Senior Clerk to Governors

River Learning Trust Central Team and supporting up to five of our Local Governing Bodies across the Trust.

The River Learning Trust, ℅ Gosford Hill School, Kidlington, Oxford, OX5 2NT

Grade 9 £30,151 - £32,909 FTE. Actual Salary £10,408 - £11,360

Part-time 15 hours a week, Term Time Only, Permanent

Main purpose of role

The Senior Clerk will provide governance support to up to five of our Local Governing Bodies across the Trust, working effectively with Chairs of Governors, Headteachers, school leaders and governors to ensure that they fulfil their roles and responsibilities in relation to the Trust’s overarching governance arrangements, within the Trust’s Scheme of Delegation and Articles of Association. They will also provide support and training to other clerks in the Trust.

What skills / experience are required

This is an exciting opportunity to join the Trust as a Senior Clerk.  We are looking for an exceptional individual who is well organised, can manage and prioritise competing demands, and is able to work in a team.  

In particular, the post holder will: 

• Undertake clerking duties for meetings as required including preparing focused agendas, high quality minutes and undertaking follow-up work 

• Provide advice and guidance on governance related matters 

• Ensure that governors are fully aware of their responsibilities and support them in fulfilling these 

• Lead on governor recruitment and induction and arranging training 

• Manage information and communications effectively and in accordance with legal requirements 

• Ensure each school has policies that are compliant with legislation and Trust requirements

• Provide administrative assistance as required for HR and complaints panels

• Offer high quality administrative support commensurate with the role

• Provide support, training and mentorship to other clerks in the Trust

The postholder should take considerable pride in their work and the strength of their working relationships. They need to be adaptable, work flexibly, possess excellent written and verbal communication skills, use their own initiative, and have exceptional attention to detail.

A driving licence is required and the postholder will need their own car, insured to cover business use.  

You will be required to work flexibly to support the needs of the Trust schools as some early evening work is required due to the nature of the role. 

What we can offer

The River Learning Trust’s collective vision is to be a Trust where pupils and staff thrive in schools which demonstrate:

•all-round education, academic success, lifelong learning and strength of character
•sustainable continuous improvement; no school standing still
•all schools being good and outstanding, or improving rapidly
•collaboration that is raising standards, and reducing workload
• where pupils, staff, parents and communities value all we do to support the best possible outcomes and experiences for our children and young people

This role does not include regulated activity relevant to children. 

How to apply / closing date / where to find further details

NB. Online applications through MyNewTerm

• Closing date - 3rd February 2023

• Shortlisting date - w/c 6th February 2023

• Interview date  - w/c 13th February 2023

The River Learning Trust is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of all children and preventing extremism.  All staff must ensure that the highest priority is given to following the guidance and regulations to safeguard children and young people.  The River Learning Trust are required to conduct online searches about you as part of their shortlisting process in accordance with Keeping Children Safe in Education guidance in order to identify any incidents or concerns which are publicly available online.  By applying for this role, you acknowledge that such searches will be conducted as part of the shortlisting process. The successful candidate will be subject to an enhanced DBS check  Employment will also be conditional on the receipt of at least two acceptable references (one from current/latest employer) and evidence of the formal qualifications required for the role.The River Learning Trust is an equal opportunities employer and we welcome applications from a range of backgrounds to represent diversity in line with our schools’ community. It is an offence to apply for certain roles within schools if you are barred from engaging in regulated activity relevant to children. You should contact the school if you are unsure if this role includes regulated activity relevant to children.

For all RLT Safer Recruitment Documentation candidates should click on the following link RLT Safer Recruitment Documents for Candidates 

This post is exempt from the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 and the amendments to the Exceptions Order 1975, 2013 and 2020. Which means that when applying for certain jobs and activities certain spent convictions and cautions are ‘protected’, so they do not need to be disclosed to employers, and if they are disclosed, employers cannot take them into account. For further guidance for applicants click on the this link List of offences that are not filtered

Our staff are expected to maintain high standards of ethics and behaviour, within and outside school, by not undermining fundamental British values including democracy, the rule of law, individual liberty and mutual respect, and tolerance of those with different faiths and beliefs.

What benefits does the Trust offer to its employees?

• Annual pay increase for support staff (in line with grade boundaries) and for Teachers (subject to government framework and successful performance review)

• A Defined Benefit Pension Scheme with favourable terms for all employees

(Teachers Pension for Teachers; LGPS for Support Staff)

• Moving from the public sector? Those without a break in service can be reassured that RLT will recognise their continuous service.

• Employee centred and family friendly policies and practises that support you in and beyond your workplace.

• Offering flexible working wherever we can, in order to support the work life balance of our employees.

• Enhanced sick pay, maternity leave, paternity leave and parental leave.

• Competitive holiday entitlement for support staff (minimum 24 days rising to 32 day plus bank holidays  per annum - dependent on grade of role and length of service) 

• Cycle to work scheme

• Funded eye tests and glasses for DSE users (subject to T/Cs)