About the Role
All Saints CE Primary School is a one form entry church school in North Horsham. We are all small, welcoming community and are looking for a self-motivated and enthusiastic individual to join our team.
Our Governing Board is seeking the right candidate for the role of Clerk to the Governors. The position is term time only – hours variable to include daytime and evening meetings.
Grade 4: £14.40 per hour (inclusive of annual leave entitlement) (pay rise pending)
Hours: Approximately 3 hours per week on average
Are you looking for a flexible part-time role to fit in with other commitments? Are you already trained or are you willing to train as a Clerk to the Governing Board? Full training will be provided for the right candidate. The role is term time only and the successful candidate will be expected to clerk between 2-3 meetings per term.
This role involves:
- liaising with the Chair of Governors and Headteacher prior to each meeting to put together the meeting agendas
- collating and distributing papers using an online portal within agreed timescales
- keeping accurate membership records and ensuring that governors approaching the end of their term of office are identified and arrangements made to conduct elections or identify replacements
- attending governing board meetings on the school site and producing accurate, high quality and in-depth minutes together with an action log in a timely manner
- supporting and advising the governing board to ensure they comply with relevant legislation and procedures (training and support will be provided)
Clerks are required to attend meetings at the school and complete all associated administrative work at home. Access to a PC or Laptop is essential, we can assist with providing this if necessary.
What we’re looking for:
- flexibility to attend meetings in the afternoon (during the school day) and early evening and to complete all other required work from home
- exceptional organisational skills
- someone who is proactive and professional
- confidence to build effective relationships with the Chair of Governors, Headteacher and other key stakeholders
- positive and approachable personality
- excellent minute taking ability
- someone who is calm under pressure
- a high level of personal integrity, dependability and reliability
- someone who enjoys undertaking research and finding answers
- ability to use various online systems
Visits to the school are very welcome.
To find out more about the role please contact Jane Singerman, School Business Manager by email at [email protected]
Closing date for applications: 30 September 2026 (if suitable applications are submitted, the recruitment process may be initiated before the closing date of the advertisement)
Interview date: TBC
Job Description
Responsible to: The Chair of Governors
Purpose: To provide advice and guidance to the governing board on governance, constitutional and procedural matters.
A professional clerk will contribute towards the effective functioning of a governing board and its committees by providing:
- administrative and organisational support
- guidance to ensure that the board works in compliance with the appropriate legal and regulatory framework and understands the potential consequences for non-compliance
- advice on procedural matters relating to the operation of the board
Key duties
Organising meetings, hearings and appeals.
The Clerk prepares for and administrates meetings, allowing the board to make effective use of their time and focus on strategic matters. The clerk supports the effective running of meetings by:
- preparing agendas and liaising with those preparing papers to make sure they are available on time
- convening meetings and distributing papers as required by legislation
- ensuring meetings are quorate, inclusive and well structured
- overseeing election of officers
- recording attendance/apologies and taking appropriate action with the Chair in relation to absences
- taking accurate minutes indicating who is responsible for any agreed actions with timescales
- circulating draft and approved minutes to all relevant bodies within the timescale agreed with the Chair of Governors
- following up on action points with those responsible and informing the Chair of Governors of progress
Providing advice and guidance
- advising on legal duties and governing practice
- advising on constitutional requirements
- advising on board procedures
- advising on statutory guidance and policies
Administration and record keeping
The Clerk supports the board in maintaining records of policies and procedural documents and ensures these are accessible. This includes:
- maintaining membership records
- advising governors in advance of the expiry of a term of office and the impact of this on the board’s capacity, diversity and skills mix
- establishing, in discussion with the Chair of Governors, open and transparent vacancy filling processes and efficient procedures for election and appointment
- giving procedural advice and assisting with the management of governor elections
- maintaining governing documents
- maintaining Governors Virtual Office (GVO)
Maintaining relationships and communication
Good relationships between the clerk and members of the board are essential. The clerk should fulfil these responsibilities, whilst maintaining independence, by:
- maintaining professional working relationships with the Chair of Governors, members of the board and the Headteacher
- communicating on board matters outside of meetings
- where appropriate, liaising on behalf of the board (such as for external reviews of governance)
- participating in regular performance management with the Chair of Governor
Ensuring compliance
- ensuring meetings are quorate
- advising on data protection and meeting confidentiality requirements
- statutory registers and filing
- keeping up to date with current educational developments and legislation affecting school governance
Person Specification
Knowledge
- the schools system: structure, accountability and funding
- governance legislation, procedures and regulations relevant to the organisation
- the core functions of a school governing board as they apply to the organisation
- elements of effective governance and board practice
Skills
- literacy, numeracy and IT skills
- good written and verbal communication
- excellent minute taking
- exceptional organisation
- people and relationship building
- advisory skills
- risk awareness
- problem solving
- time management to meet deadlines and completing demands
Attributes
- proactive and professional
- high level of personal integrity, confidentiality, dependability and reliability
- confidence to build effective relationships with the Chair of Governors, Headteacher and other key stakeholders
- commitment to training and professional development
It is recommended that those working as Clerks to a Governing Board hold a relevant clerking qualification or obtain one within twelve months of employment
Further Information
All Saints CE Primary School and West Sussex County Council are committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people and expect all staff and volunteers to share this commitment. We will ensure that all our recruitment and selection practices reflect this commitment. All successful candidates will be subject to an appropriate Disclosure and Barring Service check along with other relevant employment checks, including satisfactory references.
All Saints C.E. Primary School is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people and expects all staff to share this commitment. An enhanced DBS check will be undertaken on appointment.
All Saints C.E. Primary School is an equal opportunities employer and committed to workplace diversity. We welcome applications from individuals of all backgrounds.
How to Apply
To apply for this role please download the job description and application form below.
Please complete the application form and ensure that you outline your motivations for applying and explaining the skills and experience you can bring to the role (please refer to the key skills in the job description).
Once complete please return this to [email protected]
Should you have any questions regarding the role or the application please feel free to email us or contact us on 01403 270460
The reference number for this role is SCHO02217.
NOTE TO CANDIDATES - Please do not select the ‘Apply online’ button as the School processes your applications directly rather than through this site.
