Artificial intelligence (AI)
NGA's position statement on AI
Published September 2025
AI is an exciting opportunity for the sector, and holds the potential to reduce workload, improve efficiency and support skilled professionals to focus on areas where they can add the most value. Nonetheless, AI is not a silver bullet. Much of the education sector relies on interpersonal interactions to be effective, such as teaching itself. Boards should be working with leaders in their strategic role to ensure schools and trusts take a pragmatic and open-minded approach to AI, being willing to harness its benefits while putting appropriate safeguards in place.
For governance professionals, AI could help make some tasks more efficient. One example is minute taking, where AI could help to transcribe and summarise if appropriate safeguards are in place, such as respect for confidentiality; compliance with data protection rules; and human quality assurance. AI is not capable of providing the bespoke governance advice and support which is the cornerstone of the governance professional role. For this reason, we would still expect every board meeting to have a skilled governance professional in attendance.
