The Value of face to face networking

The pandemic had a major impact on the way boards operated, face to face activities were impossible and everything had to move online.

Five years on and governance is still trying to find the balance between online and in person. Now training, seminars, presentations and conferences are routinely held online.  The advantages are clear, but perhaps we should also consider what we might have lost.

As more and more schools move into academy trusts there is a movement towards in house training, seminars and presentations working on the basis that a large number of different schools can all benefit from the same message. Networking with other schools, not just your trust schools, is a very important way of bringing challenge from hearing different voices and different messages and can provide a useful way of lessoning the burden of the volunteering role itself.

Let’s get back to taking the opportunity when it presents itself to connect with people in person, where everyone has actively chosen to take time out of their day to travel to be in one place at one time to share good practice and hear different messages and opinions, all vital to the strategic role the board has in supporting well informed decision making.

Come to the DAG Conference on Saturday 16th November at Exeter Racecourse to make the most of this networking opportunity in Devon, spend a morning listening to education experts, talk to governors and clerks across the county and enjoy refreshments and cake!

Further details and registration via the DAG website www.dagdevon.uk.