School’s Google Reviews To End – What You Should Know

Google is making a big change starting 30 April 2025, and if you’re a parent, teacher, or school staff member in Singapore, you’ll want to take note. The tech giant has announced that all reviews and star ratings for schools will be removed from their Google Business Profiles. But what does this really mean, and why is it happening?

Why is Google removing school reviews?

Google’s decision is rooted in the idea of fairness and accuracy. According to Google, schools aren’t typical businesses, and as such, their Business Profiles weren’t originally designed to collect and showcase reviews the same way restaurants or shops do.

There were also concerns around the quality and reliability of the reviews being posted. Some reviews were written by people who never attended or visited the schools in question. Others may have reflected isolated incidents rather than the overall experience a school provides. This change is an effort to ensure more meaningful and appropriate feedback mechanisms for institutions like schools.

Does this affect every kind of school?

Not every institution is impacted by this update. This change specifically applies to schools that are categorised under “general education” on their Google Business Profile. This may include:

• Primary schools
• Secondary schools
• Middle schools
• Special Education schools (for primary and secondary equivalent levels)
• Junior Colleges / Centralised Institute

However, institutions such as preschools, kindergartens, colleges, universities, vocational/trade schools, polytechnics and postgraduate institutions are not affected by this removal.

If you’re unsure about your school’s category, it’s a good idea to check your profile.

What happens to existing reviews?

From 30 April 2025, all existing reviews and star ratings associated with schools will be permanently removed from Google’s platform. This applies globally, including here in Singapore.

If you’ve previously left a review on a school’s Google profile – whether you’re a parent praising an excellent teacher or a student sharing your thoughts – it will no longer be visible after that date. The reviews will also not be transferred elsewhere or saved by Google.

Google’s advice to school administrators

Google has advised school administrators to review and update their Google Business Profile category before the changes take effect. If your institution does not fall under the “general education” category, you should update your profile accordingly by 30 April 2025 to ensure your reviews and ratings are not mistakenly removed.

Here’s how to update your business category:

1. Log into your Google Business Profile Manager.
2. Go to the “Info” section.
3. Click the pencil/edit icon next to your business category.
4. Choose the category that best reflects your institution’s nature and services.

What should schools do next?

For schools, this is a good opportunity to rethink how they communicate their strengths. Without star ratings and public reviews, schools can shift their focus towards:

• Keeping their websites up to date
• Sharing stories and achievements on social media
• Encouraging parents and alumni to provide testimonials through school newsletters or official channels

This change also gives schools more control over their digital reputation, rather than being affected by the occasional unfair or misinformed review.

What does this mean for parents and students?

This change might be frustrating for parents who rely on Google reviews to choose a school for their children. As reviews help us decide everything from where to eat to which doctor to visit, school reviews have played a similar role.

Without them, parents will need to look for other sources of insight, such as:

• Official school websites
• MOE school rankings and reports
• Word-of-mouth from friends, neighbours, or parenting groups
• School open house events or virtual tours

These options might take a bit more time, but they often offer a more complete picture of what the school experience is really like.

Conclusion

While this update from Google may take some getting used to, it’s a step towards creating more accurate and appropriate platforms for feedback. Whether you’re a parent choosing a school or an educator looking to share your school’s story, this shift challenges us all to think differently about how we evaluate and communicate school quality.