Senior Clerk

**Job Description - Senior Clerk**

**Job Title: Senior Clerk**

**Grade: 9 (£15.63- £17.06 per hour)**

**Hours: 15 hours per week, term-time only**

**Accountable to: Head of Governance and Compliance**

The Senior Clerk shall be responsible for providing clerking services to up to five Local
Governing Bodies in the Trust. In addition they will be responsible for providing advice to other clerks in the Trust and support and mentorship to less experienced clerks. They will also be expected to lead on termly clerks briefings.

**List of Duties as clerk to governors**

**Meetings**:

- To work effectively with the Chair of Governors and head teacher of each LGB before every LGB meeting to prepare a purposeful agenda which takes account of RLT and
DfE requirements, and is focused on school improvement.
- To work with the Chair of Governors and others at each school to produce agenda papers on time. To produce, collate and distribute the agenda and papers so that recipients receive them at least seven days before a meeting.
- Record attendance of governors at each meeting and take appropriate action as regards absences.
- Advise each governing body on governance legislation (including the Scheme of
Delegation) and procedural matters where necessary before, during and after the meeting. Take notes of the governing body meetings to prepare minutes, indicating who is responsible for any action agreed. Record all decisions accurately and objectively with timescales for actions.
- Send drafts to the Chair and head teacher for amendment/approval by the Chair.
Copy and circulate the approved draft to all governors within the timescale agreed with the governing body. Keep a file of signed minutes as an archive record.
- Liaise with the Chair at each school, prior to the next meeting, to receive an update on progress of actions agreed previously by the governing body.
- Chair that part of the meeting at which the Chair is elected.
- Maintain a record of signed minutes of meetings in school and ensure copies are sent to relevant bodies on request and are published as agreed at meetings.

**Membership**:

- Maintain a database of names, addresses and category of governing body members and their term of office. Initiate a welcome pack/letter being sent to newly appointed governors including details of terms of office.
- Maintain copies of current terms of reference and membership of committees and working parties and nominated link governors. Advise governors and appointing bodies of expiry of the term of office before the term expires so elections or appointments can be organised in a timely manner.
- Inform the governing body of any changes to its membership. Maintain governor meeting attendance records and advise the governing body of non-attendance of governors. Ensure this information is kept up-to-date on the school’s website.
- Ensure a register of governing body pecuniary interests is maintained, kept updated but reviewed annually and lodged in the school and posted on its website. Confirm with the school that DBS (Disclosure and Barring) checks have been successfully carried out on all new appointees.
- Maintain a record of training undertaken by members of the governing body.
- Ensure governor information on GIAS is kept up to date.

**Advice and Information**:

- Advise the governing body on procedural issues. Liaise with the Head of Governance and Compliance to access appropriate legal advice, support and guidance.
- Ensure that new governors receive a copy of the Trust’s governor induction pack and other relevant information.
- Ensure that statutory policies are in place and kept up-to-date (using the school’s

Policy Tracker).

**Other duties**:

- Clerk any HR and complaints panels that are held in each designated school.
- Assist with the elections of parent and staff governors.
- Give advice and support to governors taking on new roles such as Chair of

Governors or chair of committee. Participate in, and contribute to, the training of governors in areas appropriate to the clerking role.
- Maintain a folder on Google Drive of relevant DfE, local authority and RLT documents and archive materials.
- Prepare briefing papers for the governing body, as necessary. Helping with the production of schedules of business for meetings of the governing body and committees as appropriate and using Trust templates.

**Additional Trust Wide duties**:

- Provide advice and guidance to other clerks in the Trust on LGB matters.
- Provide support, training and mentorship to less experienced clerks in the Trust on

LGB matters.
- Lead the Trust’s termly clerk briefings.
- Support the Head of Governance and Compliance in recruiting new clerks.

**Professional Development**:

- Undertake appropriate and regular training and development to maintain knowledge and improve practice.
- Keep up-to-date with current educational developments and legislation affecting school governance.
- Other duties compatible with the post