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School & Trust Governance Consultancy

For the governors
who give their time.
And the schools that depend on them.

Expert governance support for schools and trusts — legally grounded, fully independent and available when it matters most.

Speak to Us Our Services
How We Support Schools and Trusts

Specialist support for moments that matter.

Expert governance support for schools and trusts who want things done properly.

01

Legal Panel & Hearing Support

Legally grounded clerking and structured support for exclusions, complaints and disciplinary hearings — so every hearing is handled properly and every decision is well-founded.

  • Statutory exclusion hearings & IRP panels
  • Complaints hearings and formal appeals
  • Disciplinary and dismissal hearings
  • HR panels and grievance proceedings
  • Oversight of statutory compliance
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02

Governance Advisory

Practical advice for boards and leaders.

Direct support for Chairs, Headteachers and Trust leaders on governance structures, board effectiveness and complex decisions — where independent judgement counts.

Discuss your board
03

Independent Investigations

Thorough, fair and clearly documented.

Independent investigations into sensitive matters — clear findings and recommendations the board can act on.

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The process was handled with complete professionalism. The Chair and panel were supported throughout — and the outcome was clear, well-reasoned and held up without challenge.

Chair of Governors — London Secondary School

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Legally trained clerks to statutory hearings
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Fully independent — of school, trust and local authority
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Robust decision letters and documentation as standard
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Available at short notice for urgent matters
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Governance expertise, not administrative support alone
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Maintained schools, academies and MATs
Ahmed Yusuf, Founder and Director of Clerkwise, school governance consultancy
Ahmed Yusuf
Founder & Director, Clerkwise
Meet the Founder

Legally qualified. Independently minded. Built for this work.

I started Clerkwise because I wanted to do something meaningful. Schools are at the heart of communities. Teachers work hard for our children every day. Governors give their time voluntarily — and that contribution deserves proper support.

Too often, governors are navigating complex, high-stakes situations without the expert guidance they need. I wanted to change that — to make governance more effective, to help governors use their time well, and to ensure that the people working hardest for children and school communities get the support they deserve.

My background in law, professional investigation and complaints adjudication means I can offer something most clerking services cannot — genuine legal understanding and independent judgement that makes a real difference when it matters most.

Barrister — Called to the Bar Legally qualified with a law degree from the University of Birmingham and a postgraduate degree from City Law School.
Professional Investigator Experienced in conducting independent investigations for national regulatory bodies — bringing rigour, objectivity and legal awareness to every inquiry.
Former Ombudsman Adjudicator Adjudicated formal complaints at ombudsman level — giving Clerkwise a distinct edge in complaints handling and the fair resolution of disputed decisions.
Education Governance Specialist Specialist knowledge of school and trust governance, statutory processes and the regulatory frameworks that govern them.

Schools & Trusts We Have Worked With

Malorees School
United Learning
Brent Council
George Green's School
Botwell House Catholic Primary School
Swiss Cottage School
Emerson Park Academy
St Elizabeth School
Malorees School
United Learning
Brent Council
George Green's School
Botwell House Catholic Primary School
Swiss Cottage School
Emerson Park Academy
St Elizabeth School
When Schools Come to Us

The situations that bring boards to our door.

Ensuring exclusion hearings are fair, compliant and properly handled

Statutory exclusion reviews must follow precise legal procedures. We provide legally trained clerking and procedural support from start to finish.

A complaint that has reached formal stage

Formal complaints require a visibly fair, well-documented procedure. We clerk hearings and appeals with rigour.

A disciplinary or dismissal involving a member of staff

Disciplinary hearings need to be handled fairly, carefully and by someone with no stake in the outcome. We provide independent clerking and support throughout.

A serious allegation that requires independent investigation

When the school cannot investigate internally, we provide independent investigators who produce clear, well-reasoned findings and straightforward recommendations.

A board that needs an honest external assessment

When a board wants an honest external view of how it is working, we review what is happening, identify what is working well and where things could be stronger, and set out clear recommendations.

A Chair navigating a difficult decision for the first time

Chairs often face high-stakes situations where specialist guidance makes a real difference. We provide direct advisory support — available when needed.

Schools & Trusts Across England

Here for the governors who give their time. And the schools that depend on them.
How We Work

From first contact to completed matter.

01

Initial Discussion

Tell us what you are dealing with. We assess whether we can help — directly, without obligation.

02

Scope & Agreement

Scope, timescale and cost agreed in writing. No ambiguity.

03

Expert Delivery

We manage timelines, communications and compliance throughout. Nothing falls through the gaps.

04

Clear Outcomes

Clear, well-reasoned decisions and documentation. Every matter is closed properly.

Our Story

We founded Clerkwise because governance matters too much to get wrong.

We started Clerkwise because we had seen, too many times, what happens when governance fails at the critical moment — a hearing not properly clerked, a complaint that escalated, a board without the right support when it mattered most.

Governors carry real legal accountability. Headteachers navigate proceedings where the stakes are high. Trust CEOs need governance that holds under pressure, not just on paper.

We built Clerkwise to fill that gap — expertise, legal awareness and practical judgement built over years of doing this work properly.

Specialist, not generalist

Governance is our only discipline. We know it deeply and treat it as the specialism it is.

Legally trained clerks

Our clerks bring genuine legal awareness to statutory panels — because the consequences of procedural failure are legal ones.

Fully independent

Independent of all parties — school, trust and local authority alike. Our focus is ensuring a fair procedure where everyone is properly heard.

Serving schools across England

Maintained schools, single academy trusts and multi academy trusts — the same standard of work regardless of setting.

Our Values

The principles that guide how we work.

How we work matters as much as what we deliver. These four principles shape every engagement.

I

Independence Above All

We have no stake in any outcome other than a fair one. That independence is the foundation of everything we do.

II

Honesty, Even When It Is Uncomfortable

We give straightforward advice. If something has gone wrong or a process cannot proceed, we say so clearly.

III

Expertise That Is Genuinely Useful

Legal awareness and governance expertise should translate into practical guidance — not technical language that leaves people more confused than before.

IV

Respect for Everyone's Time

Governors volunteer theirs. Headteachers have none to spare. We are prepared, precise and do not waste it.

Coming Soon
Training & Webinars

Governance training for the people who need it most.

Clerkwise is launching a programme of practical training sessions and webinars for Chairs of Governors, Headteachers and governance professionals — covering exclusion panels, disciplinary hearings, complaint handling and governance best practice.

Sessions will be available live online and recorded for those who cannot attend in person. Register your interest below and we will let you know as soon as dates are confirmed.

Be the first to know when sessions launch:

Also coming

YouTube
Governance explained clearly
Short videos on statutory processes, panel procedure and governance law — for governors and school leaders.
Articles
Practical governance guidance
Written guides for Chairs, Headteachers and governance professionals on the situations that matter most.
Webinar

Running a Lawful Exclusion Panel

A practical guide to statutory exclusion procedure for governors sitting on exclusion review panels — what to do, what to avoid and how to reach a defensible decision.

Coming Soon
Webinar

Handling Formal Complaints Properly

For Chairs and Headteachers: how to manage a formal complaint from first receipt to final decision, in line with statutory guidance and with a fair procedure throughout.

Coming Soon
Workshop

Governance Essentials for New Governors

An introduction to school governance for new and recently appointed governors — roles, responsibilities, statutory duties and how to contribute effectively from day one.

Coming Soon
Who We Work With

Built for the people at the centre of governance.

Chairs of Governors

Expert support for every stage of the governance process.

Chairs face complex, high-stakes situations where procedural expertise and independent guidance make a real difference. We work alongside you so you can lead with confidence.

Headteachers

Guidance and structure when the stakes are high.

Exclusions, complaints and disciplinary matters require careful handling. We provide legally grounded guidance and structured support so you can navigate them with clarity.

Trust CEOs & Executive Leaders

Specialist capacity to support governance at scale.

Trust leaders need reliable specialist support for hearings, investigations and board-level governance — the kind of capacity that is rarely available in-house. We provide it alongside your existing team.

Get in Touch

The situation shouldn't wait.
Neither should you.

Tell us what you are dealing with. We respond within one working day.

Thank you — your message has been sent.
We will respond to you at within one working day.

Or email us directly: [email protected]  ·  66 Paul Street, London EC2A 4NA