Local Experience – Local Knowledge - Local Support

The Department for Education set out their expectations on governors to achieve effective school governance in three key documents:

1. Competency Framework for Governance 
2. Governance Handbook, 
3. Academy Financial Handbook 

Your local Governor and Clerking Service team understand the national expectations and the challenges faced by governors as volunteers in meeting them and provide services designed to:

• Support professional development 

• Develop effective governance

• Support succession planning

• Save governors and clerks time

Key Benefits

 Support, Information and Development (GS01)

Support package GS01 subscription offers a cost effective way for all governors and the clerk to governors to access professional support at the time it is needed. The package includes the following benefits for an annual fee: 

Local support and guidance services

• Advice and support service - Unlimited access to telephone, email and face to face support on local issues

• The Key for School Governors - Annual membership to the online national advice and guidance service for all governors and the clerk to governors.

Information and Networking

• Governors Online - Governor and Clerking Service online support with access to members only benefits for governors and the clerk.

• Local area forums - Unlimited free access for governors to network and recieve briefings on local and national changes to the sector. 

• Clerk area network meetings - Unlimited free access for clerks to network and recieve briefings on local and national changes to the sector.

Recruitment and locum support

• Recruitment support services  - Assistance in locating suitable local volunteers and clerks.

• Locum support service - Assistance is securing clerk or governor cover for meetings and emergency panels. 

Governor and clerk induction

• Governor induction – Unlimited free access to full day or twilight sessions for new governors

• Clerk induction - Unlimited free access to one to one induction at the school

Individual governor and clerk development

• Governor and clerk training programme - Unlimited free access to locally delivered induction and further development courses.

• Online training  - National Governors Association Learning Link - Annual subscription to NGA Learning Link online training courses.

Download full details of services in pdf

For service descriptions, details of the services included and the charges for annual support package and Pay As You Use services

Click to download Governor and Clerking Service Offer Summary 19-20

What if the annual package doesn't meet the needs of our academy structure?

We recognise governance in Multi Academy Trusts will vary depending on locally agreed arrangements and associated schemes of delegation.

We can develop an annual package of support tailored to your particular schemes of delegation and the support required of governors at a local level if our GS01 or GS02 packages do not meet your requirements.

If you would like to create a package that better suites your needs please contact the team on 01323 466885 or email governors@eastsussex.gov.uk or click "Request Variation" and complete the enquiry form.

What if we don't want to commit to an annual fee?

Whilst not as cost effective, many of our services are available to purchase as and when you want to access them.

To search for details and charges visit: Pay As You Use

Looking for ad-hoc training for the whole governing board?

Whole governing board development

Governing board reviews

External review of governance

Testimonials

"The annual subscription was particularly useful and financially 'attractive 'enabling us to access a wide range of training, bespoke sessions and online support. The overall impact of the service we received over 2 years enabled governors to become increasingly confident and effective in their roles." Chair of Governors - East Sussex Free School

"Being able to speak to someone on the phone or drop a quick email makes the difficult task of being a Governor more manageable"Chair of Governors - East Sussex Primary School

"We are delighted with the professional advice, training and support provided by the Governor and Clerking Service. We have always found the Service invaluable with advice; up to date on procedures and DfE initiatives and strong in the delivery of professional development for Governors" Headteacher - East Sussex Secondary School

"I really do not feel that quality and consistency of governance in any school is possible without the kinds of support you have been able to provide."
Chair of Governors - East Sussex Special School

"I have felt that your collaborative and encouraging emphasis has enabled me to deal with some difficult situations in a professional and timely manner." Chair of Governors - East Sussex Primary School

"The feedback was very speedy and gave me additional confidence when discussing this matter with certain governors at the subsequent GB meeting"
Clerk - East Sussex Primary school

Service Details

Support, Information and Development (GS01)

Local support and guidance services

• Advice and support service The team provide telephone and email advice on local issues affecting the governance of your school including procedural and legislative issues.  Face to face support is available for more complex issues. (Charges may apply for school visits)

• The Key for School Governors (KSG) Enjoy membership benefits to the Key for School Governors’ advisory website at Local Authority discounted rates not available when purchasing directly. KSG provides you with up-to-date, well researched, practical answers to questions on all aspects of general governance that empowers governors to quickly and easily develop their own knowledge by researching or posting questions.

Information and networking

• Governors Online  Membership to Governor Online provides governors and clerks a range of functions designed to save time and support the work of the governing board and clerk:

Members only area provides governors and clerks the following functions:

• On-line booking for training courses
• On-line data management for contact details and training records 
• On-line diary and document storage for meetings 
• On-line reporting functions suitable for Ofsted inspections 
• On-line templates, model policies and guidance documents

Public area provides local and national newsfeeds and training course information

• Local area forums  A school to school approach, combined with the increased focus on school governance, will require governing boards to consider how all governors can work collectively across the wider ‘governor community’.

   The forums are designed to inform and update governors on current local and national issues through high quality presentations that facilitate discussion and information sharing among peers whilst providing the opportunity to share best practice, to discuss and debate current topics, network and meet local contacts.

   Held three times per academic year the forums are jointly facilitated with the team and your local member/s of the East Sussex Governors Forum (ESGF).

• Clerk area network meetings  The role of an advisory clerk cannot be underestimated when considering the effectiveness of school governance. However whilst it is considered essential that clerks keep up to date with changes in the sector and identify good practice to make the most of the hours worked, it is recognised that the role can feel isolating when working independently of the school.

  The network meetings aim to support and develop the role played by clerks in providing an opportunity for clerks to meet and discuss ‘hot topics’ and changes in legislation, share best practice and build a network of contacts across the county.

  Held three times per academic year the forums are facilitated by one of the team.

Recruitment and locum support services

• Governor recruitment Working with you, Inspiring Governance, Governors for Schools and local organisations the service will focus on finding suitable volunteers that match identified weaknesses and your governance needs.

• Clerks to Governors recruitment support Our team will guide you through a governance review that helps identify targets for a new clerk and identify the number of contracted hours required to be effective prior to advertising. Focused on supporting your school’s recruitment campaign the team will provide you with model adverts, job descriptions, person specifications and interview questions.
• Please note - The team does not provide ESCC advertising or personnel services these can be purchased separately via the webshop.

• Governor and clerk locum support service  For those times when a clerk or governor is unable to attend a meeting or panel. The team will work with you to find a suitable and experienced emergency replacement for the clerking of meetings and/or governors for appeal panels.
• Please note this is an introduction service only – The service cannot guarantee cover and any costs associated with travel/expenses and/or clerking hours worked will be invoiced to the receiving school.

Individual governor and clerk development

• Governor and clerk training programme Locally delivered induction and further development courses provide networking opportunities and access to the local interpretation of both national legislation and generic on-line training. A schedule of training courses to develop the essential skills and knowledge of new governors, existing governors and clerks, ensuring participation in governance at all levels.

   Full details of the governor and clerk training and development programme.

• Online Training  - National Governors Association Learning Link

  Enjoy membership benefits to The National Governors’ Association (NGA) Learning Link online training website at Local Authority discounted rates not available when purchasing directly.

  The NGA, working with one of the UK’s top e-learning companies, Virtual College, have launched Learning Link that provides users with access to over fifty modules curated by NGA’s expert team of policy and information specialists.

  Modules are comprehensive and cover a range of governance-related topics including: strategy, team work, assessment, staffing, financial oversight, elements of effective governance, compliance and collaboration to name a few.

What if the annual package doesn't meet the needs of our academy structure?

We recognise governance in Multi Academy Trusts will vary depending on locally agreed arrangements and associated schemes of delegation.

We can develop an annual package of support tailored to your particular schemes of delegation and the support required of governors at a local level if our GS01 or GS02 packages do not meet your requirements.

If you would like to create a package that better suits your needs please contact the team on 01323 466885 or email governors@eastsussex.gov.uk or click "Request Variation" and complete the enquiry form.

Pricing

Primary and Special Schools
• up to 100 pupils - £765
• 101 pupils and over - £1,205

Secondary and through schools
• Flat rate - £1,750

Please note -  LA Maintained Federations  - The above prices are per school, for multiple federated schools with a single governing board, the price will be calculated on the basis of the total number of pupils across all of the schools in the federation.

Individual pricing structures for multi academy trusts

We recognise governance in Multi Academy Trusts will vary depending on locally agreed arrangements and associated schemes of delegation.

We can develop an annual package of support tailored to your particular schemes of delegation and the support required of goverors at a local level if our GS01 or GS02 package does not meet your requirements.

If you would like to create a package that better suits your needs please contact the team on 01323 466885 or email governors@eastsussex.gov.uk or click "Request Variation" and complete the enquiry form.

Further Information

Support, Information and Development (GS01)

What if the annual package doesn't meet the needs of our academy structure?

We recognise governance in Multi Academy Trusts will vary depending on locally agreed arrangements and associated schemes of delegation.

We can develop an annual package of support tailored to your particular schemes of delegation and the support required of governors at a local level if our GS01 or GS02 packages do not meet your requirements.

If you would like to create a package that better suits your needs please contact the team on 01323 466885 or email governors@eastsussex.gov.uk or click "Request Variation" and complete the enquiry form.

Terms & Conditions

Please see out Terms and Conditions page.

Support