Why social media is so important for schools

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By our social media expert. Becky Day:
Whenever I tell people that I do social media for local schools, I am always met with the same puzzled response. “Really? Schools are using social media now?” The fact of the matter is that, yes they are. With increasing numbers now flocking to social media to interact with and gather opinions of a school, having more presence online than just a website is pretty much crucial.
I look at it as a necessary evil. While many have deemed social media bad for your health, there is also a lot of good that can come of it. Social media is unavoidable. The only way we can tackle it, is to embrace it.
So, here is five reasons why your school should be taking the plunge and joining social media:

1. Reputation management

For some headteachers, the concept of being on social media is terrifying and they believe that the school is just opening itself up to public scrutiny. At the end of the day, parents will talk. regardless of whether your school has a Facebook or Twitter account. Being present on these platforms allows you to see what conversations are being had, and be able to address them directly, rather than just drawing a blind eye to it all.
Keep your finger on the pulse by regularly checking any ‘mentions’ and posts you’ve been tagged in, and also searching your school name on any social media platforms you use. By doing this, any harmful messages can be addressed immediately, and in some cases removed from social media completely.

2. It is inexpensive

Social media provides the perfect platform to shout about all the great things your school is doing and to attract prospective families.
Promoting yourself and any posts you publish on social media is cheap. For as little as £5, you can target specific audiences on Facebook and have a reach of at least 1,000 people, a great tool if you’re wanting to publicize any school events, such as open mornings and evenings. At a time when money is particularly tight for schools, this is a worthwhile option which guarantees noticeable results.

3. Parent and community engagement

At one of the schools I work at, social media has transformed the way we engage with our families and the local community. We are not only communicating to parents, but they are also communicating back to us. Facebook is particularly good for this, as it gives you the option to set up private parents’ groups and you also have the private messaging facility to speak with parents directly.
We’ve been able to address issues immediately, keep parents informed on school news, and also get feedback from parents about important changes in the school.

4. E-safety

Being on social media gives the school an advantage when it comes to tackling e-safety issues. Having someone on board who is clued up about social media can provide some much needed support for students and staff who need advice on how to block or report someone online.
We’ve also had situations when students have messaged the school directly through social media to inform us that they’re being bullied online. They were able to send screen shots, and we were able to address the problem straight away.

5. Staff recruitment

With so many teachers now using social media sites such as Twitter and LinkedIn to network and gather teaching resources, it’s crucial that schools are using these platforms to attract staff. Use social media to advertise positions, but also use it tell the world what you are doing in CPD and how you’re helping to improve staff well-being. It’s important that you’re showcasing your school as not only an exemplary place to study, but also to work.



Source: https://www.localvoicemedia.co.uk/social-media-important-schools/

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