COVID-19 COMMUNICATIONS FRAMEWORK FOR SCHOOLS
Over the last few weeks, schools from around the world have contacted us asking for COVID-19 communications support.
We’re now very proud to launch our COVID-19 Communications Framework that aims to help schools develop a strategy to mitigate the risks presented by the pandemic, build understanding among the school community and look towards a positive future.
It focuses on three key areas:
Retaining families
Recruiting new pupils
Supporting the wider school community.
This framework should be implemented with positivity and confidence. Whilst it might seem unrealistic to focus on recruiting new students in the midst of a pandemic, a recent study in the UK indicated that does not appear to be a major drop in parents’ ability to pay school fees.
Furthermore, research around the world has shown that many parents are turning to the independent sector to help their child recover from the education lost during the past six months.
REACT
Our REACT mnemonic outlines the principles that schools should aim to follow when communicating with their audiences.
These should be applied across all stakeholder groups; pupils, parents, staff, prospective families and the wider community (such as alumni, supporters and business partners).
“This is a vital time for schools. As well as managing the ‘here and now’, it’s incredibly important to look to the future. School leaders should embrace the new normal and use it as an opportunity to not just survive, but thrive! I hope this framework really helps schools to structure their communications in a way that ensures retention and, if implemented correctly, new pupil recruitment.” - Ben Weston-Conway, Marketing Manager
Interactive Schools have been helping schools to navigate the new abnormal in many ways and are eager to support all leaders as they plan for the new academic year.