School and Governor Support works to ensure that governing bodies receive the appropriate level of clerical support required, to conduct their day-to-day business.  This support includes:

• Appointment of governing body clerks - through advertisements placed in Birmingham City Council's Forward newspaper.  The Governing Body Support Officers act as a first point of contact for interested applicants, as well as issuing the job description and application forms.  They also issue, on behalf of governing bodies, contracts for services to newly appointed clerks.  A model job description is available from the Documents page.
  
  
• Providing a link between governing body clerks and the local authority - through giving, as required, advice and support to Governing Body Clerks on all matters which relate to their role and responsibilities.
  
  
• Providing peripatetic clerks on request - to service the meetings of those governing bodies that are temporarily without a permanent clerk.
  
  
• Payment of governing body clerks - the Governing Body Support Officers process the claim forms submitted by Governing Body Clerks, in order for them to receive their termly fee.

However, Governing Bodies are free to set their own fee, which takes into account additional duties not included in the standard contract for services.  The Governing Body Support Officers are, of course, willing to advise those Governing Bodies who wish to amend the standard fee paid for clerking duties.

Please note that, from September 2003, a Governing Body must appoint a clerk to each of its committees.  Although this does not have to be the Clerk to the Governing Body, we recommend that the Governing Body appoints a clerk that is paid and is suitably qualified.

• Issuing Information and Advice - throughout the year, as appropriate, the School & Governor Support Team issue written advice to Governing Body Clerks on matters ranging from Governing Body membership records, to the deadline dates for the receipt of salary claim forms.

For further information or queries that relate to the clerking of school governing bodies, please contact Governor Support.