Large school parents group

[OwlBabiesAreCute]

Friend and I are setting up school parents group for new starters (secondary) for the usual questions, chat etc. Approx 250 children in the year..

Not sure if Facebook or WhatsApp is better as it's such a big group. What does your school do / which would you prefer?

YABU - Facebook
YANBU - WhatsApp

Or please comment with experience / other options!

I co-run a group for parents a year group of about 300. It’s on FB. I don’t log in that much, but it’s doable.

a few things - people wanted the settings private, so I did that but reminded them that there would doubtless be parents who were also staff members. It means new joiners have to be approved. If people want to join and they’re not local I ask a few questions before I approve.

I don’t allow anonymous posting.

We’re end of Year 8 now and it hasn’t really been that difficult. Most posts could be avoided if people actually read the emails from the school!

Fb group that you can dip in and out of. What's app would be a nightmare

Just realised it's secondary. I really wouldn't bother

We had a X primary to Y secondary chat which was useful but disappeared by Christmas when our children had different friends groups.

A 250 parent chat is going to be a nightmare. There will be one person who derails with MLM selling, another who will try and take over and lead the group, another who will harvest the numbers and spam you...

Your child won't be friends with the other 249. You will end up annoyed with the sheer quantity of posts that don't apply to you eg Mrs X's maths homework when you're in Miss Y's class

You’re overthinking. No one needs this at secondary. The whole idea of secondary is that pupils learn independence and parents back off. Your kids should know what’s going on and when they need to inform you of stuff. If they don’t then they either need to pull their socks up or you liaise with their tutor.

Just don't, secondary school transition is difficult for some parents.... The transition to letting them be responsible for themselves (including yes forgetting deadlines, kits, important days) gets some parents a bit flustered. However school will be expecting them to take responsibility and suffer the consequences (detention, non participation) if they don't (assuming no ND). All necessary parent communication comes via email, which one would normally expect adults to read?

This.

You don't need either at secondary.

My daughter starts reception in September and It's my idea of hell to be in something like that, I tend to get overwhelmed in constantly active WhatsApp groups and I think if I befriend a parent at the gates I'd rather not want to broadcast it as it can get rather bitchy. Not looking forward to reception, nursery drama was bad enough lol 😂

Sounds like my idea of hell!!!

Absolutely not WhatsApp. 250 people in a WhatsApp group?!? I'd leave immediately.

Our school has a facebook group. Used a lot at the start of Y7 (and I thought it was genuinely useful then) but now mainly for people who are unable to find info in other ways, i.e. they don't read school emails, won't access the website.
WhatsApp would be beyond a nightmare - is it non-uniform tomorrow, are they making meatballs tomorrow (who? I don't know anything about meatballs, my DS says meatballs are next week/on Friday/made them last term).
Sometimes the generally negativity (my DD got wet on the school trip, I blame the teachers) reminds me to email the school and tell them what a good job they are doing.

Not practical and not needed. It’s not like primary; everyone would have different schedules and forms. And 250 people?!?

Someone in our current year 6 parent group has set up a year 7 group with 17 people. I came right off that straight away!

I’m trying to get rid of these groups not add to them 🤣

I would not join a school WhatsApp or Facebook group, especially with 250 people!

I haven't joined any for primary school and I've never had any issues.

It's my idea of hell.

What is it for? Pointless in my opinion my youngest goes to high school in august and he’s my 4th and I’m so glad to get away with the p7 class group and the ridiculous questions asked on it not to mention the horrible parents.

I certainly wouldn’t use it, I’ve had 3 other kids go to high school and there’s nothing like that and I’ve managed without no problem the school’s communication is really good tbh. I’d save my energy if I were you.

What 'usual questions' would there be?

Our school has a second hand uniform page and about twice a year someone will say something like 'is Tuesday an INSET?' and someone will answer. But 250 people don't need to be asked if Tuesday is an INSET.

Our school (secondary) has a WhatsApp for each year. About 200 parents on each. X7 years. Very tight moderation based on clear rules on what not/ to post is essential.

It is a helpful source of info for us parents and the PTA use it to fundraise.

Dear Lord, stop these two doing that sort of thing for secondary school kids and their families, Freedom please.

Oh God, don’t do it at all! It’ll be a nightmare.