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A Multi-Academy Trust’s guide to YouTube success
In today’s digital world, a Multi Academy Trust YouTube channel can be much more than a video library. When purposefully managed, it becomes a compelling platform to showcase your school, connect with families and staff, and strengthen your reputation.

This guide breaks down how trusts can build, govern, and grow a successful YouTube presence, with practical questions and recommendations to help you make confident decisions.

Start with purpose and define what success looks like

Every YouTube channel needs a clear reason to exist. Before filming your first video, take a step back and ask some foundational questions.
- What stories are you trying to tell and why?
- Who are you trying to reach?
- What outcomes actually matter?
It is easy to focus on output, the number of videos produced, events filmed, posts published. But impact matters far more than activity. Within marketing for schools, meaningful engagement will always outweigh volume. After 12 months, what would genuine progress look like for your Trust?

It might be steady growth in subscribers. It might be strong engagement on recruitment videos. Perhaps schools are actively using your content during open evenings, or parents reference your videos when making enquiries. These are the kinds of signals that demonstrate influence rather than noise. When success measures are agreed early, the channel stays focused and aligned with your wider Trust strategy.

Be clear about who comes first

Multi-Academy Trusts speak to many audiences, but not all audiences should be prioritised equally. It helps to agree on a clear hierarchy so that every piece of content is created with a primary audience in mind. For many Trusts, that order might look something like this: prospective parents, prospective staff, current parents, students, alumni and external stakeholders such as the DfE, funders or partners.

This is not about excluding groups. It is about focus. Content tailored carefully to its intended audience performs better and achieves clearer outcomes. A video aimed at prospective teachers should look and feel different from one celebrating student enrichment. Clarity here improves every decision that follows.

Get governance and safeguarding right from the start

With a public platform comes responsibility. Governance and safeguarding cannot be afterthoughts. Every Trust channel should have a named internal owner with clearly defined responsibilities. It should also be agreed who signs off on different types of content, particularly anything sensitive or safeguarding-related.

Media consent frameworks should explicitly reference YouTube and digital distribution. You may need to decide whether certain groups, for example vulnerable learners or students with SEND, require additional consideration, or whether certain categories of content are best avoided.

Comments are another important factor. Many Trusts choose to moderate all comments or disable them entirely on student-focused videos. Taking a proactive stance reduces risk and protects your community. A confident channel is one built on solid foundations.

Develop a thoughtful and sustainable content strategy

The strongest YouTube channels do not feel random. They feel intentional. Aim for a balanced mix of content that reflects both your community and your strategic priorities. This could include testimonials from students, staff or alumni, seasonal or reactive content around exams or national events, educational explainers about pathways and assessments and cultural showcases such as performances, trips and competitions.

Where possible, think in terms of series rather than one-off uploads. YouTube rewards patterns, and audiences respond to familiarity. A recurring “Step Inside Our School” format, a short “Questions Parents Ask” explainer series, alumni “Graduate Stories,” or a regular “School in Action” celebration can all build rhythm and expectation. Consistency of format encourages repeat viewing, which drives subscriber growth.

Structure the channel for long-term impact

How your channel is organised affects both user experience and performance. Playlists are particularly powerful. Rather than treating them as simple chronological folders, think of them as navigation menus. They can be organised by audience (parents, students, staff), by content type (stories, explainers, showcases), or by school phase (Primary, Secondary, Sixth Form). Be intentional. Avoid creating separate playlists for every school unless the volume and quality of content genuinely justify it. Fragmentation can dilute impact.

You may decide that recruitment content belongs on a dedicated careers channel, with strong cross linking between channels. Clear internal pathways improve discoverability and encourage viewers to continue watching.

Promotion is as important as production

Uploading a video is only the beginning. Distribution determines whether it will be seen. Trust and school websites should embed relevant videos and playlists. Email communications to parents and staff can spotlight new content. Social media channels, including LinkedIn, Facebook and Instagram, can also extend reach. Alumni newsletters and networks can amplify key stories.

Think practically about usage. For example, could specific playlists support open evenings? Could recruitment videos be used at fairs? Could stakeholder briefings reference selected clips? When videos are actively used rather than passively stored, their value multiplies.

Measure what actually matters

Not all YouTube metrics are equally useful. Views alone rarely tell the full story. Watch time is often more meaningful, as it shows how long viewers stay engaged. Audience retention reveals where people lose interest. Click-through rates indicate whether thumbnails and titles are effective. Geography data shows whether you are reaching local families or a broader audience.

Set clear expectations around reporting. Operational teams may benefit from monthly dashboards. Senior leaders might review insights termly. Boards may only need strategic highlights that demonstrate impact and alignment with Trust priorities. Good data does not just justify investment. It sharpens strategy.

Five principles for a strong Multi-Academy Trust YouTube presence

Across all of this, a few guiding principles make a significant difference.
- Treat your channel as a broadcast platform, not a storage space. Be selective. Every video should have a purpose.
- Invest in visual identity. Consistent branding, thumbnail styles and a short intro or outro help build recognition and professionalism.
- Pin a flagship video that clearly explains who you are, who the channel is for, and what viewers can expect. This acts as your digital front door.
- Use playlists intelligently to guide viewers towards what matters most to them.
- Prioritise cadence over volume. Consistency builds trust. Two to four thoughtful uploads per month are often more effective than bursts of activity followed by long silence.
A strong YouTube presence doesn’t happen overnight, but every thoughtful upload adds value. Keep experimenting, stay responsive to your audience, and celebrate success. Your channel can become a trusted hub for your community.

YouTube setup guide

Follow these instructions to create a channel that only you can manage:
1. Sign in to YouTube on a computer or the mobile site
2. Click your profile picture (located in the top right), then head to Settings
3. Go to the Account section
4. Click Create a channel
5. Choose a profile picture and type in your name and handle
6. Click Create channel
How to customise your channel:
- Click your profile picture in the top right
- Select the YouTube Studio option
- Select the Customisation tab on the left
- You will then be redirected to a page where you can edit the following features.
Uploading a channel profile picture: this image represents you everywhere on YouTube — next to your videos, in comments, on your channel page, and in subscriptions.

Uploading a banner image: It acts as a visual welcome sign, reinforcing your branding through colours, text, and imagery. A strong banner can quickly communicate what your channel is about.

Adding your channel name and description: Together, your channel name and description serve as your channel’s introduction and elevator pitch. They help YouTube understand and categorise your channel while encouraging new visitors to stick around and subscribe.

Adding links and contact details to the channel’s description: Makes it easier for viewers, collaborators and brands to connect with you. It boosts your channel’s professionalism, directs traffic to your other platforms and opens the door to networking, partnerships, and growth beyond YouTube.

Create playlists to organise content: In YouTube Studio, click the ‘Create’ button in the top right and select ‘New Playlist’. Fill out the details and add videos to categorise your content in a clear, structured way.

At Cleverbox, we offer videography services which would be great to showcase on your YouTube channel. If this is something you would be interested in, get in touch with us today on 0208 466 7222 or email team@cleverbox.co.uk.

Interested in finding out more?

See how Cleverbox can help you with your next project
24 March 2026
How can a school prospectus support student recruitment?
As schools continue to invest in digital marketing, the value of a well-designed school prospectus can sometimes be overlooked. Yet for many parents, a prospectus is still one of the most engaging ways to understand what a school or sixth form offers.

For sixth forms in particular, the prospectus often becomes part of the decision-making journey. Students pick it up during open events, take it home with them and read through it with their parents while comparing different colleges.

Why prospectuses still matter for schools

Choosing where to study after secondary school is an important decision. Parents are often researching several sixth forms at the same time. While websites provide detailed information, a prospectus helps bring that information together in a way that feels clear and easy to follow.

Rather than searching across multiple pages online, parents can move through a publication that introduces them to the subjects available, the wider student experience and the opportunities that come with studying there.

A prospectus also supports open events and recruitment activities. Students often browse it while visiting a school, then take it home afterwards to look through again. In many cases, it becomes something they return to several times while thinking about their next step.

For schools and colleges, this creates an opportunity to present their environment, values and ambitions in a structured and engaging way.

A well-designed school prospectus does more than share information. It helps communicate culture, ambition and opportunity in a way that feels clear and accessible.

The role of design in a successful prospectus

This was something we explored while working with Rochdale Sixth Form College on the design of their 2025 to 2026 prospectus, creating a publication that helps students picture what their future at the college could look like.

In our experience, good design helps guide readers through the publication. A clear layout, strong photography and thoughtful typography allow parents to move naturally from course information to enrichment opportunities, student life and future destinations.

When these elements work well together, the prospectus becomes much more engaging to read. Instead of feeling like a long document filled with text, it becomes something parents actually want to spend time exploring.

For students, this can make it much easier to picture themselves as part of that school or college community.

A closer look at Rochdale Sixth Form College

When Rochdale Sixth Form College approached our team at Cleverbox, they were looking to create a prospectus that reflected the ambition of their students and the success of the college.

They wanted to move away from a traditional school brochure style and instead develop something that felt modern and more in line with the type of publications students often associate with universities.

We developed a design approach that placed students at the centre of the publication while presenting information in a clear and engaging way. The layout focuses on strong imagery, clear content sections and a modern design style that reflects the energy of the college.

The result is a prospectus that feels confident, approachable and easy to navigate, helping students explore the courses and opportunities available to them.

Helping students picture their future

A prospectus becomes part of the wider experience of exploring a sixth form. It is often picked up during open events, read while waiting for presentations to begin and taken home afterwards to share with family members.

These moments give students time to explore the college at their own pace. They can read about subjects that interest them, learn about enrichment opportunities and start to imagine what their next stage of education might look like.

When a prospectus is thoughtfully designed, it helps bring these elements together in a way that feels clear and engaging.

Reviewing your own prospectus

If your school or sixth form is reviewing its recruitment materials, it can be useful to step back and consider how well your current prospectus is working.

Ask yourself:
- Is it easy for students to navigate?
- Does it reflect the culture and environment of your school?
- Would a student want to take it home and read it?
- Does it clearly communicate the opportunities available?
If the answer to some of these questions is uncertain, it may be worth considering whether a refreshed design could strengthen how your school presents itself to parents.

Bringing your school’s story to life

The Rochdale Sixth Form College project is a strong example of how thoughtful prospectus design can support student recruitment.

By creating a publication that is clear, engaging and aligned with the college’s ambition, the prospectus helps students understand the opportunities available to them and picture themselves as part of that environment.

For schools reviewing their prospectus for the coming year, investing in thoughtful design can make a meaningful difference. A well-crafted publication can support open events, strengthen communication with parents and help students feel confident about the next step in their education.

If your school is reviewing its prospectus for the coming year, our team at Cleverbox would always be happy to have a conversation and explore how the design could better reflect your school community.

Interested in finding out more?

See how Cleverbox can help you with your next project
18 March 2026
SEO for schools: How to improve your school website ranking
When parents are looking for a school, they start online. They search for phrases like “best primary school near me” or “secondary schools in Manchester”. They look for open evenings, admissions information, and term dates. Long before they step through your doors, they are forming opinions based on what they find online.

If your website does not appear clearly in search results, or if it is difficult to navigate once they arrive, you may be missing valuable opportunities. Search Engine Optimisation, often shortened to SEO, is simply about making sure your school website is easy to find and easy to understand, both for families and for search engines like Google. It does not need to be technical or overwhelming. With a few clear steps, schools can significantly improve their visibility.

What is SEO and why does it matter for schools?

SEO is the process of improving your website so it appears higher in search results. When a parent searches for schools in your area, search engines scan websites to decide which ones are most relevant and trustworthy. The clearer and more helpful your content is, the more likely it is to rank well.

For schools, strong SEO can:
- Increase visibility to prospective families
- Support admissions enquiries
- Improve trust and credibility
- Help your school stand out locally
It is not about chasing trends. It is about clarity and consistency.

Start with the questions parents are already asking

The most effective school websites answer real questions. Think about what parents regularly ask during open events or phone calls. Those questions should guide your website content.

For example:
- How do I apply?
- What are your term dates?
- What is your Ofsted rating?
- What clubs and enrichment activities do you offer?
- How do you support children with additional needs?
Each of these topics should have a clear, dedicated page on your website. When you structure your content around genuine questions, you naturally improve your SEO. Search engines favour helpful content.

Use clear page titles and headings

Every page on your website should have a clear focus.

For example, instead of naming a page simply “Admissions”, consider:
“Admissions at XXXX Primary School.”

This helps search engines understand exactly what the page is about and where your school is located. Within each page, use clear headings that guide the reader. Avoid large blocks of text. Keep paragraphs short and easy to read. Clarity always wins over complexity.

Make sure your website reflects your location

Local search is especially important for schools.

Parents often search using phrases like:
- Primary schools in Leeds
- Secondary school near me
- Sixth form in Birmingham
Make sure your location appears naturally throughout your website, particularly on:
- Your homepage
- Your admissions page
- Your contact page
Include your full address and postcode clearly. This helps search engines connect your school to local searches.

Keep your content updated

Search engines favour websites that are active and current. If your latest news story is from two years ago, it can signal that your website is not regularly maintained.

Simple actions can make a difference:
- Update news stories each term
- Refresh staff lists when changes happen
- Keep policies and documents current
- Review admissions information annually
This does not require constant posting, just consistent care.

Improve page speed and mobile experience

Most parents will view your website on their phone. If your site loads slowly or is difficult to navigate on a mobile device, families may leave before reading anything. Search engines notice this behaviour. A fast, mobile-friendly website improves both user experience and SEO performance.

At Cleverbox, we often see schools focusing on content without considering technical performance. The two work hand in hand. A beautifully written page will not perform well if the site itself is difficult to use.

Use internal links thoughtfully

Internal links simply mean linking between pages on your own website. This helps search engines understand the structure of your site. It also helps parents move easily between sections. It is a small detail that can have a meaningful impact.

For example:
- Linking from your homepage to your admissions page
- Linking from a news story to your curriculum page
- Linking from a blog to your contact page
Add helpful, informative blog content

Regular blog content is one of the most effective ways to strengthen SEO.

You might write about:
- Preparing for starting Reception
- Supporting children during exam season
- Highlights from enrichment programmes
- Advice for Year 6 transition
When written clearly and focused on real parent concerns, blog content increases visibility and positions your school as supportive and proactive. It also gives you valuable content to share in newsletters and on social media.

Use images and video carefully

Images should be high quality but not overly large, as large files can slow down your site. Where appropriate, include short videos such as welcome messages or virtual tours. Video increases engagement and keeps visitors on your site for longer, which can positively influence search performance. Again, this does not need to be complicated. It simply needs to be considered.

Avoid overcomplicating it

SEO can sound technical, but at its core it is about three things:
- Being clear
- Being helpful
- Being consistent
If your website clearly explains who you are, what you offer, and how to apply, you are already on the right path. Small improvements made consistently will always outperform large changes made once and forgotten.

How SEO fits into your wider school marketing strategy

SEO should not sit separately from your overall marketing. Your website, admissions messaging, branding, and digital presence should all work together. When your visual identity is strong, your messaging is clear, and your content answers real questions, search performance improves naturally.

At Cleverbox, we work with schools and trusts to ensure that websites are not only visually engaging but strategically structured. A well designed site supports admissions, reflects your ethos, and performs effectively in search results.

Strong SEO is not about tricking search engines. It is about building a website that genuinely serves families.

A clear and manageable way forward
- Is it easy to find key information?
- Are pages clearly titled?
- Does it load quickly on a phone?
- Is the content up to date?
From there, make steady improvements. Over time, these changes strengthen your visibility, build trust, and support your admissions journey.

If you are considering a website refresh, our team at Cleverbox would be happy to explore how thoughtful design and clear structure can support both user experience and search performance.

Interested in finding out more?

See how Cleverbox can help you with your next project
3 March 2026
Is your marketing actually driving sixth form admissions?
Marketing plays a bigger role in sixth form admissions than it did even a few years ago. Students have more choices, and decisions are increasingly shaped by how clearly a college presents itself as a place to study.

Most sixth forms are already doing marketing; the real question is whether that work is helping students move from interest to application.

In our experience, admissions challenges most often come down to clarity. Students want to understand quickly what a sixth form offers, what makes it different, and where it can take them next. If that story is inconsistent or buried, confidence drops and applications stall.

From activity to clarity

We often see colleges working hard across lots of channels, but without a clear admissions perspective running through everything. Effective marketing is about making it easier for students to understand their options and feel confident in choosing you.

That means focusing on what genuinely matters to students:
- clear course information
- visible pathways beyond sixth form
- a sense of culture
- reassurance that they will be supported to succeed.
For most students, your website is the centre of their decision-making. It’s where first impressions are formed, and comparisons are made.

Increasingly, students are also discovering sixth forms through AI-driven search and summaries. That makes clarity even more important. Clear structure, plain language, and accurate content ensure the right message is coming through wherever students are searching.

Marketing that supports decisions, not just awareness

The strongest admissions-led marketing makes the next step obvious. Whether that’s attending an open event, requesting information, or applying, students should be guided naturally and confidently through the journey.

When we work with sixth form colleges, our role is often to step in early, take a fresh look at what’s already in place, and help bring focus to the areas that will have the biggest impact on admissions. That work might involve a new website or a clearer prospectus, but the common thread is always the same – supporting applications, not just producing marketing materials.

We’ve seen this approach lead to stronger engagement, clearer decision-making, and increased student numbers across a range of sixth form projects.

A conversation, not a sales pitch

We’re currently meeting with sixth form colleges to talk through their admissions challenges and look honestly at how well their marketing is supporting recruitment. These conversations help us to understand what’s working and whether some focused support could make a difference ahead of future admissions windows.

If you’d find it helpful to step back and look at your marketing through an admissions lens, we’d be very happy to come in and have that conversation.

Interested in finding out more?

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12 February 2026
Introducing Aberdour School’s new website: Revealing a hidden gem

Aberdour School is often described as a hidden gem, and that idea became a key starting point for its new website.

Set back from the road, with extensive grounds, specialist facilities and a strong focus on wellbeing, Aberdour offers an experience that is not always immediately visible from the outside. Our challenge was to create a website that brought that story to life clearly and confidently, while supporting the day-to-day needs of a busy independent prep school.

Cleverbox worked closely with Aberdour School to design and build a new website that reflects the school’s character, showcases what makes it distinctive and guides families through the school as one continuous journey.

A website shaped by how the school really works

Aberdour is a school made up of several entry points, including Nursery, Pre-Prep, and Prep. One of the clearest messages from the team was that they did not want the website to feel fragmented.

Instead, the site needed to reflect how the school operates in reality. One connected community, supporting pupils from age two through to Year 6.

This thinking influenced both the structure and flow of the site. Rather than separating sections into silos, the navigation and page layouts are designed to reinforce a sense of progression and continuity, helping prospective families understand the benefits of staying with Aberdour throughout their child’s early education.

Showcasing space, wellbeing and opportunity

Aberdour’s grounds and facilities are a genuine point of difference. Playing fields, all-weather areas, a climbing wall, sports hall and indoor swimming pool offer pupils space, freedom and opportunity to explore their interests.

The new website puts much greater emphasis on this environment, using strong imagery and considered layouts to show how these facilities support learning, wellbeing and personal development. The aim was not simply to list features, but to communicate the impact they have on pupils’ confidence, curiosity and enjoyment of school life.

This sense of discovery runs throughout the site, reflecting Aberdour’s relaxed but purposeful atmosphere and its focus on the whole child.

Nature-led design with meaning

The school’s connection to the natural world played an important role in shaping the visual language of the site.

An animated dragonfly gently follows visitors as they scroll down the homepage, creating a subtle sense of movement and discovery. The shape of the dragonfly’s wings is echoed elsewhere across the site, forming a recurring design motif that reflects ideas of working together, balance and innovation found in nature.

Dragonflies are often associated with change that comes from emotional and mental maturity. They can also symbolise overcoming challenges and adjusting perspective. This made them a fitting metaphor for Aberdour’s approach to education, supporting children as they grow in confidence, resilience and self-awareness.

These elements add depth and meaning to the design without distracting from content, reinforcing the school’s values in a quiet but thoughtful way.

Bringing the PAL curriculum to the forefront

Another key focus was Aberdour’s bespoke PAL curriculum, an innovative approach that builds a personalised timetable around pupils’ interests.

Rather than burying this within curriculum pages, the new website gives PAL greater visibility, helping families quickly understand what makes Aberdour’s approach different and why it matters. This supports both admissions conversations and the school’s wider positioning, reinforcing Aberdour as a place where children are encouraged to discover strengths and develop new interests.

Designing an admissions journey, not just an admissions page

For prospective families, the admissions process can feel daunting. Aberdour were keen for the website to act as a guide, not just an information store.

We explored admissions as a journey, using clear pathways and intuitive layouts to help parents understand next steps and feel confident about getting in touch. This approach supports families at different stages of consideration, from early research through to application, while reinforcing the idea of progression through the school.

A calmer, more considered visual identity

The website also marks a shift in visual tone. Moving away from brighter colours, the new design leans into a more natural and understated palette that supports themes of wonder, wellbeing and the natural world.

Subtle patterns and shapes inspired by nature help create visual interest while maintaining clarity. The overall look feels modern but established, which is important for a school balancing warmth with a sense of prestige.

Built to work for staff as well as families

Behind the scenes, the site is designed to be straightforward for staff to manage. News, events and updates can be added easily, helping the website stay current without adding pressure to already busy roles.

This ensures the site reflects real school life, not just how things looked on launch day, and reduces the need for staff to field repeat questions that can be answered clearly online.

A collaborative process

As with all Cleverbox school projects, collaboration was central to the process.

“From the outset, it was clear that Aberdour wanted more than just a new design. They wanted a website that genuinely reflected how the school feels day -to-day. Calm, connected and full of opportunity. Our role was to shape that into something practical, clear and future-proof.”
Dan Meeks, Account Manager, Cleverbox

That close working relationship allowed ideas to develop naturally and ensured decisions were always rooted in how the school actually operates.

Dan adds..“The best projects are the ones where the school challenges us and trusts us in equal measure. With Aberdour, there was a real openness to exploring ideas that went beyond the obvious, while always staying focused on what would genuinely benefit families and staff.”

Aberdour School’s new website provides a platform that can grow with the school, supporting future admissions cycles, evolving content and ongoing communication with families. Most importantly, it helps reveal what makes Aberdour special. A nurturing environment, a forward-thinking curriculum and a community that works together to support every child’s journey.

If your school is looking to achieve something similar to Aberdour School, get in touch with us today to start your journey to a new custom-built website

Interested in finding out more?

See how Cleverbox can help you with your next project

10 February 2026
The Brooke Weston Trust: Bringing a family of schools together

Our Account Manager, Dan Meeks, shares his favourite project from 2025

As part of our 2025 project highlights series at Cleverbox, we are sharing some of the projects our account managers found most rewarding over the past year. These are pieces of work that challenged them and strengthened partnerships with our clients. Additionally, they made a real difference for the schools and trusts we work with.

For our Account Manager, Dan Meeks, his favourite project of 2025 was the full redesign of the Brooke Weston Trust and their 12 school websites. This was a large-scale multi-academy trust website design project. It brought together clarity, consistency, and individuality across a family of schools. Read his reflection on the project below.

One of my favourite projects this year was working with Brooke Weston Trust. Working with a trust so committed to its students, staff, and wider community made it such a rewarding piece of work. Right from the start, it was clear the new sites needed to show the Trust’s ambition, inclusivity, and focus on student growth, while still letting each school showcase its own personality.

The existing website had been well regarded in the past, but it no longer reflected the trust’s current values or priorities. The brief was to create a more inclusive, transparent, and student focused online presence. It also needed to better represent how the trust works today.

A really important part of the Trust site was making sure the governance committees were easy to find and navigate. It was all about giving people clear, accessible information and showing that the Trust’s structure is approachable and transparent, something parents, staff, and the community really value. We focused on clear layouts, intuitive navigation, and accessible content, ensuring visitors could quickly find what they needed.

Designing school websites that feel connected but not identical

Another big consideration was making sure each school felt unique, while still part of the wider Trust family. We worked closely with the Trust so every school could showcase its own identity. Each now has access to its full colour range and brand palette, giving them creative freedom while staying aligned with the overall Trust identity. I loved seeing how each school added its own flair to its content, it really brought the concept of “Siblings, not clones” to life.

As the project progressed, we worked through a series of refinements to ensure the layouts, visuals and content reflected the Trust’s preferences. We focused on the finer details, including the presentation of key messages and how the map illustrated the Trust’s coverage. Working closely together throughout made a noticeable difference to the final result.

Showcasing training, CPD, and staff development across the trust

The Trust’s training and CPD offer was something they were proud to ‘show off’. We built a single hub for staff development opportunities across all schools, making it easy for prospective staff to see the wide range of courses available and for current staff to access details and book themselves in.

This approach not only strengthened the Trust’s recruitment message but also reinforced its commitment to investing in staff at every stage of their career. By bringing everything into one clear, accessible space, the CPD offer now feels joined-up, purposeful and easy to engage with, supporting both attraction and retention across the Trust.

Visually, the sites strike a modern, professional tone, balanced with warmth from the Trust’s branding, such as the handwritten-style “This is Us” and the welcoming animated graphics.

Seeing the sites go live across the Trust and all 12 schools has been a real highlight for me this year. It is great to be part of a project where the end result not only looks strong but genuinely supports the Trust’s mission and the communities it serves.

Thinking about a multi-academy trust website redesign

If you are reviewing your current trust website or considering a multi-academy trust website redesign, I would be happy to talk through what this could look like for your organisation.

At Cleverbox, we work with schools and trusts to create clear, accessible websites that support identity, consistency, and long-term growth. If you would like to explore a similar approach for your trust, please get in touch with our team.

Interested in finding out more?

See how Cleverbox can help you with your next project

3 February 2026
Independent school marketing: Starting the year on the front foot
Why acting early on your marketing puts you in a stronger position for the year ahead

For many independent schools, the start of the year brings a familiar set of decisions. How to prioritise activity, where to focus effort, and how to ensure marketing investment delivers genuine value for the school. As the sector becomes more competitive, marketing has to work harder – not in terms of volume, but in terms of clarity and storytelling. The emphasis shifts from ‘doing what has always been done’ to making sure time, energy, and budget are being used in the most effective way possible.

In that context, January to March can be a genuine opportunity. A chance to step back early, take stock of how the school is currently presenting itself, and make considered decisions about what needs to change, improve, or be sharpened. That early thinking lays the foundations which support admissions activity throughout the year. It creates space for better ideas, clearer priorities, and more joined-up work across everything from websites and online marketing to open events.

Schools who take this approach tend to get more out of their marketing, not because they spend more, but because they start earlier and think more carefully about what will have the greatest impact.

Parents are still choosing, but they’re choosing differently

Independent school admissions have always been competitive, but the way parents make decisions continues to evolve. They are more deliberate, more informed, and more careful about where they invest. That puts greater emphasis on marketing – on the narrative a school puts out into the world, how clearly it explains its offer, and how it presents what makes it distinctive.

In practical terms, that means marketing needs to support:
- consistent, high quality engagement with the school online
- open events that feel purposeful and well attended
- a steady flow of admissions enquiries throughout the year
This is not about spending more money; it is about making sure the way a school presents itself is clear and compelling. When schools continue to communicate in the same way year after year, particularly those built on strong tradition, there is a risk that the message feels stagnant rather than timeless. Tradition is a strength, but it needs to be expressed in a way that still feels relevant to modern families.

Taking time to review and refine that messaging allows schools to test whether their current approach is doing enough. It creates space to refresh how the story is told, without losing what makes a school special.

Early thinking leads to better outcomes, not just better ideas

There is a common misconception that marketing decisions start with outputs and work backwards from key moments such as open events. Websites, prospectuses, photography, and film are often picked up later in the year, driven by fixed dates rather than a joined-up plan. In reality, the most effective and efficient marketing starts much earlier than that.

Starting early allows schools to plan with intention rather than urgency; it helps manage budgets more carefully, ensures messaging is consistent from the beginning of the year and creates a clearer narrative that runs right through to recruitment and admissions windows.

That early thinking begins with understanding what already works, what no longer reflects the school as it is today, and where effort will have the greatest impact. Importantly, this is not just about what the marketing says, but where and how it appears. For some schools, that might involve rethinking their website or admissions materials. For others, it opens up conversations around visibility in places they have not previously considered, such as local advertising, transport routes, or the wider community.

By having these conversations early in the year, schools give themselves the space to explore ideas that genuinely differentiate them, rather than defaulting to familiar formats.

The important point is that when schools start this process early, creative work becomes more focused, more joined up, and more effective. Partnering with a creative agency from January onwards allows everything that follows to feel consistent and intentional, rather than marketing tone changing through the year once individual projects begin.

Why acting now can actually save time and money

One of the strongest arguments for starting early is control and consistency. When marketing decisions are left until later in the year, activity can naturally become more reactive as student recruitment windows approach. Schools may feel drawn back towards familiar approaches, simply because there is less time to explore alternatives or take a more considered view.

Starting earlier creates a different dynamic. It gives schools the space to plan properly, think through options, and make decisions with intent rather than urgency.

Taking time now allows schools to:
- phase work sensibly across the year
- avoid duplicating effort or reworking materials
- ensure every investment has a clear purpose
- prioritise what matters most and where it will have the biggest positive impact
- explore marketing options outside of the norm and refine a narrative that feels distinctive and true to the school
This is particularly important for business managers responsible for supporting admissions and parental engagement. Having the right conversations early in the year with an experienced marketing agency such as Cleverbox reduces wasted momentum later on and helps ensure marketing activity supports recruitment in an impactful and sustainable way.

What this looks like in practice:

St Albans School

St Michaels Prep School

Manchester Grammar School

A sensible moment to build momentum

Independent schools operate on a constant admissions cycle; tours often happen all year round, conversations with parents never really stop, and marketing is an ongoing process rather than a finished project. Starting these conversations early in the year gives schools the space to think clearly, plan sensibly, and move forward with confidence. It avoids rushed decisions later on and creates stronger foundations for the year ahead.

At Cleverbox, we work with independent schools across the full journey, from early assessment and direction through to delivery across websites, prospectuses, photography, film, signage, and admissions campaigns. Our role is to help schools make informed decisions and then bring those decisions to life in a way that supports growth.

If this feels like the right time to start a conversation about your 2026 marketing and beyond, please get in touch with us at Cleverbox. We would be very happy to support you and your school’s marketing efforts moving forward.

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16 January 2026
Rebranding Success for St Wilfrid’s Sixth Form College

Helping schools strengthen their identity through rebranding is at the heart of what we do at Cleverbox, so partnering with St Wilfrid’s Sixth Form College has been an exciting and rewarding journey from start to finish. What began as a branding request quickly grew into a full-scale project covering design, digital development and print, bringing together everything we do best.

Building a Strong, Unified Brand

The first stage of the rebranding project was to develop a new logo for both the Trust and the Sixth Form. St Wilfrid’s were seeking something refreshed and modern, but still clearly connected to the long-established identity of the main academy. Our design team explored a range of concepts before creating a final logo that strikes the perfect balance between heritage and contemporary appeal.

The new brand now gives the Trust, the school and the Sixth Form a shared visual identity, something especially important as the organisation continues to grow and evolve.

Three New Websites Designed to Work Seamlessly

Once the branding was complete, we moved on to designing and building three fully bespoke websites for St Wilfrid’s Academy, St Wilfrid’s Sixth Form College and St Wilfrid’s Academy Trust.

Each website was crafted to be intuitive, user-friendly and visually consistent with the updated branding. Clear navigation, accessible layouts and strong design elements help ensure that students, parents, staff and prospective families can quickly find what they need.

By developing all three websites simultaneously, we were able to create a smooth and cohesive online presence, each site has its own purpose, but together they form a strong, unified digital identity.

A Fresh Sixth Form Prospectus

With the websites ready to launch, St Wilfrid’s approached us to design a new Sixth Form prospectus to complement the updated brand.

This prospectus pairs elegant layouts with premium colours, high-quality photography and a warm, welcoming style. It highlights the Sixth Form experience from every angle, its aspirations, its supportive culture and the opportunities available for students preparing for their next steps.

The finished piece feels modern, confident and aligned across every page with the new St Wilfrid’s brand.

Campaign Visuals to Support Ongoing Marketing

To complete the project, we also developed a set of marketing campaign visuals for St Wilfrid’s to use across digital platforms, transport advertising and print materials. These assets ensure they can continue promoting the Sixth Form with a consistent, recognisable and professional look.

A Project We’re Proud Of

Working with St Wilfrid’s has been a pleasure throughout the entire process. Their enthusiasm for the project made it easy to craft a brand and digital presence that reflects who they are and where they’re heading.

From logo development and website design to print and campaign materials, we’re proud to have supported every stage of this transformation. We look forward to seeing the new identity continue to grow and inspire the school community.

If you’re interested in refreshing your school branding, website or prospectus, get in touch with us today at team@cleverbox.co.uk or on 0208 466 7222.

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19 November 2025
John Wallis Academy: Staff recruitment campaign 2025

Often, a school will assume that a ‘rebranding’ project has to be a step towards a long term goal – something that they need to invest in now to see future results in 12-18 months’ time. However, that is not always the case and the recent design and school marketing projects we have delivered to long-standing client The John Wallis Academy is a great example of how we can achieve instant impact within a few weeks of a brand relaunch.

The Context

The previous JWA brand was created by Cleverbox around five years ago and had served the school well as a strong foundation on which to build local recognition as a successful environment in which to teach and to learn. Within those five years the school had continued to attain a fantastic reputation for achievement, value added, as well as strong leadership and direction. The time to build the brand forwards and showcase its ambitions was perfect.

Initial conversations began in March 2025 and although we had agreed a long-term brand strategy to unveil in the September (more on that in a later post!) there was also a more pressing requirement. As with the whole education sector at present the need to appeal to and recruit the best staff is a key element of any schools success. Our consultancy sessions with the school underlined all that they had to offer staff, and the challenge now was for us communicate this with confidence to the right audience.

The Solution

Working closely with the academy leadership team we knew that September 2025 called for some confident marketing. Without being brash, we needed to re-emphasise the key messages and strategic intent of the school as well as injecting energy and momentum into the aesthetic. With that end goal agreed our team at Cleverbox were able to work backwards, creating a mini ten-week school recruitment campaign which not only advertised the school to potential staff, but teased the new brand and showed a school not prepared to sit back and rest on its current successes.

Sometimes the most impactful school marketing just requires a little outside-of-the-box thinking. By focusing this campaign on a short term goal whilst also having an awareness of the long term plans of the academy we were able to tailor our ideas to not only attract attention within a key recruitment window – but also begin to launch a re-energised brand that will take the school forward into the next five years.

– Daniel Clackett, Cleverbox MD

We challenged the school to distill its many ‘selling points’ into headline statements; we wanted the messaging to be powerful and memorable and, most importantly, we wanted them to fit on the side of a bus!

Gaining exposure throughout the local community was key to this school marketing campaign. We decided to elevate the messaging by advertising on key bus routes, both ‘SuperSides’ and rears of buses and around appropriate local bus stops. This was tied in with a short term social media campaign and a recruitment brochure targeted specifically for the audience we were looking to attract. The goal was to ensure the John Wallis brand was recognisable and tied directly to the specific campaign messaging.

The outcome was a real success, the campaign drove significant traffic to the ‘Careers’ section of the academy website with over 380 new users accessing the web address tied to this campaign in its initial week of launch. Website traffic to the overall site increased substantially too, with the recruitment content accounting for 10% of all user traffic throughout March and April and catapulting the Careers section of the site into the top three most visited pages.

Most importantly, all vacant positions were filled.

We are pleased to share that our recent recruitment campaign in partnership with Cleverbox was a resounding success.

This initiative marked a fresh and innovative approach for both our Academy and the wider local area, introducing a new style of advertising that strategically targeted locations with high footfall and potential candidates – whilst promoting the Academy as a whole to local areas in a high vision style. People do not expect you to be on the side of buses!

Sarah Williams, Academy Marketing Manager

If you would like to start a conversation around how expert school marketing and creative ideas can support your school or MAT ambitions, then please feel free to get in touch and arrange an initial video call.

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19 September 2025
Ellesmere College: School website design & photography

We’re pleased to introduce the vibrant school website design for Ellesmere College, a large SEN school on the outskirts of Leicester City.

This collaboration delivers elegant school website design, intuitive navigation, and integrated modules to align with the College’s aims in delivering key information to parents and reinforcing their identity.

A new era for Ellesmere College

Right from the start, Ellesmere set out with a bold but well-defined goal: A school website design that embodies Ellesmere College.

The refreshed site captures the distinctive character of Ellesmere, shaped by its values of respect, responsibility, independence, confidence, resilience, and teamwork. It celebrates the motto “Be your best, be happy, believe!” through rich visuals, dynamic storytelling, and immersive content. Visitors to the homepage are greeted by colourful images of the grounds, academic life, facilities, and the breadth of opportunities that reflect life at Ellesmere.

Working with Cleverbox was an absolute pleasure. They took the time to truly understand our needs and translated them into a brilliant design that exceeded our expectations.
Jo Marshall, Strategic Resources Manager

Simplifying Key Information

One of the project’s core aims was to streamline the pathway to key information for prospective families and the administrative team. The new website includes tools for policy management so that core information is efficiently managed, and clear calls-to-action clearly guide families to the information they require.

As well as the key policies, another important feature for the college was allowing parents to ‘put a face to the name’ of the skilled staff that care for their children everyday. The inclusion of a ‘meet the team’ style staff section, for staff at both locations, allows parents to learn all about the team at Ellesmere.

Professional Photography to capture college life

A standout feature of this project is the inclusion of professional photos by Cleverbox’s skilled Photographer. From classrooms and sensory rooms to wonderful shots of the grounds and the student & staff interactions, every shot was crafted to show the warmth of the community and the breadth of opportunity at Ellesmere. These images provide authenticity, energy, and a lasting first impression, ensuring the website reflects the daily life and ethos of the College.

Cleverbox’s service has been professional, responsive, and reliable throughout the entire process. Meeting every deadline without compromise and offering highly competitive pricing. We couldn’t be happier with the results and would wholeheartedly recommend you to anyone looking for a top-tier web development partner.”
Jo Marshall, Strategic Resources Manager

The launch of Ellesmere College’s new school website design marks the beginning of an exciting chapter for the school. The platform not only enhances how families engage with them but also celebrates the values and community that make Ellesmere unique.

Working with Ellesmere College on this project has been great. The new site reflects the school’s vibrancy and fantastic support they provide their students, and it’s rewarding to see how positively it has been received.
Dan Meeks, Account Manager at Cleverbox

If you are looking for SEN school website design & development, get in touch with our team today.

Interested in finding out more?

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17 September 2025