Clerk to the Governing Body

The Swan School, Oxford

Clerk to the Governing Body

About the role

Are you interested in supporting a local school and engaging with your community? Do you have basic administrative skills, good writing ability and an eye for detail? Would you like to gain new skills in a flexible, varied and interesting role?

We are looking for a clerk to the governing body who will be responsible, among other things, for:

• The timely circulation of agendas
• Attending governing body meetings and the production of accurate minutes
• Monitoring governing body membership and attendance
• Maintaining the register of governors’ business interests
• Providing administrative support to the governing body
• Providing advice to governors on their legal and procedural duties.
• The governing body generally meets in the evenings but the rest of the work can be done at home at any time. At the moment some meetings are held online and some in person.
• Clerking for both the full governor meetings and committees in the school amounts to approximately 150 hours per year including attendance at meetings (up to 14 per school year) and preparation and follow-up, as well as other duties related to the governing body’s operations.

We are interested in receiving applications from experienced clerks but we would also like to hear from anyone who might not have clerking experience but would like to train as one, as we can offer full training for this role.

About The Swan School

The Swan School opened in September 2019 as part of the River Learning Trust (RLT). When fully subscribed it will have approximately 1200 students on the roll, of whom around 300 will be in the Sixth Form. Learning from the most successful approaches at the best schools, The Swan School provides a uniquely challenging and structured experience in a caring and disciplined environment. The ethos is academic; we regard an excellent academic education as the entitlement of all young people, no matter what their background or previous experiences of learning. Students will be inspired and nurtured, acquiring the knowledge and skills to think critically and creatively. They will learn to be confident, resilient and ambitious, and will have high expectations in terms of their own achievements and their contribution to wider society.

How to apply

If you have any questions or would like to speak to someone about this post, please contact us via headteacher@theswanschool.org.uk or on 01865 416070.

Applications for this post should be made through the Swan School Website www.theswanschool.org.uk. Please contact us if you have any queries regarding the application process.

The closing date for applications is Friday 7th June at 8am with interviews likely to be held the following week. The school will review applications as they are submitted and reserves the right to withdraw the advert before the closing date if a suitable candidate has been found.

About the River Learning Trust

Education has the power to change lives, communities and society for the better. At RLT we believe that we can achieve more for our pupils, trainees, staff and communities by working together rather than alone. Schools in RLT are united by a common belief in the benefits of working together, and by our commitment to shared principles.

OUR VISION is for our schools and SCITT to improve rapidly, continuously and sustainably: to be better faster together.

OUR ‘WHY?’ is that children and young people ‘only get one go’ in school and therefore as part of RLT we aim to ensure the best possible ‘go’ for our pupils

OUR ‘HOW?’ is through the highest support and challenge for our schools and each other, underpinned by our principles.

Our employees benefit from a wide variety of support including extensive continuing professional learning and development opportunities, wellbeing and staff networks and access to Defined Benefit Pension Schemes (TPS and LGPS) for all staff. For more information on what it is like to work for the Trust, and the benefits you could access, please see our “Working in RLT” guide.

Safeguarding

The River Learning Trust and the Swan School are committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of all children and preventing extremism. The Trust is required to conduct a variety of checks and online searches about you as part of their recruitment process in accordance with Keeping Children Safe in Education guidance. It is an offence to apply for certain roles within schools if you are barred from engaging in regulated activity relevant to children.

For all RLT Safer Recruitment Documentation candidates should click on the following link RLT Safer Recruitment Documents for Candidates. Please see our website for up to date policies including our Child Protection and Behaviour Policies. This post is exempt from the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 and the amendments to the Exceptions Order 1975, 2013 and 2020. For further guidance for applicants click on this link List of offences that are not filtered