Why Schools Should Still Be Using Video

Between September and December of 2020, our major clients throughout that period were schools within the London Borough of Havering and the surrounding area. This was shortly after children returned to the classroom following the initial lockdown in England, however as schools were unable to physically welcome prospective pupils and parents to the building due to restrictions, it meant that video provided a natural solution.

One year on, schools are once again able to embrace physical open days as lockdowns in the country are seemingly a thing of the past. However, schools should still be looking to make video content now and in the long-term future.

Even in a world without Coronavirus, people want convenience and choice. From a parent’s perspective, touring schools across the borough several evenings a week is not going to be an overly appealing prospect for the majority. If every school within a 5-mile radius had a short promotional video, this would enable parents to get a convenient insight into each location before narrowing down the institutions they wish to visit in person. Imagine a process where you watch 10 promotional films, before physically visiting 5 sites. It’s streamlined, it saves time, and it gives parents a fantastic view into where is best suited to their child.

The pandemic has enhanced this need for convenience and there is absolute justification for it. The world didn’t stop turning when we began working from home permanently and it has gone to show that although physical meetings have their place, so much of what we do now can be done digitally – especially in the case of schools where they need to appeal to the masses.

From the point of view of the school, yes video is an investment, but by creating a promotional film you then create less need for physical open days which in turn saves time and resources. Envisage a scenario where you release the film at the start of September, before opening limited open days several weeks later to parents who have watched the film and truly want to attend that open day.

I firmly believe there is still enormous potential for the education industry to use video to their advantage, not only for enhancing their growth, but also ensuring they attract the right pupils.