Clerk to Governors

Woodlands School, Plymouth, Devon, PL6 5ES

18 days remaining to apply

• Start date details

  As soon as possible

• Closing date

  29 November 2026 at 11:59pm

• Date listed

  11 November 2026

Job details

• Job role:
  • Administration, HR, data and finance
• Visa sponsorship: Visas cannot be sponsored
• Working pattern: Part time: 3.5 hours per week
• Contract type: Permanent
• Actual salary: £1,961
• Pay scale: Grade D

What skills and experience we're looking for

Job Purpose

• Provide professional advice and administrative support to the Governing Body.
• Help ensure that governance arrangements are lawful, effective and properly recorded.
• Manage governance information accurately, securely and confidentially.

Key responsibilities

1. Governance advice

• Advise the Governing Body on governance legislation, constitutional requirements and meeting procedures.
• Act as the main point of contact for governors on procedural and governance matters.
• Keep governors informed of relevant legal, regulatory or school-status changes and seek specialist advice where needed.
• Promote effective governance practice, including self-evaluation, succession planning and skills development.
• Support the review and approval of statutory policies and the annual governance calendar.
• Provide induction information and guidance for new governors and governors taking on additional roles.

2. Meeting administration

• Maintain an annual meeting and work planner, including required agenda items and governance deadlines.
• Work with the Chair, Headteacher and School Business Manager to prepare focused agendas for Governing Body and committee meetings.
• Circulate agendas and supporting papers at least seven days before meetings, unless exceptional circumstances apply.
• Confirm that meetings are quorate and record attendance, apologies and declarations of interest.
• Produce clear and accurate draft minutes, including decisions, actions, responsible persons and timescales.
• Send draft minutes for review, circulate approved drafts to relevant people and follow up agreed actions.

3. Membership, compliance and development

• Maintain accurate records of governor membership, terms of office, categories, appointments and vacancies.
• Alert governors and appointing bodies before terms of office expire and support parent and staff governor elections.
• Provide procedural support for the election of the Chair and Vice-Chair, including chairing the relevant part of the meeting where required.
• Maintain registers of business and pecuniary interests and support appropriate Disclosure and Barring Service checks.
• Maintain records of attendance and training, issue reminders and advise the Chair of any potential disqualification or compliance concern.
• Coordinate skills audits and identify training or recruitment needs.

4. Information and records management

• Maintain accurate governance records, including contact details, terms of office, committee membership, terms of reference and nominated governor roles.
• Keep the Key Governors Hub, Get Information about Schools (GIAS) record and relevant governance information up to date.
• Maintain signed minutes, correspondence, approved policies, guidance and archive records in line with retention and confidentiality requirements.
• Publish or share governance information with the school website, local authority or other bodies as required or agreed.

5. Additional duties

• Respond appropriately to governance enquiries from staff, families and external contacts, referring operational matters to the correct person.
• Clerk statutory appeal committees or panels where this forms part of the agreed role; otherwise support the Governing Body to arrange suitable clerking.
• Prepare briefing papers and contribute to governor training where appropriate.
• Undertake other reasonable governance-related duties agreed with the Governing Body.

6. Professional development

• Keep up to date with education, governance and legislative developments.
• Complete relevant training and participate in performance management.

What the school offers its staff

Woodlands School is located in Plymouth, in the South West of England. Known as Britain’s Ocean City, Plymouth offers the perfect balance of coast and countryside, with almost ten miles of beautiful coastline, marinas, docklands, and seaside promenades. It’s an ideal location for those who enjoy the outdoors while still wanting access to a vibrant urban environment.

Woodlands School is an inspiring place to work. We are a foundation special school serving nearly one hundred children and young people aged 2–19 with complex physical and sensory difficulties. Many of our pupils also have medical needs and additional challenges that can affect their learning. As a regional resource for the South West peninsula, our pupils come from Plymouth, Devon and Cornwall to benefit from our specialist provision.

Children’s health and wellbeing are supported through close partnership with the Specialist Community Nursing Team, NHS therapists, Children’s Disability Social Work Teams, Livewell South West, and neighbouring local authorities. Our staff work collaboratively with therapists and other professionals to ensure the best outcomes for every individual pupil.

We offer a range of early years opportunities for very young children and their families, giving them access to our facilities, specialist support and a welcoming community. Our Family Team plays a key role in guiding families through assessment processes, signposting services, improving communication and providing holistic support beyond the classroom.

Our early years assessment space supports children from age two through structured sessions that build essential skills, including preparation for inclusion or potential mainstream pathways. Across the school, all pupils follow dynamic, individualised learning programmes aligned with their Education, Health and Care Plans (EHCPs).

We also provide a well‑established Outreach Service, promoting high‑quality practice and supporting pupils with physical difficulties in mainstream schools across Plymouth.

Our commitment to high expectations, an enabling curriculum and a strong emphasis on independence ensures pupils leave Woodlands not only with recognised qualifications but with the confidence and skills needed for a fulfilling life. We take the same approach with our staff, offering a responsive training and development programme that strengthens practice and enhances pupils’ experiences. With over a century of experience—providing specialist education since 1919—combined with a modern, state‑of‑the‑art environment, Woodlands is a truly unique and rewarding place to work.

Further information about the job

The candidate will be required to undergo a full enhanced DBS check and must be eligible to work in the UK.

Visas cannot be sponsored.

If you're interested in teaching or training to teach in England as an international citizen, we can help you understand your next steps.

Location

Woodlands School, with agreed remote working when and where appropriate.

Commitment to safeguarding

Woodlands school is committed to safeguarding and promoting equality of opportunity.
This post is subject to an enhanced DBS check.

Applying for the job

This job requires you to download an application form, you will be able to upload the application once complete.

CVs will not be accepted for this application.

About Woodlands School

• Organisation type: Special school, ages 2 to 19
• Size: 97 pupils enrolled
• Age range: 2 to 19
• Ofsted report: View Ofsted report
• Website: Woodlands School website
• Email address: hr@woodlands.plymouth.sch.uk
• Phone number: 01752300101
• See more jobs: teaching-vacancies.service.gov.uk/organisations/woodlands-school-plymouth

Woodlands School is based in Plymouth, in the South West of England. Named Britain’s Ocean City, we are close to the sea and moors. With almost ten miles of coastline which is home to a host of marinas, docklands and seaside promenades, Plymouth is a great coastal location. Ideal for those that love the outdoors but also wish to live or be near to an urban area.
Woodlands is an inspiring place to work. At present there are 87 pupils on roll, aged 2 to 19. These young people have a range of complex needs, both physical and with their learning. Over the years we have realised that it takes versatile people to support our pupils, as no two days are ever the same. Our specially developed curriculums adapt to the changing needs of our young people and this, along with their health and care needs, provides the focus of the day.

Arranging a visit to Woodlands School

To arrange a visit and increase the chance of a successful application email hr@woodlands.plymouth.sch.uk.

School location

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