SCHOOL EXPERIENCE
Experience Strategy for the future of schools
FROM ADVANCEMENT TO EXPERIENCE
Over the past 60 years, we have seen the evolution of the Advancement function in educational institutions across the world.
Today, Advancement professionals are the people in schools who are responsible for an ever-increasing set of complex functions and activities, from admissions, marketing, and communications to fundraising and alumni relations - and much more in between.
All of these things help the school to advance and achieve its Mission.
At [YELLOW CAR], we believe that another way of understanding this work is to look at it through the lens of Experience Strategy. In fact, we predict that as Advancement teams continue to evolve and adapt across an increasingly competitive educational landscape, the schools that truly stand out in the future will be those that intentionally design the experience of school.
GETTING STARTED WITH EXPERIENCE STRATEGY
We partner with schools at every stage in their journey and have developed a number of tools that help you build an unforgettable experience for everyone who is a part of your school community.
1. THE LIFECYCLE OF SCHOOL EXPERIENCE
Every aspect of our work, whether as school leaders or members of an Advancement team, is integrally connected to the overall experience of a school; from the first moment a family visits a school website, through an admissions process, joining the school community, and ultimately leaving and becoming part of an alumni network.
Each part of this journey is important and each experience matters. We call this journey The Lifecycle of School Experience.
2. THE SCHOOL EXPERIENCE AUDIT
The School Experience Audit is a unique tool, designed to give insights about the extent to which you are intentionally designing the experience at different stages of the Lifecycle.
It is not an exhaustive or analytical tool, but does offer broader insight and encourages new data-informed conversations within your school. It can also be the basis for future strategic planning.
3. THE PERIODIC TABLE OF SCHOOL EXPERIENCE
The Periodic Table of School Experience has been especially designed to help us think about how families and other groups within our school experience it. And it helps us design better, more powerful, more impactful experiences that ensure your school not only stands out, but is building its brand and growing its reputation across competitive markets.
4. ADVANCEMENT 2.0
Based on our experience of leading a successful Advancement team, we provide a new way of organising an Advancement team that we call Advancement 2.0. Advancement functions are still all about Story, People, and Process, but the way the team is organised in support of these goals is re-designed for the school of the future.
We help you restructure your team to be more agile, less siloed, and refocused on the overall experience of families in your school.
We will also support you to hire the right people by providing assistance with position descriptions, organisational charts, job postings, interviews and the overall selection process.
5. THE FELT EXPERIENCE INDICATOR (coming soon)
So you are starting to see your school through the lens of Experience Strategy and intentionally designing the experience of school for your families. But how do you know if it is having the desired impact? At [YELLOW CAR], we believe that experiences must be measured. Later this year, we will be launching a new tool that will help you measure the “felt experience” of families, students, and employees at every stage of the Lifecycle.
8 PRINCIPLES OF EFFECTIVE EXPERIENCE STRATEGY FOR SCHOOLS
THE RESEARCH
At [YELLOW CAR], we are committed to work that is evidence based, rooted in practical experience, collaborative, and action plan oriented.
Interested to find out more? Check out our Fragments II blog or discover more about the influences that are inspiring our own thinking.
