The verdict in three sentences
A British-curriculum prep and senior school in Scottsdale has an unusual audience: relocating families from the UK and the Commonwealth who know the system, and American families who need Year groups, IGCSEs and A Levels translated into terms they trust. The provider decision should follow your situation: a refresh before the next relocation wave suits a remote studio at a fixed price, while a rebrand with a campus film and a year of events suits a Phoenix-area agency. In every case, the school keeps the domain, CMS and image rights in its own name.
What does a British prep and senior school site need in Arizona?
The Phoenix metro area draws families relocating for semiconductors, healthcare, aerospace and finance, and some arrive from the UK, India, South Africa or Australia already familiar with British schooling. American families, on the other hand, need a clear map before they consider the school. A strong site does the translating.
| British Year | US grade equivalent | Typical age | Milestone to explain |
|---|---|---|---|
| Year 7 | Grade 6 | 11 to 12 | Start of senior school in many British schools |
| Year 8 | Grade 7 | 12 to 13 | End of prep in schools with a 13+ transfer |
| Year 9 | Grade 8 | 13 to 14 | Choice of IGCSE or GCSE subjects |
| Year 10 | Grade 9 | 14 to 15 | IGCSE courses begin |
| Year 11 | Grade 10 | 15 to 16 | IGCSE exams |
| Year 12 | Grade 11 | 16 to 17 | A Level courses begin |
| Year 13 | Grade 12 | 17 to 18 | A Level exams, university applications |
Other pages that matter for this school type:
- Exam board and status: if you are a registered Cambridge International or Pearson Edexcel centre, say exactly which; if you hold an accreditation, name it precisely and link to it.
- University pathways: how A Levels are read by US, UK and Canadian universities, written with your college counselor, with real destinations only and with consent.
- Houses, pastoral care and safeguarding: the house system and the safeguarding lead are reassuring to British families and intriguing to American ones.
- Admissions: enquiry, campus tour, assessment, offer, then re-enrolment, with rolling entry for families arriving mid-year.
- Parent portal and SIS: links are simple; deeper connections are an integration on quote.
How should you weigh the criteria?
| Criterion | Local agency fits better when | Remote studio fits better when |
|---|---|---|
| Time zone | You want ad hoc same-day meetings | A project manager reachable in your hours is enough (Arizona keeps Mountain Standard Time all year) |
| Meetings | The head and governors want in-person workshops | Discovery can run in two video sessions |
| Copywriting | You need a brand voice built from scratch | Native English copy that explains the British system is the core need |
| Photo and video | You plan a campus film and termly shoots | Two days with a local photographer cover the year |
| Price | Budget is flexible and phased over a year | The board wants one fixed figure: $2,900, $4,900 or $8,900 |
| Languages | Campaigns in several languages run alongside the site | Premium, the multilingual tier, covers the site; languages set in the quote |
| Ownership | Same requirement either way | Domain, CMS and image licenses in the school's name, written in the contract |
What do the options cost over three years?
Build figures are a 2026 ballpark from typical agency quotes and public rate pages; upkeep figures are market assumptions, not quotes.
| Option | Build (2026 ballpark) | Upkeep (market assumption) | 3-year total |
|---|---|---|---|
| Freelance designer | $6,000 to $15,000 | $500 a month | $24,000 to $33,000 |
| Scottsdale or Phoenix agency | $25,000 to $70,000 | $1,500 a month | $79,000 to $124,000 |
| Agency with brand film and campaigns | $60,000 to $120,000 | $3,000 a month | $168,000 to $228,000 |
| K-12 platform with annual license | $10,000 to $25,000 setup | $10,000 a year | $40,000 to $55,000 |
| Kolonell Growth or Premium | $4,900 or $8,900 | 3 months support included, then on quote | Build price plus upkeep on quote |
Each Kolonell tier includes a project manager reachable in your time zone, native English copywriting, delivery in 3 to 4 weeks and three months of support. See the full grid on the international offer page.
When is a local agency clearly the better choice?
Be honest with your board. A Phoenix-area agency is the better choice if the school is opening a senior section or a new campus and needs naming, signage, a film and a launch event; if you want termly content production on campus; or if governors expect the agency at meetings. A remote studio is the better choice when the brand is settled, the job is to explain the British system clearly and convert enquiries, and the deadline is the next relocation season.
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Questions to put to both providers
- Who registers the domain and CMS, and in whose name?
- Who holds the image rights from the shoot, and how are pupil consents stored and withdrawn?
- What is fixed, and how is a change request priced?
- How will you meet WCAG 2.1 or 2.2 AA, and will you publish an accessibility statement?
- How are enquiry and assessment booking forms secured, and who receives them?
- What documentation and training do you hand over to the admissions office?
Compliance, kept general
A site addressed to parents is in a different position from an online service directed at children: COPPA concerns services aimed at children under 13 that collect their personal information. FERPA applies to schools receiving US federal education funds, which most private schools do not. ADA Title III generally applies to private schools, with an exemption for religious organizations; aim for WCAG 2.2 AA regardless. Families moving from the UK may expect GDPR-style privacy wording; that expectation is a good reason for a clear privacy notice, even if UK law does not govern your site. This is not legal advice.
Mini case study
Illustrative example: Harriet, director of admissions and marketing at a British-curriculum prep and senior school in north Scottsdale with 380 pupils aged 3 to 18. Most relocating families arrive in summer, and enquiries start in January. Her local agency proposal covers a rebrand, film and site for $65,000 over a year. She splits the project instead:
- Phase 1, before January: Kolonell Growth at $4,900 plus two days with a local photographer at $4,000, so $8,900;
- Phase 2, the following year: a campus film with a local production company, budgeted at $15,000 (ballpark).
Total over the two phases: $8,900 + $15,000 = $23,900, against $65,000, a difference of $41,100. Per pupil, the two-phase plan costs $23,900 / 380 = about $63. Upkeep after the three included months is on quote, budgeted separately.
FAQ
Should we show US grade equivalents on every page? No, one clear table on the admissions or curriculum page is enough, linked from the menu. Seven rows, Year 7 to Year 13, answer most questions from American families.
Do American universities accept A Levels? Many do, and policies vary by university; let your college counselor write that page and update it each year, with real destinations only.
Is Starter enough for a prep and senior school? Rarely. At $2,900 it suits a single small school; a prep and senior school with houses, admissions and university pathways is better served by Growth at $4,900.
Can the site be multilingual? Yes. Premium, at $8,900, is the multilingual tier, and the number of languages is set in the quote.
How fast can a remote studio deliver? Kolonell delivers in 3 to 4 weeks once content is ready; for a January launch, start in October to leave time for the shoot and governor approvals.
Let's scope your project. Tell us your year groups, your exam boards and the date of your next enquiry peak, and we will confirm the tier, the budget and a 3 to 4 week plan. 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.