Welcome to day 4 of Blogmas! Today we are looking at Annual Governance Business Plans.
If you are part of the Pro Clerking Members Club you will shortly recieve the recording and resources from yesterday’s Autumn 2 Masterclass full of actionable steps to creating your own business plan and of course lots of examples and resources PLUS the first sneak peek at Project X with the aim of piloting our new platform with our Members Club in the New Year.
Not yet a member of the PCMC? The next enrolment opens February 2025 – join our no-obligation waiting list here.
Suggested Key Agenda Items by Term
The Clerk or Governance Professional will usually have a role in setting meeting agendas; whether it is to provide a template or draft agenda for the Chair and Senior Leader to review and add to or to check the final agenda before circulation with the meeting pack.
It is also useful for the Governance Professional to have a role in setting the annual governance business planner. This is a document which can be built upon from agreeing meeting dates and key agenda items to deciding when monitoring and reporting will take place and policies approved.
Welcome to day 3 of Blogmas! Today we’re sharing our favourite minute typing buzz words. I keep a list of these printed out on my office notice board as a visual prompt when typing up minutes. I hope you find them helpful too!
Have you accessed the recording and resources from this term’s FREE Clerking with Confidence Workshop? If not, here’s a summary of what you missed (link to full recording and resources below):
Clerking with Confidence Workshop Autumn 2 – 19th November 2024
Overview
Review governance updates, discuss foundational knowledge on meeting administration, and share best practices for effective minute-taking.
Key Takeaways
Ofsted inspection framework changes include removal of overall effectiveness grade and updates to ungraded inspections
Prevent duty training is recommended for governors as part of safeguarding obligations, though exact requirements may need board discussion
Minutes should be concise yet meaningful, focusing on key decisions, actions, and evidence of challenge rather than verbatim accounts
Annual business planning and agenda setting are crucial for effective governance throughout the year
Topics
Ofsted Inspection Framework Updates
Removal of overall effectiveness grade
Updates to ungraded inspections
Inspections to be announced on a Monday for that week
New definitions for key judgments and provision judgments
Launch of Ofsted Academy for inspector training transparency
Prevent Duty Training for Governors
Recommended as part of safeguarding obligations under Keeping Children Safe in Education
Exact requirements not explicitly clear in guidance
Suggested to discuss at board level and document decision-making process
Consider having safeguarding lead governor complete training if not all governors
Effective Minute-Taking
Focus on concise, meaningful summaries rather than verbatim accounts
Highlight key decisions, actions, and evidence of challenge
Use color-coding to make challenge easily identifiable
Include decision and action trackers at the end of minutes
Consider recording meetings (with permission) to reference if more detail needed later
Annual Business Planning
Develop a yearly overview of key governance tasks and topics
Align agenda items with school development plan priorities
Use a structured approach to ensure all statutory and strategic items are covered
Meeting Administration
Aim for agenda preparation 2-3 weeks before meeting
Circulate papers 7 days before meeting – even if it is just the agenda and minutes of the last meeting
Aim to draft minutes within a week of meeting
Follow up on actions promptly
Next Steps
Review and discuss Prevent duty training requirements at next board meeting
Evaluate current minute-taking practices and consider implementing a more concise, focused approach
Develop or refine annual business plan for governance activities
Check school website compliance with updated guidance on required information
Consider joining Pro Clerking Members Club for additional resources and support (reopens February 2025)
View the full recording and resources here – available until 21st December 2024 unless you are a member of the Pro Clerking Members Club in which case you have full access to all past workshops 🙂
Don’t forget to mark this on your Blogmas Bingo card or note down Day 2: Christmas Tree ready to send to contact@proclerking.co.uk before 10th January 2025!
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Welcome to Blogmas 2024! Pro Clerking, in collaboration with Governors’ Virtual Office (GVO), will be publishing a new blog post Monday-Thursday for the next 3 weeks leading up to the end of term (20th December 2024)!
PLUS we are giving you the opportunity to be entered into an exclusive Blogmas Bingo giveaway!
Simply match each Blogmas day post with a symbol on our Blogmas Bingo card (see link below) and send in your responses to contact@proclerking.co.ukbetween 20th December 2024 and 10th January 2025. All correct responses will be entered into the prize draw – with multiple winners!
Download your Blogmas Bingo card here! (Use this to mark your response or simply send in a list of answers, for example: Day 1: name of symbol, Day 2: name of symbol etc. to contact@proclerking.co.uk before 10th January 2025.
Day 1’s symbol is:
Mark this on your Blogmas Bingo card or note down Day 1: Star and so on for all 12 Blogmas posts.
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Are you ready to clear away December’s festivities and start afresh?
Here are some suggested New Year tasks to get 2023 off to a flying start:
1. Review your CPD wish list
Did you make a CPD wish list back at the start of the new academic year? Now is a great time to check your progress or even start new – what would you like to achieve this year? What parts of your role do you think could do with some brushing up? Why not start by joining our next Clerking with Confidence Workshop on 11th January or even better still – check out the Pro Clerking Members’ Club as a one-stop-shop for all your clerking needs!
2. Schedule this term’s meeting admin
Get ahead of the game and book your meeting admin into your diary for the rest of the term (and maybe even next term!) From drafting agendas and preparing draft minutes to following up on actions and circulating minutes to key stakeholders – add your admin tasks to your diary or why not check out Pro Clerking’s meeting and minutes checklist to keep you mega organised!
3. Complete a compliance check-in
When was the last time you confirmed your governance on GIAS? Or checked your website is up to date? Join our FREE mini training session on 18th January to put together your own mid-year compliance check-in list
Welcome to day 12 of Blogmas 2022 in collaboration with Governors’ Virtual Office (GVO) and happy end of term!
Find out how to get involved with our Blogmas Bingo giveaway here and don’t forget to download your Blogmas Bingo card!
(Use this to mark your response or simply send in a list of answers, for example: Day 1: name of symbol, Day 2: name of symbol etc. to contact@proclerking.co.uk between 16th December and 11th January to be in with a chance of winning!)
Here’s today’s symbol to note down:
New Year’s Resolutions and Goal Setting for 2023
It may not be the start of a new academic year but January is the perfect time to reassess or set your goals. Don’t know where to start? Below you will find our 5 suggested steps to setting and achieving your goals for 2023 plus a free downloadable goal-setting page from the 2022-23 Governance Professional’s Annual Planner.
Step 1: Finding your purpose – start by broadening your mindset in terms of what It is you actually want to achieve– your “why”. Are you aiming to offer the best service possible? Or do you want to earn more money? Maybe you would really like to work for yourself. Or maybe you’d just like to feel more organised and confident you have all your processes and procedures in place!
Step 2: Setting your goals – remembering to keep your “why” in the back of your mind start thinking about the goals could you set which align with what you want to achieve. Now think about what each of these goals would/could look like in the short (<3 months) and longer (> 12 months) term – even if this doesn’t yet feel achievable! Let’s take the example of the “why” of ultimately working for yourself:
Short term (<3 months): Draft out what my business may look like
Long term (>12 months): Take on my first client
Step 3: Gaining confidence – before taking action it’s important to build firm foundation blocks for confidence. You may have heard of the victor vs victim mindset. This technique is all about thinking about the attributes that sit under each of these mindsets then noticing and consciously changing what we use in our everyday lives. This involves a change in language and the way we act. Positive self-talk and body language are powerful tools for unlocking confidence. If you tell yourself you can achieve your goal you will start to believe it and it WILL happen.
Step 4: Taking action – the 4 ways to take action on making your goals a reality are: a) set habits b) create discipline c) build routines d) stay accountable
For each goal think of the habits which link to that goal, break these down into tasks, work out how often these tasks need to be done to move you closer to your goal (are these short or long term goals? Do they need daily, weekly or monthly attention?), create routines which incorporate these habits and tasks (do you need to set aside 30 mins at the end of your working day to dedicate to your tasks? Can you create a workflow to empty your inbox at the end of every week?) then think of a way to stay accountable (set achievable deadlines or milestones in your diary, commit to your Chair or Head to review and send an update on policies every month etc.)
Step 5: The compound effect – as with so many things, consistency is key. You now have the tools to go from your “why” right through to taking action– now rinse and repeat! Goals, tasks and routines will most likely need tweaking, but I guarantee with every tweak improvements will be made and tasks will become easier and more efficient. Often the hardest part of something is starting. A repeated system of small, seemingly insignificant actions can reap huge rewards.
Small choices + consistency + time = significant results
The GVO Support Team are here to help with anything that you need and will be very pleased to take a look at your GVO with you, suggesting some ideas where you might be able to save time, duplication or effort. Our support service is open to all GVO users, at any time, so please do encourage your Governors to call if they need help or training.
Never has there been a better time to get on top of Policies, and this will be a key area of focus for the new term. Find out how you can manage the process from initial draft through to approval and finalisation – linking approved policies directly to the school or Trust website. Make it your new year resolution to find out more and see how we can help!
Merry Christmas – Plus an extra gift!
To end this year’s Blogmas series, I would like to wish you a Merry Christmas and a very Happy New Year for 2023 from Pro Clerking and GVO.
In addition to our Blogmas Bingo giveaway – as an extra Christmas gift here’s an exclusive discount code for 20% off EVERYTHING in the Pro Clerking shop – including your annual PC Members’ Club membership and Governance Professional’s Annual Planner! (Between 16th December 2022 and 11th January 2023)
PCBLOGMAS2022
Plus don’t forget to send in your Blogmas Bingo responses to contact@proclerking.co.uk between 16th December and 11th January to be in with a chance of winning exclusive prizes! Find out more here!
All our best and Merry Christmas!
Ellie & Becky
Want to receive Pro Clerking blog posts and updates directly to your inbox? Subscribe here.
Find out how to get involved with our Blogmas Bingo giveaway here and don’t forget to download your Blogmas Bingo card!
(Use this to mark your response or simply send in a list of answers, for example: Day 1: name of symbol, Day 2: name of symbol etc. to contact@proclerking.co.uk between 16th December and 11th January to be in with a chance of winning!)
Here’s today’s symbol to note down:
Continuing Professional Development
Whether you are a new or seasoned Clerk, continuing professional development is key to not only keeping your skills and knowledge up to date but will also help boost your confidence and resilience when it comes to facing new challenges.
Slowly but surely the importance of a professional Clerk in providing advice and guidance to the governance board and delivering high-level administrative support is becoming more and more widely understood and championed.
However, in order for a professional Clerk to carry out these tasks to the best of their ability, they must have access to high-quality, continuing training and development.
Here at Pro Clerking we offer you the opportunity to learn, support and share your own knowledge and experience through a variety of ways to best suit you or your organisation. Here are some examples:
Online Community
Tap into one of our free online communities to ask questions, offer support and connect with other Clerks. Find out more about our various online groups here.
Workshop Wednesday
Pro Clerking offers a range of affordable workshops each with its own bespoke workbook and set of resources as part of Workshop Wednesday. These include FREE mini-training, Q&A, bespoke workshops and our termly Clerking with Confidence Workshop to keep you up to date with governance updates and tasks for the term ahead. Find information about upcoming workshops here, or why not subscribe to the Pro Clerking email list to receive updates directly to your inbox?
Pro Clerking Members’ Club
The Pro Clerking Members’ Club is a monthly subscription giving you access to exclusive, members-only content, including:
comprehensive resource bank and the Pro Clerking Clerks’ Took Kit
termly masterclasses and bespoke content
access to ALL2022-23 Pro Clerking workshops and workbooks
exclusive access to ALL Clerking with Confidence Academy content (launching January 2023 – see more information below)
live Q&A and coaching sessions (plus any recordings)
exclusive career pathway and business mentoring
a range of opportunities to showcase YOUR experience and knowledge
and more!
All for just £24.50 a month or £265 a year for over £1,300 worth of content and resources! Find out more here or get in touch at contact@proclerking.co.uk
The Governance Professional’s Annual Planner 2022-23
Did you know our Governance Professional’s Annual Planner also includes monthly mini training and guidance PLUS termly overviews populated with key dates and tasks to remember? The perfect way to stay organised and learn at the same time! Order your copy here.
The Clerking with Confidence Academy
A self-paced online course of recorded workshops and related workbooks you can access whenever you need without having to wait until a live workshop is on – currently exclusive to members of the Pro Clerking Members’ Club!Launching January 2023!
Coming up in Day 12 of Blogmas – New Year’s Resolutions and Goal Setting for 2023
All our best
Ellie & Becky
Want to receive Pro Clerking blog posts and updates directly to your inbox? Subscribe here.
Find out how to get involved with our Blogmas Bingo giveaway here and don’t forget to download your Blogmas Bingo card!
(Use this to mark your response or simply send in a list of answers, for example: Day 1: name of symbol, Day 2: name of symbol etc. to contact@proclerking.co.uk between 16th December and 11th January to be in with a chance of winning!)
Here’s today’s symbol to note down:
The Personal Touch – Bespoke Training & Support
One of the stand-out benefits of working with Pro Clerking and GVO is the absolute priority to ensure every customer or client feels valued and heard. Providing bespoke, personal support means you not only get the very best service but you get a relatable and approachable person at the end of the phone / email / comment / message who understands (or wants to understand!) your needs.
Pro Clerking was originally formed to provide professional, bespoke clerking services & high-level, affordable training & support for Clerks. But did you know that we also provide a variety of services including personalised one-to-one or groupcoaching, workshops, resources, planners and the Pro Clerking Members Club.
As part of our vision and ethos Pro Clerking promises to: EQUIP YOU with up-to-date resources & information ENABLEYOU to join a supportive community, collaborate with your peers and have the opportunity to progress your professional development EMPOWER YOU to understand the importance of your role and have the confidence to provide solid & meaningful advice on governance matters
Over at GVO, the Support Team (Becky, Neil & Mike) can gladly provide all of the help, training and support needed. This can be via 1-2-1 Zoom, full Board sessions, ‘drop in’ sessions or our topic specific webinars. Their passion lies in making sure that GVO is helping to improve the quality of Governance across your Board(s) as well as making life easier – saving time and duplication.
Please just shout if there is anything we can help with at all, it’s what we are here for!
Find out how to get involved with our Blogmas Bingo giveaway here and don’t forget to download your Blogmas Bingo card!
(Use this to mark your response or simply send in a list of answers, for example: Day 1: name of symbol, Day 2: name of symbol etc. to contact@proclerking.co.uk between 16th December and 11th January to be in with a chance of winning!)
Here’s today’s symbol to note down:
The Clerking Community
Something I know both firsthand and from talking to Clerks across the country is that Clerking can be incredibly lonely. And something you may not know is that this was one of my main drivers when I first started Pro Clerking – to help other Clerks who feel like they’re doing this alone. To create templates and resources that support Clerks in their role and not feel like they’re starting from scratch or that they may have missed something. And to create a friendly, relatable, supportive community where Clerks can chat, discuss, share best practice and governance woes!
I heard something on a podcast today that really hit home:
You teach what you most needed to learn
And that’s exactly it. I’ve created what I needed when I first started out. I teach what I needed to know and I’m creating the community I didn’t have.
The Pro Clerking Community
Are you a new Clerk looking for support or an experienced Clerk wanting to collaborate with your peers and add to your professional portfolio? We offer the opportunity to join a community of clerks wanting to network, offer support and share good practice. You can join us for FREE over on Facebook, Instagram or Linedin using the links below:
Or why not join the FREE Pro Clerking GVO platform here.
Or for even more bespoke support why not join our exclusive Pro Clerking Members’ Club? Find out more here.
Coming up in Day 10 of Blogmas – The Personal Touch – Bespoke Training and Support
All my best
Ellie
Want to receive Pro Clerking blog posts and updates directly to your inbox? Subscribe here.
Find out how to get involved with our Blogmas Bingo giveaway here and don’t forget to download your Blogmas Bingo card!
(Use this to mark your response or simply send in a list of answers, for example: Day 1: name of symbol, Day 2: name of symbol etc. to contact@proclerking.co.uk between 16th December and 11th January to be in with a chance of winning!)
Here’s today’s symbol to note down:
Clerking Career Development – Introducing the Pro Clerking Associates’ Programme
Last week the National Governance Association (NGA) announced the launch of Career Pathway; a new resource highlighting opportunities to work and progress as a governance professional in the schools’ sector.
The pathway, designed as a support mechanism rather than a “must do”, centres around three levels applicable to most governance professional roles:
Clerking level: Typically, those whose role will be to deliver the board’s clerking requirements
Governance Co-ordinator level: Typically, those who are a governance officer within a MAT, clerking service manager or regional governance co-ordinator for a group of schools.
Governance Professional level: Typically, those who are part of the central support team, including line management and strategic and operational development of governance structure
This is exciting news indeed – in terms of both recognition and support – and ties in very nicely with Pro Clerking’s vision and aim to support Clerks explore and create a diverse career.
With this in mind – I’m excited to announce that 2023 will see the launch of our widely anticipated Pro Clerking Associates’ Programme – a 4 fold programme aimed at:
supporting current or aspiring self-employed Clerks
supporting Clerks who wish to progress their career
inviting Clerks to work for / with Pro Clerking – providing that ultimate safety net of support, community and development
supporting education settings to recruit high-quality Clerks along with a robust induction programme and training
More information coming soon!
Register your interest in finding our more about the Pro Clerking Associates’ Programme hereor email contact@proclerking.co.uk
Coming up in Day 9 of Blogmas – The Clerking Community
All my best
Ellie
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