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GovernorHub is getting a mini makeover
We’ve been working under the bonnet to strengthen our foundations for a while and it’s soon time to make changes to the pages that you will see.
Don’t panic though… the changes are small and, most importantly, Ortoo the Owl is staying 😌
Find out what’s ahead and why this all leads to better ‘Governor-Hubbing’ in the future.
GovernorHub General Manager Ellie Cheshire explains more about our plans.
The background...
We now support two out of every three schools in England, which is great. Those of you who know us will know that we’re a team that’s genuinely passionate about effective governance and supporting schools.
An example of how much we’ve grown is how many documents we now store - at the last check it was 10 million! That’s quite a leap from 1.9 million just a few years ago. We’ve had to make sure GovernorHub is up to the job of managing this load - especially as we’re always looking to improve and add new features.
Next Generation GovernorHub
Over the last 18 months, our engineers have built a new version of GovernorHub from the ground up using cutting-edge technology - a kind of ‘super-charged’ version of GovernorHub. This new technology provides bigger, sturdier foundations for us.
You might remember last April, we had a short period of downtime on GovernorHub during a busy period which was very unusual for us. Ever since, we’ve been future-proofing the site so it’s even more robust.
Our engineers have replicated every last detail of GovernorHub on new foundations with the aim of retiring old GovernorHub and moving over to the new site securely.
We’re going to release Next Generation GovernorHub very shortly and ask some of you to test it for us, starting with our clerks feedback group. We know clerks will do a great job of finding anything that’s not working as it should and letting us know. When we’re absolutely sure the site is working perfectly, we’ll move things over.
What’s going to change?
The new site isn’t very different from the old site. However, we are moving what we call ‘the washing line’ at the top of the page - that’s where you find all of your boards and groups.
Some of our clerks and busiest users can struggle with the washing line at the moment as there’s not much space and not all of their groups can be displayed on it which can be quite frustrating for them.
The washing line also takes up a fair bit of space which can be a problem if you’re looking at the site on a small laptop screen.
So we’ve taken the bold move of removing the washing line from the top of the screen and using a left-hand sidebar instead. I realise that’s not as interesting as we can’t call it a washing line but it’s actually going to be much more practical as it allows us to give you more space and will hopefully make navigating around the site much easier.
Over time, we’ll be able to add lots of new features as well that we wouldn’t have been able to do previously.
New features coming in 2024/25
One of the first things that we will be adding is a ‘super search’ function. At the moment, if you’ve got GovernorHub Knowledge and you’re looking for some expert guidance, advice or training you have to click on to the blue K icon on the washing line and go to a separate site.
Our super search function will allow you to ask the question you want to ask from within GovernorHub - surfacing the answer for you right where you’re working.
We’re also releasing a new self-efficacy tool for boards. It has some of the functionality of a Skills Audit but much, much more too and will help boards to understand where and how they can be more effective.
Ortoo the Owl
It’s important to point out that Ortoo the Owl will be staying! It’s just that his perch is moving a little.
As I’ve mentioned, we’ll be doing some user testing of the new site over the coming weeks, especially during the school summer holidays when it’s quieter. Once we’re ready - we’ll make the move to the new site.
As always, feedback is really important to us so if you’re testing the new site, please drop us a line in the chat if there’s anything you want to mention. Our intention is that Next Generation GovernorHub will feel just as good if not better than the GovernorHub you’re used to.
Feedback
Thanks to everyone who has engaged and commented on our article and for the many feature requests - much appreciated.
As always, we have noted all of the suggestions and will keep track them.
We are always working to improve GovernorHub and Next Generation GovernorHub is part of this process.
Please put any future suggestions to us at [email protected] or use the help chat icon on the website.
Thank you for your continued support 
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Comments
Michelle Whiteman 11 Jul 2024, 10:58 (2 months ago)
Can you have an option on the noticeboard where you can draft items to be posted at a certain time and date? Like a schedule send with emails?
The GovernorHub Team 16 Jul 2024, 10:56 (2 months ago)
Hi Michelle - Love this idea 🦉Thank you for the suggestion.
Alison Vining 10 Jul 2024, 15:51 (2 months ago)
When someone comments on a Noticeboard message, could the original message be included when the comment is sent by email, as in a "normal" email trail? With several schools/MATs it's sometimes very difficult to remember what the subject was and it is time-consuming to have to refer back. Thanks - and good luck with it all! Alison
Paul Drake 10 Jul 2024, 14:29 (2 months ago)
We are sometimes 1 MAT and other times 10 schools. I would really love the flexibility to post a message on the noticeboard that goes to all the schools in our MAT rather than coming in/out of each school and doing it 11 times (10 schools and 1 Central team). I fear as our MAT continues to grow that my communication workload will increase proportionally. Any help greatly appreciated.
The GovernorHub Team 12 Jul 2024, 13:55 (2 months ago)
Hi Paul - This functionality is available through the resources tab. Click on the 'chat' button on the bottom right of your screen when you're logged into your GovernorHub account and a member of our support team will be able to turn it on for you 🙂
jenny Barnard-Langston 10 Jul 2024, 12:25 (2 months ago)
Thank you or the information about the updates. I was, at first a little concerned about the removal of the washing line but having read further I appreciate that there will be a side bar so I am sure it will be as good if not better.
I am also pleased to note the super search function, I found the K a bit cumbersome. I am also please to know that there will be a new self-efficacy tool.
Thank you so much to all the team for 'having our backs' and developing an already effective platform for governors.
The GovernorHub Team 12 Jul 2024, 14:20 (2 months ago)
Thank you Jenny - We're always here to help🦉 Glad to hear you're enjoying the super search function too!
Charlene Monk 10 Jul 2024, 10:30 (2 months ago)
It would be great if there could be a functionality to edit a document in GovHub without having to download the document, save and upload again...
The GovernorHub Team 12 Jul 2024, 16:31 (2 months ago)
Hi Charlene - Good news ⭐ This can be done through either adding a web link (see below) or enabling enhanced documents for the board if they have Microsoft 365 accounts.
https://help.governorhub.com/en/articles/2783653-can-i-add-a-web-link-or-google-doc-to-the-documents-section
Pete McGuiigan 10 Jul 2024, 10:08 (2 months ago)
For starters, I love GHub and use it all the time.
3 questions:
in the Noticeboard, will there be a spellcheck / grammar check function added?
in the Calendar, will the attendance list be updated as Governors are removed from the Board (at the moment, the list is not updated so has to be done again just before the meeting)?
In the About/Downloads/Current Members section, the up to date of list / details of the Board is accurate, but not really in a format that schools want to use for their websites - is there a version that could jsut be copied and pasted?
Just asking...
Monica Juan 10 Jul 2024, 10:05 (2 months ago)
The ability to edit posts in the Noticeboard once they have been posted would be great!
The GovernorHub Team 17 Jul 2024, 12:39 (2 months ago)
Hi Monica - We can see that this might be useful, however there is a reason we have not allowed this functionality. That's because messages would have already been emailed with the original message, if it's changed on the noticeboard then you don't know who's seen what and this could then lead to lots of issues.
Pamela Allum 10 Jul 2024, 09:11 (2 months ago)
It is a small point, but given that I have an opportunity to mention something, I thought I would ! Some schools insist on governors having a school email address to use on GovernorHub. This is fine, I have no issue, until I cannot contact them, or they are not looking at GovernorHub. My question is: in everyone's profile, can a line be added for alternative email, that a Clerk can look for when trying to get hold of a governor - as they will usually reply to their personal email. Thanks, Pam
jim papworth 16 Jul 2024, 16:07 (2 months ago)
what a good idea, please make room for three or four.
The GovernorHub team 12 Jul 2024, 17:52 (2 months ago)
There is space to save an alternative email in governor's profile area (Edit basic details - Biography) - this is a free form text box so you can store anything useful in here. Alternatively you can pop it into the 'additional information' area within a governor's appointment details. Like the idea of a separate field though - thanks for the suggestion.
pam miles 11 Jul 2024, 09:39 (2 months ago)
This is a brilliant request Pam and I'm glad I looked down the questions already placed as it is exactly what I was going to mention. It isn't a small thing. I can be very difficult for any governor who is volunteering at more than 1 school as it means they have to have two different profiles on Gov Hub and yes they never respond to their school email. I have held back on this request as the argument is that it is safer to use a school email address, but if everything is managed through Gov Hub it is more secure than any school email address
Sasha Tilley 10 Jul 2024, 08:47 (2 months ago)
Could there be some work done on policy storage/development - I use governorhub for the majority of my schools but one does use GVO - I am not a fan of it to be honest but the policy approval, commenting facility and ability to publish direct to websites is pretty useful - will there be anything done in future to develop this section?
Dave Rice 10 Jul 2024, 08:19 (2 months ago)
Happy to hear about the expanded "washing line" function. I currently clerk one school 'too many' and it can be frustrating. (Relatively trivial given that a few years ago there was no GovernorHub!)
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