Role descriptions: chairs, governors, trustees, clerks and other governance professionals

Model role descriptions

Effective boards have a good understanding of their roles and responsibilities. NGA model role descriptions can be adapted as needed and used for recruitment, induction and to support ongoing development.

Chairs, governors and trustees: 

Download chair role description (MS Word)

Download trustee role description (MS Word)

Download maintained school governor role description (MS Word)

Academy trust governance professionals:

This model role description is suitable for:

• All governance professionals working within an academy trust
• Those with a company secretary role
• Academy committee (local governing board) clerks

Download trust governance professional role description (MS Word)

Adapt the model role description to suit the needs of your trust based on its size, governance arrangements and levels of delegation. Note that the responsibilities covered within the role description are likely to be divided between multiple roles as the size of the trust increases.

Maintained school clerks:

This model role description is suitable for all clerks who work for a maintained school governing board.

Download maintained school clerk role description (MS Word)

Adapt the model role description to suit the needs of the school and the board.

Further reading

• The role of vice chair
• Model committee terms of reference
• Skills audit and dashboard: tools for boards to evaluate their skills, knowledge and behaviour
• Scheme of delegation guidance