Lay member volunteer
We're recruiting members of the public to join our school inspection teams as lay members.
To apply you must not have any experience working in an education setting. This includes current or past roles as teacher, support assistant, lecturer, or community education worker.
What a lay member does
Lay members make a valuable contribution to improving Scottish education. They bring an important perspective to our work. Lay members help inspection teams to understand how well a school is doing from the perspective of parents, pupils and where appropriate, the wider community.
Lay members contribute to the work of a school inspection team, resulting in a published report for parents. The report identifies strengths and areas for improvement and helps schools to improve the experiences and achievements of children and young people.
Who can apply
We're looking for people from a variety of backgrounds with different skills, experiences, and knowledge.
You must not have worked in an education setting.
Apply for this role
To apply for this role please complete the lay member application form (MS Forms).
As part of the application, we'll ask you why you want to become a lay member and what skills and experience you'll bring to this role.
Find out more
For more information or an informal discussion please contact Sheila Brown.
About lay membership
What HM Inspectors do
Part of the work HMI carry out is inspection of schools and other settings. Each year, HMI inspect and publish reports on a wide range of education establishments and services. This includes primary, secondary and special schools.
The inspectorate publishes reports following their inspections. We identify strengths and areas for improvement. We share good practice in order to help improve standards and quality in Scottish education.
Why we use lay members
Involving lay members in inspections provides an additional perspective. This helps to make sure that we can take into account the views of those most closely concerned with services in education.
Allocation
The inspectorate chooses which schools are to be inspected. We will not allocate you to a school or local authority that you have a personal interest or association, for example as a parent or a member of the parent council.
Hours
Each school inspection will take up to two days of your time. This usually includes a full day in the school and time for preparation, reading and commenting on reports.
You may be involved in between three and five inspections each year.
Travel
You will normally take part in inspections or reviews within a reasonable travel distance from your home. However, you may be required to spend time away from home depending on where the school is. Accommodation is provided for you in these instances.
Responsibilities
The HMI leading the inspection will guide your work in the inspection. They will agree a programme of activity for you.
You will not need to be concerned with professional issues such as approaches to teaching, attainment or nutrition-related issues. Your role will focus on relationships and on issues raised by learners, parents, carers or the Parent Council.
The programme of inspection activities for lay members is varied and wide-ranging. For example, in schools, it may include activities such as:
- considering responses to pre-inspection questionnaires completed by parents, teaching and non-teaching staff, and pupils;
- a discussion with the chair of the Parent Council
- a meeting with a group of parents
- a meeting with non-teaching school staff
- discussions with children / young people
- reporting findings to HM Inspectors
- commenting on the draft report
The information you obtain must be kept confidential.
You will give feedback on your views of aspects of a school to the HMI leading the inspection.
Person specification
You will have good interpersonal skills, sound judgement and a strong interest in education.
You will be expected to write up your findings in clear, concise English.
A working understanding of and ability to use information technologies are essential. A lot of the evidence is only available in electronic format in many schools and local authorities.
We are committed to sustainable development through reducing our carbon footprint. We will always communicate electronically in the first instance.
Some experience, such as interviewing skills, drafting sections for publication or being able to share views and evaluate clearly, would be useful.
You must not have been employed in an education establishment, for example as a teacher, support assistant, lecturer or community education worker.
The inspectorate is committed to ensuring that people from all backgrounds are given an opportunity to participate in our mission to promote improvements in standards, quality and attainment in Scottish education.
Pay
As this is a voluntary role, lay members are not paid. They do get travel, accommodation, meals and other incidental costs paid for.
Help is available towards the cost of childcare when undertaking inspection activities.
Training
You will attend initial induction training prior to being deployed on an inspection. You will also be required to complete safeguarding and driver awareness training.
HMIE disclosure policy statement
This policy provides guidance on the proper and lawful use of information provided to HMIE.
Storing and accessing information
Disclosure return information and the tracking of disclosure applications and results will be held in a secure online folder which the lead and counter signatories will have access to.
Using protecting and managing information
Disclosure information will be classed as for recipients only in inspection planning and programme management teams. Information is only used for information relating to individual Associate Assessors or Lay Members who are directly or indirectly identifiable. This information will only be shared with named individuals on a need-to-know basis.
Disclosure information will only be used for specific purpose for which it was requested and for which the applicant’s full consent has been given which will be for appointment of Associate Assessors and Lay Members. Certificate information is only passed to those who are authorised to receive it in the course of their duties, this includes the inspection planning and programme management teams.
Retention and disposal of information
HMIE will not keep disclosure information for any longer than is not absolutely necessary. The standard period will be up to six months to allow for the consideration and resolution in the case of any disputes and or complaints. At the end of every calendar month, disclosures not required for the resolution of disputes or complaints will be deleted by secure means.
We will not keep any photocopy or other image of the certificate or any copy or representation of the contents of a certificate. We may keep a record of the date of issue of a certificate, the name of the subject, the type of certificate requested, the position for which the certificate was requested, the unique reference number of the certificates and the details of the recruitment decision taken.
PVG Membership checks and policy on appointment of ex-offenders
HMIE appoints Associate Assessors, Lay Members, and Student Team Members to join inspections. These roles are regulated under the Protection of Vulnerable Groups Act. Appointments will be subject to PVG membership and satisfactory scheme checks.
Request for a PVG Membership Scheme record
We will request a scheme record or scheme record update for posts that have been identified as regulated work under the Protection of Vulnerable Groups (Scotland) Act 2007. All applicants for such posts will be made aware at the initial recruitment stage that appointment to the position will be subject to PVG scheme membership.
Assessment of PVG information
If an individual is listed by the Scottish Ministers as unsuitable to carry out the specified regulated work, they will not be appointed to the post. Otherwise, if an individual has a criminal record, this will not necessarily debar them from appointment. This will depend on the nature of the position, together with the circumstances and background of the offences and/or other relevant information. Final decisions on appointment of applicants with a criminal record will be taken by senior HMIE staff.
HMIE will ensure that lead and counter-signatories are suitably trained. HMIE will also ensure that appropriate guidance and training in the relevant legislation relating to the employment of ex-offenders (for example, the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974) is provided to senior staff involved in selection panels.
Training
The lead signatory and counter-signatories will all complete training before using the HMIE Disclosure Scotland account.