Schools and Meetings

[Orchid09]

Happy new year all.

I’ve started a new job in a school. I previously worked in the NHS so I’ve no experience of taking time out in term time. I don’t mean for hair appointments etc, but for a hospital appt will they normally authorise these?

Also, as I’m only just onboarding I was hoping to use a dictaphone for the Leadership Meetings that I will have to minute, purely to help me get up to speed. In the NHS we used teams so I could access these recordings for our extensive meetings, but I don’t think this is used in the school. Does anyone have any recommendations for what is the best way to record meetings and whether you do this?

Many thanks

You don't record anything without permission, so ask.

Time off for essential medical appointments is usually approved but you'll be expected to make them outside working time wherever possible. But again you need to ask.

Hi Neriah,

Yes I’ll be getting authorisation first just wondered whether anyone can recommend a good alternative to teams?

👍🏼re usually authorised for hospital appts.

Thanks

You might just have to do it and take notes the old-fashioned way. You won't need to make notes word for word.

I can do shorthand, although I’m a bit rusty!!! Do you take minutes longhand? I could do with a top of the range dictaphone !!!

I take minutes for the Civil Service. We use Teams for meetings but don’t record in my organisation as it’s subject to FOI.
You won’t be expected to take verbatim notes, or anything like it. You need to record who was there, apologies from who isn’t, what was agreed, any actions required, and a bit of colour around all that. If they want verbatim then they need a stenographer, not an administrator.
Read up on Cabinet Office guidance - it’s a good guide to taking minutes https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/5a74f62ce5274a59fa716517/Guide_20to_20Minute_20Taking.pdf

Aah thank you! You’ve set my mind at rest 😄

Many schools do use teams - more so in secondary. It is worth asking what software they use. We would have no problem with recording meetings for clerking purposes but would need to understand how you will store them / how long kept etc as there may be confidential information to consider.

That’s good to know!! Thanks 🤩