February 3, 2016|In Social media tips|9 Minutes

15 content ideas for primary schools on Twitter

Jemima GibbonsBy Jemima Gibbons

I’m chatting to one of my local primary schools about using Twitter. Like many organisations, they’ve set up a feed, but don’t seem quite sure why they’ve done it or how to make the most of it.

Twitter is a great way to connect with the surrounding community (hyperlocal publishers are always great sharers of local content) as well as a means to get your school noticed by the wider educational establishment. Twitter lists are a good way to keep tabs on local media and education experts.

But what should primary schools actually tweet about? Here are some ideas:

1. To connect with local sponsors and partners. For example, say thank you for a gift or workshop:

2. To highlight creative ways in which you are teaching the national curriculum (you never know, you might get a retweet from Tim Peake!):

3. To promote summer fetes, Christmas fairs and other fundraising activities:

4. To showcase specific work and projects created by pupils:

5. As a recruitment tool – great if you ask nicely for retweets from key influencers:

6. To link to news/ head’s blogs/ media coverage:

7. To announce sporting and other competition results (especially when the winning image has great visual appeal):

8. To join the conversation around unusual weather or events (the tweet below would have had even more impact if they’d used the #uksnow hashtag!):

9. To show that teachers are fun-loving, well-rounded people (just like the rest of us!):

10. To showcase extra-curricular activities (eg: after school and lunch time clubs):

11. To demonstrate how the school supports UK-wide campaigns and national events:

12. To share knowledge, encourage and motivate. Some schools inspire with famous quotes and/ or words of the day:

13. To mark significant events in the school calendar:

14. To share learning resources:

15. To celebrate all the little things that make your school special:

Photos look great on social media and it’s good to see how many primary schools are sharing images with their tweets. But one key thing to remember: if you’re featuring kids in any public photos, the Data Protection Act requires you to get permission from parents/ carers first. It’s up to you whether you do this in a blanket form when children start at the school, or ask parents/ carers individually as each case arises. If you do feature children in photos, avoid giving their names or any information that would make them easily identifiable.

Photo: David K

content content ideas Data Protection Act Education national curriculum photos primary schools schools social media Twitter
Jemima Gibbons

Ethnography, user research and digital strategy for purpose-led organisations. Author of Monkeys with Typewriters, featured by BBC Radio 5 and the London Evening Standard.

All author posts

Add comment

Privacy Preference Center

Privacy Preferences