Digital Oversight for Governors: What to Ask and Why It Matters

One of the most common things we hear from school governors is:

“I know digital systems are important, but I don’t really know what I should be asking.”

That’s not a failing — it’s a gap in confidence, not competence. Digital systems often feel too technical, too fast-moving, or too buried in acronyms. But the reality is, as a governor or trustee, you have a vital role to play in digital oversight — and you don’t need to be an IT expert to do it well.

What Are Governors Responsible For?

Governors and trustees are responsible for making sure the school or trust:

• Uses public money wisely and gets value from its digital investments
• Keeps children and staff safe when using online systems
• Plans ahead for infrastructure and technology changes
• Handles data securely and complies with GDPR

That doesn’t mean approving every new tool or deciding what software to buy — it means asking the right questions at the right time.

What Should You Be Asking?

Here are some questions we encourage governors to ask during meetings, visits, or strategic reviews:

• “How does our digital strategy support our teaching and learning priorities?”
  If the school has moved to cloud systems, online homework, or new communication tools — how is it helping pupils and teachers? Don’t just ask what’s been bought — ask what difference it’s made.
• “Are we confident our systems meet KCSiE expectations for safeguarding online?”
  Filtering, monitoring, and pupil reporting are required — but are they understood and effective? If you’re not hearing these words in safeguarding updates, ask why not.
• “Are we prepared if something goes wrong — like a cyberattack or major IT failure?”
  Cyber security isn’t just a secondary school issue. We’ve worked with primary schools who lost access to everything after a ransomware attack. Backups, recovery, and contingency plans are essential.
• “Do staff feel confident using the systems we’ve invested in?”
  You can have brilliant tools — but if training and support aren’t in place, they’ll go unused or cause frustration. Ask for feedback data or CPD plans.
• “Are we supporting pupils who may not have devices or internet at home?”
  Inclusion matters. Even when laptops aren’t being issued routinely, access to portals, homework tools, or revision apps should be equitable.

What Does Good Digital Oversight Look Like?

You don’t need to create a new committee. Instead:

• Make sure digital topics appear on SLT or LGB agendas at least once a term
• Ask for an annual overview of systems, suppliers, and strategy
• Include digital in discussions about safeguarding, finance, and curriculum
• Appoint a digital link governor if your school or trust is large or digitally ambitious

In one MAT we work with, governors started by asking for a “plain-English tech update” each term — within a year, it had grown into a strong digital strategy with governor input, staff feedback, and budget alignment. No IT jargon needed.

Free Resources to Help You Get Started

We’ve developed a simple Governor Prompt Sheet and a to help boards engage with digital oversight. These include:

• Key questions to ask at meetings or visits
• Signs of strong practice to look out for
• Tips on how to challenge constructively without getting too technical

They’re part of our Digital Confidence support service — designed to help schools and trusts lead with clarity and confidence in the digital space.

Final Thought

You don’t need to know your Wi-Fi from your WAN — but if you’re on the governing board, your curiosity and questions make a real difference.

We’re here to help you ask those questions well.

Contact us to find out more