The Bolsta Approach
You have a talented team of marketers and admissions staff.
So why does attracting new families feel like an uphill battle?
Rather than jump to a band-aid fix — a shiny new website, ad campaign or new tech — I help schools focus on an underutilised advantage: the parent experience.
Together, we’ll move beyond ‘the way things have always been done’ and into a brighter, clearer future for your families and staff.
Turning busywork into great work
The impact is undeniable
Allie Smith
Communications Manager
MidCoast Christian College
I no longer feel like I’m swimming in a pool with no bottom, but instead have a clear, communicable framework to operate within.
How the magic happens
Instead, I help schools step back, look at the bigger picture, and ensure we’re prioritising the right things before we get stuck in.
We plan with you
We’ll align your team, identify your core objectives and create an action plan that prioritises great work that will move your school forward. The most important stakeholders will be engaged from the start, ensuring we don’t hit any speed bumps along the way.
We build with you
Here we’ll build the systems, assets and infrastructure you need to support an amazing parent experience. And we’ll do it together, side by side so you don’t have to manage the complexity of the project in-house.
We partner with you
Finally, we’ll ensure that all of the changes are sustainable over the long run, by working alongside you as you continue to tick off your big priorities. Here, we’ll work through smaller projects to create strategies, designs and systems that will maintain your momentum.
Our Capabilities
This ensures you get exceptional results without adding unnecessary stress to your in-house staff.
Start the conversation
Ready to transform your school's marketing, communications and enrolment journey?
Start the conversationFrequently Asked Questions
What does Bolsta Education specialise in?
We specialise in helping schools transform their marketing, communications, and enrolment journey. From digital strategy to brand development, we focus on creating seamless and inspiring parent experiences that attract best-fit families and foster thriving school communities.
What makes Bolsta different from a regular marketing agency?
Unlike a typical marketing or digital agency, I focus specifically on schools and the unique challenges of marketing and admissions.
I strongly believe that school marketing/communications is deeply linked to the ability for a school to create a thriving community. As such, generic marketing strategy just isn’t enough, because the work of school marketers, communicators and enrolments must be thought about in a broader sense–one that is in touch with the needs of families and the entire educational experience.
School leaders need to make some brave decisions in this area, and they need an experienced partner to support them along the way.
What types of schools does Bolsta work with?
We work with schools of all sizes – small independent schools, Catholic or Anglican Diocese, public/state schools, and international schools. If you’re looking to improve the enrolment experience, Bolsta can help.
How is Bolsta Education's approach different?
Every school has different priorities, different families, and different leadership teams — so cut-and-paste strategies rarely get you ahead.
Instead, we work with you to focus on the parent experience, using a variety of tools that will help you understand what they need, what they care about, and where you might be losing them along their journey to enrolment.
From there, we prioritise and optimise each element of their experience, resulting in a clear roadmap that will lead you straight to your big operational goals.
The result? Work that makes a lasting difference. Work that others notice. Work that results in families clamouring for a spot on your waitlists. Work that has top teachers setting alerts on your job boards, waiting for an opportunity to join your team.
Do you offer training and professional development?
Yes, we provide tailored training for individuals and teams, focusing on topics like enrolment journey thinking, parent experience, marketing strategy, and communications.
Can Bolsta help us grow enrolments?
Yes! By focusing on the parent experience and creating clear, effective enrolment journeys, we usually see a significant impact on enrolment numbers. Importantly, this is sustainable growth that all future marketing work can build on.
Does Bolsta Education only work with schools in Australia?
While we’re based in Australia, we work with schools internationally. If you’re interested in partnering with us, reach out, and we’ll discuss how we can best support you.
Can Bolsta design and build our school website?
Yes, we offer web design and development services, including user experience (UX) optimisation, accessibility compliance, and CMS implementation.
Importantly, we always ensure your website aligns with your school’s brand and supports the parent experience.
Do you work with in-house marketing teams?
Absolutely! We always collaborate with your existing team, offering guidance, training, and support to help them get through the day-to-day chaos and achieve their goals more efficiently.
How do you measure success?
There is no one ‘success’ metric when it comes to building the kinds of enrolment experiences that leads to a thriving school community.
We use a range of longitudinal metrics and indicators, both qualitative and quantitative, that help to build a more nuanced understanding of success.
These indicators are influenced by your schools unique goals and situations – again, there is no one-size-fits-all.
What's the process to get started?
Simply reach out to us via our contact page to start the conversation. I’ll schedule an initial call to discuss your school’s unique needs and how Bolsta can help.
In most cases, I’ll recommend to begin with a Enrolment Experience Pulse Check and/or a comprehensive audit, which will help me understand your team and unique challenges so I can build a tailored roadmap of work.
Can you help us even if we’re not ready for a full overhaul?
Absolutely. I offer flexible, scalable solutions that meet schools wherever they are in their journey. Whether it’s a full transformation or a specific challenge, we’ll work together to find the right starting point.
We already have a website. Do we still need your help?
A website is only part of the picture. I help schools optimise the entire parent experience—from their first interaction with your school to long after they’ve enrolled—ensuring your website, communications, and enrolment processes are aligned and impactful.
What kind of results can we expect?
Results vary depending on your school’s starting point and goals, but past clients have seen improved enrolment numbers, reduced admin burden, higher family satisfaction, and stronger team alignment.
What if we're on a tight budget?
I understand that budgets can be a challenge, especially for smaller schools. I’ll work with you to identify high-impact changes and prioritise work that delivers the most value for your investment.