The short answer
Agree the shots and subjects at a production meeting first. Then build a simple timetable that follows your normal day, with short visits to each lesson. Brief staff, and name one member of staff to stay with me.
Start with a production meeting
Every good filming day starts with a conversation. The online production meeting agrees what you want to show, and which films you need.
It covers subjects, locations, people and any events to include. It also confirms which pupils must not appear, and how they will be identified.
With that agreed, the timetable almost writes itself. Nobody is left guessing on the day, and I arrive with a clear plan.
It helps to bring your timetable and a site map to the meeting. A list of lessons you are proud of helps too.
Also think about any events that week, such as a sports fixture or assembly. These can add variety to the films.
Build the timetable
- Follow your normal day. Film lessons as they happen, rather than moving them.
- Short visits. Most lessons need only a few minutes of filming.
- Group by location. Film nearby rooms one after another, to save walking time.
- Mix the subjects. Include practical lessons, as they show learning clearly on film.
- Plan outdoor shots. Have a back-up slot in case of rain.
- Leave time for drone shots. These need a safe, clear window.
- Share it in advance. Send the timetable to staff a few days before the visit.
A typical shape for the day
- Arrival. I sign in, show my DBS certificate and meet your staff contact.
- Morning lessons. Short visits to each planned class, grouped by location.
- Break time. Playground and outdoor shots, if consent and the weather allow.
- Lunchtime. A short catch-up with your staff contact to check progress.
- Afternoon. Remaining lessons, then drone shots in a clear window.
- End of day. A quick check that nothing on the plan was missed.
Preparing the school
- Tidy key spaces. Clear clutter from the entrance, hall and main corridors the day before.
- Check displays. Make sure pupils' names and personal details are not visible on walls.
- Book the rooms. Confirm that halls and outdoor spaces are free when you need them.
- Tell reception. Let the office know the arrival time, so sign-in is quick.
- Remind families. A short newsletter note lets parents know filming is planned.
- Check uniforms. A reminder about full uniform helps pupils look their best on the day.
Brief your staff
Let staff know the timetable a few days before. They can then plan lessons that show their subject at its best.
Reassure them that nobody needs to perform. Normal lessons, with pupils learning, make the best footage. If a teacher would rather not appear, simply tell me beforehand. I can film their lesson around them.
In fact, the less staged a lesson is, the better it looks on film.
Name one member of staff to stay with me throughout. They guide the camera and help keep pupils without consent out of shot.
My guide on parental consent for school filming covers that part of the plan.
On the day
I sign in at reception and wear visitor identification. I show my enhanced DBS certificate to your staff before entering the main school building.
Then the day follows the timetable. If something changes, your staff member and I simply adjust together.
A short catch-up at lunchtime helps keep everything on track. Any drone flights are planned safely and legally, as I am CAA licensed.
At the end, a quick check confirms nothing was missed. Your films then follow within 10 working days, ready for you to approve.
After the filming day
Once filming is done, I edit the films and send them through a private link. Your school then watches and approves each one.
If anything needs changing, tell me at that stage. For example, I can remove a pupil who should not appear.
Then plan how to launch the films, so they reach families quickly. My launch checklist sets out the first few weeks.
Finally, keep the timetable you used on file. It makes planning the next filming day much quicker.
It is also worth noting what worked well and what did not. Those notes help the next day run even more smoothly.
Questions schools ask
How long does a filming day take?
Most school films are filmed in one or two days. I plan around your timetable, so lessons carry on as normal.
Do lessons have to stop for filming?
No. I film lessons as they happen, with short visits to each class.
Is a production meeting included?
Yes. Promotional, prospectus and subject videos include an online production meeting.
What does our staff contact need to do?
Stay with me throughout the day and guide me between rooms. They also help keep pupils without consent out of shot.
Can you film subject videos on the same day?
Yes. Subject videos come as 10 per package, each running 30 to 45 seconds. Screen photos can be included too.
Planning a filming day? I do most of the organising, so your staff can focus on teaching.
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