The Convener of School Closure Review Panels is now recruiting persons who will be eligible to be Panel Members.

The Convener and Panels were established by, and have prescribed powers and duties under, the Schools (Consultation) (Scotland) Act 2010 Schools (Consultation) (Scotland) Act 2010 (legislation.gov.uk)Legislation is supported by statutory guidance which supports local authorities when they consult on changes to schools (including nursery) such as closing, relocating or opening a new school. Supporting documents - Schools (Consultation) (Scotland) Act 2010: guidance - gov.scot (www.gov.scot)

School Closure Review Panels are independent statutory bodies which have been created to enhance and strengthen the process of local authority school closures in Scotland. On 30th March 2015 the Convener and Panels took over responsibility from the Scottish Ministers for reviewing and determining local authority school closure decisions which are called-in by Ministers.

Scottish Ministers can call in a proposal when the education authority may have failed in a significant regard to comply with the requirements imposed on it by the Schools (Consultation) (Scotland) Act 2010 so far as they are relevant to the closure proposal, or to take proper account of a material consideration relevant to its decision to implement the proposal.

Duties and responsibilities

The Convener is responsible for appointing and maintaining a pool of persons who will be eligible to be Panel Members. Once a school closure decision is called in by Scottish Ministers, the Convener is required to select three individuals from the pool of persons eligible to be Panel Members to form a Panel to determine each case, and to identify a Chair for each Panel.

Once a Panel is established, responsibility for the review of a closure proposal and for its determination lies with the Panel. The Convener is not involved in Panel decisions.

Administrative support, organised by the Convener, is provided to the Panels. The Convener has engaged the Scottish Arbitration Centre to provide administrative support to the Convener and the Panels.

It is difficult to predict the number of school closure decisions that will be called in by Scottish Ministers. The original estimated was five or six proposals a year, but since 2015 only six Panels have been established to review decisions. The last Panel convened was in 2021.

For more on the work of SCRP: Schools Closure Review Panel (scrp.scot)

Skills, knowledge and experience required

The successful candidate will be able to demonstrate:

· Evidence of managing tasks involving reading complex written documents and working to deadlines.

· Experience of making effective and reasoned decisions.

· The ability to produce high quality written work.

· Good verbal communication skills.

· The ability to work well with others as part of a team.

Desirable, but not essential would be:

· Awareness of the issues involved in school closure consultations in Scotland.

· Awareness of the issues involved in the provision of education in Scotland’s rural communities.

· Legal knowledge and experience.

We welcome applications from all qualified candidates and wish to particularly encourage applications from disabled applicants and Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic applicants.

Remuneration

Remuneration of £226.92 per day (which is non-pensionable) is payable. Expenses for travel and subsistence relating to the Panels will be reimbursed.

Time commitment

Ideally, should you be asked to sit on a Panel, you should be able to make a firm commitment to spend up to ten days per year on Panel business. You will also be asked to attend a Panel member training day one day each year.

Location of meetings

Administrative support for the Panels is based in Edinburgh, and induction and other training is likely to take place in Edinburgh or online. Much of the work of any Panel can be performed remotely, with support from the administrative team.

Additional information

You are disqualified from being appointed as a Panel Member if you are a member of the Scottish Parliament; a Local Authority Councillor; a member of the House of Commons or House of Lords.

If you have any initial questions or requests for clarification, please email juliet@scrp.scot