The Challenge
Our client’s ethos is to build new schools with an ethos of Educational excellence, Character formation and Spiritual insight. However, the process is not straight forward. Developing Planning applications and funding bids require credible, independent evidence of demand. Internal surveys or anecdotal support aren't enough. Research was needed to assess the market potential in identified catchment areas.
The Solution
In several separate projects we assessed the market potential for a school via an online survey of residents in the target catchment area. We captured the views of a representative sample of parents with school age children, tailored to the Key Stages of the planned school, and non-parents for comparison. The survey was also circulated among our client’s partners. Combined, the results gave a holistic picture of support for the school and interest in enrolling.
The Outcome
Our research provided the Trust with robust, defensible data that stakeholders could rely upon. It has successfully used the insight from research projects to demonstrate community support in multiple business case submissions over several years.
Whilst his approach is specific to schools, it could apply to any organisation assessing market potential for new educational provision - whether independent schools, multi-academy trusts, or international school groups exploring new locations.
