Comprehensive school launches marketing agency

A comprehensive school is hoping to team up with brands such as Adidas and Orange after setting up its own marketing services agency. The company is part of a project aimed at encouraging enterprise among students and generating income for the school.

Denefield School, near Reading, has set up Inschool Media and the agency has a brief to “create campaigns with trusted brands that give something back to the school”.

Inschool has already signed soft drinks brand T&T Beverages to sponsor the school gymnasium and is also in talks with Adidas over the sponsorship of gym equipment. Inschool also hopes to attract interest from mobile operators and music brands.

Students have drawn up a list of brands they would like to work with, and also listed “bad brands”, including Coke and Mars, that they do not wish to be associated with.

Inschool Media managing director Layla Rey insists that the initiative is not designed to “slap” branding across the school and it is believed companies such as Nike, Coke and Pepsi will not be allowed to advertise.

The agency, which is owned by the school, is hoping to sell its expertise to more schools to help them raise funds. It is part of Denefield Enterprises, which has a number of different arms.