MARKETING BEST PRACTICE FOR SCHOOLS (GETTING MORE BUMS ON SEATS) Competition among maintained schools, academies, free schools and FE Colleges is on the increase. Some schools seem to be thriving in the new environment, but lots of schools are struggling to attract potential parents and new pupils. In a World where «the funding follows the pupil», would you like to know how to market your school more effectively, recruit more students and develop school marketing materials that work? On this half-day course we’ll look at what should go into your school marketing plan/budget and what the market research says about the way parents make decisions about which school to choose. You’ll also learn how to develop your own Unique Selling Proposition, understand the importance of key marketing messages and use effective tools to help you create a distinct school brand which reflects the school’s unique ethos and vision. We’ll also look at practical steps you can take to improve your marketing materials, advertising and on-line reputational issues. Key learning points will be illustrated with examples of best practice from UK schools. If you want to «get more bums on seats» this is the course for you. THINGS YOU’LL LEARN ABOUT ON THIS COURSE… 1. Understanding the financial impact of being a fully-subscribed school; 2. What should go into your school marketing plan/budget; 3. What does Market Research tell us about why parents choose a school; 4. Developing your Unique Selling Proposition and 5 key marketing messages; 5. Translating your unique ethos and vision into a distinct school brand; 6. Developing the most effective school marketing materials, including best practice on: Signage/banners/posters; Professional photography and video Effective display advertisements; School brochures/prospectuses/leaflets; Facebook advertising v. local newspaper display advertising; School websites and social media. You will leave the event with a workbook, hand-outs and a list of tips and suggestions to start marketing your school more effectively. Tea and coffee will be provided. HOW DO WE BOOK A PLACE? We like to use Eventbrite to manage all of our event bookings. To book a ticket, just click the «ORDER NOW» button in the «Ticket Information» options. We offer a £20 discount for 2nd, 3rd and 4th delegates from the same school. CAN WE BE SENT AN INVOICE INSTEAD? Yes. If you want us to send you an invoice for the delegate fees, please select «Pay by Invoice» in the «Payment Options» on Eventbrite – alternatively you can contact the Course Co-ordinator, Carol Poulton, on 01722 744033, or e-mail her at carol@ THIS VENUE AND/OR DATE IS NO GOOD FOR ME, ARE YOU RUNNING IT ELSEWHERE? Yes, we are running this event at regional centres all over the UK this year. You are welcome to come to any of our advertised dates – and there may be one which is nearer or more convenient for you – especially if you live on the edge of a region. For other dates/venues in the UK, please CLICK HERE. HOW LONG DOES THIS EVENT LAST? The course takes just over 3 hours. Some delegates may choose to stay on at the end for further discussion with the trainer about their own individual website issues. WHO IS THIS COURSE INTENDED FOR? Anyone with an interest in marketing the school, increasing admissions and getting more bums on seats will benefit from this course, including:- Headteachers; Principals; Sixth Form Heads; Deputy Heads; Assistant Heads; Bursars; School Business Managers; Members of the SMT/SLT; Finance Officers; Communications Officers; Marketing or PR Officers and Governors. This course is delivered in plain English – not jargon. We use straightforward language and you don’t need to be a marketing professional. WHAT SORT OF SCHOOLS WILL BE ATTENDING? State and Independent Schools, including: nurseries, children’s centres, infant schools, primary schools, junior schools, middle schools, secondary schools, academies, free schools, grammar schools, special schools, UTCs, colleges and sixth forms. WHERE WILL THE EVENT BE HELD? We normally like to book the venue not more than 10 days in advance – when we know the number of delegates attending. We tend to use big brand hotels (like Holiday Inn, Novatel, Ramada, Hilton, Premier Inn or Best Western) or purpose-built conference venues with good parking provision close to major road networks. Most of our venues are easily reached by car or public transport. WHEN WILL WE GET JOINING INFORMATION? You will normally receive detailed joining information (including the address and postcode of the venue) about 10 days before the event. Please make sure that the joining details are passed on to your school delegate/s as soon as they are received. If you have not received this information just call the Course Co-ordinator, Carol Poulton, on 01722 744033, or e-mail her at carol@ OTHER FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS 1. CAN YOU DELIVER THIS COURSE AT OUR EVENT/VENUE/DATE? Yes, we have delivered this course at headteachers’ conferences, local authority training venues, school management exhibitions and at large federation and trust events all over the UK. Call us now on 01722 744033 or e-mail carol@ discuss your training needs. 2. DO WE NEED TO BRING ANYTHING TO THE EVENT? You will receive a training pack, with hand-outs, writing paper and a pen when arrive. You will not need to bring a mobile device or laptop with you. 3. IS OUR REGISTRATION/TICKET TRANSFERABLE? Yes. If you can’t get to the event you can transfer your booking to a colleague or friend. Just let us know if they have any special dietary or accessibility requirements. You can also transfer to the same course at another venue (if space is available). Please let us have any changes to your booking no less than 7 working days before the event. Just call the Course Co-ordinator, Carol Poulton, on 01722 744033, or e-mail her at carol@ 4. WHAT IS THE REFUND POLICY? If you can’t get to the event you can transfer your booking to a colleague. Just let us know if they have any special dietary or accessibility requirements. You can also transfer to the same course at another venue (if space is available). If these two options are not possible, we can issue a full refund provided that we receive your cancellation by e-mail no less than 7 working days before the event. Sadly we cannot refund fees for delegates who cancel with less than 7 days notice. 5. CAN WE UPDATE OUR REGISTRATION INFORMATION? Yes. Please let us have any updates to your registration information no less than 7 working days before the event. Just call the Course Co-ordinator, Carol Poulton, on 01722 744033, or e-mail her at carol@ 6. DO WE HAVE TO BRING OUR PRINTED TICKETS TO THE EVENT? No, but we strongly advise course participants to bring the ticket with them, and any other written information they have received. 7. THE NAME ON THE TICKET ISN’T THE SAME AS THE ATTENDEE – IS THAT OK? Yes. Attendees are often booked onto the course by someone else. It doesn’t matter. 8. WHERE CAN WE CONTACT THE TRAINER? If you would like to speak to the Course Trainer to discuss the course content or your own school marketing requirements, please call him on: 01722 744033 – or e-mail him at paul@ 9. WHERE CAN WE CONTACT THE COURSE CO-ORDINATOR? If you have any practical questions relating to your booking you can call the Course Co-ordinator, Carol Poulton, on 01722 744033, or e-mail her at carol@