The verdict in three sentences
In Gibraltar, an independent school website stands or falls on the mobile admissions journey: a Gibraltarian, expatriate or cross-border family should be able to enquire, request a visit and book an open morning in under two minutes from a phone. A Kolonell redesign costs £2,300 (Starter), £3,900 (Growth) or £6,900 (Premium, the multilingual tier, languages set in the quote) and is delivered in 3 to 4 weeks once content is ready. The admissions portal, fee payment and the MIS stay on quote, and the main risk to manage is losing pages that already rank.
Where does the admissions journey break on mobile?
In South District, Westside or the town, many parents browse between appointments, some from Spain on a patchier connection. These are the steps to audit before any redesign.
| Step | Common friction | Fix in the redesign | Data to collect |
|---|---|---|---|
| Reaching the admissions page | 4 to 6 taps from the home page | Sticky admissions button on mobile | None |
| Enquiry | 15-field form | 5 fields at most | Parent name, email, phone, year of entry, message |
| Open morning booking | Email to reception | Online slots, automatic confirmation | Name, email, number attending |
| Individual visit request | Phone number only | Short form with preferred dates | Name, availability |
| School response | Variable delay, no acknowledgement | Instant acknowledgement, stated reply time | No new data |
| Application file | Printable PDF | Link to the existing secure portal | Documents only inside the portal |
The minimum-data rule is central: no health, SEN, school report, passport or custody information in an open form. The Gibraltar GDPR and the Data Protection Act 2004, supervised by the Gibraltar Regulatory Authority, govern this processing, and the privacy notice should state how long enquiries are kept. This is not legal advice.
What budget should you plan, and what stays on quote?
2026 ballpark, based on typical quotes from Gibraltar and Costa del Sol agencies (euro amounts converted approximately).
| Option | Upfront | Years 2 and 3 (market assumption) | Languages |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gibraltar agency | £8,000 to £22,000 | £1,200 to £3,000 a year | English, Spanish often extra |
| Costa del Sol agency | about £4,300 to £13,000 | £900 to £2,500 a year | Native Spanish, English varies |
| Freelance developer | £2,500 to £6,500 | £600 to £1,800 a year | Depends on the person |
| Kolonell Growth | £3,900 | On quote after 3 months of support | English, native copywriting |
| Kolonell Premium | £6,900 | On quote after 3 months of support | The multilingual tier, languages set in the quote |
Year 2 and 3 figures are market assumptions, not Kolonell prices. On quote: the admissions portal and its document module, fee payment, the MIS, the parent app, calendar feeds and search optimisation. A Spanish translation by an independent translator is a third-party cost. Tier details are on the international offer.
How do the 3 to 4 weeks unfold?
- Week 1: URL inventory (admissions, curriculum, open mornings, fees if published, transport, term dates), mobile journey map, 301 redirect plan.
- Week 2: mobile-first mock-ups, short forms, cookie banner wired to analytics and admissions tags.
- Week 3: approved content loaded, Spanish version if Premium, links to the existing portal and payment pages.
- Week 4: testing on real phones, every form tested, switch-over, then 6 weeks of Search Console monitoring.
Content collection on the school side happens before this schedule. Go live in the summer holidays or a quiet half-term, never during open mornings, the admissions peak or exams.
Which risks should you watch?
| Risk | Likelihood | Mitigation | Owner |
|---|---|---|---|
| Traffic loss on admissions pages | Medium | Complete 301 map, Search Console for 6 weeks | Kolonell |
| Enquiries lost during the switch | Low | Every form tested, notifications to two addresses | Kolonell and school |
| Broken link to the portal or payment | Medium | Link inventory, launch-day test | Kolonell |
| Incomplete Spanish version | Medium | Translated page list fixed in the quote | School |
| Unchecked claims | Medium | Review: curricula, accreditations, inspections as actually held | School |
| Photos without consent | Low | Parental consent register, removal on request | School |
| Cookie banner not working | Medium | Tags blocked before consent | Kolonell |
Safeguarding pages and policies remain the school's own documents, published as approved. After handover, name who updates term dates, news and policies.
When is a local agency the better choice?
Ask every supplier: how many fields does your standard admissions form have? Who tests the journey on mobile? Who writes the 301 map? How is the Spanish version reviewed?
Need a professional website?
Kolonell builds websites that attract clients, optimized for the Sénégalese market. Free quote in 2 minutes.
A Gibraltar agency is the better fit if the school wants in-person workshops with the senior team, on-site filming by the same supplier, or a provider under local law. Kolonell works remotely, with a project manager reachable in your time zone.
Mini case study
Illustrative example: Alameda Heights School, a fictional independent day school of about 350 pupils aged 3 to 18. Marta, the admissions officer, receives enquiries through three channels and retypes each one into the MIS.
- Kolonell Premium redesign (English and Spanish, languages set in the quote): £6,900
- Translation of 15,000 words by an independent translator at £0.10 a word: £1,500 (third-party cost)
- Total: £8,400, against about £15,000 for a mid-range local agency
- Time saved, as an assumption: 60 enquiries per term x 10 minutes of retyping avoided = 10 hours per term
Go-live at the end of July. Maintenance after the 3 included months: on quote. The school promises no admissions outcome: the goal is a clearer journey and better-controlled data.
FAQ
How many fields should the enquiry form have?
Five usually suffice: parent name, email, phone, year of entry and message. Any document goes through the secure portal, priced on quote.
Do we need a Spanish version?
It helps cross-border families. It sits in the Premium tier at £6,900, languages set in the quote, with third-party translation budgeted separately.
How long does the redesign take?
3 to 4 weeks once content is ready, then 6 weeks of Search Console monitoring after the switch.
Can we keep our current admissions portal?
Yes, it is kept and linked from the admissions pages. Any integration deeper than links is priced on quote.
What does the Growth tier cost?
£3,900 in English, with 3 months of support included. Maintenance after that is on quote.
Let's scope your project. A rebuilt mobile admissions journey from £3,900 to £6,900, delivered in 3 to 4 weeks away from open mornings. 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.
