Governor Clerking

What we do

We offer a comprehensive clerking service via a service level agreement, that aims to enable governing bodies to work effectively.

Services

• confidence that all relevant issues are brought to the attention of the governing
• body at the appropriate time;
• advice on the appropriate actions to be taken by governors and governing bodies
• to comply with legislative requirements and best practice;
• access to governance professionals for support and guidance, via email or
• Access is available during office hours, and throughout the term;
• advice on the proper conduct of governing body proceedings and clear guidance
• on good practice;
• full compliance with regulations on the maintenance of records (membership,
• attendance, terms of office, business interests, DBS requirements, minutes etc);
• guidance on the election of staff and parent governors;
• guidance on the preparation and constitution of the governing body, and
• preparation / amendment of the Instrument of Government as required;
• timely and effective preparation and distribution of agendas and minutes to meet
• legislative requirements and the needs of individual governing bodies;
• provision of model policies, procedures and guidance documents;
• guidance on models of governance such as collaborations, federations and
• academy conversions;
• guidance on the publication of governance related matters, such as statutory
• policies and information required on the school's website;
• an established and dedicated interface between individual governing bodies and
• other local authority teams, including but not limited to Human Resources,
• Finance and Legal Services;
• guidance on governance structures post academy conversion;
• close working with any newly established or existing incoming trust, delivering a
• service that complements the Articles of Association / Scheme of Delegation in
• shared good practice by strong links to local and national governance
• organisations including:
  • The Lancashire Governance Association
  • Diocesan / Church Authorities
  • National Co-ordinators of Governor Services
  • The Department for Education
  • National Governance Association.

How we do it

The service has set high standards for the clerking of governing body meetings and will try at all times to ensure:

• a competent Governing Body Adviser to be present at all governing body meetings, be it virtually or physically, as agreed locally;
• a personalised agenda for each governing body meeting to be prepared in consultation with the chair of governors and the headteacher;
• the notice of, and agenda for, each governing body meeting to be sent out as required and in accordance with the legal framework, either via GovernorHub or by post;
• draft minutes of each governing body meeting to be forwarded to the chair and headteacher for approval within a maximum of 20 school days;
• access to GovernorHub and the Knowledge;
• a new governor pack for each newly-appointed governor.

All Governing Body Advisers​ have completed relevant training and commit to continuous professional development.

View the Lancashire Governor Services, Service Level Agreement Brochure for 2025 ~ 2026

Contact one of our area team leaders to find out about a service level agreement (SLA), pricing and how your school can sign up:

Contact details