The rollout of a new strategic plan is an exciting and often daunting experience. Whether your plan involves incremental improvement upon you ‘business-as-usual’, or a complete reimagining of how your school operates, it represents changes to come — and change can be scary.

“Everyone at your school is a marketer.” As a Head, it’s a statement that can either fill you with fear, or confidence. They may not realise it, but every single interaction your staff have with each other, with students and with both current and prospective families contributes to the overall brand impression of your school. And the hard part is, most of them are accidental marketers and you can’t speak for them.

In the fast-paced world of education, staying ahead of the curve is crucial. Enter artificial intelligence (AI) – the game-changer revolutionising how schools connect with their communities. From crafting compelling narratives to streamlining marketing strategies, AI is reshaping the landscape of school communications.

Consistency turns school branding from good to great. It builds trust, strengthens messaging, and makes your school instantly recognisable. From visuals to messaging, aligned touchpoints create clarity, reduce confusion and drive long-term success.

Marketing efforts often jump into action by designing material and websites, without first asking, “What are we trying to achieve?” This can lead to a disconnect in message.

The conventional wisdom around handling a crisis likely to result in negative publicity is to focus on how you will deal with the media. Sadly, in my view, that is often what public relations (PR) consultants providing crisis communications advice will do. Above all else, they will want to get the media release written and prepare for potential interviews.

How a school requests contributions, donations and fundraising support is important. Is it with gratitude and transparency or does it feel one-sided? How a school presents this need, and opportunity, matters.
There are many options available; selecting the one best suited to the request and the donation process requires careful consideration.

In the ever-evolving realm of digital marketing, school marketers are increasingly turning to artificial intelligence (AI) to streamline their content creation processes and engage more effectively with their audiences. By integrating AI tools, school marketers can automate several aspects of content creation, from ideation to final edits, enhancing both efficiency and effectiveness.

In the quest for enrolments, it’s tempting to let marketing precede mission. Eighty-three percent of Australian Independent schools have a religious affiliation. Most, but certainly not all, have their foundation in the Christian faith. SMJ asked Dr Brian Harris to dive deeper into the tension this creates for school Heads trying to find the right balance.

A delirious new dad paces the hospital car park. Through bleary eyes, he submits his firstborn’s enrolment application to secure a Year 7 place at the school of their dreams. Your school. What happens next determines if your school remains their dream.

Unless you have been living under a rock, you’ve no doubt been reading a lot about the emerging and likely impact of AI (Artificial Intelligence) technology on the way we live and work.

The devotion of schools to ensure the quality of education is of the highest standard brings significant challenges and opportunities.

Research conducted in 2023 highlights the challenges and opportunities schools face in their endeavour to achieve their strategic and operational objectives.