Our Annual Clerks’ conference ‘Aiming High’ held on Saturday 2 March at the Ashford International Hotel was a huge success with over 90 clerks attending on the day.

 We welcomed Linda Pickles (School Improvement Adviser and Ofsted Inspector) who gave an insight into how Ofsted Inspectors make judgements on governance.  Clerks said this insight was really interesting and valuable and table discussions allowed them to ensure that their practice helped with effective agenda’s, meetings and minutes to evidence the effectiveness of their governing bodies.

 We also welcomed Linda Lissimore (Manager Governor Services) who highlighted how  Governormark can be used as a self improvement tool enabling clerks to take the lead in ensuring that their governing bodies developed good practices.

Throughout the day there was a wide variety of opportunities for networking, including an enjoyable afternoon of three different activity workshops, to develop expertise as an assertive and professional clerk, how to better evidence good governance in minutes.  There was also a fun workshop using ‘clicker’ technology to answer questions, the balance of answers were then registered on screen as a bar chart.  This encouraged lively debate to improve knowledge, and share and develop new practices.

Power points and handouts from each of the sessions can be downloaded below

Conference Addresses

Linda Pickles - School Improvement Advisor & Lead Ofsted Inspector

Inspecting Governance - An Ofsted Inspectors insight into how an Inspector reaches a judgement about the function of governance.

ppt presentation

 Linda Lissimore – School Governance Manager

Using Governormark as a Self Improvement Tool

ppt presentation

handout

Workshops

Workshop A

Julia Bellamy - Coach/Mentor

The Assertive Clerk – developing expertise as an assertive and professional clerk to work effectively with the Chair of Governors and Headteacher

ppt presentation

 Workshops B, ‘A Challenge in Every minute!’ & C ‘What do you Know?’  were interactive sessions and there were no powerpoints.

Photo's from the day

click here    a   b   c