---
title: Creating a group and adding contacts
description: Create a group, such as a year level or a sports team, so you can send messages to just the families who need them.
url: "https://schoolzine.com/docs/creating-a-group-and-adding-contacts/"
updated: "2026-10-21"
category: Contacts and Groups
tags:
  - contacts
  - groups
---

# Creating a group and adding contacts

Groups let you send messages to the right families, such as everyone in Year 3, the swimming squad or the P&F. A contact can belong to as many groups as you like.

## Find your groups

In the Control Centre, select **Groups** from the menu. The list shows how many contacts and app devices are in each group, and whether the group is public.

![The Groups page](https://schoolzine.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2026/10/contacts-groups-list.png)

Groups shown with an arrow (→) sit inside another group. For example, Football, Tennis and Swimming sit inside After School Sport.

## Create a group

1. Click **New Group**.
2. Type a **Name** families will recognise, for example "Year 3 Families".
3. Leave **Status** ticked as **Active**.
4. Choose whether the group is **Public**:
   - **Public** groups are ones families can see and choose for themselves, for example when they pick groups in the SZ App.
   - Untick **Public** for groups that only staff manage, such as a staff list.
5. Optionally:
   - Add **Tags** to help you find the group later.
   - Choose a **Parent group** to place this group inside another one.
   - Set a **Weighting** to change where the group appears in lists. Groups with a higher weighting appear first.
   - Add a **Description**.
6. Click **Save**.

![The group form](https://schoolzine.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2026/10/contacts-group-form.png)

> **Tip:** Tick **Secured App Group** and set a **Pincode** for groups that should be private in the SZ App, such as a staff group. People can only join it in the app if they know the pincode.

Your new group opens, ready for members.

![A new group with no members yet](https://schoolzine.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2026/10/contacts-group-saved.png)

## Add contacts to the group

1. Select **Contacts** from the menu.
2. Tick the contacts you want to add. Use the search and filters to find them quickly.
3. From the actions list, choose **Add/Remove from Groups**.
4. Select the group, or several groups, and click **Add**.

To take contacts out of a group, follow the same steps and click **Remove**.

## Related articles

- [Sending and distributing a newsletter](https://schoolzine.com/docs/sending-and-distributing-a-newsletter/)

## Need a hand?

Our Customer Success Team is here to help. Call **1300 795 503**, email **support@schoolzine.com** or start a live chat in your Schoolzine account.