Leading a Multi-Academy Trust requires balancing the unique identities of individual schools with the cohesive vision of the wider organisation. In an increasingly competitive educational landscape, the reputation of the entire MAT hinges on the professional appearance and consistent communication of every academy within it.
At Edupic Create, our vision is to provide a tool that empowers people working in schools and across entire Trusts, to centralise all shared resources, securely store and share assets, and rapidly adopt consistency standards. We are the ultimate online platform designed to make the production of all marketing and communications materials simple, fast, and cost effective.
Here is the expert guide for MAT leaders seeking system-wide consistency and efficiency:
1. Establish System-Wide Brand Consistency
Consistency is paramount for a professional ‘together’ appearance. If one academy's communications look drastically different from another's, it can erode stakeholder trust in the overall MAT brand. Consistency across branding elements reinforces the shared values and professional standards of the Trust.
Implement a Unified Messaging Guide: Develop a comprehensive School Messaging Guide, also known as brand guidelines, that outlines the key messages, tone of voice, graphical guidance, and preferred terminology for the entire Trust. This guide ensures that staff across all academies, from receptionists to Headmasters, are telling the same story and maintaining consistency across all communications.
Quick Win for MATs: You can use the online Edupic Create Brand Guidelines templates to rapidly create a centralised messaging guide in moments, ensuring quick adoption across your entire network of schools.
Enforce Visual Identity Standards: Consistency must extend to all front-facing content, including posters, digital displays, and social media templates. The guidelines must specify the correct use of logos, ensuring they remain clear and legible, even when placed over busy photos (often requiring the use of a single-colour version of the logo with a dark overlay).
2. Centralise Assets and Enhance Security
In a MAT structure, resources such as high-resolution images, approved fonts, and compliant templates are often scattered across multiple school drives, leading to staff confusion and wasted time. Centralisation resolves this, saving both time and money.
Edupic Create is designed to act as a secure, centralised resource. Our UK-hosted service complies with all aspects of GDPR, providing a secure environment for sensitive educational assets.
Secure Storage and Sharing: Use Edupic Create to securely store and share all approved assets, including logos, high-quality authentic imagery, and on-brand templates. This eliminates the need for individual schools to manage complex design software or hunt for approved files.
Empowerment and Efficiency: Our platform empowers schools to take control of their branding and marketing efforts, enabling them to express their unique identity with confidence and ease, while still adhering to MAT-level guidelines. Edupic Create offers intuitive tools to streamline the design process, ensuring efficiency across the Trust.
3. Maximise Efficiency Through Systemisation
MAT central teams are continually seeking ways to make marketing manageable without burdening teaching staff. Systemisation, through the heavy use of branded templates and scheduling tools, is the key to reducing decision fatigue.
Template Utilisation: Encourage Member Users (those paying subscribers actively using the Pro version) across all academies to use the pre-approved, branded templates. This practice ensures that every newsletter, social media post, or flyer automatically includes the correct school logo, colours, fonts, and photography style. This systemisation makes the production of marketing and communications materials simple and fast.
Quick Win: Use platforms like Edupic Create to access branded templates for flyers, posters, newsletters, and social media posts, allowing schools to quickly apply their branding and school imagery.
Content Calendar Planning: The central team can use the platform's content calendar to coordinate system-wide communications, such as Trust-level news or major nationwide school events. This systemised approach allows the central team to focus on small actions that build visibility and trust over time, rather than reacting ad hoc.
By leveraging Edupic Create for consistency, security, and efficiency, MAT leaders can ensure that every school in the Trust is showcasing its unique identity and values through stunning, on-brand content that truly captivates their audience.
