Secondary school Headteachers needed for Independent Review Panels

We are looking for serving or recently retired secondary school Headteachers to serve on the Independent Review Panels for permanent exclusions from schools. The Panels are arranged by School Appeals (Democratic Services) at the request of parents / guardians to review Governing Body decisions in relation to permanently excluded pupils.

Independent Review Panels (IRPs) for exclusions must include a serving Headteacher or one who has retired within the last 5 years. Ideally they should have experience of the phase of education that is being considered at review and we need to recruit more secondary school Headteachers for the panels.

Further details that you might like to consider are as follows:

• IRP hearings are held all over Norfolk and travelling expenses plus other expenses will be met. However, this is a voluntary position and should not be regarded as a paid post.
• Training will be provided in the form of a formal training session and observation at a hearing before you are asked to take part in an IRP. You do not need previous experience as full training will be given, but any experience that you may have of Governors' exclusion hearings would, of course, be useful. Training is mandatory every two years to remain a panel member.
• We will need to be able to contact you during the day and will need your home and mobile telephone numbers as well as your email and postal address for sending case papers.
• Panel members are not obliged to attend a minimum number of meetings per year and you would only be called upon after we have checked your availability.
• Permanent Exclusion Reviews are infrequent. In the past year there have been 7 hearings and there were just 3 in the 2015-2016 academic year.
• We will also invite you to join the training and sit on our regular Schools Independent Admissions Appeal Panel if you wish.

If you are interested in becoming a panel member, or know a recently retired secondary school Headteacher who is interested, please contact us by 14 October 2016. You can return the attached form or complete an Expression of Interest form on our website. We will be running a training session on 3 November 2016 for those interested.

If you have any questions, would like further information or would like to informally discuss the role, please contact Maureen Orr on 01603 228912.