Mill Hill School: Enabling effective decision-making in challenging times

Case study

2 min read
 
 

“Board Intelligence has enabled our board to make better-informed decisions in the rapidly changing environment we were faced with.”

~ Maisie Bassingthwaite, Clerk to the Court of Governors

The challenge

Mill Hill is a foundation of four schools founded in 1807 offering education to pupils aged 3-18. In the COVID-19 crisis, the executive team and Court of Governors were faced with the crucial task of providing a stimulating online learning environment to pupils and responding to a rapidly evolving situation while meeting remotely. There were several key challenges:

  • Access to the latest information: Governors needed easy access to critical information to better support the executive team through the crisis.
  • Remote working: Mill Hill’s file-sharing service didn’t allow the flexibility needed to keep a remote board working at its best.
  • Admin burden: Managing the demand for timely information and planning numerous emergency board meetings was putting the clerk under additional strain.

“Our workload tripled during the period and the executive team felt the pressure of delivering a stimulating online learning environment to our pupils.”

~ Maisie Bassingthwaite, Clerk to the Court of Governors

The solution

Building a highly effective remote board

The Board Intelligence board portal allows governors to quickly and easily access critical information from any device and collaborate on papers in advance of meetings.

“I was pleasantly surprised at how smoothly the implementation process went. All our governors were onboarded within a day.”

~ Maisie Bassingthwaite, Clerk to the Court of Governors

The impact

More focused remote meetings

Using the Board Intelligence board portal to collaborate on papers in preparation of meetings and as an aid during video calls helps focus the conversation and use the board’s limited time more efficiently.

“Working remotely we’ve had to make our board meetings a lot quicker and focused and Board Intelligence has definitely assisted us in having more productive remote meetings.”

~ Maisie Bassingthwaite, Clerk to the Court of Governors

Better and faster decision-making

Having easy access to the latest information in a secure platform gives governors the crucial information they need to make better-informed decisions quicker.

“Board Intelligence has allowed for information to be accessed by the board easily and securely and has enabled our governors to make key decisions more quickly.”

~ Maisie Bassingthwaite, Clerk to the Court of Governors

More effective report writing

Sharper board papers that clearly identify the input sought from the board make better use of the governors’ time allowing them to focus on the areas where their input is needed most.

“Board Intelligence has helped us reduce and refocus our papers.”

~ Maisie Bassingthwaite, Clerk to the Court of Governors

Less time spent on meeting preparation

The Board Intelligence board portal saves the clerk time making time-consuming changes to the agenda and pack and makes reading and collaborating on papers quicker and easier for governors.

“Board Intelligence has freed up a lot of my time in the days and weeks leading up to board meetings that I would previously spend preparing the final board pack and moving agenda items around.”

~ Maisie Bassingthwaite, Clerk to the Court of Governors

More agile agendas

Having a clear overview of agenda items and the flexibility to easily move items as priorities change allows the board’s time to be spent on important matters to respond to the crisis.

“In the COVID-19 situation with agenda items rapidly changing to be able to quickly move items has been extremely useful.”

~ Maisie Bassingthwaite, Clerk to the Court of Governors

  Bring focus to your board meetings    Developing the discipline of focus in your boardroom starts with ensuring your  board are all on the same page at the same time — and that’s where the Board  Intelligence board portal can help. FIND OUT MORE

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