Bromcom and MySchoolUpdate — how they connect
Bromcom is a comprehensive cloud-based MIS serving thousands of UK secondary and primary schools. It manages pupil data, attendance, assessment, behaviour, and parent communication from a single platform. MySchoolUpdate connects to Bromcom data via Wonde — the same DfE-approved data gateway used across 20+ MIS systems in UK schools.
The Wonde connection provides read-only access to the parent and pupil data in Bromcom that MySchoolUpdate needs to power targeted communication: parent contact details, year groups, form groups, and class assignments. MySchoolUpdate does not modify or write any data back to Bromcom.
What Bromcom's communication tools include
Bromcom includes built-in communication tools as part of its MIS platform:
- Email communication to parents from within the MIS
- SMS messaging (typically via credits purchased separately)
- A parent portal and app (MCAS — My Child At School) for attendance, assessment, and behaviour data
- Letters and reports printable for home-school communication
What Bromcom's communication suite does not include is browser push notifications — the channel that delivers a notification directly to a parent's phone home screen without requiring any app installation, regardless of whether the parent has downloaded the school's app or has the app notifications enabled.
What MySchoolUpdate adds to a Bromcom school
MySchoolUpdate adds the browser push notification channel alongside email and SMS — in a single, simple interface designed for school office staff. Key additions for a Bromcom school:
- Browser push notifications: Reach parents directly on their phone lock screen without app download requirements
- Single-interface multi-channel sending: Compose once, send via push, email, and SMS simultaneously
- Automatic data sync: Parent contact details and pupil groups pulled from Bromcom automatically — no manual exports
- Granular targeting: Target by year group, form group, individual class, or custom lists — all drawn from Bromcom's pupil data
- Delivery evidence: Read receipts and delivery logs for safeguarding and Ofsted evidence
Engagement comparison — Bromcom channels vs push notifications
| Channel | Typical open rate | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Bromcom email | 20–35% | Dependent on parents checking email; competes with inbox volume |
| Bromcom SMS | 70–90% | High open rate but per-SMS cost; per-credit model limits volume |
| MySchoolUpdate push | 60–85% | Delivered to phone home screen; no per-message cost |
| MCAS app notification | Varies | Requires app installation and notification permissions enabled |
Setup for a Bromcom school
Wonde data access approval (~15 minutes)
The school's Bromcom administrator approves read-only data access through the Wonde school portal. Bromcom supports Wonde integration natively — no additional Bromcom configuration is required.
Initial sync (~10–15 minutes)
MySchoolUpdate performs the initial pull of parent contacts, pupil groups, year groups, and form groups from Bromcom via Wonde. For typical school sizes this takes under 15 minutes.
Account setup and first campaign
School branding and templates are configured. The first campaign invites parents to opt in to push notifications — sent via email and SMS from the existing Bromcom contact data to maximise initial reach.
Frequently asked questions
Does MySchoolUpdate work with Bromcom?
Yes. MySchoolUpdate connects to Bromcom via Wonde. Parent contacts, year groups, and class data sync automatically. Setup takes approximately 30 minutes.
How is MySchoolUpdate different from Bromcom's built-in communication?
Bromcom includes email, SMS, and its MCAS parent portal app. MySchoolUpdate adds browser push notifications — which reach parents directly on their phone lock screen without requiring the MCAS app to be installed or notifications enabled. Push notifications typically achieve 60–85% open rates and are included in MySchoolUpdate's flat annual fee with no per-message charges.
Will we still need to use Bromcom's communication tools?
Many schools use both — Bromcom for communication within the MIS workflow (attendance alerts directly from Bromcom, report distribution via MCAS) and MySchoolUpdate for school-wide broadcasts, urgent messages, and newsletter distribution where push notification reach matters. The two are complementary rather than competing.
Bromcom school? Add push notifications in 30 minutes.
Book a demo to see exactly how MySchoolUpdate connects to Bromcom and what the setup looks like for your school. £385/year all channels included.
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