Edvolve

10/09/2026 | 5 mins to read Communication & Community

Audience: School leaders, leadership teams, IT and digital leads, communication teams and staff involved in choosing or managing technology

EdTech and School Communication

Schools have more ways to communicate with families these days, but more channels do not always mean better communication. Emails, websites, text messages, social media, online forms and separate apps can quickly leave parents checking several places for information, technology should make communication easier to access, not make it harder to keep up.

So, what should schools expect from the technology they use to connect with parents and students?

Is communication easy to access?

Parents and guardians are busy and they should not have to remember which system contains which piece of information, whether it is a message from a teacher, an important school announcement, a form that needs completing or an upcoming event, information should be easy to find and available when it is needed.

A mobile-first approach can make a real difference here, as parents are far more likely to engage with information when they can access it easily from the device they use every day and on the go.

How many places do parents need to check?

One of the biggest frustrations with school communication can be the number of different places families are expected to use. For example, one system for messages, another for forms, another for events and a website for general information can quickly become difficult to manage and it also creates more opportunities for something to be missed.

Schools should therefore consider whether their technology can bring everyday communication and engagement together in one place, rather than adding another channel to an already busy communication landscape.

Does the experience reflect the school?

School communication is also part of the relationship between a school and its community. A generic app that looks and feels the same for every organisation may do the job, but a school should be able to give parents and students an experience that feels recognisably its own.

On the other hand a fully branded mobile app, published under the school's own name, can make that experience much more personal while giving families a clear and familiar place to engage with their school.

Can information reach the right people quickly?

Not every message needs to go to everyone because schools need to be able to communicate with the right groups at the right time, whether that means a whole school announcement, a year group update or a message relating to a particular activity.

Clear, targeted communication can help reduce unnecessary messages while making important information easier to notice. Real-time notifications can also be valuable when something needs attention quickly, rather than relying on families to remember to check a website or inbox.

What about the everyday things?

Communication is not only about sending messages, it involves parents and students needing access to events, forms, documents, surveys, updates and other everyday information, and when these activities are spread across different systems, the experience can become unnecessarily complicated for everyone involved.

A well-considered school platform should support these everyday interactions alongside communication, giving families one consistent place to engage with the school.

Does it work for students too?

Students are part of the school community and their experience matters and the way students receive information and interact with their school will vary depending on their age and the school's own policies, but technology should be designed with the wider school community in mind rather than treating students any differently.

For schools that want to provide a dedicated digital environment, having communication, information and relevant everyday services available within the same secure ecosystem can provide a more consistent experience.

What does it cost families?

This is an important question that can sometimes be overlooked when schools introduce new technology. If a school is asking parents and students to use a new service, they should be clear about what it costs and whether there are any additional charges.

At Edvolve, access is completely free for parents and students, there are no hidden costs to the school or the home simply for using the service. This is really important because communication between a school and its community should not become another financial consideration for families.

Can schools listen as well as communicate?

Good communication is not one-way and it's very important to understand what parents and students think, whether through surveys, forms, feedback or everyday conversations. Technology can support that process, but it should never replace the human relationship behind it. The right system should make it easier for schools to communicate clearly while also giving their communities opportunities to respond.

So, what should schools expect?

There is no single answer for every school, but there are some sensible questions to ask:

Is communication easy to access? Can families find what they need without checking several different systems? Does the experience reflect the school? Can information be targeted and delivered quickly? Can everyday activities take place alongside communication? Is it accessible to students as well as parents? And are there any unexpected costs?

These are not just technology questions, they are invaluable questions about the experience a school wants to provide for its community.

At Edvolve, we believe school technology should make that experience easier to manage and easier to engage with because staying connected should feel like part of school life.