Creative Education Trust
Attracting pupils
Our strategic marketing communications advice and tactical PR support helped this Multi-Academy Trust’s two Norfolk senior schools better promote themselves, enhance their reputation and boost intake numbers into Year 7.
Challenge
Creative Education Trust asked us to consider how a fresh approach to marketing communications could help increase the number of pupils and parents choosing to attend Lynn Grove Academy and Caister Academy instead of the local competition.
Solution
Our work centred around an interactive workshop at each academy, and involved:
- Working with senior management to define proposition, USPs and key messages
- Working with staff and pupil ambassadors to identify things the school should be proud of and positive stories to tell
- Working with staff and pupils to identify structure, ideas and content for a presentation to take into feeder schools and engage Year 5 pupils.
- Creating two short promotional videos for digital marketing purposes and at parents’ evenings:
We also provide ongoing communications consultancy, PR and social media support – working with both schools’ senior leadership to make the most of positive media opportunities and provide wise counsel to handle incoming enquiries.
Results.
Lynn Gove Academy – Year 7 intake is up 44% (180 pupils to 260 pupils) since we started working with the school in 2016
“I was initially sceptical about the impact a marketing agency could have on school improvement but working with Shorthose Russell has been a really positive experience. They quickly identified some of the things that were holding us back and gave us the confidence to tell our own story in a way that would engage prospective pupils and their parents. They’ve made a significant contribution to our development over the last few years and I wouldn’t hesitate in recommending them to other schools.”
Alison Mobbs, Principal – Lynn Grove Academy
“In an environment made fiercely competitive by new and renewed schools proclaiming attractive, modern offers, marketing has risen up the agenda. Shorthose Russell’s thoughtful, structured and upbeat approach has helped our staff and students discover things they didn’t know they had.”
Emily Campbell, Director of Programmes – Creative Education Trust