Explore how Socius unlocks additional resources for schools. Developed by External Relations and Development experts specifically for schools, Socius' approach epitomises Aristotle's axiom, 'the whole is greater than sum of its parts'. Socius guides various school functions (Marketing, Admissions, Development, Alumni Relations, Bursars and Heads) through a collaborative process that ensures greater team cohesion, a shared understanding of the future and clarity for individual next steps.

1. If you have me,
you want to
If you have me,
you want to
If you have me,
share me.
you want to
share me.
you want to
If you share
me, you have
If you share
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not got me.
me, you have
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What am I?What am I?

2. “The independent sector still faces a multitude of challenges,
such as maintaining educational standards whilst
simultaneously ensuring that student numbers are kept at
acceptable levels and the operational and capital budgets of
the school are under control”
Mark Cummins, Charities & Education Partner at Russell New
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INTRODUCTION TO SOCIUS SOLUTIONS DRIVEN COACHING

3. SOLUTION DRIVEN
COACHING & PROFESSIONAL
DEVELOPMENT
For schools looking to maximise pupil
numbers and income from non-fee sources
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4. Your school’s external relations functions - admissions,
marketing, community engagement, communications,
development, and enterprise - are the key to unlocking
additional resources.
Yet, reaching your audience and generating sufficient funds
to achieve your vision has never been more challenging.
It requires new ways of thinking, communicating,
collaborating and planning.
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INTRODUCTION TO SOCIUS SOLUTIONS DRIVEN COACHING
THE VISION

5. We know external relations is a priority;
but resources, time and expertise are limited.
“We’ve had a development office for the past five
years, but it still hasn’t paid for itself”
“Our marketing budget has grown year on year, but
the number of pupils at open days continues to decline”
“We are committed to boarding, but each year we struggle
to fill all of the available spaces with boarders”
“We managed to raise £500 000 very quickly in our
campaign. However, now donations seem to have dried up”
THE CHALLENGES
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6. Similar to successful teaching and learning approaches, where
children use self-evaluation to take responsibility for their own
learning, solutions driven coaching helps your team become
more effective and efficient in achieving the school’s core
financial objectives.
Our tried and tested process brings together those leading the
school’s external relations functions to identify solutions that
will streamline operations, create a more collaborative culture
and employ resources more efficiently.
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INTRODUCTION TO SOCIUS SOLUTIONS DRIVEN COACHING
A TRIED & TESTED
SOLUTION

7. TAKE THE BRIEF
Discuss the school’s mission, vision and culture; existing planning
processes; objectives; and management structure. Review the
relevant budgets to identify any opportunity costs.
QUESTIONNAIRE
Participants complete a questionnaire designed to reveal areas of
broad agreement, potential opportunities and differing perceptions.
Responses inform the guided conversation.
GUIDED CONVERSATION
Your personal Socius coach facilitates a 2-3 hour session. Through
strategic, open questioning, participants collaborate to create a set of
actionable solutions.
REPORT
A succinct report summarises the agreed solutions, outcomes and
next steps. Provided in a format that makes it a meaningful reference
against which to measure progress.
REVIEW
A regular review of progress and an update of the prioritised next
steps is recommended on a regular basis.
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HOW IT WORKS

8. increased co-operation and buy-in
from team members
greater efficiency and effective use
of your budget spend
sustainable change through
incremental improvements
long-standing tension and problems
addressed without conflict
improved team communication and
collaboration
succinct action plan with clear
solutions
“Your External Relations team and Senior Management know
your school best; our job is to guide you to convert pockets of
knowledge into a shared strategic approach, with clear action
steps, to realise your financial goals”
Christopher Campbell, Managing Director, Socius
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INTRODUCTION TO SOCIUS SOLUTIONS DRIVEN COACHING
THE OUTCOMES

9. Our process is designed by school
External Relations experts, for school External
Relations teams.
We are not traditional consultants.
Our focus is not on imposing solutions on you.
Rather, we guide your External Relations team to
identify and implement internal improvements.
SOCIUS COACHING
Solutions Driven
Succinct Action Plan
Natural Internal Buy-In
Incremental Improvements
£2500 - £3500
TRADITIONAL CONSULTING
Problem Focused
Long Weighty Report
Imposed External Solutions
Dramatic Cultural Change
£5000 to £20 000
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WHY IT WORKS

10. Jane Pendry
Senior Coaching Consultant
jane@socius.ch
+44 78 43 81 38 83
www.socius.ch
GET STARTED
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11. A secret.
Socius, the industry's best kept secret

12. “The Socius Solutions Driven Coaching process is empowering and uplifting. We found it
very valuable and useful as a tool for identifying issues and challenges and soliciting solutions.
A good mix of senior leaders and managers with marketing staffers took part in the process, including the
Head of The Abbey and the Head of the Junior School. Together we were able to create
a clear vision of what the culture of our External Relations Function ought to be and to clarify our next
priorities together. By the end of the coaching conversation, all members of the team had enthusiastically
written a list of next actions to help us progress towards achieving our financial and business
goals. I highly recommend taking your marketing, alumnae, development and admissions teams
through this process.”
Craig Andrew LVO
Head of External Relations
The Abbey School