Names on Petitions to Pupils on Seats

Congratulations! Your Free School proposal has been accepted!

How do you convert names on petitions to applications for places in your new Free School? Amongst the many challenges ahead...

Basic Marketing Advice Have a clear vision and ethos. Practice your elevator pitch. Have a clear logo for your school. Have a person who is the ‘face’ of your school. Be consistent in your message. Don’t get involved in political brawls. Don’t expect to convert everyone!

Six Simple Marketing Strategies Local Media Website School prospectus Open days Adverts Local Authority

Use Local Media Free Schools are in the news! The media will be interested in you. Thousands of people listen to local radio. Talk on local radio about what your school will offer parents and pupils. Speak to the local papers. Explain how to apply for places. Promote your website!

Create a Website Websites are cheap to create yourself. Lots of people will Google your school. Set out your vision and ethos. Set out your curriculum. Provide your building location. Include a contact us page and provide application forms. Create a professional educational image.

Publish a School Prospectus Parents will want to know what they are buying into for their child. Publish a pre-opening school prospectus to set out the aims, vision, curriculum and other services offered by your school. Use models for photographs. Have a mock-up uniform made. Create an educational setting.

Hold an Open Day Hold a public open day in your building. Invite parents who signed your petition. Advertise it in the local press. Put up a display of what the building will look like when converted to a school. Display the curriculum, uniform, services and hand out your school prospectus. Give out balloons with your logo on.

Adverts in the Press Put an advert in the local press to attract applications for places. Advertise your website in the advert to attract more visitors to it. Make your application form available to download from the website. Have a postal address so parents can contact you.

Local Authority Admissions The Local Authority should include you in their annual admissions cycle. School places are advertised to parents between September and January. Prepare a pack of information about your school for the LA to provide to parents. Make sure your prospectus, adverts and open days coincide with this period!

Retaining Applicants Keep parents who have applied for places updated with a monthly newsletter. Hold social events to build your school community before the school opens. Hold an evening when parents can meet your appointed staff. Advertise how many places have been filled – it attracts more parents!