A slightly unusual post, but thought it might be of interest.
A Night at the Space Centre — and a Glimpse into the Future of School Communication
Last Wednesday, I found myself beneath the stars — not metaphorically, but quite literally — at the National Space Centre in Leicester.
The occasion was a product launch for Eduspot, a new mobile app designed to streamline communication between schools and parents.
It’s the latest offering from VenturEd Solutions (formerly Community Brands), and whilst we normally don’t cover product launches, this one felt worth sharing.
The venue itself was a great choice
The planetarium’s immersive visuals were genuinely impressive, and the catering was unexpectedly excellent — not always a given at tech events.
But what stood out most wasn’t the setting, or even the app demo, but the people. It was a rare chance to reconnect with many familiar faces from across the industry — old colleagues, partners, and friends whose paths we have crossed over the years, which reminded us how tightly knit and collaborative the education tech space can be.
What Is Eduspot by VenturEd Solutions?
At its core, Eduspot is a parent-facing app that integrates with existing platforms like Teacher2Parents and Groupcall Messenger.
Once enabled by a school, it allows messages to be sent via push notifications rather than SMS — a small technical shift with potentially significant cost savings.
The system is able to detect whether a parent has the app installed, and if so, only sends a notification which will reduce the schools SMS costs. There’s also a dashboard feature that tracks app adoption among parents, giving schools visibility into who’s receiving messages and who might need a reminder. It’s not revolutionary tech, but it’s thoughtful and helps a growing awareness that communication isn’t just about delivery, but about engagement
Why It Matters
For schools, especially those juggling tight budgets and fragmented systems, tools like Eduspot offer a way to consolidate and simplify.
But more than that, they reflect a shift in expectations: parents increasingly want real-time updates, intuitive interfaces, and fewer missed messages. And schools, in turn, need tools that respect both their time and their resources.
The launch wasn’t a hard sell. It felt like a conversation around what’s working, what’s not, and how tech can support rather than complicate school life.
Final Thoughts
Ever since in-app notifications emerged over 15 years ago, there’s been a question about when and if they’ll finally replace costly SMS?
With more MIS providers now offering sophisticated parental engagement tools, the shift away from ‘cost per text’ services feels increasingly plausible.
Whether schools fully embrace this transition remains to be seen. But it’s encouraging to witness suppliers moving the sector toward smarter, more sustainable communication — where efficiency doesn’t come at the expense of connection.