Quick comparison
| Factor | Web Push Notifications (MySchoolUpdate) | SMS |
|---|---|---|
| App download required | No — browser-based | No |
| Cost per message | Free (included in licence) | 3–8p per message |
| Open rate | ~70–85% | ~98% |
| Read within 5 minutes | ~60% | ~90% |
| Works without mobile internet | Requires internet | Works on any network |
| Character limit | No fixed limit | 160 chars (single SMS) |
| Links and rich content | Full URLs, images, attachments | Text and short URLs only |
| Delivery confirmation | Yes — read receipts available | Delivery receipt (not read) |
| GDPR / consent | Browser opt-in (simple) | Phone number required from MIS |
When to use push notifications
Push notifications are the workhorse of school communications — free to send, carrying any amount of content, and reaching the majority of parents who have their notifications enabled. They suit:
Push notifications are ideal for:
- Newsletter distribution
- Event reminders and updates
- Homework and assessment notifications
- Permission slip requests
- Calendar and timetable changes
- Reports and progress updates
- Non-urgent safeguarding information
SMS is better suited to:
- Same-day school closures
- Emergency evacuations and incidents
- Urgent attendance contacts
- Time-critical safety information
- Reaching parents who have not opted in to push
- Fallback for push non-deliveries
The cost difference: push vs SMS at scale
For a school with 300 families sending 30 messages per term across 3 terms (90 messages/year total), the cost difference between channels is significant:
| Channel | Per-message cost | Annual cost at 90 msgs × 300 parents |
|---|---|---|
| Push notifications (MySchoolUpdate) | £0 (included) | £0 additional |
| SMS at 4p per message | £0.04 | £1,080/year |
| SMS at 7p per message | £0.07 | £1,890/year |
This is why push notifications should be the primary channel — the cost saving alone often covers the platform subscription. SMS is reserved for the communications where its reliability advantage justifies the per-message cost.
The myth of 100% SMS reliability
SMS is extremely reliable — but it is not infallible. Phone numbers change, networks occasionally delay messages, and some parents actively use a second phone number for school purposes that they check less frequently. Additionally, multi-part SMS messages (over 160 characters) can arrive out of order on some networks.
Push notifications with SMS fallback — where SMS is triggered automatically for parents who do not open the push within a defined time window — gives schools the best of both: the cost efficiency of push with the reliability assurance of SMS for the most critical messages.
Frequently asked questions
Do parents need an app for push notifications with MySchoolUpdate?
No. MySchoolUpdate uses web push — delivered through the browser. Parents visit the school notification page, click to allow notifications, and from then on receive messages directly to their phone or computer without any app. The process takes about 20 seconds.
Are SMS messages included in the MySchoolUpdate subscription?
Push notifications and email are included. SMS messages are charged per message at very competitive rates. Most schools use SMS selectively for urgent communications and push/email for the majority of routine communications.
See both channels in action
Book a 30-minute demo to see how MySchoolUpdate's multi-channel messaging works — send a push, email, and SMS in one action, with delivery reports showing what reached each parent.
Book demo Learn moreRelated guides
Real-Time Notifications · Reducing Communication Costs · Apps vs Web Portal