“Summer, summer, summertime! Time to sit back and unwind … school is out and it's a sort of a buzz, back then I didn't really know what it was.” — DJ Jazzy Jeff & the Fresh Prince

Now the school gates have closed for another year, students and teachers are feeling the summer holiday buzz. Families are seeking out the best spots to cool down this summer, and you may be planning to do the same.

But there’s another kind of summertime ‘buzz’ in our office—the buzz of activity as we help edu-businesses get ready for the new academic year. At Sprint Education, we want you to feel fully prepared for the new term and informed about how to plan your email strategies once those classrooms fill up again.

So, like a picnic packed and prepared for a summer adventure, we’ve compiled some wholesome readings, nourishing guides, and satisfying videos for you to digest. Whether you’re reading up in the office or looking to stay in the loop as you head out and about, we’ve got you covered.

The importance of September

After speaking to teachers with budget responsibilities, we know that September is an important month for spending. That’s when 27.6% of schools make their biggest purchasing decisions, and 30.7% renew supplier contracts - figures that are almost double the average across the whole year.

Schools in the UK return in August and September. While individual dates can vary depending on the Local Education Authority or the type of school, most will be returning around the following:

• Scotland 16th Aug
• Northern Ireland 1st Sept
• Wales 1st Sept
• England 4th Sept

To view all the school holiday dates in one place, download our Desktop Calendar for the 2023-24 academic year. You’ll also unlock a selection of major education events coming up each month.

For dynamic updates, access our live education calendars whenever you like via our Campus software. Speak to one of our team members today to find out how you can access our UK, International, and soon-to-arrive US calendars via our intelligence module.

Understanding your market

Getting your education marketing strategy started can be an overwhelming experience, especially when it comes to understanding your target market. Help is at hand though, and we’ve done the hard part for you.

Enter the State of Selling to Schools Report 2023! Our industry-leading comprehensive report combines data collected from 5,800 teachers and staff with our marketing and education sector know-how. There is still nothing else out there that has everything you need to know in 2023 all in one place.

If you prefer visual learning, don’t miss our video series on our State of Selling to Schools report. Put together by our in-house intelligence team of former teaching professionals, each video uncovers insights into what makes schools tick.

• Video 1: Who Completed Our Survey
• Video 2: Communicating with Schools
• Video 3: Connecting with Schools
• Video 4: Wellbeing in Schools
• Video 5: EdTech in Schools
• Video 6: Purchasing Decisions
• Video 7: School Priorities

Going global

Even if you’re keeping your feet firmly on the ground this summer, there’s a trip around the globe with your name on. Pack your bags, and take flight on a prosperous journey around the international schools market!

• Selling to International Schools: Whether you’re just dipping your toes into international waters, or are ready and raring to go global, this guide has you covered.

• Exposed! The Truth Behind Marketing to K12 Schools: Explore the three key conversations you need to have about data, software, and email broadcasting in the US market.

There’s a blog for that

For specific guidance, stats, and insights, our blogs cover a range of marketing-to-schools topics. In case you missed them, here’s what we’ve covered recently:

• Six takeaways from the Festival of Education - Hear Ben’s tried-and-tested strategies to build connections with educators and exhibitors at your next education conference.

• 7 methods to influence purchasing decisions - Uncover insider knowledge on targeting the right school decision-makers to increase your sales next term.

• Top 3 EdTech needs in schools - Read key learnings from the successes of EdTech that all edu-businesses can benefit from.

• Why email still wears the crown - Discover why email marketing is still the number-one method of generating leads and making sales in 2023.

• Turn timing your education emails into an artform - Find out how to time your emails to perfection to maximise your engagement with educators.

Looking ahead

Before September arrives, we’ll be releasing plenty more expert resources to support your marketing strategies and maximise school sales in the new school year.

• Selling to Schools in the Autumn Term: Plan your autumn-term marketing strategy with proven guidance, updated for the 2023/2024 school year.
• The Cost of Living Crisis in Schools: Navigate budget implications and the financial impact across school communities with results from our latest survey.
• Resources: Access a range of papers, insights, videos, infographics, and more, exclusively for users of our marketing-to-schools platform, Campus.

A little further down the track

State of Selling to Schools US: Conquer the American selling-to-schools market with ease with our new US survey data and insights out in the Autumn Term.

Now that you’ve stepped into summer, you too may have the buzz ahead of your autumn-term campaigns. And as we know, now’s the time to finalise your plans and get the wheels in motion. Book a free strategy call with one of our experts, and make the new school year your most lucrative yet.

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Marketing to Schools Education Marketing Marketing to Teachers Selling to Schools Selling to Teachers

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