How to respond to current events

Understand your role when it comes to addressing major news events in school - such as the invasion of Ukraine. Find advice on how to challenge and support your school leaders to make sure they're making considered and informed decisions when responding to difficult events.

Last reviewed on 17 October 2022
School types: AllSchool phases: AllRef: 40498
Contents
  1. Your role as governor
  2. Follow your board's code of conduct 
  3. Ask challenging questions 
  4. Provide extra support in difficult times
  5. Remain unified with your school

Your role as governor

When major events and sensitive topics such as war, terrorism or a pandemic take over the news, it can be difficult for your school to know:

  • How to talk about it with pupils
  • Whether to make changes in response, such as to the curriculum or school day 
  • How to best support anyone in the community who's affected, and maintain a community of caring

Your board doesn't have anything specific it needs to do in these circumstances. It won't be you planning the response (this is an operational task that falls to your school leaders), or talking to pupils and parents about what's going on. 

Stick to your strategic role by asking focused questions of your school leaders. This way, you can make sure your school leaders are making considered and informed decisions when planning their response, and offer support where they need it. 

Follow your board's code of conduct