Your school site can be used to host a school blog that allows your community to learn more about your school. The blog can be written either by the headteacher or a class teacher.
Discover why a school blog can engage your community, boost your online traffic, and give you a unique view of life at your school.
What is the difference between an online school newspaper and a blog?
In a news section, articles are usually posted that inform, instruct or explain something that happened within the school.
Topics for news articles could include a recent Ofsted audit, an update on uniforms or information regarding upcoming vaccinations. You can also find information about an upcoming assembly or the results of a recent sports day.
A blog post, on the other hand, is more focused on entertaining, or explaining to an audience. It gives them more detailed information about a particular situation. For example, an analysis of a show or a journal of a residential-school trip. The tone is usually informal and colloquial.
It’s good to have different perspectives and views. This is a great way for many people to share their experiences and get involved. As opposed to reading news articles for information, blogs are typically read to have fun or learn something.
Why should my school have a blog on the internet?
Your audience will return to your blog to check if your posts have been updated or if there are new ones to read.
A frequently updated blog section on your school website will help to increase engagement and boost your Search Engine Optimisation (SEO). For advice on Websites for schools, visit www.fsedesign.co.uk/websites-for-schools
Shared links on social networks encourages people to visit your website and read your posts, increasing your audience.
What makes a blog worth reading?
Blog posts that are interesting will grab the attention of readers and encourage them to read on. The average blog post can be 3 to 4 minutes long. Therefore, the content must be interesting and relevant to keep the reader interested for the entire length.
Consider the audience. Are you appealing to students, parents or the community? The content can be pitched at the appropriate level. A blog written by the headteacher for parents might refer to recent events or cultural references, while a blog aimed towards primary school students may be playful and lighter.
Also consider the author of the post. Don’t be shy to let your personality shine through. Blogs need to be authentic and genuine.
Writing school blog posts people will read
Whoever writes the school blog, a few simple habits make posts far more readable. Make each post easy to scan. Even short posts benefit from subheadings, and numbered lists or bullet points break up the text and help readers pick out different pieces of information quickly. Long posts can be split into shorter parts.
Choose topics you genuinely care about and that speak to what your community wants to know. Readers can tell when a writer is enthusiastic, and passion shows in the writing. Looking at what other schools post can spark ideas, but take inspiration rather than copying, and give each topic your own angle and voice.
Every post needs a good headline that is catchy and sums up the content, ideally using the phrase people are most likely to search for. Keep the tone consistent and check grammar carefully before publishing. Blogs show the newest posts first, with a date, so regular posting keeps the page looking fresh and active.