Governance Support Officer London Application Pack
Governance Support Officer – London Application pack
Aldridge Education is a charitable trust whoseentrepreneurial community schoolshelp young people to reach their potential. We support our schools’ principals and teachers in rapidly improving the quality of education on offer at early years, primary, secondary and sixth-form levels in order to transform the life-chances of our students.
Aldridge Education was established as a national multi-academy trust by the Aldridge Foundation in 2016, taking over responsibility from the Foundation for its family of non-selective academyschools and colleges, some of which are part of the multi-academy trustwhilstothers arecurrentlyindependent trusts sponsored by Aldridge Education.
Sir Rod Aldridge launched the Aldridge Foundation in 2006 after retiring from Capita Plc, the business he set up and which became one of this country’s most successful companies. Our shared belief is that by introducing young people to, and helping develop in them, the core attributes of entrepreneurship, we can provide context and relevance to their learning, foster creativity, passion, determination, risk taking, problem solving and teamwork. These characteristics help our students achieve in their education and acquire further vital skills for adult life.
Aldridge Education Governance Support Officer London – Job Description and Person Specification
Hours: Approximately 7 hours per week term time only + two weeks but the successful candidate will need to work flexibly around meeting dates of which there are 16 scheduled per year plus ad hoc meetings. The majority of meetings take place in the evening.
Salary: £23k-£26k (Pro rata £3444 - £3890per annum depending on skills and experience. Although this may increase for an exceptional, highly experienced candidate.
Responsible to: Director of Governance and Human Resources
Key relationships: Aldridge Education staff, principals and their PA’s and governors of relevant schools.
Location: London office or home based with travel to schools
Overview:
The role of Governance Support Officer is to, under the direction of the Director of Governance and HR, provide a co-ordinated service for governors at our two schools in London and to ensure that the business of each Committee or Board is conducted smoothly and efficiently; operates within its powers and follows agreed and proper procedures. They will also provide some administrative support to the Director of Governance and HR.
Their key attributes will be to:
- Be a strong administrator, required to organise meetings, prepare draft agendas and take accurate Minutes.
- Provide advice to governors and Principals to ensure that the governors’ time is used to focus on benefiting academy students.
- Act as an information manager, recording process and outcomes of collective decision-making, ensure statutory records are maintained and be able to research and access information.
- Act in the role of adviser to local governors on procedural matters.
- Provide administrative support to the Director of Governance and Human Resources.
Specific Responsibilities:
1. Ensure that the Director of Governance & HR is kept informed of matters of relevance.
2. Be a source of advice and guidance on academy governance and procedural matters to governors and staff at each academy.
3. To be aware of governance-related issues in DfE guidance.
4. To maintain appropriate records.
5. To work with Chairs and Principals to prepare sensible and focused agendas for the meetings of governors.
6. To administrate and distribute agendas and all papers for governor meetings not less than one week before each meeting.
7. To attend and record the business of all governor meetings, including maintaining clear records of attendance, quoracy, decisions made, and actions to take including timescales.
8. To produce high quality minutes for all governor meetings within two weeks of each meeting.
9. To ensure that suitable archives of meeting papers and signed minutes are maintained.
10. To administer and provide support and guidance for governor panels relating to student and staff disciplinary matters.
11. To administer elections in relation to staff and parent governor vacancies as necessary.
12. Using a variety of software packages, such as Microsoft Word, Outlook, PowerPoint, Excel and Access to produce correspondence and documents and maintain presentations, records, spreadsheets and databases.
13. Provide administrative support for the development of policies and other key documents.
14. Be prepared to undertake any other duties within the role as required.
Training
The post holder will be expected to undertake professional development as appropriate to the post and in the context of personal development.
It is incumbent upon the post-holder to maintain up-to-date knowledge of educational development and legislation affecting academy governance.
Other requirements
Flexibility is essential to the meet the needs of the role, as is the ability to travel on occasion to Aldridge locations outside London on occasion.
Person specification
Assessed through:App / Int
Qualifications / GCSE qualifications including English and Mathematics (E) / X
Skills / Excellent communication and interpersonal skills, including writing skills appropriate to report production (E) / X
Strong administrative, organisation and clerical skills (E) / X / X
Ability to manage own time and workload effectively and autonomously (E) / X / X
Ability to work with and advise others from a wider range of backgrounds (E) / X / X
High levels of literacy, numeracy and ICT capability (E) / X
Knowledge
And
Experience / Proven track-record of handling sensitive and confidential information and using own judgement to exercise appropriate discretion (E) / X / X
Experience of minute-taking and document production (E) / X
Information management experience (E) / X
Research skills, and ability to access expert advice when required by Governors (E) / X / X
Experience in clerking for Governing Bodies (D) / X / X
Experience of working with bodies subject to FOI (D) / X
Knowledge of the terminology used within the education environment (D) / X / X
An understanding of the issues impacting on Academies (D) / X / X
Knowledge of the education sector (D) / X / X
Attributes / A commitment to the ethos of Aldridge Education and its academies (E) / X / X
Enthusiasm, drive and self-motivation (E) / X
(E): Essential, (D): Desirable
Note: It is not essential for this post that the successful candidate will have worked previously within an education setting. However, it is expected that applicants will have some knowledge of the procedures of working with committees – which may have been gained in former employment or a voluntary capacity, and experience working with Boards either within a corporate, public sector or charitable environment.
How to apply
Send a CV and a covering letter, addressing how you meet the person specification of the role, to . If you have any queries in relation to the role you may contact Liz Dawson at or on 0207 297 0369.
The closing date is 9.00am on 19th January 2018. Applications received after this time will not be considered. Interviews will be held in London on 29th January 2018.
Aldridge Education is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young persons and expects all staff and volunteers to share this commitment. For this post, the successful candidate will be required to undergo a Disclosure and Baring Service check.
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