Managing communications is a substantial undertaking for any educational establishment. Parents, students, and teaching staff must stay closely connected regarding a wide range of matters, such as pupil progress, training sessions, school events, and more.
While there are several ways to communicate with these groups, a school bulk SMS service ensures that important information is distributed and seen.
Benefits of texting for schools compared to other channels
With mobile phones came SMS, it was considered the best thing. It was one of the most popular modes of communication then, and it still is now. It?셲 also an excellent channel for advertising. Many industries can benefit greatly by utilising the power of
There are several ways for schools to deliver communications, including email newsletters, printed letters, noticeboards, or social media. Each of these has certain limitations, however.
Emails, for example, can often go unread ??in the education and training sector, the average open rate is merely 23.42%. Important messages, such as emergency notifications, could easily be missed and have serious consequences.
Printed letters given to young students to take home often get discarded by mistake or lay forgotten inside school bags for days on end.
Noticeboards are only visible to those on the school premises.
And social media is best used for impersonal communications ??you couldn’t share individual school reports through Facebook, for instance.
Why mass text messaging for schools
SMS is a very direct and reliable channel. Everyone who owns a mobile phone has access to text messages and can receive them wherever they are through their cell network. It doesn’t matter if they are not connected to the internet. Plus, there is no need to download any extra apps. They can receive messages directly on the native messaging app on their phone.
SMS has an incredible 98% open rate too. People are familiar with texts; they instantly connect with them the moment they see them on their mobile screens. SMS is often used for marketing purposes for these same reasons.
Because texts are consice, they are naturally easy to read. Yet, even with the limited space available, you can include a call-to-action, such as a phone number or web address.
Text messaging is also very convenient for Gen-Z and millennial students and parents. In the US, it was found that 75% of people belonging to these age groups actually prefer texts over calls.
School text messages to parents and students: use cases
Schools can use a mass texting service to keep parents updated about parent-teacher conferences, payment reminders, pupil attendance, last-minute school closures, fundraising events, new class promotion, event reminders, emergency alerts, and more. A proper mass text messaging service enables schools to personalise SMSes easily and make them more impactful. The same is true for text message communications addressed to students too.
Below are some examples of the different types of text messages schools can send to students and parents for various purposes.
1. Parent-teacher meeting confirmation text
Parent-teacher meetings are one of the best ways to strengthen communication between school and home, positively impacting student outcomes. Usually, these meetings are held back-to-back, so the entire schedule can be affected if a few parents don’t show up on time. Send meeting confirmations by text to help the meeting run smoothly and keep it on track.
2. Payment reminder text
School trips, lunch fees, and off-site swimming lessons are some items parents need to pay for.
3. Problematic attendance text
Quickly alert parents if their child is absent and effectively enforce attendance policies through texting for schools.
4. Emergency alert/school closure text
The real power of SMS comes in when event dates and times change, or school closure occurs due to a contagion outbreak or bad weather, and you need to send out emergency notifications. Swiftly communicating this type of information is essential as parents often need to arrange alternative childcare in such cases.
ex) SCHOOL CLOSURE: Due to unprecedented levels of snow, the school will be closed until further notice. Please check the School page for updates.
5. Fundraising text
Schools often need to raise funds for various purposes throughout the academic year, and a bulk SMS service is ideal for spreading the word about upcoming fundraising campaigns. Since texts are affordable (you only pay for the number of texts you send), running an SMS campaign won’t make much of a dent in an already strained budget.
ex) Dear [Parent], we need 20 new laptops for the 000 classroom. Get involved with the school fair on [Date]. Bring a friend or host a stall. Learn more: [URL]
6. General information or marketing text
SMS is ideal for promoting new classes or courses within educational institutions or private training companies. The world is an ever-changing place and as technology develops, so does the job market. New courses are constantly being designed to keep up with the demand for new and old skills.
A school SMS service can help to keep communication flowing and current. You can quickly send out texts to keep everyone informed of important happenings in school, provide updates from the board of governors, and communicate exam schedules.
The latter is key; parents are all in a fluster when exam time arrives, and they want to ensure that their kids are as well-prepared for them as possible.
ex) Dear [Parent], we?셶e just published our exam schedule for the summer term on the school website. See it here. [URL]
7. Student support text
SMS for schools can help older students directly stay in touch with their course tutors or the administration department. It can also be used to remind students of approaching deadlines for assignments or exams.
ex) Dear [Student]. Please contact the college admin team to discuss your course application and payment details. [Number].
How teaching staff can benefit from SMS messages
Email can work well in a school to keep teachers informed and connected. However, there’s often a need for time-sensitive or urgent information to be issued; in this case, email isn’t always ideal.
Imagine that the time of a faculty meeting needs to change or a teaching training day needs to be cancelled last minute. You don’t need to pick up the phone and call every staff member individually or risk an email not being seen in time. With a school SMS service, you can compose a text in minutes and deliver it virtually instantly to anyone affected.
Here are some of our templates for how SMS can be used to keep teaching staff informed.