Blog by Jane Davies, Research Analyst
We are all aware that the British population is expanding and the fact that we have an increasing population should be good news for all education providers, including the independent education sector. There will indeed be more children but factoring this in to planning your future school strategy should be done with care.
Blog by Nicky Adams, Schools’ Marketing Consultant
It’s a new year and schools’ marketers’ thoughts turn to the Open Day season, and how to encourage potential students through your doors and onto your roll for the coming September.
This is your chance to really sell your school – the pay-off for the past year’s promotional activity (and budget) that has made sure your school’s name is familiar to those families you are most keen to attract. Now is the time to convert that raised awareness into full classrooms, and the open day is a vital step that warrants careful planning.
Blog by Melanie Tucker, Principal and Head of Marketing Services
Last week I was invited to take part in the All-Party Group for Education debate – ‘The changing schools landscape: what can maintained schools, free schools and academies learn from one another?’ It looked like a great opportunity to identify ways in which educationalists could co-operate and exchange expertise, but sadly it turned into an argument between those who want to give comprehensive education more time to succeed and those who run free schools.
Blog by Dick Davison, Head of Strategic Services
With the UK heading inexorably, it seems, for another recession and the economic news unremittingly gloomy, we all need a bit of good news.
So full marks to Andrew Maiden, publisher of Funding for Independent Schools (http://www.fismagazine.co.uk), who had the good idea a couple of years ago of launching the sector’s own awards event to give some recognition to enterprise, imagination, energy and leadership in independent schools.
Blog by James Leggett, Research Manager
It’s vital to assess the status quo before your school can even think about moving forward, and at mtmconsulting we believe so passionately in the value of incisive market research that we spend much of our time and energy carrying out bespoke survey projects on behalf of schools that are serious about unlocking their future business potential.
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Blog by Nicky Adams, Schools’ Marketing Consultant
It’s easy to dismiss it as schoolgate tittle-tattle, but word-of-mouth is a very powerful marketing tool among parents – and schools ignore it at their peril.
All the glossy prospectuses and snappy websites in the world might not make up for the fact that Auntie Pat’s hairdresser’s niece had a terrible time at St Griselda’s, or nice little Freddie down the road left Newtown College with a crack habit and no GCSEs.
Blog by James Leggett, Research Manager
mtmconsulting has undertaken around 100 online parental satisfaction surveys for independent schools over the past three years, and close to 40 so far this year. Almost all reports had a single common theme running though. Communication. Read more
Sector Report trending article by Dick Davison, Head of Schools Strategy
Ahead of the launch of our 2012 Education Sector Report in September (available to order now with advance discount rate), over the Summer we will be looking at several of the key trends the report will explore. In this second trending article, our Head of Strategy, Dick Davison looks at a flight to quality in education in the wake of recession. Read more