IRIS Reach vs SchoolPost
IRIS Reach
iris.co.uk
SchoolPost
fireflylearning.comSide by side
| Figure | IRIS Reach | SchoolPost |
|---|---|---|
| Price from | — | — |
| Free plan | — | — |
| Free trial | — | — |
| Open source | — | — |
| Web | Yes | Yes |
| iOS | Yes | Yes |
| Android | Yes | Yes |
| Plans published | 0 | 0 |
| Spec score · School Communication Software | 7.7 (#12) | 7.3 (#21) |
| Founded | 1978 | 2009 |
| Headquarters | Slough, Berkshire, United Kingdom | London, United Kingdom |
| Intended users | IRIS describes Reach as a parent engagement system for secondary schools and presents it as a solution for schools and multi-academy trusts. | The product page presents SchoolPost as a communication service for schools, parents and students. |
| Purpose | IRIS Reach is a cloud-based parent engagement suite designed for secondary schools. | SchoolPost is a school messaging and communications service for parents, staff and pupils. |
| Support | The IRIS Reach helpdesk is available Monday to Friday, 8am to 5pm, by phone or email. | The SchoolPost page links to Firefly Community for support and quotes a school headteacher describing the support as first class. |
In their own words
IRIS Reach
IRIS Reach is a parent engagement suite for secondary schools, bringing email, SMS and social media communications into one place. Parents can receive school information through a school-branded mobile app; the MyEd app includes messages, attendance, timetables, absences, achievements and behaviour. Inbound and outbound messages can be automatically translated into over 40 languages, and parents can check attendance through real-time reports based on registration data. Schools can create and collect electronic forms and surveys, host documents online and send links by SMS or email. Up to twenty accounts can create dedicated channels for departments and functions. Reporting, analysis, response management and an audit trail are included. Reach synchronises with school management information systems such as SIMS and Integris; after setup, syncing runs nightly by default. The service is available on web, Android and iOS. Pricing is on request, and the product page offers schools a free demo. The MyEd app is available for iOS and Android; its help page says messages sent to and from the app are free.
SchoolPost
SchoolPost is a communications hub for schools, parents, staff and pupils. It combines email, SMS, secure message history, and online reply and consent forms. Schools can target messages to classes, groups, individual students, parents or staff. Staff can monitor replies and send reminders, while parents reply online, manage contact preferences, choose daily or weekly summaries and filter messages by child. A secure mailbox provides access to sensitive messages and communication history. Parents can complete forms, and schools can publish exam results online. Teachers can send SMS messages while offsite on school trips. SchoolPost integrates with existing systems and school MIS data and works with a preferred MIS/SIS provider. Firefly says setup and maintenance require very little work. The service is available on Android, iOS and web. Pricing is on request, with a demo booking offered. Firefly says student personal data is not used for marketing, and records are deleted within 30 days after customer engagement ends.