Job Description

Local Governing Committee Support Officer

The Park Academies Trust is looking for an Local Governing Committee (LGC) Support Officer to join our central governance team. Are you looking for a new challenge? Are you organised and efficient, with experience of providing support to a school board?

This is a rewarding opportunity to make a difference.

Details of role:

Part time, permanent role working 20 hours per week (52 weeks). The postholder will be required to work flexibly, with some meetings being held during the day but the majority held in the evening. Some home-working may be possible with agreement.

Salary:

25,600 to 29,411 gross per annum pro rata . Actual salary will be 13,837 to 15,897 gross per annum. (dependent on experience)

Closing date:

9:00am 14th November 2025

Interviews:

to take place on 20th November 2025

The role

Are you passionate about good governance and making a meaningful impact in education? Or do you have great experience in administration and would like to learn how to apply this in a new and challenging role? Excellent organisation and communication are the two essential skills required as a starting point. If any of these statements resonate with you, maybe it is time for your to consider joining The Park Academies Trust governance team as an LGC Support Officer, where you'll play a vital role in supporting Local Governing Committees (LGCs) to ensure smooth, compliant, and effective operations.

In this pivotal role, you'll provide expert guidance on governance legislation, manage meeting logistics, maintain accurate records, and support Governor recruitment and training.

What You'll Do

Advise on governance procedures and statutory compliance Prepare agendas, minutes, and action registers for LGC meetings Maintain accurate records of Governor membership Support Governor recruitment, induction, and training Ensure website governance content compliance

What We're Looking For

Excellent organisational and communication skills Ability to manage confidential information with discretion A proactive, detail-oriented approach to supporting leadership teams Knowledge of governance legislation and best practice desired
_______________________________________________________________________________________________

Why choose us?

The Park Academies Trust

The Park Academies Trust was formed in 2016 with the vision to make a significant contribution to improving education in Swindon and surrounds. A family of eight schools; Abbey Park School, Lydiard Park Academy, Highworth Warneford School, Orchid Vale Primary School, Red Oaks Primary School Bridlewood Primary School, The Deanery CofE Academy and Kingfisher Academy; the Trust offers a high quality all through educational provision from nursery right up to our Sixth Form based at Lydiard Park Academy, enabling staff and pupils alike to benefit from being part of a thriving multi-phase educational Trust.

The Park Academies Trust has joined forces with a number of excellent service providers to give you that little bit extra, that little pat on the back:

Doctor Care Anywhere Cycle to work scheme Employee assistance programme Let's Connect - Salary sacrifice Technology My Gym Discounts
_______________________________________________________________________________________________

Job Title:

Local Governing Committee (LGC) Support Officer

Role reports to (Job Title):

Head of Governance and Policy

This is a central team role which supports the LAB and the Chair of the LAB, whilst in practice it is directed, supported and guided by the Head of Governance and Policy.

The postholder is a member of the Trust governance team.

Job Purpose:

To act as LGC Support Officer, working with Governors and senior leaders to ensure the LGC manages its business in line with its Terms of Reference and the Scheme of Delegation.

Provide advice and guidance to the LGC, supporting meetings and ensuring that the LGC receives comprehensive and effective administrative support, and contribute to the efficient functioning of the LGC

Key Accountabilities

:

1. Advise the LGC on governance legislation and procedural issues in accordance with the Academy Trust Handbook, and other statutory and good practice guidance. Advise on the Scheme of Delegation and Terms of Reference of the LGC. Advise the LGC on procedural and legal issues and on where to obtain advice / information on legal / policy issues to ensure they meet their statutory duties.

2. Prepare, with the LGC Chair and Principal, the agenda and Chair's script for each meeting, ensuring others as relevant are informed of deadlines for supporting papers, and distribute the agenda and supporting papers at least seven days before the meeting. Check with the LGC Chair on any actions they have taken between meetings and which need to be reported back to the LGC, including any follow up work.

3. Prepare, in consultation with the Head of Governance and Policy, LGC annual workplans.

4. Take minutes at each LGC meeting, ensure the meeting is quorate, and record the attendance and non-attendance of Governors, details of any decisions taken and provide an action register. Provide guidance on the procedural matters and ensure they are conducted in accordance with statutory requirements.

5. Send draft minutes to the LGC Chair for approval within seven days of the meetings. When the LGC Chair's approval is received, distribute draft minutes to all LGC members and publish as required within ten days of the meeting. Ensure a signed copy of the approved minutes is kept for reference and is available for public inspection. Deal with confidential minutes in the approved manner.

6. Receive, record and distribute incoming correspondence on behalf of the LGC. Ensure that guidance on new legislation provided by the DfE, local authority and other bodies is disseminated and used to inform LGC meetings.

7. In conjunction with the Principal, ensure there is a register of all policies approved by the LGC and that they are reviewed as required. Advise the LGC of the dates on which policies are due to be reviewed.

8. Maintain an accurate record of membership of the LGC, including dates of appointment, categories of Governor, and terms of office. Ensure that all Governors have an up to date copy and are aware of the expiry date of their term of office.

9. Maintain a record of LGC membership. Ensure an LGC register of interests is maintained and reviewed at least annually, and that Declaration of Interests is on every agenda and drawn to Governors' attention at all LGC meetings.

10. Update the governance team's record of LGC membership. Ensure new Governors are given access to GovernorHub and relevant training sources, and that GIAS is updated and accurate. Ensure GDPR compliance with all Governor information. Input annually to the revision of the Trustee and Governor Induction and Training Framework to ensure that a comprehensive programme of LGC training is confirmed for the academic year, and informed by a skills audit.

11. Advise the LGC Chair of vacancies and on actions that might be taken to fill the vacancies including working with the Principal to conduct elections to fill staff and parent vacancies

12. Manage the appointment and election of Governors, in accordance with the Academy Trust Handbook and Articles of Association.

13. Maintain relevant filing for the LGC including a complete set of approved minutes of all LGC meetings and all other associated paperwork.

14. Provide clerking support to statutory committees and other committees with delegated powers. This will include exclusions, pay committees, complaints and grievance panels when constituted.

15. Ensure that all new Governors complete the necessary forms to enable an enhanced DBS check to be carried out within 21 days of their appointment. Monitor eligibility of LAB members to serve, expiry of office, etc.

16. Coordinate compliance of the LGC with relevant regulatory, statutory and administrative requirements.

17. Coordinate the induction process for new Governors. Provide all new Governors with a school and Trust based induction pack. Offer support and advice on statutory and best practice requirements as required, highlighting relevant training opportunities.

18. Attend appropriate training and development opportunities and keep up to date with current educational developments and legislation affecting school governance.

19. Keep abreast of developments in school governance including legal developments by attendance at training events, and other relevant materials in order to provide proactive support to the LGC.

20. Keep accurate and up to date Governor training records.

21. Ensure the governance area of the school website is up to date and compliant.

22. Chair the LGC meeting during the election of the LGC Chair.

23. Ensure GDPR compliance in all LAB matters.

Key Accountabilities to the Trust

:

1. The lead LGC Support Officer for Induction. Ensure the induction guidance is current.

2. Ensure there are LGC meeting reports to the Trust Board, and the Trust Board has access to the LGC minutes.

3. Advise the Company Secretary and Clerk to the Trust Board of any new Governors, for submission to the Trust Board for approval.

4. Attend and support the Chairs' Forum meetings as required.

5. Provide meeting cover, where possible / practical, for colleagues.

6. Complete projects, under the direction of the Head of Governance and Policy, to ensure best practice and consistency across Trust governance.

7. Ensure that the LGC operates according to the Articles of Association and the LGC Terms of Reference at all times.

Supplementary Accountabilities

:

The salary / grade of the post recognises the irregular nature of the work required and is a salary based upon annualised hours rather than a fixed working week. The dates and times of meetings require a flexible and proactive approach with some meetings during the day but the majority in the evening and the post holder is expected to recognise this and work accordingly.

Ability to work from home in a self-motivated and effective fashion using technology and communication. (This is not a home working role but recognises working from home as a way to complete the role effectively.)

Job scope

: The post holder has no direct line management responsibilities

Knowledge and experience

:
Good knowledge of administrative work

Minute taking

Advisory skills, recommending a course of action

Risk aware, able to articulate risk in the context

Problem solving

Able to communicate effectively via telephone, in writing, and in person, and develop effective working relationships

Effective personal organisational and time management skills

Able to manage conflicting work pressures and organise priorities

Competent user of word processing, electronic communications, spreadsheet and database applications

A desire to learn and develop skills alongside an understanding of the education system and environment

Governance legislation procedures and regulations, as relevant to the Trust

Core functions of a LGC as they apply to the Trust

Elements of effective governance and committee practice as they apply to the Trust

Desirable

A relevant clerking qualification or working towards this

Decision making

:

Determining whether items of correspondence should be distributed to other members of the LGC, and if so who, to ensure all relevant information is disseminated to appropriate individuals.

Determining whether the LGC is acting within a legal framework to ensure Governors are meeting statutory duties and compliant with the law.

Attributes

:

Personal integrity and commitment to the Nolan principles. Respect for confidentiality. Confidence and resilience, to challenge when necessary. Commitment to professional development.

Contacts and relationships

:

LGC Chair, Governors, senior management.
Head of Governance and Policy, Company Secretary and Clerk to the Trust Board, LGC Support Officers, central team, academy employees.
Verbal and written communication with relevant bodies, eg other governing bodies, professional advisors, unions, local authority.

Creativity and Innovation

:

The post holder is empowered and expected to identify service improvements within all areas of their work, in consultation with their LGC Chair and the Head of Governance and Policy, to ensure efficient working practices in the best interests of the school.
_______________________________________________________________________________________________

No job description can be exhaustive and the duties may alter in practice or over time. The post holder is expected to use his / her professional judgment to ensure that the role continues to evolve and develop in line with the Trust's changing requirements.

In accordance with the provisions of GDPR, jobholders should take reasonable care to ensure that personal data is not disclosed outside the Trust procedures, or use personal data held on others for their own purposes. In accordance with the provisions of the Freedom of Information Act 2000, ensure requests for non-personal information are dealt with in accordance with the Trust's written procedures.

_______________________________________________________________________________________________

Safeguarding Statement

This organisation is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, young people and vulnerable adults and expects all staff to share this commitment.

Staff must work in accordance with the Trust Safeguarding and Child Protection Statement and school Safeguarding and Child Protection Policy and understand their role within that Policy.

Job Types: Part-time, Permanent

Pay: 25,600.00-29,411.00 per year

Expected hours: 20 per week

Benefits:

Company pension Cycle to work scheme Employee discount Health & wellbeing programme Sick pay
Work Location: In person