How to Improve School Communication
Schools are busy places and both teachers and managers face an unrelenting stream of demands from pupils, parents and official bodies. It is not surprising that communication is often less than perfect. But it is a crucial element of a good school. There are common enemies to good communication. These include the proliferation of jargon, poor relationships within the hierarchy and overload of work. It is also often the case that there are pockets of excellence in a school's communication; for instance, some of the teachers may maintain strong links with the parents of children in their grade. But consistency is important, if a school is not to be let down by its communication systems.
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Instructions
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Lead by example. The head teacher, heads of department and the management board should communicate from the top down, in a clear way. They should not rely too much on technology, as the overuse of emails can be counter-productive. People receive too much information, and find it impossible to separate the wheat from the chaff. The head teacher should be a visible presence on the corridors and within staff rooms and classrooms.
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Develop a clear communication policy. Disseminate this to all heads of department, who should account for passing it on to all members of the team. The policy should be clear, and simple and jargon-free. It should cover the requirements for meetings and meeting minutes, and also give broad outlines of the communication expected between parents and teachers. There will be formal parents' evenings, or other parent/teacher meetings that may be decided at the beginning of the year by management.
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Decide on a more detailed strategy for communicating with parents at a departmental level. it is often the practice that parents only hear from the school when there is a problem. This can create a negative relationship. All heads of department, could, for instance, ask teachers to ring parents on a monthly basis to chat about the pupil's progress, and to pass on positive news.
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Set down particular rules and procedures. Rules will include how pupils address teachers, and how discipline is implemented. Procedures should include the grievance and the disciplinary procedures. Review the communication policy and practice annually, and act immediately on any shortcomings.
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References
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