The Story of – Covenant Christian School, Belrose Sydney
The challenge February 2008: Grow a school by 20 students in one year
The result February 2009: School grew by 54 students in 12 months
Update February 2010: School grew 10% by 73 students in only 2 years
Covenant Christian School Belrose is an independent Christian Preschool to Year 12 school on Sydney’s Northern Beaches. Started in 1978 the school had previously only grown by a total of 60 Kindergarten to Year 12 students in the 10 year period 1998 to 2008. Over the past four of these years the school’s growth had slowed, only adding 12 students for the annual Census taken in August.
2005 = 700 students
2006 = 704 students
2007 = 706 students
2008 = 712 students – Marketplace Answers appointed February 2008 when school had 704 students
2009 = 775 students
2010 = 782 students
Note the school has another 40 students in the preschool but are not counted in the Government census.
Covenant Christian School operates in a very competitive marketplace in Sydney. Local parents have a range of good choices in the area including three Christian schools within a 10 minute drive of each other.
With adjoining land previously purchased and plans in place for new classrooms the school needed to grow to fund the building project and especially to make the most of its resources. The school decided it was time for a fresh approach. They engaged Marketplace Answers for two days a week of marketing consultation and hands on project management and implementation.
The dramatic results of adding 71 students in 18 months was much more than the school had hoped for. Places for Year 7 are also now full for the next two years. Of course there were many factors working together to grow the school. Yet the fresh marketing which included an 8 minute School Tour on DVD, new website and dynamic blogsite have been recognised as playing a very important part in the growth. The website went from having 30 photos to over 10,000 – all to help tell the school’s unique story in a far more compelling way.
The key for Marketplace Answers was to first understand the school’s story, highlight unique parts of it, and then find ways of helping current parents effectively share this story with others.
This is feedback from the Chairman of the School Board…
“At our last Board meeting we discussed the expansion issues in the school and were again reminded of the impact your marketing skills have had on our current intake of students. The interest that is consistently generated and the constant stream of enquiries indicate a positive outcome in whatever methods of approach you are using.
We feel this very much reflects not only your professional approach and expertise but also the enthusiasm and passionate way in which you have embraced the educational philosophy and ethos of the school”
The school has renewed our contract.
Covenant Christian School Sydney Website – Marketplace Answers wrote content, selected graphics, project managed
School Tour on DVD Preview – MPA wrote script, conducted interviews, project managed
Covenant Christian School Blogsite – MPA created content, ongoing content management
Covenant website won a National Marketing Gold Award against schools from around Australia
Annual Report 2008 Marketing Summary
