Add the school's Google calendars to Coming up

4 steps 2 min Updated 4 November 2026

The School calendar widget shows pupils and staff events from up to five of the school's shared Google calendars — school events, sport, trips — for the next 14 days, in Coming up. You choose the calendars on Google Workspace → Launchpad widgets (see Launchpad widgets).

Before you start

The launchpad widgets must be set up for your school, with the access in step 1 granted. School calendar doesn't need Google sync: a connected Google domain is enough.
Your school's Google admin must be able to see every calendar you add.

Steps

Step 1: Copy the calendar's ID

In Google Calendar, open the calendar's Settings and sharing and copy the Calendar ID under Integrate calendar (it looks like c_…@group.calendar.google.com, or an email address). Its public URL or embed code works too: Realsmart takes the ID from it. primary isn't accepted: it means each person's own calendar, not a shared one.

Step 2: Add it to the widget

On the widgets page, in step 3, under School calendar, select Add a calendar, paste the ID, and give it a short name for the launchpad, such as School events or Sport fixtures (up to 40 characters). Each event in Coming up shows that name.

Step 3: Save, then check access

Select Save widget choices, then Check again in step 2, so Realsmart can confirm it can read each calendar.

Step 4: Switch School calendar on

Once each calendar shows Realsmart can read it, switch School calendar on and save.

Changing or replacing a calendar later needs the same save-then-check: until the check has read the new calendars, School calendar stays off. Renaming a calendar doesn't.

Troubleshooting

School calendar stayed off when I saved. Its calendars are new or changed, so the access check hasn't read them yet: select Check again in step 2, then switch it on. If a calendar shows Realsmart couldn't read it, share it with your school's Google admin, or remove it.
"That isn't a Google calendar ID". Copy the Calendar ID from the calendar's Settings and sharing → Integrate calendar in Google Calendar, rather than its name. It's always address-like (…@group.calendar.google.com, or an email address); primary isn't accepted.
School calendar shows No calendars yet. No calendars have been chosen. A school that hasn't chosen any isn't marked down for it in the access check.

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