The verdict in three sentences
A STEM-focused independent secondary in Oxford sells something parents need to see: labs, robotics clubs, research projects and the pathway from Year 7 to university applications. That puts video and project content at the centre of the website, which favours a local agency if you want filming every term, and a hybrid model (local videographer, remote studio for the build) if you want a strong site within a governors' budget. Whatever the set-up, the contract must give the school ownership of the domain, hosting, CMS and code.
What does a STEM school website have to prove?
Oxford families comparing secondaries often work in research, medicine, engineering or the science and tech businesses around the city. They read the curriculum page closely, look for evidence beyond exam results, and want to know how pupils actually build, code and experiment. A good STEM school site usually needs:
- a curriculum section that explains the STEM pathway by key stage, including sixth form options;
- project showcases (robotics, coding, science fairs, engineering challenges) with pupil work shown under consent;
- facilities pages with short videos of labs and maker spaces;
- an admissions funnel for the main entry points (11+, 13+ and sixth form, depending on the school), open day booking and a clear timeline;
- a news or blog area that teachers can update without calling the agency.
If your school is inspected by ISI, cite the latest report accurately and link to it. Avoid claims about results or university destinations you cannot document, since website claims fall under the ASA's CAP Code.
Who should do what, phase by phase?
The question is less "local or remote" than which phases need people in the building.
| Project phase | Needs on-site presence? | Local Oxford agency | Remote studio | Hybrid option |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Discovery with head, bursar, Head of STEM | Helpful, not essential | Workshop at school | 2 to 3 video workshops | Video workshops |
| Content and copywriting | No | Agency writers | Native English copywriting included at Kolonell | Remote studio |
| Filming labs and projects | Yes | Agency crew | Not on site | Local videographer, 1 to 2 days |
| Design and build | No | Agency team | Studio team, 3 to 4 weeks | Remote studio |
| Admissions and MIS links | No | Often quoted separately | Integration on quote | Integration on quote |
| Termly updates and new videos | Partly | Retainer | Remote, plus local filming as needed | Mix |
Time zones play no role here: a team working on GMT shares the UK school day all year.
What do the options cost over three years?
Ranges reflect typical agency quotes and public agency rate pages in Oxfordshire, as 2026 ballpark figures. Local agency builds for independent schools commonly range from £10,000 to £25,000, with retainers on top.
| Option | Build | Video (2 days of filming and edit) | Upkeep over 3 years (market assumption) | 3-year total |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Local full-service agency | £16,000 | included | £180/month x 36 = £6,480 | £22,480 |
| Local freelancer plus videographer | £5,500 | £2,400 | £90/month x 36 = £3,240 | £11,140 |
| Hybrid: Kolonell Growth plus local videographer | £3,900 | £2,400 | £120/month x 33 = £3,960 | £10,260 |
| Hybrid: Kolonell Premium (multilingual, for boarding or overseas families) | £6,900 | £2,400 | £120/month x 33 = £3,960 | £13,260 |
Kolonell's GBP grid is Starter £2,300, Growth £3,900, Premium £6,900. Each tier includes a project manager reachable in your time zone, native English or French copywriting, delivery in 3 to 4 weeks and 3 months of support; maintenance after that is on quote, and the £120 per month above is a market assumption. An English-only STEM school usually fits Growth; Premium is the multilingual tier, with the number of languages set in the quote. The international website offer lists what each tier covers.
When is the local agency the right call?
Choose a local agency if you plan to film every term, if the website is part of a full rebrand, or if your senior team wants in-person sessions at each milestone. It also makes sense if the agency already knows your MIS and admissions platform and can maintain those links.
The hybrid model works when the school already has a brand, can approve content quickly, and wants to spend more on video than on agency overheads.
Rules your provider must follow
- Data protection: UK GDPR and the Data Protection Act 2018 apply to open day bookings, applications and newsletter sign-ups. Cookies need consent under PECR.
- Safeguarding: pupils on camera need documented consent; avoid full names with faces and follow the school's safeguarding policy, aligned with Keeping Children Safe in Education.
- Accessibility: WCAG 2.2 AA, captions on every video, transcripts for key films, and an accessibility statement. The Equality Act 2010 also applies to schools.
- Published information: independent schools in England must make certain information available to parents; confirm the current list with your inspectorate.
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This is not legal advice.
Questions to ask before you sign
- Can teachers publish project stories without breaking the design?
- Who owns the video files and the right to reuse them?
- Are captions and transcripts included in the price?
- How are admissions forms secured, and where is data hosted?
- Is the domain, hosting and code in the school's name from day one?
- What does a year of updates cost, and how do we leave?
Mini case study
*Illustrative example, hypothetical persona.* Dr Ravi Shah is director of marketing at a STEM-focused independent secondary in Oxford. Governors cap the website at £12,000 for year one. The local agency quote is £16,000 plus a retainer, so it fails the cap. The hybrid route costs £3,900 (Growth) plus £2,400 of filming, so £6,300, leaving £5,700. Ravi uses £2,400 of it for a second shoot after the spring science fair and holds £3,300 back for maintenance on quote and admissions integration on quote. Year one stays under £12,000, and the school ends up with two sets of video instead of one.
FAQ
Do we need video on a STEM school website?
It helps a lot, because labs and projects are hard to judge from photos. Two days of local filming typically cost £1,800 to £3,000 in 2026, including edit.
Can a remote studio manage a school with several entry points?
Yes. The site can present 11+, 13+ and sixth form entry separately, with a timeline and open day booking for each. Admissions software links are integration on quote.
Which Kolonell tier suits an English-only secondary school?
Growth at £3,900 usually fits a content-rich English site. Premium at £6,900 is for multilingual sites, for example when the school recruits boarders from abroad.
How quickly can the site launch?
Kolonell delivers in 3 to 4 weeks once content and video are ready. Plan filming 2 to 3 weeks before launch so footage is edited in time.
What should governors check in the contract?
Ownership of domain, code and media, a clear post-launch cost, and an exit clause with handover within 30 days. Ask for the data hosting location in writing.
Want a hybrid plan that fits your governors' budget? Request a free quote with your entry points and filming plans.
Let's scope your project. Send your page list, entry points and filming calendar, and we will return a tier, a fixed GBP budget and a 3 to 4 week build 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.