Class Spaces

What does this do?

A private noticeboard for one class. You post messages, files, images and videos to the whole class, and pupils can reply. Every pupil message and reply is held for approval and is invisible to the rest of the class until you approve it. Each class has its own space and it is switched off until you open it. You can also set work here: post an assignment into the space and it appears as a card with its deadline and a button through to it.

When should I use it?

Use it for homework reminders, revision links, exam arrangements or celebrating good work — anything the whole class needs that does not belong in a lesson. It is the place for class communication that would otherwise go through email or a shared document.

Watch this

• Class SpacesWatch on YouTube — 2:45

How do I use it?

1. 1Open Class Spaces from the side menu, or go to a class and choose Class Space
2. 2Open Settings and tick 'Class Space is open' — nobody in the class sees it until you do
3. 3Write your message in the editor; add images, files, links or a YouTube video
4. 4Click Publish message — your own posts appear immediately
5. 5To set work, pick an assignment under 'Set a task' before you publish — it must already be deployed to this class
6. 6Pupil messages arrive in the Moderation tab; approve, return or reject each one
7. 7Use Pin to keep an important message at the top, or Lock discussion to stop new replies

Common mistakes

• Leaving the space switched off — pupils see nothing at all until you open it in Settings
• Expecting pupil messages to appear straight away — every one waits for your approval, and that cannot be turned off
• Assuming pupils can message each other — they cannot, there is no private messaging in Classfolio
• Using it for safeguarding or pastoral records — it is not the place for those, use your school's system
• Not finding 'Set a task' — it only appears once an assignment has been deployed to that class, and only for staff
• Finding the space read-only — Class Spaces are included from Classfolio Lite upwards. If your plan has lapsed the class can still read everything and you can still approve, return and remove, but nobody can post until it is active again

Related features