New to the job? - Here's your opportunity to shadow an experienced clerk at a Governing Body meeting.

One of the problems of starting out as a clerk is that you may never have seen a Governing Body - or a Clerk - in action.

The Essex Clerks’ Association recognises that new clerks could find it helpful and informative to shadow more experienced colleagues when starting out as a new clerk. This would include attending a Governing Body meeting and having the chance to observe and discuss the agenda, procedures at the meeting and the resulting minutes. Even experienced clerks might find it helpful to shadow a colleague at a meeting, perhaps at a “statutory” hearing, focusing on a pupil discipline matter or an admissions appeal, for example.

The members of the ECA Executive committee, in partnership with ECC Governor Services, are offering new and interested clerks the chance to shadow a meeting. A memorandum of understanding has been developed to ensure that this service is beneficial to all and that proper procedures and protocols are observed.

If you would like to shadow a meeting you should:

· Decide what kind of meeting you want to observe;

· Have a look at the profiles of the Executive Committee on the ECA website to find out about the clerks who are offering this opportunity;

· Contact Pam Langmead (Shadow Coordinator), at langmead@tesco.net, to discuss your needs and where you are based in the county.

We look forward to welcoming clerks at meetings across Essex.