Guidance

Working with governance professionals (clerks): resources

Published 24 September 2025

Applies to England

© Crown copyright 2025

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The role of governance professionals (clerks)

Schools and trusts need skilled and knowledgeable governance professionals who can:

  • provide independent advice to support the governing body or academy trust board in strategic decision-making 
  • ensure compliance with legal and regulatory requirements 
  • manage meetings and documentation

DfE has the following guidance on the role of the governance professional:

Resources: the role of governance professionals (clerks)

Academy trust governance code – the role of the governance professional as a pillar of ethical, effective and accountable governance in principles 1 and 5.

Governance professional: role and responsibilities – the role of the academy trust governance professional and their responsibilities.

Governing a school trust – the role of the governance professional is highlighted as central to effectiveness.

Governance professional role framework – how to define the role to meet the needs of the academy trust while balancing workload and wellbeing.

Role descriptions for governance professionals – information for all types of settings, and for lead governance professionals in multi-academy trusts.

Clerking handbook – a practical guide for governing body and academy trust board governance professionals.

Training, pay and career progression

The governing body or academy trust board supports governance professionals by:

  • paying them fairly to reflect the skill, experience and strategic value they bring
  • identifying training and development opportunities

Resources: the training, pay and career progression of governance professionals (clerks)

Supporting the appraisal of the governance professional – guidance tailored to academy trustees involved with the appraisal of the governance professional’s role over time.

Working with your academy trust governance professional – training for academy trustees and local academy committee members to understand the strategic role of the governance professional in academy trusts.

Next-gen governance – examples of how governance professionals are strategic leaders that sit at the heart of next-generation governance in academy trusts.

Career pathway for governance professionals – support for current and aspiring maintained school and academy trust governance professionals through advice on clerking, governance co-ordinator and lead governance professional level roles.

Governance professional resources – guidance, training and development opportunities, webinars, blogs and podcasts for school and academy trust governance professionals (some resources are only available to National Governance Association members).

Resources index for governance professionals – guidance, tools, and resources for governance professionals and governance volunteers (some resources are only available to Confederation of School Trust members).

Governance professional perspectives – research-based findings on working conditions, pay, progression and retention and professional practice for school and academy trust governance professionals.

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