Find a Clerk

The Governance Handbook states “All boards must have a clerk, who should be the board's 'governance professional'" and that "high quality clerking is crucial to the effective function of the board”; We totally agree. High quality clerking is much more than taking minutes and good organisation or administration, it is also about helping the board understand its role and legal duties so that it functions efficiently and effectively.

Our highly skilled governance professionals have been recognised at the National Governance Association's Outstanding Governance Awards achieving highly commended in the 'Outstanding Clerk to a Governing Board' category.

We offer a comprehensive clerking package that will ensure your board are served by a trained, competent and quality assured governance professional.

Our Clerking Service can accommodate the needs of your board through a virtual, face to face or blended service via our competitive Clerking Service Specification.

The Clerking Service Specification carries an annual charge, calculated on the number of meetings the governing board wishes clerked (for schools in all phases).

We also provide a range of additional services. These services are tailor-made to your needs and are charged at the additional hourly rate.

Please Contact Us for an initial chat about your needs.

On receipt of your completed application form, we will:

• locate a governance professional (clerk) with capacity in your area
• arrange an introductory meeting with the chair and headteacher setting out expectations
• calculate the contract on the number of meetings per annum
• forward the contract to the chair of governors for signature, a copy being retained by the school and a copy held by The Clerking Service.

Schools will be charged the fee published within The Clerking Service Specification. The service will be charged each month (unless otherwise agreed) by direct debit detailing the element relating to each individual package.

Additional meetings on top of the agreed contract as well as any additional service provided will be charged on an ad hoc bases and included in the next direct debit.

Lesley Hardwick of The Education People was highly commended in the outstanding clerk to a governing board category at the National Governance Association’s (NGA) Outstanding Governance Awards 2021 on Thursday 9 September. The category celebrates the integral role of the professional clerk in providing administrative support and legal and procedural advice to have a significant impact on the effectiveness of their governing board.

Presenting Lesley Hardwick with the highly commended award Charlotte Harding, Head of National Leaders of Governance Support at NGA said that Lesley showed “considerable expertise in clerking both the maintained and academy sectors” and has made a “positive impact on those she mentors and supports inside and outside of meetings.” Praised for her “calming and professional demeanour”, judges commended the resources that Lesley had developed in her role as “hugely successful and used as examples of outstanding practice across the county.”

Emma Knights, chief executive of the National Governance Association said: “The story of success demonstrated by Lesley underlines how governance professionals truly contribute to the sustainability of our schools and the educational achievement and wellbeing of children and young people. Lesley showed us her passion for improving governance and for improving outcomes for pupils. We are very proud to recognise her achievement.”