Sharing your school film on Facebook: a practical guide

Your school page

• Upload the file. Facebook favours videos uploaded directly. A YouTube link reaches far fewer people.
• Use the HD version. It looks sharper on phones and larger screens.
• Pin the post. It then stays at the top of your page for visitors.
• Keep it public. Otherwise, only your existing followers can see it.
• Add captions. Most people scroll with the sound off.
• Choose a good thumbnail. Pick a warm, busy frame rather than the first second of the film.
• Update your page details. Check your website link, phone number and open event dates are current.

Writing the post

Keep the words short and plain. One or two sentences about your school, then a clear next step, is enough.

For example, invite families to an open event, or link to your admissions page. Then anyone who enjoys the film knows exactly what to do next.

Avoid long lists of results or facilities in the post itself. The film already does that work, so let it speak first.

Also tag your local area or village in the text. People searching for schools nearby are then more likely to find it.

Mention your school's name and area early in the text. Facebook often shortens long posts, so the start matters most.

Reaching new families

Your own followers are mostly current parents. However, the families you want to reach are often elsewhere.

Local buy and sell groups reach a wide audience. A short post with the film can work well there, if the group's rules allow it. So check the rules first, or ask the group admin.

Ask a governor or a parent rep to post it, rather than a teacher. It keeps staff accounts separate from school business.

Class reps can share it in parent WhatsApp groups. Those parents then pass it to friends with younger children.

Nurseries and pre-schools that feed into your school may share it too. It helps their families picture the next step.

A short thank-you post after an open event also helps. Share the film again, so families who could not attend still see it.

When to post

Early evening and weekends usually work best. That is when parents have time to watch.

Post before open events and application deadlines. My admissions timeline guide sets out the key dates.

Then post the film again a few weeks later, with a fresh line of text. Many families will not have seen it the first time.

Launching the film? My launch checklist covers the other places it should go that day.

Shorter clips

Subject reels of 30 to 45 seconds suit Facebook well. Post one a week, and ten reels fill a term.

Short vertical versions for Instagram and TikTok are also available on request. They often work well as Facebook reels too.

Always check your consent records before posting. Facebook is public, and posts are easily shared.

Staff filming their own clips? My guide to making your own social media videos can help.

Comments and safeguarding

Decide who will watch the comments before you post. Most comments are kind, but a quick reply to questions helps.

Ask parents not to tag children by name in the comments. Then pupils stay unnamed, even when the post is widely shared.

If a family later withdraws consent, tell me as soon as possible. I can re-edit the film so a child is removed, and you can then replace the post.

My parental consent guide explains how to keep records clear before anything goes online.

Checking how it did

After a week, look at the post's figures in your page tools. Views, shares and watch time tell you what worked.

Shares matter most, because each one reaches a new circle of families. So thank the people who shared it, where you can.

Then compare posting times. If an evening post did better than a lunchtime one, use that next time.

Keep a simple note of what you posted and when. It makes planning next year's admissions posts much easier.

Questions schools ask

More guides

• Getting more from your school film: premieres, recruitment and the press
• When to share your school film: an admissions year timeline
• How to capture a residential trip on film
• How to handle parental consent for school filming
• How to put your school video on YouTube so families find it