Clerk to Governing Boards

Job Introduction

About Us

Oxfordshire County Council is committed to delivering educational excellence for our children and young people through continuous and innovative improvements across our educational system. Our ambitious transformation programme, “Delivering the Future Together”, aims to make us an employer, partner, and place shaper of choice.

About the Role

Our Oxfordshire County Council Clerking Service operates as part of the Local Authority’s Governance Services support to schools.  These are highly respected services with governance professionals being sought by both LA maintained schools and Academies.  

Governing Boards in Oxfordshire have key roles in ensuring all pupils at school receive the highest standard of education possible to achieve their full potential.  It is a statutory requirement that governing boards have a governance professional who is critical in supporting the effectiveness of boards in fulfilling their core strategic functions.  These include providing leadership and direction, establishing a positive culture and safeguarding of children, managing legal responsibilities and making impactful decisions as well as being accountable for performance.  Governance Professionals provide expert guidance to develop an understanding of boards’ strategic roles and responsibilities as well as administrative support to maintain and improve boards’ efficiency, productivity and compliance.

In practice, you are likely to attend an average of six Full Governing Board meetings, usually in the evenings, per school each year.  Each meeting usually lasts for two hours, but you will spend another eight hours per meeting working from home on preparing the agenda, writing minutes and other administrative matters.  We ask governance professionals to support a minimum of two governing boards, but some members of our clerking team support many more.   There will be opportunities to clerk additional meetings, such as committees and panel meetings, or provide cover in the absence of other governance professionals.  The position can be as varied and busy as you like.  Please see the Job Description and Selection Criteria for more information.

All new governance professionals are supported through an initial training programme with further training opportunities and regular briefings to ensure you develop the knowledge and skills to succeed in the role long term.

The Clerking Service is continuing to grow as we recruit for several positions.  This advert will remain open and applications will be reviewed as they are received.   We reserve the right to close the advert once we have enough applications.  Working for the Local Authority has many benefits and so, if you feel you meet the selection criteria, we encourage you to apply detailing how you would fit this role as soon as possible.  If you have any questions or would like an informal chat about the role, please contact Ruth Pangu, Clerk to Governors Team Lead at Clerking.service@Oxfordshire.gov.uk

About you

You will need strong organisational skills, the ability to prioritise your workload and excellent customer service skills.  The ability to work on your own initiative as well as a mature and committed approach is essential.  Excellent oral and written communication skills are required as well as a high level of integrity and ability to manage confidential matters.   Previous experience and knowledge of the workings of governing boards or schools is desirable.  The ability to travel to schools to attend meetings is essential.

Working with voluntary school governors from diverse backgrounds towards a common goal can be rewarding and you will develop and build on good working relationships.  Your professional support and advice to the governing board will help to strengthen the leadership of schools.

To apply, please complete an online application form.  This includes a section asking you to explain how you meet the selection criteria, as specified in the job posting.  You may attach a cover letter and/or CV to your application form, however it is not mandatory.

Rewards and benefits

• Culture of flexible working
• Technology to support agile working where role permits
• Up to 31 days holiday p.a. plus bank holidays  
• Option to ‘buy’ additional holiday
• Employee Assistance Programme including access to health and wellbeing support
• Membership of the Local Government contributory pension scheme, with an employer’s contribution of up to 19.9%
• Enhanced family friendly policies
• Local and national discounts for shopping and travel
• Great learning and development opportunities to support your ongoing development

Our commitment to:
Equality, Diversity and Inclusion

At Oxfordshire County Council we are proud of our diverse workforce. Everyone is accepted for who they are, regardless of age, disability, gender identity, marital status, race, faith or belief, sexual orientation, socioeconomic background, or on maternity or family leave. We have a number of staff network groups which provide peer support, education and safe spaces for all.

Our commitment to:
Guaranteed Interview Schemes

As a Disability Confident employer, we guarantee an interview for disabled applicants who meet the essential criteria for the job. We also guarantee interviews to care leavers who have completed further education and who meet the essential criteria for the job. For those leaving care without any further education, we guarantee an interview for our apprenticeships. We are also committed to helping and supporting those transitioning from HM Armed Forces to civilian life and guarantee an interview for those demonstrating the essential criteria for the role, within three years of leaving the service.

Our commitment to:
Safeguarding

Oxfordshire County Council are committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, young people and adults. We expect all employees, workers and volunteers to share this commitment. We will ensure that all our recruitment and selection practices reflect these commitments.

Our commitment to:
Flexible Working

We are open to discussions about flexible working, which can include flexi-time, full time and part time working, job sharing, nine-day fortnights and annualised hours, depending on the requirements of the role and the service.

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If you encounter any issues with the application system, please contact:  Clerking.Service@Oxfordshire.gov.uk