How We Repositioned International School Aberdeen and Delivered a 27% Increase in Student Enrolment

48,100+

Website Users in 12 Months

+27%

Increase in Student Population

+400%

Increase in Open Day Attendance

The Challenge: A Leading International School - Lacking Local Awareness

ISA is the only international school in the North-east of Scotland with a state-of-the-art campus, academic reputation, world-class curriculum and global outlook.

But their marketing didn’t reflect any of that and in the minds of local families, it didn’t exist.

  • Most didn’t know local children could enrol.
  • Awareness across Aberdeen was low
  • Marketing was inconsistent and disconnected from growth objectives

ISA needed strategic brand development and a multi-channel approach to elevate their market position, boost visibility, and attract both international and local families. That’s where we came in.

We helped ISA lead the way.

The Solution: A Marketing Strategy That Drove Growth, Not Just Awareness

As ISA’s dedicated marketing support agency for over five years, we became an extension of their school community.

Our role covered everything from marketing strategy, brand positioning and campaign management to social media, PR, and digital performance, all focused on strengthening local presence and driving enrolment from local families.

ISA Case Study School Kids

1. We Built a Brand That Connected with Local and Global Audiences 

  • We gave them an identity, we rewrote their tone of voice and developed a unified brand narrative that spoke with both international students and local families.
  • We crafted a comprehensive suite of high-impact branding materials, from internal signage to prospectuses, flyers, and advertising assets.
  • Delivered strategic brand development that resonated with both local families and expat audiences.

2. Events and Initiatives That Built Real Connections

Over the years, we helped bring more people through ISA’s doors, physically and digitally. A key objective for the school’s leadership was to increase visibility, community engagement and real-world interaction with the brand. From forging valuable partnerships and hosting high-impact events, to amplifying key moments like Open Days and anniversaries, we made sure ISA wasn’t just seen, it was experienced.

Events & Community Partnerships

We helped turn ISA into a go-to venue for community, corporate, and media events. By facilitating connections with organisations like Energy Voice, AGCC and the Africulture Network, we brought influential audiences into the school. We also positioned ISA’s leadership as thought leaders, securing high-profile speaking opportunities, all aligned with the school’s goal to strengthen local presence and reputation.

Open Day Strategy & Growth

We completely reworked ISA’s Open Day strategy, from campaign messaging and digital ads to flyers, emails and on-the-day experience. Every touchpoint was aligned and purposeful, resulting in a 400% increase in family attendance. We didn’t just raise awareness, we got feet through the door and enquiries through the inbox.

ISA’s 50th Anniversary Campaign

To mark ISA’s 50th year, we rolled out a full campaign of events, storytelling and design. From a refreshed anniversary logo to branded assets, banners and digital content, we helped bring the celebration to life, reconnecting alumni, engaging the community and reinforcing ISA’s legacy in style.

3. Multi-Channel Campaigns That Converted

  • Planned and executed campaigns across social, email, website and media.
  • Delivered digital content calendars, social growth strategies and paid advertising.
  • Developed high-converting campaigns around Open Days, Summer Camps, Preschool Launch, and the IB Curriculum.

4. Community Engagement That Shifted Views

  • Consistent press coverage in Press & Journal, Energy Voice, AGCC, The Times, The Scotsman, and more.

  • Local ads via Original 106 radio, Aberdeen Airport, Energy Voice, and Press & Journal.

  • Ongoing video/photo content to build trust, real stories told creatively to strengthen community and drive action.

The Result: From Awareness to Action

Over five years of partnership, our integrated marketing approach delivered clear outcomes:

  • 27% increase in student population
  • 18% boost in brand awareness across the region
  • 26% more locals aware that ISA enrols local children

Our role as ISA’s marketing support agency was all about bringing visibility to their value and changing local misconceptions.

“Cerri and her team get things done.”

Cerri takes well-thought through risks and pushes us to try something to truly stand out. Her approach is consistently high quality. The P13 team listens, enquires and reflects, helping to problem solve with a systematic and analytic approach. They know their stuff, and communicate in a straightforward, jargon-free way.

Cerri and Prospect 13 do more than consult – they are on our side.

— Nick Little, Head of School, ISA

ISA Case Study Materials

A Marketing Strategy Should Drive Growth, Not Just Noise.

If you’re a school, charity or education provider looking to seriously move the dial on your bottom line, then you need a marketing agency for schools that integrates with you.

We helped ISA raise their profile, connect with their community and increase their local student population.

Let’s talk about how we can do the same for you.

More Work

COMMUNICATIONS CONSULTANT

LESLEY EATON

At P13, Lesley brings over 35 years of media and communications experience, with a background spanning journalism, editing and PR consultancy.

After graduating from the University of Aberdeen with an MA (Hons.) in Celtic & English, she started out as a reporter before becoming Editor of a weekly local newspaper in Aberdeenshire.

She later moved into PR as the communications lead at Scotland’s largest farmer-owned group of companies, a role that became the perfect stepping stone into freelance consultancy and writing.

Since 2008, Lesley has operated as a freelance PR consultant, successfully juggling projects, deadlines and engaging copy for a wide range of clients.

Organised, experienced and calm under pressure, she knows exactly how to turn words into results.

FOUNDER & CEO

CERRI MCDONALD

Cerri is the Aberdeen quine behind Prospect 13, with a 25-year career in marketing and communications. Before launching P13, she built her career across the energy and tech sectors before climbing to Director level. Then redundancy hit, but instead of crying, Cerri took it as a sign. Very Cerri.

In 2018, she launched Prospect 13 on the belief that SMEs deserved access to strategic marketing expertise without the big agency price tag or corporate bullsh*t. What started as a one-woman mission quickly grew into a team of straight-talking marketers. Now, Cerri leads with strategy, data and insight, with a real passion for getting under the skin of what makes organisations grow.

Outside work, Cerri is mum to Becky and Katy, married to childhood sweetheart Graeme, and happiest eating, drinking, cooking, exercising or planning the next holiday.

Holiday snob? Guilty.

She’s also gone from ‘not the hiking type’ to climbing Kilimanjaro after a knee-jerk decision. Now she’s hooked on Munros and hiking gear. A total foodie, fitness convert, tarot reader, horror fan and crime doc obsessive… and then there is Ness, Cerri’s 3rd baby girl.

DESIGN MANAGER

LISA SIMPSON

Lisa runs Whitespace Studio, a creative studio in Aberdeen specialising in photography and graphic design for brands tired of blending in.

As a Design Manager at Prospect 13 since the beginning, Lisa’s worked across everything from logo design and website builds to marketing campaigns and commercial shoots, helping businesses show up looking sharp.

She’s all about clean design, strong visuals and making the process feel easy, 
no fluff, just good work that delivers results.

Outside of work, she’s usually at the gym or playing taxi driver for her two kids around Aberdeen.

A big fan of a cold sea dip (the colder the better), usually followed by a hot sauna at Aberdeen beach.

Runs almost entirely on tea – and it has to be Tetley. No exceptions.

DIGITAL MARKETING SPECIALIST

HANNAH LOBOCKI

Hannah started her career agency-side as an SEO Executive, building a solid understanding of how people search, what makes content rank and what drives traffic.

After moving in-house into broader marketing roles, she joined Prospect 13 as a Digital Marketing Specialist, bringing a well-rounded, data-led approach to everything she does.

Happiest when digging into user behaviour insights, Hannah is driven by understanding why people do what they do, and how that shows up in the way they move through websites and the wider digital landscape.

Outside of work, she’s into CrossFit, where no two workouts are ever the same.

When she’s not in the gym, she’s out exploring, usually in search of the best oat latte (non-negotiable).

GRAPHIC DESIGNER

CARA MACINTOSH

Cara studied Communication Design at Gray’s School of Art for four years, where her love for graphic design really took shape.

She thrives in creative, collaborative environments and enjoys getting properly stuck into a new project – bringing ideas to life and making them look as good as they should.

Cara joined Prospect 13 in August 2024 after a year at DZD… which has now come full circle, as they’ve since become one of our clients.

Outside of work, you’ll usually find her with her dog Obi, out for a walk or enjoying a bit of downtime.

When she’s not doing that, she’s likely planning, or daydreaming about her next trip to Walt Disney World.

Family life is everything, and she’s happiest spending time with the people closest to her.

CREATIVE CONTENT SPECIALIST

BORYANA CHOBANOVA

At P13, Boryana builds and delivers content strategies that get results. Whether is social media, blogs, case studies, abstracts, campaigns or more, she creates engaging content with high performance. She tracks what’s landing, refines what isn’t and keeps it aligned to drive results.

Boryana works closely with clients and the wider team to keep the marketing strategies moving in line with the deadline, contributing ideas from early planning through to delivery

Outside of work, you can catch her with a book in her hand, at the gym or tuned into a health and wellbeing podcast.

When not tracking client performance, she’s analysing her sleep, running pace, and her ever-growing Duolingo Spanish streak.

Safe to say, she’s always optimising something.

MARKETING MANAGER

ASHLEIGH WALKER

Ashleigh has spent over a decade building a career that blends creativity with commercial thinking. Starting out in graphic design, she later swapped Scotland for Sydney, where she took on a mix of roles and widened her experience.

Back on home soil, she worked with global corporate names including Lockton and Cushman & Wakefield in London before joining Prospect 13 in 2024.

Now, she plays a key role in leading the team and shaping client strategies, bringing creative thinking, direction and commercial awareness, which is a pretty handy mix.

Drawn to Aberdeen by the promise of the quiet life and cheaper booze, Ashleigh quickly found her place in the north-east.

Outside work, you’ll usually find her with Mochi, her wee cocker spaniel, exploring Aberdeenshire… and sipping on a wine.

DIGITAL MARKETING SPECIALIST

ANNIE BUCHAN

Annie is a Digital Marketing Specialist with three years’ experience at P13, starting out as an intern and working part-time while studying for four years at RGU, where she achieved her BA (Hons) in Digital Marketing.

Now full-time, she’s naturally curious (a bit nosey) and loves that digital never stands still, whether it’s analytics, web builds, or fixing problems that seriously test your patience.

Annie loves a good fantasy romance book, going to the gym, and spending time with her friends and family. She’s a big foodie and, in her own words,

“I wake up thinking about fit I’m gan to eat and go to sleep the same why.”

She loves a holiday, snowboarding, partying in Ibiza, or fantasising over Eeyore and Tigger in Disney.

She’s also currently getting ready to welcome her own wee mini me, roll on July!