In teaching, every day is sprinkled with magic moments. And in the age of social media, when posting the evidence of an experience is valued almost as highly as the experience itself, many schools are doing just that. It’s never been easier to take snaps on the daily walk-around and post images to your followers everywhere.

What’s wrong with that? Parents love to see what’s going on in school, right? It’s a great way to engage them in school life, right?

Wrong. Where is the evidence that scrolling through a multitude of pictures on a timeline increases parental engagement? Do we know how parents consume these images? Do they sit with their child and scroll through the pictures together, asking questions? Or do they glimpse the pictures in the blur of a busy day and move on? Are we setting parents up to believe that a quick like or a share means they are doing their part as active partners in their child’s learning?

The version of learning portrayed on school social media channels is carefully curated. School leaders are inadvertently building a brand. They’re editing the magic to fit their picture of what a good school looks like. They’re the gatekeepers; they decide what is post-worthy and what isn’t. And nine times out of 10, the children have had no say in any of it.

The magic moments are worth sharing. But let’s not kid ourselves that it increases parental engagement.

Susan Ward is depute headteacher at Kingsland Primary School in Peebles