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
Blog by Joe Faulkner, Head of Marketing and Business Development
The value of parental entry and exit surveys can be far greater than you may imagine for healthy pupil recruitment and your school’s marketing. Read more
Sector Report trending article by Melanie Tucker, Principal
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 five of the key trends the report will explore. In this first trending article, our Principal Melanie Tucker looks at Academies, Free Schools and the impact on the independent sector.
Blog by Joe Faulkner, Head of Marketing and Business Development
In my last blog I wrote about how the need for schools to deliver a quality of service that reflects their positioning in the marketplace. To use an analogy from the automotive market, if you are buying a Bentley, you don’t expect Nissan service quality.
Most people recognise great customer service when they encounter it. However, for schools there can be a challenge in trying to understand other people’s perceptions and identify gaps in the service that they offer.
Blog by Joe Faulkner, Head of Marketing and Business Development
One of the key concepts that most marketing textbooks cover these days is relating to the importance of a high quality of service delivered to stakeholders. And this can make a real and significant difference to business success across all sectors: from Waitrose to Qantas to Mercedes to the AA, there are countless examples of businesses where customers are willing to pay more for a dependable and excellent service. Read more
Blog by Gavin Humphries, Head of Research
The ISC Census data for January 2011 has recently been published. However, I will hold off commenting on it until we see the results of the Department for Education’s full School Census (which covers all independent schools – at least those in England) on June 22nd.
However, the only available data on boarding schools comes from the ISC and that really is worth noting now. Read more
Blog by Lindsey Kavanagh, Schools Marketing Consultant
A recent article in The Spectator reported on the baby boom phenomenon which is occurring in many areas of the country. The writer of the piece, George Bridges, referred to South West London as ‘Nappy Valley’ – something I can also vouch for as I live in the same neck of the woods! Read more
Blog by Lindsey Kavanagh, Schools marketing consultant
There are lots of guidelines for prospective parents on how to find the best school for their child. Now it’s your turn! Here are a few pointers for Heads and Registrars on how best to sell your school during a school tour. Read more
Blog by Peter Blair, Chief Operating Officer
The range of information that schools need seems to be greater than ever. More and more schools have to work hard to ensure that they are attracting the numbers of students and prospective students required to keep the school sustainable – as Christ the King School in Merseyside (see The Echo) is very well aware. For many, this is thought of as a marketing problem, and it is certainly essential that schools are at the top of their games at the moment.
For new schools, however, whether independent, academies or new free schools, it is essential that high-quality business and financial planning is undertaken – work that projects the reality of the school over the next decade or so in order that the school’s management team can be sure that their business (and it really is a business) is viable. Read more
Blog by Gavin Humphries, mtm’s Head of Research for Schools
We are awaiting the publication of January’s independent school roll numbers by the ISC (in April) and the Department for Education (in May). Numbers will be down in the junior age group, but to what extent will senior and sixth form rolls (which were flat in 2010) follow? Read more