Slogans are used in various forms by different organisations and companies.
Most schools have a slogan. Some of these slogans are memorable, some are thoughtful and others seem to be similar to those of other schools across the nation.
While school slogans are often seen as positive for the school, the truth is that words alone cannot provide a true understanding of the school. Parents, in particular, often desire to gain a deeper understanding of the school than what can be provided by the school’s slogan.
It is within these stories that the real tales of these people are revealed.
A photograph of pupils performing a school play may reveal more about the school than a paragraph about creativity. A child’s account of their first school trip may reveal the sense of community within the school that would be difficult to express in a slogan. Even a teacher discussing a pupil’s progress can reveal the school’s values as much as listing them.
Show, don’t just tell.
The statement of a school encouraging confidence in its students can be contrasted with a picture of a nervous child stepping onto a stage for the first time.
Stories allow visitors to form mental images of the place they are visiting.
In addition to providing parents with information regarding the curriculum of the school, the stories of the students and teachers can also help to create a sense of humanity within the school. Parents are able to gain an understanding of the community that exists within the school and how it may relate to their child’s education. For Websites for schools, consider https://www.fsedesign.co.uk/websites-for-schools
Another advantage of hearing the thoughts of these people is that it is reassuring to hear from those who have experienced the school environment firsthand.
Using student voices, staff interviews, photographs of the school during ordinary school days and stories of recent events at the school can help to provide a more believable representation of the school than the language that is used in its marketing materials. Such stories do not have to be dramatic; even stories of simple events, such as a science experiment gone wrong, a successful charity event or a student discovering a new passion for a particular subject can be just as effective at telling visitors about the school as any of the language that is used in the marketing materials.
While it is true that many schools have abandoned the use of school slogans, there is still a place for such a slogan. A good slogan can convey an idea or ambition of the school in a few words.
But the slogan should be the beginning of the story, not the whole story.