Clerk to Governing Body

About the role

The role

The clerking service are currently looking to increase our workforce due to a number of new clerking vacancies for September 2025.

• Do you have experience/knowledge in school governance and academy trusts? Or are you interested in building a career in supporting school governance?
• Do you like supporting and advising others? Do you wish to make a difference?
• Do you have strong administrative skills and a keen eye for detail?
• Are you organised and great at keeping to deadlines?
• Are you seeking a flexible role which fits around other work or family commitments?

What is a clerk to governors?

The clerk to governors is a specialist role, supporting the administration of meetings and advising on governance, constitutional and procedural matters.

The role is generally term time only, with home-based administration activities and a requirement to travel to school meetings. (Some meetings may be held remotely). The successful candidate must have a flexible approach to working hours, be a good communicator, well organised and an experienced administrator. 

This role sits within the Governance team, who provide a range of services and support for governors, trustees and clerks.

What tasks does a HFL Education clerk do?

HFL clerks support schools in line with their clerking subscription. The main duties are to:

• Draft agendas and circulate supporting papers in line with statutory timeframes
• Attend governor/trustee meetings and produce clear and effective minutes in line with HFL timeframes
• Provide advice to the board on governance procedures and compliance
• Maintain an up-to-date membership of the governing board and record of attendance

Meetings are generally held in the evenings during term time on school sites. But home-based administration can be completed at a time that suits the individual in line with service timelines. There will also be opportunities to cover additional meetings and support formal governance panel meetings (after accessing additional training) for those clerks wishing to progress in school governance.

Candidates we are looking for will be:

• Experienced governance professional clerks including those that have a good understanding of academy trusts
• Interested in learning about school governance and education; and will commit to ongoing learning to stay up-to-date
• Excellent administrators with high attention to detail
• Great communicators with a natural ability to advise and support others;
• Experienced in taking minutes and have excellent written English skills that will match the needs of formal governance minutes
• Excellent listeners with exceptional oral and literacy skills
• Although experience of governance/clerking is desirable; training, mentoring and support will be provided to those that can commit to ongoing learning about governance and want to make a difference to schools/move into the governance sector.
• All successful candidates will be required to commit to a clerk induction held remotely during school hours, as part of the onboarding phase.  As well as reading up on governance materials and committing to attending remote termly briefings.  They will also be expected to complete HFL’s internal clerk development programme. (Ideally within 18 months of start date).

Contract: Variable hours contract 

Hours: Various (Term time only) hours will depend on number of meetings being supported

Salary: £128.63 to £201.82 per FGB meeting and £96.47 to £151.36 per committee meeting (depending on governor clerking experience and qualifications). Clerks are paid per meeting for all related duties before, during and after the meeting. Please note this fee has been enhanced to include holiday pay

Location: Clerks are usually deployed to support schools within 30 minutes travel of their home location.  We are currently looking for clerks to travel to settings in Hertfordshire, Harrow, Pinner, Brixton, White City, Westminster and Chesham

Full details regarding the role can be found in the attached information pack.  But if you would like to have a chat about the role please contact Kelly King at clerking@hfleducation.org.

Please note: The ability to reach different locations by car/public transport will be essential. If you drive, then a full driving licence and appropriate car insurance will be required.