The verdict in three sentences
For a bilingual French-English school in Cambridge, the deciding factor is rarely the agency's postcode: it is whether the provider can write native-quality French and English for parents who read both, and run an admissions journey that works for mid-year arrivals. A local Cambridge agency wins when you need regular on-site filming, governor workshops and a team that can walk the corridors; a remote studio is enough when photography is handled locally and the school can make decisions over video calls. In both cases, the bilingual site sits in the Premium tier at Kolonell (£6,900), and the domain, hosting and code must be registered to the school.
Why is a bilingual school website a different brief?
Cambridge has a steady flow of families on university, research and tech contracts, many staying one to three years and arriving outside the September intake. A bilingual French-English school speaks to two groups at once: French-speaking families who want continuity with the French curriculum, and English-speaking families who want their child to become fluent in French. Each group searches, compares and asks questions in its own language.
That makes three things critical: parallel pages in both languages that say exactly the same thing (fees, admissions steps, curriculum), a visit booking flow that works year round, and copy that does not read like a translation. If the school holds AEFE homologation or another accreditation, the site should state it precisely; if it does not, it should not suggest it. As an independent school in England, the school is inspected by ISI or Ofsted, and inspection references must be accurate and current.
How do the options score on the criteria that matter?
The weighted score below is an example for a bilingual school; adjust the weights to your own priorities. Scores are out of 5.
| Criterion (weight) | Local Cambridge agency | Remote studio | Local freelancer |
|---|---|---|---|
| Native bilingual copywriting (30%) | 3 | 5 | 2 |
| On-site photo and video (20%) | 5 | 3 | 3 |
| Meetings with head, bursar, governors (15%) | 5 | 3 | 4 |
| Price and predictability (20%) | 2 | 4 | 5 |
| Ownership and governance (15%) | 4 | 4 | 2 |
| Weighted score | 3.65 | 3.95 | 3.10 |
Calculation for the remote studio: 5 x 0.30 + 3 x 0.20 + 3 x 0.15 + 4 x 0.20 + 4 x 0.15 = 1.50 + 0.60 + 0.45 + 0.80 + 0.60 = 3.95. If on-site filming is your top priority (say 35%, taken from the copywriting weight, which drops to 15%), the local agency moves ahead: 3.95 against 3.65. Time zones do not tip the balance: a team working on GMT overlaps fully with UK school hours.
What does each option cost over three years?
Ranges below reflect typical agency quotes and public agency rate pages in the East of England, as 2026 ballpark figures. Local bilingual builds often go through a translation agency, which adds cost and a second round of proofreading.
| Option | Build | Translation | Photography | Upkeep over 3 years (market assumption) | 3-year total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Local Cambridge agency | £14,000 | £2,000 | £1,500 | £200/month x 36 = £7,200 | £24,700 |
| Freelancer plus translator | £5,000 | £2,500 | £1,200 | £100/month x 36 = £3,600 | £12,300 |
| Kolonell Premium (multilingual) | £6,900 | included, languages set in quote | £1,200 (local photographer) | £120/month x 33 = £3,960 | £12,060 |
| Kolonell Growth (English only) | £3,900 | not applicable | £1,200 | £120/month x 33 = £3,960 | £9,060 |
Kolonell's GBP grid is Starter £2,300, Growth £3,900, Premium £6,900, with a project manager in your time zone, native English or French copywriting, delivery in 3 to 4 weeks and 3 months of support. Maintenance after month 3 is on quote: the £120 per month is a market assumption for comparison only. Links to your MIS, parent portal or admissions software are integration on quote. Local agency quotes for an independent school site in Cambridge commonly range from £8,000 to £25,000 depending on scope. See the international website offer for tier details.
When should a bilingual school choose the local agency?
Pick the local agency if your marketing plan relies on termly filming of lessons and events, if governors expect in-person workshops, or if the website is part of a full rebrand with prospectus, signage and uniforms. Pick a remote studio if you already have a photographer approved under your safeguarding policy, a clear brand, and a small admissions team that mostly needs a fast, accurate bilingual site.
What the provider must handle for a school in England
- Pupil and parent data: UK GDPR and the Data Protection Act 2018 cover enquiry forms, visit bookings and application uploads. Collect only what admissions needs at each stage, and say where data is hosted.
- Cookies: analytics and advertising cookies need consent under PECR.
- Safeguarding and images: publish pupil photos only with documented consent, avoid full names next to faces, and follow the school's safeguarding policy in line with statutory guidance such as Keeping Children Safe in Education.
- Accessibility: target WCAG 2.2 AA and publish an accessibility statement; schools also have duties under the Equality Act 2010.
- Required information: independent schools in England are expected to make certain information available to parents, such as policies and inspection reports. Check the current list with your inspectorate.
This is not legal advice.
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Questions to ask both providers
- Who writes the French, and is it a native writer or a translation tool?
- How do we keep fees, term dates and admissions steps identical in both languages?
- Can a parent book a visit in March for a May start, without emailing?
- Who owns the domain, hosting, CMS and code at handover?
- How do you handle pupil image consent and data minimisation in forms?
- What is the monthly cost after launch, and how do we exit?
Mini case study
*Illustrative example, hypothetical persona.* Claire is admissions lead at a bilingual French-English primary school in Cambridge. Her team answers about 25 repeat emails a week (fees, French curriculum, mid-year places), split across both languages, at roughly 10 minutes each: around 4 hours a week. With a bilingual FAQ, a fees page and online visit booking, she assumes half of those emails disappear, which frees 2 hours a week, or 76 hours over a 38-week school year. Valued at £25 an hour of staff time, that is £1,900 a year. On the 3-year totals above, choosing Kolonell Premium over the local quote saves £12,640, and the time saved adds about £5,700 over three years regardless of the provider.
FAQ
Can one site serve both French and English families well?
Yes, if both versions are written natively and kept in sync. Plan for 20 to 40 core pages per language for a primary or all-through school.
Is a bilingual site possible on the Growth tier?
No. Premium (£6,900) is the multilingual tier at Kolonell, and the number of languages is fixed in the quote. Growth (£3,900) suits an English-only site.
Can the website connect to our admissions software or parent portal?
Yes, through links or integration on quote, since each MIS and admissions platform differs. Budget a separate line for it alongside the build.
How long does a bilingual school site take?
Kolonell delivers in 3 to 4 weeks once content and approved photos are ready. Local agencies often plan 8 to 14 weeks for an independent school site with governor sign-off.
Should we publish our fees?
Many independent schools publish fee tables, which saves admissions time. If you do, keep figures identical in both languages and update them each academic year.
Want a bilingual scope you can take to governors? Request a free quote with your page list and admissions calendar.
Let's scope your project. Share your languages, admissions calendar and current platforms, and we will return a Premium scope, a fixed GBP budget and a 3 to 4 week timeline. See the international offer or request a free quote: detailed reply within 48 hours.
Mohamed Bah
Fondateur, Kolonell
Passionate about digital and entrepreneurship in Africa, Mohamed has been helping Sénégalese businesses with their digital transformation since 2020. Founder of Kolonell, he believes every SME deserves a professional and accessible online présence.