As our working weeks get busier, you might
be wondering how you can share university
information in a way that prevents parents and
guardians from having to make a mad midweek
rush from work to your school or college hall.
Yes, parents’ evenings are great for providing
advice and guidance about the UCAS process,
but they don’t need to do all the heavy lifting.
Here are some tips to follow when you are
creating resources for parents and guardians for your school or college.
Our new on-demand world has given us the
luxury of accessing information when we’re
good and ready, and this works well for busy
parents and guardians. Like their Gen Z
children, digesting information when they need
it and when they have time is a big bonus.
Creating an exclusive parent zone or hub within
your school or college website is an effective
way to share information. There, you can store
guides, pre-recorded videos and downloadable
resources related to higher education guidance.
You could even ask a few universities to
collaborate with you on the project and be the
voice for some of your content too. Consider a
short video about writing personal statements
or a walkthrough of the UCAS process.
Once you have built a knowledge bank, all
that is left to do is share how parents and
guardians can access your online hub and
remember to update information if anything
changes (student finance, we’re looking at you).
Alternatively, many universities have virtual
parent hubs that you can link to if you do not
want to create your own.
Open days are one of the best places for
parents and guardians to receive university
information. Some universities will have
information stands or talks specifically for
parents where they can ask staff and current
students about topics that might concern them,
i.e., student finance, accommodation, wellbeing,
academic support and campus safety.
Similarly, higher education fairs such as
those provided by UCAS and UK University
Search provide an opportunity for parents
and guardians to speak to several university
representatives at one event, and there is
usually some handy literature to take away too.
As teachers and advisers, you have your ear
to the ground when it comes to university and
higher education events, but some parents and
guardians might not know where to find that
information.
However you share your school or college
news – whether that is through a newsletter,
email or your website, create a space for
sharing any upcoming open days, webinars or
other exclusive parent events that you’ve heard
about. Look out for universities that offer travel
bursaries to get to their open days too, they can
make all the difference to some families.
Finally, don’t hesitate to ask the audience. A
quick survey asking your parents and guardians
what information they need and how they would
like to receive it could give your faithful higher
education evening a specific focus or guide you
in a new direction altogether!
Check out Episode 9 of The Uni Guide Podcast - a parents special!
This free newsletter will include information on university events added to UniTasterDays, as well as details about new webinars and blog releases for you and your students.