Confidential information but....

[Basilplant]

I've name changed for this.

I have been listening to a friend agonise about the best secondary school for her son who has particular needs. I have been encouraging her to apply to the school one of my children goes to, which really is a "best fit" for her child. I am a governor of the school. Last night we were told something at a governor's meeting which will significantly change the school, and which will mean that it will no longer have the particular elements which would support my friend's child. I obviously can't tell her- but wtf do I do? Bugger. Help.

IS there another school that is high on the list of possibles?
If so I would have a chat with her. start with the fact that you had a governors meeting last night and end the sentence there. Pause and then say something like it's funny how schools can change quite rapidly and then say you've heard that school X is good because.... (reason specific to her DS). And hope she gets the message. I think it's as far as you can go.

Tricky: is there anything you've heard/seen outside the governor's meeting that might hint the change is coming?

Also, I'm guessing your friend will want to go to see the school herself. Maybe you could prompt her to ask the right kinds of questions herself e.g. if you know of other situations where parents chose a school and then something big changed it (change of head/location/co-ed etc)

No, the changes won't be public knowledge until after she has applied. I recommended the school based on my own experinced as a parent- nothing to do with my governor role-if I wasn't a governor I would still be recommending it!

It's a really crap change which is being forced on us by budget constraints. It may not happen- but I don't see how it can be avoided.

Nothing. You aren't entitled to use the information that you know as a governor for anything other than governor business.
She has to make her own mind up when she looks round, in any case the deadline for applying for a secondary school place is a long way off.

If you told her or even hinted would you have to resign?
What do you out first- your loyalty to the school or your friendship?
Is it a choice you need to make?

I don't understand gov confidence at all.
Would it really violate confidence if OP told her friend
"I can't tell you anything specific but something is going to change at the school that makes me think you won't want a place after all."

I mean that's pretty freaking vague.

I heard of a governor who was bullied by other governors. She confided in friends but then was terrified that she had violated confidentiality. Since it was about her own experience and nothing to do with school itself, I couldn't see how that was confidential. If she had gone around saying "I love being a governor, it's such a friendly and positive experience" would that also be a resignation offence, too?

I am a governor and I think you have to be a little bit pragmatic here. I would say something like 'I cannot go into details, please don't ask me, but there are serious budget constraints and the school may be facing some difficult times. Please weigh up your decision carefully and consider other schools'. But only if she was someone I could completely trust not to pass that information on.

I can't help feeling it's slightly different because she is only a prospective parent, not an actual one, so you are not privileging your friend over other parents.

Remember that ethics is often a matter of balancing competing 'good's, not a simple choice between black and white, right and wrong. It's a tough one, though.

If it is to do with your own experience, whether loving or hating being a governor then I think you either share that you love it or resign if you hate it. Either way, the most professional approach is to say nothing.

I am not sure how far governor confidentiality extends- are you OP?

She is not an actual parent at the school.

Do you have your contract etc that you can read to make sure you know the score?

You might be able to say something along the lines of 'big changes are afoot and although I can't give details, you might not feel so certain about it being the school for your DC if you knew'.

You also need to think about this outcome: you say nothing, changes happen, she sends her child there - is shocked that you knew and didn't say.

Could you live with that?

Or would you take the risk that it may not happen anyway- the changes.

As an ex governor, I would probably say - "can't give any details - but all schools change over time, and I think there is a likelihood that this particular school may change in a way that wouldn't necessarily be best for your child.

It may not happen, and may not affect you at all, but you might want to bear it in mind when you are looking at schools."

I don't think that would conflict with governor confidentiality because you haven't given any details at all, but also gives her the option to cast her net wider. It would be a sensible approach anyway so hopefully they are already considering all options.

It's a really tricky situation for you but I really don't think you can say a word. I'm assuming you've signed the Governors' Code of Conduct - see Page 4.

This is surely similar to what might happen in any number of organisations ( ie workplace) when someone knows something that will possibly affect someone else- a friend perhaps or junior colleague- but they feel they cannot say anything. eg pending redundancies .

The actual wording of the code you posted there talks of 'prudence' when discussing ( or not) matters outside of school. I don't know if prudence means not saying anything or if alluding to something and being circumspect would be okay.

I think it's a close call, personally.

I know I can't say anything- it's a bugger.

School funding is an absolute minefield. And the way the government expects schools to deliver fantastic results on a shoe string is just outrageous.

You can say to your friend that she needs to understand that all schools may change and be planning changes in the time before she applies to the school.
You can sow the seeds of doubt with a raised eyebrow and still be within your code of conduct.

Are minutes of governing board minutes published on the school's website? If so, you could encourage her to review recent documents to get a flavour of how the school is governed? Or do you think that the relevant section would be deemed confidential?

But surely governors meetings aren't confidential precisely because they have to publish their minutes? So why can't you tell her?

Elements of governor's meetings have to be confidential-personnel issues, some funding and operational matters. They have to be.

our head of governors forewarned me in passing that the school holidays would be extended this summer due to building works. that was about 4-5 weeks begore official announcement. I think you can tell your friend that you have become aware that some of the benefits which sje might have chosen the school for may not always be there. that says almost nothing but does give her a heads up

It would be usual to agree at the meeting which items are confidential. If you didn't agree that this item was confidential, it should then be in the publicly available minutes which she could request a copy of if they are not routinely published on the website.

I am governor.
This is really tricky.
But I would say something. Tell her that things change at all schools, and changes may affect her decision. Suggest she looks at lots of schools.

The deadline is end Oct, so I assume there will be a lot more information before then.

The other thing I would do is at the next governors meeting (or even ask the question in email) I would point out that it is unfair to parents not to let them know this decision is pending before 31st Oct deadline, and suggest they issue an interim information

was it discussed under part two?

If not, I would tell my friend to ask for the minutes of the meeting under an FOI if they don't publish them on the website

As others have said, will this be minuted? Our GB minutes on the website and school noticeboard as soon as approved.
It is a minefield though.
Being a parent governor can sometimes feel like sitting on a knife edge on what can be said or not.
Some things are clearly confidential. If it is going to be in public minutes..??...

Basilplant, just tell her, you don't have to be specific. What's the worst that could happen? I think you are tying yourself in knots unnecessarily.

You can't say anything. You know you can't. I'm a patent governor and I found something out at a meeting. My husband found out when the letter went out to parents, because that's the correct procedure. If you can't cope with that you shouldn't be a governor. Simple.