Our Blog
Feast your eyes on our school marketing blog: news, tips and handy hints, as well as free resources and special offers…
Stickman is Proud to be an IAPS Consultancy Team Member
We’re delighted to join the IAPS Consultancy Team, a select group of accredited educational suppliers handpicked by IAPS for the benefit of their members.
See How Clifton College’s Marketing Stopped Us In Our Tracks
It takes a lot for us to pause in our browsing and say “Wow!”, but this week’s school marketing ‘Friday Find’ had just that effect!
See Why Elliott Hudson’s Instagram Is Focusing on Alumni
In today’s ‘Friday Find’ we’ve got a great example of leveraging alumni in your school marketing. In what ways are your alumni telling your school’s story?
See Why Sunningdale is Sharing ‘Behind The Scenes’ Secrets
This ‘Friday Find’ is a lovely example of school marketing that lifts the lid on school life. How revealing is your school willing to be with prospective parents?
Independent Schools – Have Pupil Places To Fill For Sept?
Are you effectively promoting your few remaining September pupil places to prospective families? Here’s how.
How Bede’s Promotes Its Joined-Up Thinking Across the School
Our ‘Friday Find’ is a example of school marketing that promotes a key aspect of a School’s offering – making the most of what ‘all-through’ means for pupils.
How A Mystery Shop Can Lead To Quick Admissions Wins
VIDEO: Do you really know how well your school responds to your prospective families wants and needs through their admissions journey? We discuss the incredible power of a mystery shop…
See Why St Joseph’s Playful Photography Packs a Punch
Today’s school marketing ‘Friday Find’ is a super example of how St Joseph’s College in Ipswich has embraced playfulness to allow their photography to shine.
How Kingswood Puts Its People at the Heart of Its Marketing
Kingswood is a great example of school marketing that puts people first. How do you show off your greatest asset – your people – to prospective families?
5 Pupil Video Ideas For Your School Marketing
One of the most powerful deciding factors for prospective parents in choosing a school are the pupils themselves; families see articulate, curious and happy children and naturally think, “WE want this for OUR child.” So it makes sense to put pupils front and centre of your marketing on a regular basis and video is a great way of doing just that. Read on for some quick and easy ideas…
The 3 Essentials of Pupil Recruitment for Primary Schools
Great to see our latest article on pupil recruitment featured in the magazine for ISBL (Institute of School Business Leaders) members. We know that it is often the responsibility of staff who are non-marketers to promote primary schools to prospective families. So what marketing activities are the most effective for these schools and why?
See How Scarborough College Captures the Benefits of Boarding in One Image
This ‘Friday Find’ is a fantastic demonstration of the power of storytelling in school marketing, using just one wonderful image and a handful of words.
Have You Seen What ‘The Most Exciting School in England’ Is Doing?
Our ‘Friday Find’ this week comes from Hurtwood House, a Sixth Form-only school that evidently knows its audience. See how they demonstrate their key message in just 15 seconds…
One Simple Task to Boost Your School’s Social Media Content
Read more about the one simple task you can do to boost your school’s social media content…
See Strathallan School’s Unique Take on Boosting Pupil Opportunities
We love school marketing ideas that stand out from the crowd and our latest ‘Friday Find’ from Strathallan School is certainly an example of that, boosting their differentiation and pupil opportunities at the same time.
See How Terra Nova School Builds Excitement for an Event
In this week’s ‘Friday Find’ we’ve discovered a great example of how to build excitement for something at your school and create a real sense of anticipation.
3 Ways A School Marketing Strategy Will Boost Your Finances
Find out how a school marketing strategy will make your budget work SO much harder with measurably BETTER results.
Thumb-stopping Content on Instagram from Aldro School
This week’s ‘Friday Find’ from Aldro School really made us pause in our Instagram scrolling.
See How Daiglen Prep Power Up Their Key Messages
Our latest marketing inspiration comes from Daiglen Preparatory School who put their eye-catching, rich purple branding to very good use.
5 Tips to Health Check Your School Website
The pandemic speeded up the ‘digital first’ approach to school enquiries, driving families to investigate potential schools online to a greater degree than ever before. Parents are likely to form their first opinions of your school through visiting your website. Act on our top tips to review how this all-important shop window appears to prospective families.
Read How St Michael’s Prep is Showcasing Past Pupils in its Marketing
Take a look at our latest ‘Friday Find’, a 5-star example of great school marketing from St Michael’s Prep.
I’m the Only Person Responsible for Marketing in my School – How Do I Share the Load?
All too often, school marketers are the sole person in the school with ‘marketing’ in their job description. It is easy to feel alone in what you are trying to achieve. If this is you, you’re far from alone, and we’ve got some tips to help…
See How St Margaret’s Are Employing Beautiful Photography
See how St. Margaret’s Prep School who really caught our eye on Instagram – it’s their school’s beautiful photography of its pupils at work and play.
Finding EPIC Content for your School’s Social Media
Struggle to find suitable content for your school’s social media? Or do you have too much content? The answer lies in your key messages…
How To Get Staff To Support Your School Marketing
Do you struggle to get support from your teaching colleagues? This isn’t because your teaching colleagues aren’t co-operative, it’s simply because they are – just like you – incredibly time-poor. This means that any requests relating to school marketing come in at...
How To Convey What’s Unique About Your School
One of the most common things schools tell us is that they struggle with knowing how to get what’s unique and special about their school ‘out there’ to the outside world. There are so many great things going on, how do you know what to talk about in your marketing? It’s all about honing your messages.
VIDEO: Stickman Chat With Our Friends at WCBS About All Things School Marketing & Admissions
Emily Richards, Founder & Director of Stickman and Stephen Bilboe from WCBS share some juicy school marketing and admissions insight in their chat on this Instagram Live.
How Do I Work Out The Best Marketing Channels For My School?
You’ve probably tried this, that and the other – nothing seems to be working. But – and, sorry to be blunt – this ad hoc approach is about as good as throwing spaghetti at a wall and seeing what sticks. You need to do some audience research…
No Time To Market Our School – Please Help!
The biggest stumbling blocks to implementing great school marketing is lack of time. It is time to step back and re-appraise your marketing and admissions.
How To Boost School Marketing and Admissions With Zero Budget
School marketing budgets have been blown to pieces by the pandemic, but there are plenty of improvements you can make for little or zero cost.
Why Parent Moans Could Be The Best Thing For Your School
Some schools choose to leave parents to it, accepting moans on WhatsApp as an evitability. But sticking your head in the sand could be dangerous.
Puzzled about how to make your school marketing more effective? Try this.
If you’d like help with creating a School Marketing & Admissions Strategy, learn more about our school matrketing coaching for prep schools…
Stickman Talks to Independent School Management Plus About How To Manage Marketing In These Tumultuous Times
ISMP magazine talked to Stickman Founder, Emily Richards, about the marketing and communications for schools this term and why it’s not all about Covid-19.
3 Marketing Essentials for Maximising Primary School Admissions
Marketing essentials to help you have a healthy number of applications for next yar’s entry to ensure robust school funding.
Living and Breathing What Life is Like in Schools
Stickman team member Karen talks about living at day and boarding schools over the past 20 years and how this supports understanding of school marketing issues.
Headteacher Claims Stickman’s Input was “Transformational” for his School
When schools respond brilliantly to our support, we couldn’t be prouder to see them thrive.
Stickman chats to Lucy Barnwell about ‘customer service’ at Rossall School
Lucy Barnwell, Director of External Relations at Rossall School, talks about her passion – top notch customer service in independent schools.
VIDEO: Is Your School Marketing Generating Results?
In this video, we talk about the importance of all your school marketing activities coming together to drive results – ultimately boosting pupil numbers.
Stickman Can Help Your School Stick to Social Distancing
Many schools are getting ready to re-open, in whatever form that may be. Here at Stickman we’ve partnered with a print team to offer a range of fully brand-able signage to help you keep safe.
How We Helped a School to Enrol New Pupils Worth £680,000
We’re delighted to have helped generate over £680,000 additional revenue in pupil fees for a Prep School. Learn how we did it.
Are You Marketing To Families Who Didn’t Get Their First Choice School?
Does your school have pupil places to fill for September? Are you effectively promoting this to prospective families in your area?
How Can Schools Use Social Media Effectively?
Watch Stickman founder Emily Richards discuss how schools can use social media effectively as part of their marketing and communications.
A Big THANK YOU To Schools During the Pandemic!
VIDEO: We want to say a big THANK YOU to schools for all the wonderful work you’re doing during these extraordinary times!
Our BIGGEST Tip for Communications During School Closures
Listen to our BIG tip for engaging effectively with parents during school closures, while supporting remote learning. Keep those relationships healthy!
Essential Marketing and Admissions Services During School Closures
Schools must continue to engage with current and prospective families and look to the future, however uncertain it seems.
Great Examples of School Social Media Content During COVID
We’re enjoying some great social media posts from schools, keeping up communication with school communities and making us smile while they’re at it.
3 Essential Communications Activites During COVID-19.
Watch our short video that outlines 3 Essential Marketing & Communication Activities During School Closures During Covid-19.
SCHOOL CLOSURES MARCH 2020: We’re Looking for Ways to Support Schools for Free
Following the announcement on 18 March about school closures, Stickman are allocating 2-3 hours each day to help schools free of charge.
Why Creating a Marketing Plan is Crucial for School Success
Mapping out your school’s marketing activities is essential if your efforts are to be REALLY effective and drive those pupil numbers.
VIDEO: Maximising School Funding in 3 Steps!
Watch our 8-minute video to see how you can boost funding at your school using our proven method for effective pupil recruitment.
2 Vital Marketing and Communications activities that will help secure a Good or Outstanding Ofsted judgement
School leaders naturally focus on teaching and learning to secure a favourable Ofsted judgement. But don’t forget that marketing and communications can make a REAL difference too.
How Local Authority primary schools CAN impact pupil applications
There are HEAPS of ways to drive pupil applications for your primary school, even if admissions are administered by the Local Authority.
[VIDEO] Primary schools – need to boost pupil numbers but funds are tight? Or perhaps don’t know where to start?
Primary schools – you need to do some marketing but have no money, don’t know where to start or just don’t have time to think about it? We have the answer…
Stickman’s round up of 2019 (part II)
Dip into part II of our round up of 2019 to catch some brain-fizzing school marketing tips and ideas that you may have missed first time around.
Stickman’s round up of 2019 (part I)
2019 has been an exciting year and we’d hate to think you missed any of our insights and inspiration. Here’s (part I) of our annual round up.
3 Essentials for Maximising Primary School Pupil Recruitment
At a time of increasingly squeezed school budgets, maximising pupil recruitment is key.
We talk to King’s School about the future of the independent sector.
The Head of the The King’s School Chesher shares his vision for the school as well as considering what the future holds for the independent sector.
We won ‘Pupil Recruitment Services of the Year’ award!
Here at Stickman Towers we are ever-so-slightly bursting with pride to announce that we are an AWARD-WINNING company! Those lovely people at Corporate LiveWire have awarded us Winner of Pupil Recruitment Services of the Year in the 2019 Manchester Prestige Awards. The...
Ackworth School and the Importance of Marketing
Stickman interviews Ackworth School in West Yorkshire about the importance of School Marketing and it’s role in the success of the School
Meet the mini Stickman team! (17 second VIDEO)
We just love involving our mini Stickman team in what we do at Stickman Towers. We therefore thought it only courteous to introduce them to you! Click below to meet the minis: https://youtu.be/FpEzGf-JP0E
8 Reasons Why School Marketing is Worth its Weight in Gold
Be clear and determined to show budget-holders why great marketing and communications are crucial to the success of a school.
Does Your Prep School Marketing Need To Be More Premium?
Do your school communications properly reflect the quality and excellence of your school? If you’re using Comic Sans for everything, then probably not.
3 Ideas To Boost Pupil Numbers For September!
If you still have places to fill for September, don’t panic! The Summer Term is full of opportunities to increase pupil numbers, if you act NOW.
Stickman launches new service packages!
We’ve listened, digested and developed our core services to suit your school’s challenges and budget. The only problem is, which to choose?
Curating parent ambassadors for your school
Parents will be talking about your school whether you like it or not. By engaging with them, their influence can be a mighty powerful positive force.
Stickman gets coverage by WCBS – leading online school admissions system!
Here at Stickman Towers we believe in joined-up thinking for the best possible outcomes. You know it makes sense…
5 point checklist to drive pupil recruitment on a limited budget
A decrease in your pupil numbers tightens the purse strings, just at the time when you need to spend to recruit pupils? We offer a fresh perspective on the chicken and egg of school marketing.…
3 ways to create that WOW feeling for prospective parents
For so many parents, the ‘it just felt right’ feeling is a decisive factor in choosing a school. Take these practical steps to create that ‘wow’ for your prospective families.
5 top tips for communicating effectively with parents
How well is everything your school does communicated to the outside world and, in particular, to parents? Getting it right can make a huge difference to your school’s reputation and we’re here to help.
Does your school have a strong USP?
Whether you know it or not, your school has Unique Selling Points (USPs). Do you know how to identify them and use them to your advantage in marketing?
Mystery shopping: a critical tool for boosting pupil recruitment
Mystery shopping can provide powerful insight into your admissions process, enabling you to fix the gaps and embellish the good.
FREE e-book: 7 Steps to Fill School Places and Banish Admissions Headaches
As expert schools marketers, we at Stickman know the admissions challenges you face and we’re sharing our strategies for encouraging enquiries, for FREE.
You’re welcome.
Stickman’s chat with the Headmaster of Terra Nova School
Stickman had the opportunity for an insightful chat with the Headmaster of Terra Nova School, a leading day and boarding prep school in Cheshire.
What you might have missed from Stickman in 2018…
Here at Stickman Towers we’ve been busy sharing tips and tricks, insights and inspiration on all things marketing and admissions all year. If you’ve missed our missives, a) where have you been? and b) fear not, for we bring you glad tidings and a round-up of our...
The power of involving pupils in your school marketing
Hearing pupils’ perspectives about what life is like at your school and what they love about it, is pretty powerful for parents.
“Working with The Stickman Consultancy has helped me to understand my local market and how best to reach them”
Sarah Lowe, Instructor, Kumon Education.
