Typical outcomes after one term
The switch timeline
Day 1–2: MIS integration setup
MySchoolUpdate connects to the school MIS via Wonde. This takes approximately 30 minutes with our onboarding team. Parent contact data (email, mobile, pupil/class associations) syncs automatically from the MIS. No CSV imports or manual data entry required.
Day 2–3: Account configuration and templates
School branding, message templates, and staff access are configured. Most schools use the built-in template library as a starting point and customise for their tone of voice. This typically takes 1–2 hours.
Day 3–7: First parent campaign — push opt-in invite
The first message to parents introduces MySchoolUpdate and invites them to opt in to push notifications. This is typically sent via email (to all parents from the MIS) and SMS. It includes a link for parents to visit and click "Allow" on the browser push prompt.
Week 1–2: Push opt-in builds
Most schools see 40–60% push opt-in within the first week of the introductory campaign. A second reminder (at the end of week two) typically lifts this to 55–70%. Parents who receive their first real push notification — a trip reminder, a newsletter, an urgent update — often opt in immediately when they see the experience.
End of first half-term: Settled into new rhythm
By the end of the first half-term (typically 6–8 weeks), push opt-in reaches 65–80%, the school has established a communication rhythm (weekly newsletter, urgent alerts, class-specific messages), and SMS usage is typically reduced significantly as push covers more families.
End of first full term: 75–90% push opt-in
Push opt-in continues growing. New parents admitted in-year encounter the push prompt when they first engage with the school portal. By the end of the first full term, most schools have reached a stable 75–90% opt-in rate.
What changes in practice
Communication speed
Schools switching from email-and-SMS systems report the most noticeable change is response speed. A push notification about an early closure or a trip reminder lands on parents' screens within seconds. The same message as an email may sit unread for hours or days. Schools report parents arriving for early collection or responding to urgent messages significantly faster than before.
SMS cost reduction
Schools previously paying per-SMS — whether through ParentMail, SchoolComms, or their MIS — typically reduce SMS volume by 40–70% after switching. As push notifications reach 75–90% of parents, many messages that previously required SMS (to ensure reach) can be sent as push + email only, with SMS reserved for the remaining parents not on push. MySchoolUpdate includes SMS in the flat annual price, so this saving is on top of the reduced volume.
Paper reduction
Schools that commit to digital-first communication typically reduce paper print runs by 60–80% within the first term. Weekly newsletters, trip letters, and event reminders all shift to digital. Some schools eliminate the weekly paper newsletter entirely within the first month.
Frequently asked questions
Do we need to run both systems in parallel during the switch?
Briefly, yes — for approximately one week. The first parent campaign (introducing MySchoolUpdate and inviting push opt-in) is typically sent through both the old system and MySchoolUpdate simultaneously to ensure maximum reach during the transition. After that first campaign, most schools move entirely to MySchoolUpdate.
What about parents who do not respond to the initial opt-in invite?
They continue to receive communications via email and SMS. Push opt-in is not required to receive MySchoolUpdate messages — it is an additional channel. A second opt-in reminder after 2 weeks typically captures another 10–15% of parents. Natural encounters with the platform (following a link in an email to view a message on the parent portal) also prompt push opt-in opportunities.
Start your switch today
Book a 30-minute demo and we will walk through exactly what the switch looks like for your specific school — MIS system, current platform, and first-term goals.
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