Lay member volunteer

Published 29/04/2024.  Last updated 22/11/2024

The education inspectorate is recruiting members of the public to join our school inspection teams as lay members.

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.

Our lay members are from all walks of life with a range of life experiences.. The inspectorate is looking for people from a variety of backgrounds, with different skills, experience and knowledge. 

Apply for this role

To apply for this role please complete the lay member application form.

As part of the application you will be asked to tell us in less than 300 words why you are interested in becoming a Lay Member and what skills and experiences you could bring to this role.

Find out more

For more information or an informal discussion please contact Guch Dhillon. 

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. You can be a lay member for up to three years.

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.

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

Other responsibilities

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.

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.

Education Scotland is committed to sustainable development through reducing its 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.

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.

You will have two days of initial training. There will also always be an HMI on hand on inspection to give advice. You can get additional training if necessary.

Margaret Irving

I have been a Lay Member for 13 years and thoroughly enjoy the role. I got involved in volunteering while my daughter was at primary school.

I helped at school events rather than taking on any formal role on the Parent Council. I enjoyed being part of the buzz of school life so when she moved to high school and outgrew the Girl Guides, I looked for a volunteering role which would use my skills and experience. I saw an advert for Lay Members to work with the Education Scotland inspection team to ensure standards of teaching in Scotland’s schools.

Following an application and interview, I had some training and then shadowed an experienced Lay Member on a school visit. After that I was out on my own!

I enjoy being part of the inspection team and I am always made to feel very welcome even although I am only there for one day. It is a busy day gathering information from the parents, children and young people and the non-teaching staff such as office staff and the janitor.

All of these interactions provide a picture of the school which helps shape the final report. I enjoy engaging directly with parents and children as it allows me to follow up on any topics highlighted in the questionnaires submitted to Education Scotland as part of the pre-inspection process.

I feed back my findings to the Managing Inspector at the end of the day and hand over my notes. It may seem strange but even after all this time I am still learning. That is what keeps the role of Lay Member enjoyable!

Ian Wilkie

Being a Lay Member has been incredibly rewarding. I joined Education Scotland’s Lay Member Team in 2016 and have been on just over 30 inspections in that time. Every inspection is different, but I have been assisted and supported by the HMI team every time.

Having spent my entire working life in local authority legal services, I was very keen to give something back during my retirement. I have not been disappointed. It has been a fascinating 7 years. I cannot recommend it highly enough.

I’ve been on inspection in several local authorities, in primary and secondary schools. I always like to get to school fairly early. It gives you time to get settled in and the school leadership teams have always been very welcoming. There’s usually a cup of coffee on offer!!
Every inspection day is busy.

I enjoy meeting new people and inspections certainly give you that opportunity. You will meet parents, Parent Council office bearers, pupils and school support staff. You always get an opportunity to chat to the headteacher. It has been an absolute privilege. 

Sandy Gunn

I had been involved with school committees/boards/councils for many years when I was asked to think about being a Lay Member. We had good training both in theory and while shadowing an existing Lay Member.

The role of Lay Member puts you at the centre of communication as you see the results of questionnaires completed by parents, staff and pupils.

While a Lay Member gets an overview of education and community life throughout Scotland, you are not dealing with mere statistics. For example, it has been concerning to listen to individual pupils speaking about the direct impact resulting from their homes being in areas where there is no broadband.

It has been fascinating also to see how communication varies from school to school. There have been many changes in education over the last 50 years. One great perk of being a Lay Member is that I am able to keep up to speed with the education our grandchildren are having!

Jayne Swanson

I am passionate about being a Lay Member and thoroughly enjoy my role in school inspections. If I could be a full-time Lay Member, I’d jump at the opportunity!

Hearing children’s excitement about school life, celebrating their achievements, and understanding what matters to them in their learning is a privilege. Speaking with pupils is the highlight for me, as their honesty, openness and interesting turn of phrase make for brilliant and reflective conversations.

I applied to be a Lay Member after serving as Chair of my children’s Parent Council. This role provided a real behind-the-scenes look at the challenges being faced in schools and how important it is to ensure pupils have a voice, parents are genuine partners, and every member of the school community is valued. It’s this experience that I take into schools.

As a Lay Member, I feel welcomed and valued by the inspection team, bringing a unique perspective to crucial discussions. Conversations with various stakeholders, from parents to support staff, provide deep insights into the working of a school. Being in the role has encouraged me to be inquisitive, helped hone my active listening skills and develop genuine rapport.

All skills are transferable and help with the day job. I appreciate the flexibility (and patience) of the deployment team, who understand my request for inspections close to home which allows me to balance full-time work and childcare.

I wholeheartedly recommend the role of Lay Member to anyone interested in enhancing educational experiences for our children and young people.
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Lay member volunteer

Published 29/04/2024.  Last updated 22/11/2024

The education inspectorate is recruiting members of the public to join our school inspection teams as lay members.

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.

Our lay members are from all walks of life with a range of life experiences.. The inspectorate is looking for people from a variety of backgrounds, with different skills, experience and knowledge. 

Apply for this role

To apply for this role please complete the lay member application form.

As part of the application you will be asked to tell us in less than 300 words why you are interested in becoming a Lay Member and what skills and experiences you could bring to this role.

Find out more

For more information or an informal discussion please contact Guch Dhillon. 

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. You can be a lay member for up to three years.

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.

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

Other responsibilities

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.

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.

Education Scotland is committed to sustainable development through reducing its 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.

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.

You will have two days of initial training. There will also always be an HMI on hand on inspection to give advice. You can get additional training if necessary.

Margaret Irving

I have been a Lay Member for 13 years and thoroughly enjoy the role. I got involved in volunteering while my daughter was at primary school.

I helped at school events rather than taking on any formal role on the Parent Council. I enjoyed being part of the buzz of school life so when she moved to high school and outgrew the Girl Guides, I looked for a volunteering role which would use my skills and experience. I saw an advert for Lay Members to work with the Education Scotland inspection team to ensure standards of teaching in Scotland’s schools.

Following an application and interview, I had some training and then shadowed an experienced Lay Member on a school visit. After that I was out on my own!

I enjoy being part of the inspection team and I am always made to feel very welcome even although I am only there for one day. It is a busy day gathering information from the parents, children and young people and the non-teaching staff such as office staff and the janitor.

All of these interactions provide a picture of the school which helps shape the final report. I enjoy engaging directly with parents and children as it allows me to follow up on any topics highlighted in the questionnaires submitted to Education Scotland as part of the pre-inspection process.

I feed back my findings to the Managing Inspector at the end of the day and hand over my notes. It may seem strange but even after all this time I am still learning. That is what keeps the role of Lay Member enjoyable!

Ian Wilkie

Being a Lay Member has been incredibly rewarding. I joined Education Scotland’s Lay Member Team in 2016 and have been on just over 30 inspections in that time. Every inspection is different, but I have been assisted and supported by the HMI team every time.

Having spent my entire working life in local authority legal services, I was very keen to give something back during my retirement. I have not been disappointed. It has been a fascinating 7 years. I cannot recommend it highly enough.

I’ve been on inspection in several local authorities, in primary and secondary schools. I always like to get to school fairly early. It gives you time to get settled in and the school leadership teams have always been very welcoming. There’s usually a cup of coffee on offer!!
Every inspection day is busy.

I enjoy meeting new people and inspections certainly give you that opportunity. You will meet parents, Parent Council office bearers, pupils and school support staff. You always get an opportunity to chat to the headteacher. It has been an absolute privilege. 

Sandy Gunn

I had been involved with school committees/boards/councils for many years when I was asked to think about being a Lay Member. We had good training both in theory and while shadowing an existing Lay Member.

The role of Lay Member puts you at the centre of communication as you see the results of questionnaires completed by parents, staff and pupils.

While a Lay Member gets an overview of education and community life throughout Scotland, you are not dealing with mere statistics. For example, it has been concerning to listen to individual pupils speaking about the direct impact resulting from their homes being in areas where there is no broadband.

It has been fascinating also to see how communication varies from school to school. There have been many changes in education over the last 50 years. One great perk of being a Lay Member is that I am able to keep up to speed with the education our grandchildren are having!

Jayne Swanson

I am passionate about being a Lay Member and thoroughly enjoy my role in school inspections. If I could be a full-time Lay Member, I’d jump at the opportunity!

Hearing children’s excitement about school life, celebrating their achievements, and understanding what matters to them in their learning is a privilege. Speaking with pupils is the highlight for me, as their honesty, openness and interesting turn of phrase make for brilliant and reflective conversations.

I applied to be a Lay Member after serving as Chair of my children’s Parent Council. This role provided a real behind-the-scenes look at the challenges being faced in schools and how important it is to ensure pupils have a voice, parents are genuine partners, and every member of the school community is valued. It’s this experience that I take into schools.

As a Lay Member, I feel welcomed and valued by the inspection team, bringing a unique perspective to crucial discussions. Conversations with various stakeholders, from parents to support staff, provide deep insights into the working of a school. Being in the role has encouraged me to be inquisitive, helped hone my active listening skills and develop genuine rapport.

All skills are transferable and help with the day job. I appreciate the flexibility (and patience) of the deployment team, who understand my request for inspections close to home which allows me to balance full-time work and childcare.

I wholeheartedly recommend the role of Lay Member to anyone interested in enhancing educational experiences for our children and young people.
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