Apps. Fad or here to stay? You only need to look around every day to see that everyone now has a mobile phone or smartphone - and that the news is constantly carrying stories about social media and 'apps'. Just ask your school parents and pupils if they have heard of Facebook or Twitter and what are the latest 'cool' apps - and you'll agree that these technology advances and shifts in user behaviour mean your school cannot stand still.

The distribution and consumption model has changed. We now fully expect to be able to interact with media in a way never possible, have full control in the way we consume content and be able to access content any time, any place. This is not a model schools can choose to adopt, its a model schools need to adopt.

Interactive Schools has always been at the forefront of innovation in schools marketing - and we continue to do so with all our solutions - including our apps for schools. We launched the UK's first Facebook App, the World's first TWO iPhone School Prospectuses [and are soon to make this 3,4,5 and 6!]. We have developed school BlackBerry and school Android apps, as well as integrations with Twitter, Flickr, Youtube and LinkedIn.

Developing school apps should be part of a multi-channel, multi-platform, integrated communications strategy - and not just done to follow the crowd. Maximising the benefits and value of school apps, as well as choosing the right channel to deliver, needs careful planning and expertise. Interactive Schools offers all that [and more].

We are pioneers in communications, and through our other [Corporate] trading brand Intuition Media, provide strategic advice and implementation on 21st century marketing and communication solutions to clients like WHSmith, GAME, Walkers, Phones 4u, easyJet, EADS, Fast Track and the Mayor of London.

This experience is shared into our schools division, and as a result can offer workable, cost-effective and proven solutions to your school.