Ecko - Better School Newsletters

"By far and away the best thing I have ever used for newsletters." We’ll take that! Thanks Ginny 🙂 #SchoolComms #EdTech

ecko.newsShould schools publish photos of children in newsletters? – EckoRecent AI image misuse cases have raised new safeguarding questions for schools. Learn why schools should review how pupil photos are used in newsletters, websites and social media.

27 May

Recent reports about AI image misuse and school blackmail attempts have raised serious questions about how schools share photos of pupils online. Here’s why schools may want to avoid publishing identifiable faces publicly, even where consent is in place. #EdLeadership ecko.news/2026/05/27/s...

Feel like parents aren't reading your school's newsletter? You can spend hours putting it together, include all the right information and still feel like you're sending it into a void. A few practical ways to make the important details easier for families to find: #schoolcomms #schools

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7. Write for scanning, not careful reading. Be realistic. Most families won't read every word of every newsletter. That doesn't mean they don't care. It means they're busy. Use clear headings, short paragraphs and put the most important information near the start of each item.

Better school newsletters aren't about making more work. Usually, it means doing the basics well: sharing useful updates, making actions clear, helping families track dates and making everything easy to scan on a phone. That's what makes a newsletter feel worth opening.

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5. Gather stories from across the school community. A newsletter is more interesting when it reflects the whole school, not just the office. Contributions from leadership, teachers, year group/faculty heads, the PTA, governors, clubs or pupils can make it feel much more alive.

6. Keep repeating content under control. Some notices need repeating, but when the same items appear week after week, regular readers start to skim. Separate repeated reminders from fresh news so the important updates don't get lost.

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3. Help families keep track of dates. Trips, deadlines, performances, non-uniform days, sports days and parents’ evenings shouldn't be hidden inside long paragraphs. Make diary dates stand out with a consistent format: date, time, location and action needed.

4. Use photos and videos, but keep the design grown-up. Photos and videos can make newsletters more engaging, but try not to over-design them. Good photos, short stories and clear structure will usually do more than novelty fonts, clip art or colourful borders.

1. Mix whole-school updates with class and group-specific news. Whole-school news matters, but if every update is aimed at everyone, the newsletter can start to feel distant. Specific class or group stories help families feel more connected to their child's day-to-day school life.

2. Make action items impossible to miss. If families need to do something, give that action its own space. Use a clear heading, a short explanation and a prominent link or button. Avoid “click here” and use specific wording like “Book parents’ evening”.