Comms Hub

Overview

This article explains how to use a template to quickly send a text message (SMS). Using a template can significantly simplify composing frequently sent text messages with the same content, for example, an unauthorised absence notification.

Prerequisites

You must have:

1. Been granted permission to send text messages (SMS) by a user with the following roles / permissions: Account owner, Account Admin or Full Edit.
2. Created an SMS template for the message you want to send (see Comms Hub: How do I create a text message (SMS) template?)
3. Enough SMS credits to send the message to your recipients (see Comms Hub: How many SMS credits do I have? for further guidance).

Instructions

1. Either:

   1. Select a Template when composing a message:

      

   2. Select Communications, then select Templates. View the templates, and locate the template you want to use. Select Use template. The Compose New Message window opens populated with the template contents in the various Message and attachment fields, and the Category, Subject and Send Via fields.
2. Select your recipients:
   1. To add one or more pupils (or pupil-related contacts as recipients), select Add pupils and/or contacts:
      1. Select one or more Pupils / Groups.
      2. Select Next.
      3. Check the Quick Selection options to select one or more recipients (Contacts) for the selected pupils:
         1. Primary Contacts - send to contacts who the primary contact. 
         2. Parental Contacts - send to contacts with parental responsibility.
         3. Non-Parental Contacts - send to contacts without parental responsibility.
         4. Emergency Contacts - send to contacts who should be contacted in the case of an emergency (sometimes referred to as P1s).
         5. Include pupils as recipients -  send to the selected pupils (if you have a record of their email address).
      4. Manually override any exceptions as required for each pupil (select a pupil and select / deselect individual contacts).
      5. Select Continue.

   2. To add a member of staff, select Add staff:

      1. Select one or more members of Staff.
      2. Select Continue.

      Remember, you can add pupils, contacts and staff members together. You are not restricted to sending a message to one group of people. 

3. Select Send.

Outcome

• Your SMS will be sent to the pupils, contacts, and/or staff you selected, reducing your SMS balance for each successful recipient.
• The number of credits deducted will be determined by the SMS length (for further guidance see Comms Hub: Do I pay for emails or texts?).
• If a recipient doesn't have a mobile telephone number recorded, the message will not be sent to them, and your SMS balance will not be reduced. 
• The status of sent messages can be viewed in Sent items (see Comms Hub: How do I know what I've sent?).

Related information

• Comms Hub: How do I create a text message (SMS) template?
• Comms Hub: How many SMS credits do I have?
• Comms Hub: Do I pay for emails or texts?
• Comms Hub: Who can send messages?
• Comms Hub: How do I know what I've sent?

Updated 23 April 2026 15:41