How to use virtual tools to conduct governing board business
You should use formal meetings (in person or virtually) as much as possible, but sometimes you need a way to communicate in-between meetings. Understand the rules and what's appropriate when using virtual tools like GovernorHub or email to conduct governing board business.
Contents
What do we mean by 'virtual tools'?
Examples that you might use to communicate with your board include:
- A dedicated online platform like GovernorHub (which is included with your membership to The Key for School Governors)
We would not recommend using encrypted messaging apps (like WhatsApp or Messenger) for governing board business, as this is likely to go against the Governance Handbook's emphasis on transparent decision-making (page 16).
Set terms for how you'll use them
It's up to you as a board to justify how you operate and how you comply with legislation. This includes whether and how you use virtual tools.
Approve the terms for how your board will use any virtual tools – these should be agreed by the full governing board Record these terms in your standing orders Update your governors' code of conduct so the expectations there reflect your agreed terms
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