What modern tech can learn from the Romans

In ancient Rome, a scriba wasn’t just a clerk. They were trusted officials.
Precise. Respected. Essential.

Their work wasn’t rushed. Letter formation was practised, accuracy demanded. The scribae captured the official record - what was said, what was agreed, and what would be remembered.

In a world where administration depended on clarity, scribae made things clear.
They were the voice of order.
The mechanism through which decisions became real.
And good governance depended on them.

Fast forward to today…

It’s not so different.

Organisations are complex. Governance and administration can feel hard. Leadership decisions matter and so do the records that follow them.

In schools and trusts today, operations teams, administrators, clerks, governance professionals and other members of staff carry out that same essential work.

They prepare agendas.
They capture minutes.
They track actions.

They create the systems of accountability that keep schools and trusts running.
And, like the scribae of Rome, they uphold the integrity of governance.

What’s in a name?

We chose the name Scriba deliberately.

Because supporting meetings, capturing them accurately, turning conversations into action, and making sure nothing gets lost isn’t background noise.

It’s essential.

The lesson for modern technology

The Romans understood the power of the written word. So do we. Modern technology needs to rise to the same standards they set two millennia ago. Standards of accuracy, clarity and trust.

Get the record right, and the system works. Tools should be worthy of the task: capturing minutes in minutes, recording actions consistently, and supporting better meetings across schools and trusts.

Where next? 

The Romans showed us that clarity is essential.  Today, it continues to be key in education and leadership. 

When tech supports with precision and respect, we get the best of both worlds:

• The timeless standards of the scribae.

• The efficiency of modern technology.

That’s how we make meetings matter.