It may seem utterly bizarre, but if you email a school and mention the name of the Schools Secretary in the email, in 37% of cases the email will not arrive.
The reason for this is that schools use filter systems to screen out what are considered to be unacceptable messages that are entering the school system.
Obviously we all want to protect children from inappropriate material, but unfortunately some of the screening systems used are left over from the stone age of digital technology, and have the effect of rejecting emails which use everyday language but which contain a single word which, in a different context, might have a different meaning.
The fact that most school pupils will know (and quite possibly use) the word every day is irrelevant in this context – your email (which is aimed at teachers) will be blocked because of the blunderbus approach of the software.
But, as you may have noticed, I said the number of schools that will block the name of the Schools Secretary is 37%. Choose a different word with two meanings and the percentage will go up or down.
This is because different parts of the country use different blocking systems, some more sophisticated than others, some so utterly bizarre they border on the incomprehensible. Some were installed so long along no one remembers they are there – or how to get rid of them!
None of the companies that provide such blocking software will provide a list of banned words, but over time we have been able to put together such a list, both from experience and from the fact that we have worked with a number of local authorities, school internet service providers and independent companies who create school systems.
Because of this, when Hamilton House sends out an email we check it to ensure that the wording is compliant with this rather eccentric and bizarre system – so we can advise you to remove a particular word or phrase, and thus increase the readership level.
If you have any questions about this approach – please do get in touch. You can call me on 01536 399 013 – or email Tony@hamilton-house.com
Tony Attwood