The verdict in three sentences
In London, parents weighing fees of 18,000 to 32,000 GBP a year (2026 order of magnitude, VAT included since 2025) want proof first: GCSE and A-level results, pastoral care, class sizes, transport. A site that publishes these figures and offers online pre-registration with document upload fills places faster than open-day flyers, especially for international families who cannot visit before relocating. With Kolonell, such a site costs 800,000 to 3,500,000 FCFA (1,220 to 5,340 EUR) depending on the Starter, Growth or Premium tier, delivered in 6 weeks.
What London parents check before applying
A group of 2,400 pupils expanding to 3 new sites, say in Wandsworth, Ealing and Canary Wharf, targets professional families and expatriates arriving with banks, consultancies and tech firms. They discover the school via search, relocation agents or parent forums, then judge it on the website.
| Parent question | Expected answer on the site | Estimated impact (2026) |
|---|---|---|
| Does the school get results? | GCSE and A-level results over 3 years, university destinations | Top criterion for 7 parents in 10 |
| What does it really cost? | Fee table per stage, extras, VAT treatment | Removes about 40% of basic enquiry calls |
| Who teaches? | Head and staff profiles, pupil to teacher ratio | Builds trust in quality |
| Is my child safe and supported? | Safeguarding policy, pastoral team, SEN support | Decisive for prep years |
| How do we apply? | Online pre-registration, document list, deadlines | Cuts the cycle from 3 weeks to 1 |
| What is the campus like? | Virtual tour, recent photos | Replaces a first visit for overseas families |
| Can we apply from abroad? | Visa guidance, remote assessments, mid-year entry | Opens the relocation market |
Online pre-registration: the core of the system
Admissions peaks in autumn for the following September, with hundreds of enquiries in 8 weeks. Without a tool, the registrar juggles emails, chases missing documents and re-explains the process. A well-built form changes that.
| Step | Without the site | With online pre-registration |
|---|---|---|
| Enquiry | Phone call or email, 20 to 30 minutes | Stage-by-stage pages, zero staff time |
| Application file | Scanned documents by email, often incomplete | Upload: birth certificate, school reports, passport, reference |
| Checks | 2 to 3 back-and-forths | Automatic checklist, email reminders |
| Assessment or interview | Scheduled by phone | Slots booked online, remote option |
| Confirmation | Letter by post | Notification and PDF summary |
| Place tracking | Spreadsheet per site | Dashboard per site and year group |
A simple pre-registration module fits a Growth site. A full school management platform (fee instalments, grades, attendance, parent portal) is a custom application priced on quote, starting at 2,500,000 FCFA (3,810 EUR) for a simple version. UK GDPR applies to every child record, so storage and access rights are part of the scope.
Which Kolonell tier fits
| Tier | Kolonell budget | For a school group |
|---|---|---|
| Starter | 800,000 to 1,200,000 FCFA (1,220 to 1,830 EUR) | Presentation, stages, fees, contact, gallery |
| Growth | 1,200,000 to 2,000,000 FCFA (1,830 to 3,050 EUR) | Pages per site, news, results, pre-registration form |
| Premium | 2,000,000 to 3,500,000 FCFA (3,050 to 5,340 EUR) | Virtual tour, local SEO per borough, animations, international families section |
| Maintenance | 35,000 / 75,000 / 120,000 FCFA per month (53 / 114 / 183 EUR) | Results updates, news, backups |
| Monthly SEO | 100,000 / 200,000 / 350,000 FCFA per month | Queries such as private school Wandsworth |
Site languages are set in the quote. For a group opening 3 sites, Premium is the logical choice: each site gets its own page, travel information and available places.
Mini case study
Richard, the group's director of admissions, must fill 3 new sites of 300 places each, so 900 pupils. Average fees are 24,000 GBP a year, so every 100 pupils enrolled represents 2.4 million GBP of annual revenue.
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Before the redesign, 600 families attended open days and 35% enrolled, so 210 pupils. With online pre-registration and a virtual tour, the target is 1,000 complete applications and a 40% conversion rate, so 400 enrolments. The extra 190 pupils represent about 4.56 million GBP a year. The registrar also saves about 25 minutes per file, more than 400 hours over the admissions season.
FAQ
Should we publish our fees?
Yes, at least per stage, from about 18,000 to 32,000 GBP. Families who call have already accepted the range, which removes around 40% of time-wasting enquiries.
Can overseas families complete everything online?
Yes: document upload, remote assessment booking and video interviews. That matters when 20 to 30% of applicants are relocating from abroad.
Can we take registration deposits online?
Yes, with a card payment module priced on quote. Many schools start with pre-registration only and add payment the following year.
How early should we start?
Plan 6 weeks of production. For a September intake with autumn admissions, launch the project by early summer the year before.
How do we update exam results?
Through the admin interface in about 10 minutes, or within a maintenance plan from 35,000 FCFA (53 EUR) per month.
Let's scope your project. Tell us the number of sites, your year groups and your admissions calendar, and we will propose a scope and a 6-week plan. Detailed quote within 48 h. WhatsApp +221 77 596 93 33.
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.
