CASE STUDY

Bradford Diocesan Academies Trust

How PLMR helped Bradford Diocesan Academies Trust raise the profile of their pupil voice initiative.
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Client

Bradford Diocesan Academies Trust

Sector

Education

Services provided

Public Relations

Copywriting

The Situation

Bradford Diocesan Academies Trust (BDAT) is a multi-academy trust with 19 schools across the Bradford area. As part of its monthly retainer with PLMR, BDAT requested support to help raise the profile of its pupil voice initiative. 

What we did

PLMR developed a strategy to raise awareness of the innovative and powerful work that pupils across the Trust were leading and taking part in.  

As part of its initiative, the Trust hosted an annual Bradford-wide summit in collaboration with four other multi-academy trusts, comprising over 20 schools. Pupils from each year group had the opportunity to speak about the issues most pressing to their peers, highlighting issues such as mental health resources, racism and the cost of living.  

Following the summit, PLMR worked alongside senior Trust leaders and pupils who participated in the summit to identify the key takeaways from the experience and advise on potential PR opportunities across local and national press, as well as political stakeholder engagement.  

The Result

PLMR drafted a feature article for Schools Week, by-lined to the Trust CEO, Carol Dewhurst, and a Year 11 pupil from Belle Vue Girls’ Academy who was leading her year group for the programme. The article outlined the key learnings and importance of the summit from the view of both Carol and the pupil.  

PLMR also secured a three-month recurring segment on the Trust’s local radio station, BCB Radio, to feature various pupils from across the Trust speaking about the initiative. The opportunity allowed the participating pupils to speak out on the issues that matter to them on a community-wide broadcast whilst boosting the positive profile of the Trust and highlighting the importance of pupil voice. 

Amplifying the initiative to reach political stakeholders, PLMR supported in drafting and submitting written evidence for the House of Lords’ Education for 11-to-16-year-old Committee Inquiry. This evidence included messaging and considerations from the pupil voice initiative and even featured quotes from pupils across the Trust to highlight young people’s thoughts on their education. 

To further support the initiative, PLMR ensured the pupil voice messaging was woven throughout our wider work with the Trust. This included aligning the messaging with press release content, such as a regional release announcing the Trust’s Wellbeing Ambassadors programme, as well as the Trust’s tenth birthday communications. 

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PLMR’s crisis communications experience is second to none, and includes pre-emptive and reactive work across traditional and social media channels. We work with a range of organisations to offer critical communication support when they are faced with difficult and challenging scenarios.