Local agency or remote studio for a private or international school website in London: how to choose (2026)

The verdict in three sentences

For a private or international school in London, a local agency specialised in education remains the best choice if your site depends on regular filming with pupils, a printed prospectus and several campuses. A remote studio like Kolonell suits a mid-sized school that already has its photos and wants a clear admissions journey, delivered in 3 to 4 weeks for a fixed price of 2 300, 3 900 or 6 900 GBP, versus a 2026 ballpark of 15 000 to 60 000 GBP. The choice comes down to visual production, the enquiry journey, site ownership and the protection of children's data.

Which criteria separate a London agency from a remote studio?

These ranges are prudent: they rest on minimum project sizes listed on Clutch.co profiles of London agencies, public rate cards of agencies specialised in independent schools and published hourly rates, often 90 to 150 GBP per hour. A London freelancer often charges 4 000 to 15 000 GBP.

When is the London agency the best choice?

Let's be frank, in several situations it is worth its price:

• You are a large school with more than 1 000 pupils, several sites, boarding or a highly competitive senior school.
• You produce a school film and features every term: the agency coordinates filming, consents and editing on site.
• You are redoing your whole identity (logo, prospectus, signage) alongside the site.
• Your governing body expects in-person workshops at every stage.

In those cases, a budget of 30 000 GBP or more can be defended.

When does a remote studio like Kolonell fit?

• You are a day school of 150 to 600 pupils, nursery and primary or lower secondary, wanting to modernise a dated site.
• Your photos exist, or a photographer booked for half a day is enough.
• You want a bilingual FR/EN site for French, Belgian, Swiss or Canadian families relocated to London.
• You want a written fixed price and almost no time difference with your project manager.

Tier details are on our international website offer.

What does each option cost over 3 years?

Kolonell maintenance after the support period is quoted on request, so the table uses the same assumption on both sides. These figures structure the comparison; they do not predict your invoice.

What does a London school website need?

In London, competition between independent schools is intense, and VAT on school fees since 1 January 2025 has pushed families to compare more closely. The site has to serve admissions:

• Pages by phase (Early Years, primary, secondary) with curriculum, a typical day and class sizes.
• Fees shown, or a fee schedule on request, depending on school policy.
• Open days and individual tours bookable online.
• A journey for mid-year arrivals, common among families relocated by finance firms or embassies.
• Integration of your admissions software or existing parent portal: Kolonell embeds or links the tool you chose; a custom parent portal is an application quoted on request.
• Curricula presented exactly: English National Curriculum, IGCSE and A-Levels, IB or a Franco-British bilingual programme, only if the school offers them. Labels (IB World School, CIS, COBIS) appear only if held.
• A careers page to attract teachers.

On compliance, the facts only. Family and pupil data falls under UK GDPR and the Data Protection Act 2018; the ICO's Age Appropriate Design Code covers online services likely to be accessed by children, to be reviewed with your DPO. Photos of pupils require written parental consent. In England, the Independent School Standards require certain information to be made available to parents, often published on the website (including the safeguarding policy): check the current list with your bursar. The Equality Act 2010 and WCAG 2.2 AA frame accessibility. This is not legal advice.

Which questions should you ask before signing?

• Who manages photo consents and the removal of an image at a parent's request?
• Is the admissions software embedded or only linked?
• Is the domain in the school's name?
• What does the yearly update cost for fees, calendar and open day dates?
• Will the site be ready before the October and November tour season?

Mini case study

Illustrative example. Sophie D., head of admissions at a 320-pupil Franco-English bilingual primary school in Clapham, must replace an ageing site before the November open days. A specialist agency proposes 22 000 GBP over 16 weeks, film included. Kolonell proposes Premium at 6 900 GBP, a bilingual site delivered on a written 5-week schedule, with a London photographer for 1 200 GBP.

Build and photos: 22 000 GBP versus 8 100 GBP, a 13 900 GBP gap, roughly a year of net fees for one family depending on the school's schedule. The site goes live six weeks before the open days.

FAQ

How much does a private school website cost in London in 2026?

With a specialist agency, expect a ballpark of 15 000 to 60 000 GBP; a freelancer often charges 4 000 to 15 000 GBP. Kolonell charges a fixed 2 300, 3 900 or 6 900 GBP.

Can Kolonell photograph our pupils?

No. The school supplies its images, with written consents, or books a London photographer, often 600 to 1 500 GBP for half a day based on published rates.

Can you build a parent portal?

A custom portal is an application quoted on request. The 2 300 to 6 900 GBP tiers embed or link the portal or admissions software the school uses.

Is the time difference a problem?

No: the team is on London time in winter and one hour behind in summer. A written update every week complements the calls.

How does payment work?

By bank transfer or Wise, 50 % at kickoff and 50 % at delivery. On Growth, that means two payments of 1 950 GBP.

Let's scope your project. Send us your phases, your admissions calendar and your software, and we come back with a fixed-price tier and a 3 to 6 week timeline. Request your free quote or see the international offer.