Thurrock Council is looking for independent volunteers to help the schools admission and exclusion appeals panels.

Each panel consists of three or five people and meets to consider the reasons why a school has refused a child a place or excluded a pupil.

Panel members make decisions in line with regulation codes, laws and guidance but also listen to any special circumstances from parents and guardians.

Admission appeals usually take place in June, July and September but like exclusion appeals can take place at any time during the year.

Training is provided as well as on-going support and reimbursement of expenses.

Council leader John Kent said: “The panel is flexible and there is always opportunity to take or leave panels as they are being arranged.”

He added: “We’re looking for individuals who communicate well and can fairly assess information that can sometimes be quite emotive.

“We think head teachers and school governors would make excellent volunteers, but equally, anybody with any involvement with a school would be great – this could simply be that you have a child in a school.”

E-mail direct.democracy@thurrock.gov.uk to request the information pack about the role, including information from current panel members, as well as an easy to complete application form.