It's up to your board to decide whether governors and trustees can attend full board or committee meetings remotely by phone or video call. The DfE told us this. There are separate rules for other types of meeting, such as panels to consider a suspension or exclusion. These must be held in person unless the parent (or pupil if over 18) requests a virtual hearing.
The pandemic has shown that boards are capable of adapting to remote working (read more about this from Governors for Schools), and it may make sense to continue giving your board members this option.
If you're a chair or governance professional, take a look at our article on virtual meetings for more guidance.
Download our model policy
Our policy is:
- Designed for you to adapt to suit your context
- In line with relevant requirements and good practice
- Approved by Forbes Solicitors
This policy isn't statutory, so there