The Admissions Growth Partner

Win the whole Parent Enrolment Journey

In the toughest admissions market in a generation, generating enquiries isn't enough. We influence parents at every stage — from first impression to first day, and beyond.

Trusted media, targeted marketing and AI-powered admissions conversion — powered by Absolutely Education & Digithrive for Schools.

Context

Why this matters now

20% VAT

on fees since January 2025, plus the loss of business-rates relief.

~30,000

pupils have already left the independent sector.

100+

private schools have closed or announced closure since January 2025.

01The real problem

Most schools don't have a marketing problem. They have a conversion problem.

Families today routinely:

Visit the website
Download the prospectus
Attend the open day
Make an enquiry
… then disappear

The real challenge isn't generating interest. It's turning interest into enrolment — and that takes influence across the whole journey, not just the bottom of the funnel.

02The hidden admissions gap

Where prospective families leak away.

Most families are lost between the open day and the application — exactly where the next pupil is most valuable, and where generic follow-up fails.

Schools spend heavily at the top of the funnel — and lose families at the bottom, where it costs most.

Awareness
Enquiry
Open Day
Application
Enrolment
Illustrative funnel — typical leakage curve across independent school admissions.
03How parents really choose

The Parent Enrolment Journey

Parents don't choose a school in a day. They move through six stages — and the school that influences the most touchpoints usually wins.

  1. 01

    Awareness

    Get known

    Create awareness and familiarity.

  2. 02

    Consideration

    Shortlisted

    Earn a place on the family shortlist.

  3. 03

    Validation

    Trusted

    Build credibility and trust before parents enquire.

  4. 04

    Engagement

    Enquiries

    Turn intent into qualified enquiries and open-day visits.

  5. 05

    Decision

    Applications

    Convert visiting families into completed applications.

  6. 06

    Enrolment

    Retained

    Onboard, welcome and retain — year on year.

04How we help

One partner for the whole journey.

Three engines, working as one continuous system of admissions growth — from first impression to first day, and beyond.

InfluenceStages 1–3

Trusted Media

Absolutely Education

Premium education media and a first-party HNW parent audience put your school in front of the right families — building awareness, credibility and trust before competitors are even considered.

We own the audience others rent.
01 / 03
ActivateStage 4

Targeted Marketing

Digithrive for Schools

Full-funnel paid social, search and content built specifically for school admissions — open-day campaigns, landing pages and fast follow-up that turn awareness into qualified enquiries and visits.

Built for admissions, not generic lead gen.
02 / 03
ConvertStages 5–6

AI Admissions Conversion

AI Admissions Concierge & platform

AI nurtures every enquiry 24/7, scores intent and stops families leaking between open day and application — so admissions teams know exactly who to prioritise.

Integrates with your MIS. Never replaces it.
03 / 03
05The conversion layer

An AI Admissions Concierge that never sleeps.

  • Answers parents instantly — fees, curriculum, open days — at any hour, in the school's voice.
  • Triggers personalised follow-up based on what each family actually does.
  • Scores intent and alerts your admissions team to the hottest prospects.
  • Integrates with your MIS — iSAMS, SIMS, Arbor — enhancing it, never replacing it.

Where most schools see the fastest return: more applications from the enquiries you already have.

Admissions Concierge
Online · replies instantly
Sample conversation
Illustrative — your Concierge is trained on your school.
06Why we're different

Most agencies generate leads. We influence parents.

Most agencies
Digithrive
Rent audiences from Google & Meta
Own the audience and the media
Start at the enquiry
Influence from first impression
Sell single channels
One system, the whole journey
Generate leads, then stop
Nurture & convert with AI
Three or four suppliers to manage
One accountable growth partner
Trusted media. Targeted marketing. AI-powered admissions conversion.
07The proof

Results that matter to schools.

"The first agency to achieve high-quality open-day attendees that convert into pupil admissions."

— Director of Marketing & Admissions, independent school

Selected results from named campaigns. Headline ROI and retention figures available on request.

0+
Independent schools
From the largest groups to the smallest.
0th
Year
Specialising in independent-school admissions growth.
0.0M+
Impressions
Delivered in a single launch-school campaign.
0
Open-day sign-ups
From one 12-month campaign.
Loretto School case study
Loretto School
197 Open Day Sign Ups
SEO · Facebook & Instagram Advertising · Google Advertising
Read case study →
Sydenham High School case study
Sydenham High School
309k Impressions
SEO · Google Advertising · Facebook & Instagram Advertising · Content Marketing
Read case study →
Maida Vale School case study
Maida Vale School
115 Open day sign ups
SEO · Google advertising · Facebook & Instagram Advertising · Content Marketing · Prospectus Design & PrinT
Read case study →
St Helen's case study
St Helen's
1.7m Impressions
SEO · Content Marketing · Facebook & Instagram Advertising
Read case study →
Northbourne Park School case study
Northbourne Park School
1,303,812 Impressions
Print Marketing · SEO · Google Advertising · Facebook & Instagram Advertising
Read case study →
King's Ely case study
King's Ely
2,673,497 impressions
Facebook & Instagram Advertising · Content Marketing
Read case study →
Forest School case study
Forest School
5m Impressions
Content Marketing · Print Advertising · Google Advertising
Read case study →
Dallington School case study
Dallington School
460% increase in website traffic
Paid Advertising · Content Marketing
Read case study →
Cavendish Education case study
Cavendish Education
50 private school tours booked
Facebook & Instagram Advertising · Content Marketing
Read case study →
Collège Français Bilingue de Londres (CFBL) case study
Collège Français Bilingue de Londres (CFBL)
266k Impressions
Video Marketing · Print Advertising · Paid Advertising · Facebook & Instagram Advertising
Read case study →
Minerva Tutoring case study
Minerva Tutoring
260,030 impressions
Facebook & Instagram Advertising · Content Marketing
Read case study →
Eaton Square Mayfair case study
Eaton Square Mayfair
£600k confirmed campaign revenue
SEO · Facebook & Instagram Advertising · Content Marketing · Google Advertising · Marketing Strategy
Read case study →
Durston House case study
Durston House
306k Impressions
Content Marketing · Meta Advertising · Google Advertising · Paid Advertising
Read case study →
Benenden School case study
Benenden School
719K Impressions
Facebook & Instagram Advertising · Google Advertising · Paid Advertising
Read case study →
Lyceum School case study
Lyceum School
1.5m Impressions
Paid Advertising · Content Marketing · SEO · Prospectus Design & Print
Read case study →
St Benedict's case study
St Benedict's
612k Impressions
Content Marketing · Facebook & Instagram Advertising · Google Advertising · Paid Advertising · Print Design · Print Marketing · SEO
Read case study →
Prince's Garden Preparatory case study
Prince's Garden Preparatory
20k distribution
Prospectus Design & Print
Read case study →
08Where to start

The Parent Enrolment Audit

We begin with a diagnostic, not a proposal. We assess your school across all six stages of the Parent Enrolment Journey and show you exactly where to grow.

  1. 01Where you're winning prospective families
  2. 02Where families are leaking away
  3. 03The revenue at risk — and the opportunity
  4. 04A prioritised plan to grow your pupil numbers
Book your Audit

A 45-minute findings session, tailored to your school.

No obligation. Your details are used to arrange your Audit and, only if you opt in, to send admissions insight. UK GDPR compliant.

Book the Audithello@digithriveforschools.com
In partnership with Absolutely Education & Digithrive for Schools.