How We Helped a Private School Get a More Qualified Pool of Candidates

Discover how a new and impactful creative approach was capable of recruiting key candidates that would stay enrolled through high school and how taking risks through an unexpected campaign helped a school get different results.

Glenlyon Norfolk School is a JK-12 International Baccalaureate World Continuum School located in Victoria, British Columbia, Canada - right on the southeastern tip of Vancouver Island. 

Being a medium-sized independent school, GNS provides plenty of options for students looking to take part in programs and sports, leading to more opportunities for leadership. 

As a school they are moving away from the traditional measure of success (academics alone) and are instead looking to educate and support each child as a unique individual, rather than expecting all students to fit in the same mold.

THE CHALLENGE

We needed to help Glenlyon Norfolk School better position themselves in the local market and increase the pool of qualified applicants for the day school, especially from intake years: JK, Grade 6 and 9. It was important to find students and families that would stay enrolled long-term. 

However, there were some challenges that needed to be addressed. First, there was a misconception around IB Continuum education. Many parents think that IB is only a grade 11 and 12 diploma program.  We needed to destigmatize the fact that students don’t need to be highly academic to be enrolled in an IB program. Also some families see private schools as inaccessible and elitis and avoid private schools as a result, while others might not fit in, but accept that discomfort as the price they have to pay to have their children in a school that sets them up well for the future.

On top of that, GNS had run campaigns in the past but never had brand presence across multiple channels and had a lack of reporting from their analytics not being configured which added some data limitations.

THE STRATEGY

After lots of internal research, we obtained valuable information about the market, competitors and audiences. We conducted interviews with GNS staff and their board of directors and were able to identify the opportunities that could help GNS stand out from the competitors and achieve their marketing goals. 

We discovered that this particular market was very focused on school facilities (large campuses, gyms, or dining halls) and recognized that the school’s size and impressive buildings were something that reflected success and a more visible return on investment for parents. This meant that a school’s campus and size was put ahead of the students and having more students was perceived as a benefit to many families. Meanwhile, when class sizes are large it’s harder for schools to recognize students as individuals with potential.

This is where GNS has a huge differentiator: GNS puts the student first, with a focus on each individual’s uniqueness, potential and opportunities. Students are prepared to face the future because of who they are and who they have become during all of their school experiences. At GNS teachers call students by name and are able to identify and celebrate their individuality. Every single student is distinctive and has the power to be truly unique.

THE EXECUTION

You understand a student by the content of their backpack. At GNS every student’s backpack content is singular and very unique which demonstrates their individuality and true passions. 

All the digital ads we created drove prospective families to the GNS landing page where interested families could register for open house or contact the admissions office. For this stage of the process, we made it easier for parents to schedule school visits into slots to limit each to four families.

THE RESULTS

This recruitment campaign for GNS has been in market since January 2022 - and its ROI is clear. Here are a few data highlights comparing our first year in market to the year prior:

• 595% increase in NEW USERS to the website
• 147% increase in WEBSITE CONVERSIONS
• 66% increase in PHONE CALLS
• NEW INQUIRIES have increased by 20%
• NEW APPLICATIONS have increased by 7%
• TOTAL STUDENTS (new and continuing) are up 5% - including a 12% increase in Middle School

The campaign platform has been optimized for another admissions season and we're looking forward to continued success with the team at GNS.

Metric Marketing creates results through data-driven big ideas. Let us help your private or independent school reach new heights through data-driven techniques that convert. Read more of our success stories, learn more about the services we offer, or use the contact form below to get in touch with our team.