Nottinghamshire Schools Portal

Crisis Media and Reputation Management

This service is already provided to local authority primary schools through funding from The Schools Forum*. It is now available to ALL primary and secondary schools in Nottinghamshire. Signing up to the crisis media and reputation management support package will provide peace of mind for your school leadership that in the event that any crisis does arise, even at a weekend, your school will receive high quality advice and support from an award winning team.

Crises can disrupt the smooth running of your school and have the potential to adversely affect the school’s reputation and/or generate significant media/social media scrutiny. For example:

• Teacher being disciplined/HR issues/inappropriate behaviour by staff.
• Ofsted inspection failure.
• Serious injury/death of a pupil or teacher.
• School security issues.
• Weapons/illegal substances on school premises.
• An emergency resulting in school evacuation/lock down.
• An ongoing police led incident on the school’s premises or close to the school.

"The issue in question was dealt with effectively, efficiently and professionally. When reputational issues are at stake, the media team provides an excellent service." Kate Cumberpatch, Headteacher, Brierley Forest Primary School.

We offer clear and concise advice and practical support from experienced communications professionals to protect your school’s reputation, including:

• PR/media relations advice when you need it most – we’ll deal with the media, be they local or national, on your behalf in a crisis.
• Social media enquiries and requests.
• How to deal with requests for interviews or statements to the media.
• Practical support to set up a press conference/briefing in the situation of a major incident/crisis.
• Support with checking/drafting media responses.
• Support with drafting/checking letters to parents.
• Communications for a failed Ofsted inspection.
• A list of useful contact numbers for the Council, other key public services and key local media organisations, which will be reissued regularly if any contact information is updated.
• Access to the Council’s emergency out of hours duty mobile number for the communications team.

"Earlier this year, I needed ongoing media support to manage a sensitive issue within school. It was reassuring to know there was always someone at the end of a phone when I needed communications help and advice – I felt very protected and supported throughout." Jo Cuthbert, Headteacher, Larkfields Infant School.