Cash strapped schools are being charged millions collectively for text messages they are sending to Parents/Carers. Is this right in a world of free instant messaging and free social media or does it look a little “Old-School?"

The main reason why many schools continue to embrace text messaging is that it is used as part of their Severe Weather Policy. This is to ensure a 100% of parents/carers are reached quickly should a school have to close. The problem with this is that Text Messaging costs.​

There are now a number of ways and systems schools use to send to parents news and information enabling communicaton to be quicker and more frequent. Over the years, though, the world of technology and therefore technology used in education has changed beyond recognition to what it was say 20 years ago. Habits have changed both at home and in the school office.

One communication form that schools continue to use but many of us have moved away from, is that of Text Messaging or SMS.

It’s only about 15 years ago when schools generally used the occasional paper newsletter to communicate better with parents. Now, there are a number of ways schools send and parent consume news and information; for schools, embracing new technology helps to communicate quickly with parents like never before!

According to the Department for Education, English is the second language for 1.1 million pupils in the UK

​Having your own Parent/Student app (from Zero Cost) could help to solve some communication problems and improve your parental engagement. In addition, there are a number of other problems that a Parent/Student App can help to solve which just having a website or just having an Old School text messaging system won't:

1. Tell parents about your events. When you add an event to the App, Parents/Students automatically receive an alert to their phones. Result? More parents at your events!

Over 95% of parents and students now own a smartphone, spending 75% of their smartphone time on Apps, so if you haven't got an App you're probably missing a key way of communicating with them.