Imagine a typical school morning for a parent. An email arrives about an upcoming trip. A notification in the school app says the timetable has changed. A teacher sends a message about homework, while the parent chat is discussing a new form that needs to be completed by Friday.
Each message is useful on its own. Together, however, they can become difficult to navigate. Parents have to work out what applies to their child, where the latest information is stored and whether they need to take any action.
Schools now have more digital tools for communicating with families than ever before. But more channels do not always mean clearer communication. In fact, the more fragmented those channels become, the easier it is for important information to disappear among dozens of notifications.
So what do parents actually want from school communication? Constant real-time updates? The ability to message a teacher at any moment? One app for absolutely everything?
The answer is often much simpler: parents do not necessarily need more messages — they need less uncertainty. They want to understand quickly what is happening, where to find the information they need and whether anything is expected from them. :chatgpt-content-reference{index="0"}
Still from Bad Moms / STX Entertainment / Huayi Brothers Pictures
Why do more digital tools not always mean clearer communication?
A few years ago, electronic gradebooks, school apps and online timetables felt like a major step forward. They reduced reliance on paper notices and made it much easier for schools to reach families quickly.
But digitalisation solved the problem of delivering information more effectively than it solved the problem of organising it. A message can reach a parent instantly and still be difficult to find later, unclear in meaning or disconnected from the action they are expected to take.
Research reflects this challenge. In a 2024 survey of 1,050 US parents conducted by SchoolStatus, more than half said school information could be difficult to find or understand, while almost two-thirds wanted a more centralised communication experience.
That does not mean every interaction needs to happen in a single app. Different channels still have different strengths. An urgent closure notice may be best sent by SMS or push notification. A detailed letter from the headteacher may work better by email. Timetables, documents and message history are often easier to keep in a parent portal.
The problem begins when there is no clear logic connecting those channels. Parents no longer know where to look for trip information, which system contains the latest grades or whether a message in a group chat should be treated as official.
Parents are not necessarily opposed to digital communication. What they need is a system that works consistently enough that they do not have to reconstruct the full picture themselves from several different sources. :chatgpt-content-reference{index="1"}
What information do parents actually want from school?
When people think about school communication, grades are often the first thing that comes to mind. But parents usually want more than an end result. They want to understand how their child is progressing, where they may be struggling and when support might be useful.
This does not require a detailed report after every lesson. Small, timely updates can often be much more useful.
For example:
- what the class is currently studying;
- which tasks a student is finding difficult;
- where progress is already visible;
- which pieces of work are coming up;
- which deadlines are approaching;
- what may be useful to revisit at home.
The wording of a message matters just as much as the information itself.
Compare this:
“Please review the school’s updated policy.”
The message tells parents that a document exists, but leaves several questions unanswered. What has changed? Does it affect their child? Do they need to sign anything? Where can they find the document?
Now compare it with a message like this:
“On Friday, 16 October at 18:00, we will hold an online meeting for Year 9 parents. We will explain how students are preparing for their final examinations and discuss the choices available after Year 9. Please register by 14 October. Questions can be sent to the school adviser through the app in advance.”
Here, the parent immediately understands who the message is for, why it matters and what they need to do. The less clarification families need to request separately, the lower the communication burden on teachers and administrators.
But effective communication is not only about writing clear messages. It also matters when and why the school contacts families. Even perfectly written notifications will not build trust if parents only hear from the school when something has gone wrong. :chatgpt-content-reference{index="2"}
Should schools only contact parents when there is a problem?
Imagine that a family only hears from school in three situations: their child has received a low mark, missed a lesson or broken a rule.
Over time, every notification begins to carry the same message: something must have gone wrong.
Communication then becomes a source of anxiety rather than a foundation for cooperation. Parents see isolated problems without gaining a broader understanding of their child’s school experience.
This does not mean schools should send a notification every time a student completes their homework successfully. But occasional positive updates can change the tone of the relationship considerably.
For example:
“Today Ethan volunteered to present his group’s work. Speaking in front of the class used to be difficult for him, but over the past few weeks he has become noticeably more confident.”
The parent does not need to take any action. But the message shows that the teacher notices progress as well as difficulties.
Trust is easier to build before a difficult situation arises. When families are already used to open, balanced communication, conversations about problems become easier as well.
There is still a balance to strike. If parents receive dozens of notifications every day, even positive messages quickly lose their value. :chatgpt-content-reference{index="3"}
Parents want to see what happens after they give feedback
School communication is no longer one-way. Parents want to ask questions, share suggestions and understand what happens after they raise an issue.
That does not mean teachers need to be available around the clock. It is more important that families know where to go, who can help and when they can expect a response.
Research suggests that many parents find it relatively easy to give feedback, but fewer feel they can see how that feedback influences school decisions. Collecting opinions is therefore only half of the process. Schools also need to explain what happened next.
For example, after a survey about parents’ evening times, a school might say:
“Many parents told us that evening meetings are difficult to attend because of work commitments. From next term, some meetings will therefore be available online, and recordings of presentations will be added to the parent portal.”
This closes the feedback loop. The school asks a question, receives responses, makes a decision and explains what changed.
Trust is not created simply because parents can contact the school. It develops when families can see that their feedback has been heard and considered. :chatgpt-content-reference{index="4"}
What do parents expect from school communication in 2026?
Effective communication depends on several things working together: clear wording, timely updates, straightforward feedback processes and a sensible division of information across channels.
It should help parents do more than simply check marks and timetables. Good communication gives them a clearer understanding of their child’s progress, helps them notice successes and makes it easier to step in when support is genuinely needed.
Even well-written messages lose their value when they are scattered across unrelated apps, inboxes and chats. This is why the quality of the overall communication system matters more than the number of digital tools a school uses.
A consistent digital environment can reduce information overload and make interactions with school more predictable for families.
This is the approach behind Mojo. The platform helps schools organise key information about a student’s school life and create clearer, more consistent communication with families.
Ultimately, technology should make school communication calmer and easier to understand, not add another layer of complexity. Good communication does not begin with another channel or another notification. It begins with understanding what families actually need to know. :chatgpt-content-reference{index="5"}
