This is the second strand of the National Strategy for Governor Support and Training announced in 1999. In April 2002 the DfES awarded the contract to develop this programme to Consortium 52, which consists of the Local Authorities (LAs) and Diocesan authorities based in the North East, North West and Yorkshire and Humberside regions.

The programme builds on national expertise and has been designed to be flexible enough to accommodate both new and experienced clerks. It can either be undertaken as a tutor-led course, or by following a distance learning guide, enabling the course to be taken independently.

It consists of five training modules:

• The Governing Body (the national picture, GB roles and responsibilities, governing schools, school and curriculum organisation and school improvement)
• Clerk as Administrator (meeting preparation, meetings and minutes)
• Clerk as Information Manager (including ICT support)
• Clerk as Adviser (legislation and advice, including procedural advice, advising on an agenda and policy, procedures and advice)
• Clerk in Action (based on doing the job and mentor support

The training programme was first distributed to LAs in August 2003. The programme was updated in 2005 to include changes introduced by the 2005 Education Act and the New Relationships with Schools. The full updated clerks training programme, which consists of a trainer's toolkit, course reader, assessment book, a distance learning guide, and short dramas on video and a CD-Rom has been delivered to all LAs in England. The revised training programme is also available to Diocesan Boards and independent trainers who work in conjunction with LAs.

Below are links which allow you access to the distance-learning guide version of the training programme. If you would like to order the accompanying video and CD-Rom please email your request to [email protected].

The DfES is currently considering arrangements for accrediting the National Clerks� Training Programme to enable candidates to obtain an NVQ qualification.

A copy of the Clerks' Model Job Description and Person Specification can be found at Appendix 1 to the Clerks' Course Reader in the attachments below.