce and send out decision letters to parents which accurately reflect the factors taken into consideration by the school appeal panel within tight government timescales.
• Maintain an up-to-date database of school appeal hearing results.
• Ensure that the school appeal panel complies with the appropriate regulations and admissions law during the school appeal hearing.
• Ensure that the school appeal panel is aware of statutory policies and statutory responsibilities and give appropriate advice and guidance to enable the panel to meet them.
• Attend training sessions when necessary to ensure up-to-date knowledge of the appropriate legislation.
• Ensure the Senior Appeals Officer is aware of good practice or any issues that may affect the performance of the school appeal panel.
• Deputise for other clerks at school appeal hearings as required.
• Communicate effectively in both written (including word processing), email correspondence and spoken word.
• Use databases, spreadsheets and templates.
• Work to deadlines and balance conflicting priorities / needs.
• Work on own initiative.
• Attend clerk meetings and record key information accurately.
• Present information clearly and produce standard letters and minutes.
• Work as a team member to ensure that services are effective and maintain good channels of communication.
• Time management to ensure deadlines are met at all times, including hot spots throughout the year.
• To develop good customer relations.
• To motivate others.

Essential Behavioural and other Characteristics

• Understand and embrace Leeds City Council Values and Behaviours and codes of conduct.
• Committed to continuous improvement in all areas and work towards delivering the Best City Ambition of Health & Wellbeing, Inclusive Growth and Zero Carbon.
• Able to understand and observe Leeds City Council equality and diversity policies.
• Carry out all duties having regard to an employee's responsibility under Health and Safety Policies.
• Willingness to actively participate in training and development activities.
• Flexible and adaptable to change to assist other services as required commensurate to grade.
• Participate in appraisal, training, and development activities.
• Be aware of and comply with Leeds City Council policies and procedures.
• Be aware of and support difference and ensure equality for all working in an anti-discriminatory manner, upholding, equality & diversity policies of Leeds City Council.
• Recognise and appropriately challenge any incidents of racism, bullying, harassment, victimisation, and any form of abuse, reporting any concerns to the appropriate person.

The Council has adopted a flexibility protocol and the role will be expected to work within these parameters.

This role is based in the UK. Home Office guidance states that candidates must evidence their right to work in the UK prior to commencing employment, either as a UK or Irish citizen, under the EU Settlement scheme or having secured any other relevant work visa.

NVQ2 or equivalent life experience.

Desirable requirements

• Have proven skills in clerking meetings.
• Knowledge of the School Admissions Code (2021) and the School Admission Appeals Code (2022).
• Knowledge of meeting procedures (notice, confidentiality etc).
• Geographical knowledge of Leeds with regards to schools.
• A basic knowledge and understanding of the context of the education system.

Leeds City Council is one of the largest employers in the region with over 14,000 employees. We seek to recruit and develop talented individuals who embody our council values and ambitions.

Benefits

• A competitive salary and annual leave entitlement plus statutory holidays.
• Membership of the West Yorkshire Pension Fund with generous employer contributions.
• Flexible and hybrid working arrangements subject to service requirements.
• A clear career pathway and continuing professional development opportunities.
• A range of staff benefits to help you boost your wellbeing and make your money go further.

If you do not have the right to work in the UK, you must consider your own eligibility for sponsorship for a particular role through the Skilled Worker visa route before applying. To be eligible for sponsorship you'll usually need to be paid the standard salary rate of at least £41,700 per year or meet one of the other eligibility criteria. Ensure you are eligible before applying.