- home
- Schools4Museums
- LEA Dashboard
- Museum log in
- Benefits & Advantages
- User's guide
- Case studies
- Case study one
- Case study two
- Case study three
- Annual report
- Museum Details
- Schools who have used your service
- School and catchment area search
- Live schools bookings diary
- Edit school bookings details
- Annual Data Collection Tool
- Maps of School Locations
- Contact us
Case Study One
Targeted joint promotion to schools in Kent
Schools4Museums is a database developed by MLA South East and the South East Museum Hub to record schools’ participation in museum activity across the region. By analysing data, museums can identify the scope and reach of their services and target their marketing accordingly.
From May to December 2008 Chatham Historic Dockyard Trust (CHDT) used the Schools4Museums online database in the context of the planning of a new outreach session for schools in partnership with Maidstone Museum.
Target Audience
Selected schools in Kent and Medway
Aim
The aim was to use information from the database to inform decision-making in terms of:
-
identification of non-participating and participating local schools
-
a more targeted focus for promotion
-
agreed targets for session shared by both museums
-
ensuring effective marketing for a session to reflect the investment both museums had put into it.
Process
This database was originally set up MLA South East and the South East Museum Hub with funding from Renaissance and the Department of Children, Schools and Families through the Strategic Commissioning Education Programme. Museums across the South East were encouraged to input data relating to their work with schools so that local rates of participation could be measured consistently. This data can then be used by the individual museums to measure their own progress and by strategic agencies to inform regional planning processes.
The two museums working on this project were able to use the different participation data for each museum to plan in partnership. Leaflets and promotional material about the new outreach session were targeted to specific schools according to a marketing strategy, rather than being sent out to every school in Kent and Medway (or beyond).
Impact and outcome
Early indicators suggest that the marketing is proving successful. Bookings are showing a change in the numbers of new school contacts, with 30% of users to date not previously having used The Historic Dockyard education service.
In terms of effective planning, the detailed information from the database contributed to the way the museums were able to negotiate a mutually beneficial project, matching their different requirements.
Evaluation
The bookings for this new session can be compared with the development of other sessions and the number of previously under-represented areas or specific schools can be measured.
For more information contact Joanne Creighton, Chatham Historic Dockyard Trust. 01634 823800