Playlist for School Admissions and Development: Podcasts That Keep You Ahead
- The Fix
- Feb 12
- 3 min read
International schools generated $67.3 billion USD in annual fees as of January 2025, up 22% since 2020 according to the Enrollment Management Association, and the Admissions Managers in the 15,000 international schools around the world that play a huge part in generating this revenue work in a competitive field!
Since fee income from enrollment is the primary or only revenue stream for many schools, admissions performance is tightly linked to viability and investment capacity. Equally, the families who apply and are admitted shape the whole culture of a school. Admissions is the team that operationalizes the broad statements of the school’s strategic plan or school improvement plan - it basically determines whether the financial model is sustainable. With multiple providers, diversifying family expectations, and the usual challenges of recruiting and retaining top talent for any department in international schools, the world of admissions warrants more attention!
Fresh ideas, new tools and platforms, and an understanding of the trends that will impact the future have value for Heads of School, Principals and Admissions teams. Conferences delivering peer learning are on the rise - great news - and since innovation can come in multiple forms, we’re leaning into podcasts this month!
Finding relevant podcasts on admissions, development, and school operations is still a challenge but we’ve curated one for you here. Each podcast brings focused, actionable learning in bite-sized episodes for busy school Admissions and Enrolment teams seeking to up their game.
Mindful School Marketing PodcastFuses enrollment, marketing, and communications strategies with mindfulness for thoughtful school planning and effective parent engagement.Listen here: Mindful School Marketing Podcast
The Enrollment Growth PodcastDelivers real-world strategies and expert interviews on boosting enrollment, marketing and student recruitment, with a practical slant that leaders can apply immediately. It features expert guests who share actionable advice to support sustainable growth. Listen here: The Enrollment Growth Podcast
School Growth and Admissions PodcastOffers interviews with industry leaders and sharp takes on emerging trends for private school admissions, marketing, and development.Listen here: School Growth and Admissions Podcast
The Independent School Admissions PodcastShares expert tips and actionable recruitment strategies, targeting independent schools that want to stay ahead in admissions.Listen here: The Independent School Admissions Podcast
Enrollment Management PodcastTackles the details of recruitment, retention, and the admissions cycle with cases and expert voices for a 360-degree approach to sustainable growth.Listen here: Enrollment Management Podcast
Development & Fundraising Podcast for SchoolsPractical fundraising tips, development case studies, and community-building know-how to build resources and relationships that last.Listen here: Development & Fundraising Podcast for Schools
If you have a podcast recommendation that would help admissions, development or operations teams, get in touch - let’s keep this resource growing.
Little Fixes from the Podcast World
The real value of these podcasts? The small, actionable tips tucked into every episode. Start a staff virtual huddle with a fresh idea from a recent show, try out a new open day script, tweak the parent communications cycle, pilot a five-minute feedback loop, or assign an episode for team listening and reflection. Sometimes, one small shift - like a new question for prospective families or a smarter follow up strategy - can spark engagement, boost team morale, or save hours across the year. It’s these marginal gains that compound into real change for your school or operations team. Is there someone on your Admissions or Operations team who might benefit? Why not forward this to them?
Let these podcasts inspire your next small (but powerful) improvement.