The short answer
Check consent, then put the film on your homepage and YouTube. Pin it on Facebook, add it to email signatures, and share it with feeder settings. Finally, play it on a foyer screen and plan a premiere.
Why a launch plan helps
A new film gets most attention in its first few weeks. So it pays to have a plan ready before it arrives.
Without one, the film can sit in an inbox until open evening. Then it gets rushed onto the website at the last minute.
This checklist keeps it simple. Work through it in order, and tick off each step as you go.
Most steps take only a few minutes each. However, together they make sure the film reaches families, rather than sitting unseen.
If your school has several films, launch the main promotional film first. Then release the subject and early years films over the following weeks.
Before you share
- Check consent. Make sure every pupil shown can appear publicly, including on social media.
- Watch it through. Ask a second member of staff to watch it too, on a phone and a large screen.
- Approve it. Your school approves every film before it is shared, so give that final check proper time.
- Save the files. Download them from the private link, then keep the HD masters somewhere safe and shared.
- Name an owner. Give one person the job of launching the film, so every step gets done.
Week one
- Homepage. Place the promo near the top, where every visitor sees it without scrolling.
- YouTube. Upload it with your school name and town in the title. My YouTube guide covers the settings.
- Facebook. Upload the file, pin the post and keep it public. My Facebook guide covers the detail.
- Premiere. Show it in assembly or at a parents' evening. Pupils love seeing themselves on screen.
Weeks two to four
- Admissions page. Add the promo, and the early years film if you have one.
- Subject pages. Add each subject reel to its curriculum page.
- Email signatures. Add a short "Watch our school film" link for office and staff.
- Feeder settings. Primaries can send it to nurseries, and secondaries to feeder primaries.
- Enquiry replies. Include it when families ask about places.
- Newsletter and app. Share it with current families, who will pass it on.
- Instagram and TikTok. Ask me for short vertical versions, which are available on request.
All year
- Foyer screen. Play it on a loop in reception.
- Open events. Play it in the hall as families arrive for tours.
- Printed materials. Add a QR code to your prospectus, flyers and signs.
- Enquiry forms. Ask "Did you see our school film?" to see how families found you.
- Social media. Post one subject reel a week.
- Timing. Repost before open evenings and deadlines. My admissions year timeline sets out when.
Who to involve
One person should own the launch, but several people can help. So agree who does what in the first week.
Your office team can update email signatures and enquiry replies. Whoever runs your website can add the film to each page.
Class teachers can show subject reels to their own classes. Pupils then tell families at home, which spreads the word naturally.
Finally, your governors and parent association can share the film too. Each one reaches a slightly different group of families.
A short list of names against each step keeps it simple. Then nothing depends on one busy person remembering everything.
Measuring the response
It helps to know whether the film is reaching families. The simplest check is a question on your enquiry form.
Ask "Did you see our school film?" and note the answers each term. Over an admissions round, a pattern usually appears.
You can also look at view counts on YouTube and Facebook. However, a parent saying they watched it tells you more.
Staff at open evenings can ask the same question in conversation. Then share what you learn with your leadership team.
For more ideas, see my guide on where to use your school video.
Review the checklist again each September. A quick check keeps every link working before the busiest weeks of the year.
If a link has broken, fix it straight away. A missing film on open evening is a missed chance.
Questions schools ask
What should we do first?
Check consent, then put the film on your homepage. That is where most families see it.
How do we know if the film is working?
Add "Did you see our school film?" to your enquiry and admissions forms. The answers soon show a pattern.
Do you help with the launch?
Yes. Your films arrive ready for your website, YouTube and social media, and I am happy to advise.
Can we share the film before checking consent?
No. Check consent first, every time. It only takes a few minutes, and it protects your pupils.
Can we have shorter versions for social media?
Yes. Short vertical versions for Instagram and TikTok are available on request. Subject videos also suit weekly posts, as each runs 30 to 45 seconds.
Ready for a film worth launching? Talk to me, and I will plan it with you.
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