St Anne’s promo video is online hit for school
More than 100,000 people – more than 50 times the island's population – have viewed a promotional video created by St Anne’s School.
The nine-minute video was uploaded to the school's Facebook page two weeks ago and has had more than 114,000 views, most from the UK, Jersey and Guernsey.
‘It was a group effort of both staff and families to help put us on the map,’ said St Anne’s headteacher Wendy Wilson.
The video involves two St Anne’s students in Years 9 and 10 giving a tour around the school. The UK, Guernsey and Jersey were the highest percentage of viewers so far.
Mrs Wilson said everyone was delighted by the success of the video and it being so widely viewed. The school has received contact as a result.
‘We’re most definitely surprised, we weren’t anticipating high numbers so quickly and it’s spread wider,’ said Mrs Wilson.
She said the whole community of Alderney wanted to share how lovely life on the island was, both within and outside the school.
Pupils at St Anne’s were excited about the video and Mrs Wilson said she received many positive comments from them.
‘No one knows where we are, we’re the island’s best-kept secret,’ said Mrs Wilson.
She said that living and learning in Alderney offered a good work/life balance and a close community. St Anne’s inspires children to be active, confident and responsible.
The island's school also promotes a safe and natural environment and opportunities to learn outside the classroom.
St Anne’s currently has 137 pupils, aged from three to 16, and 37 members of staff.
Classes vary in size, but usually have around 10 to 11 children.
The school is currently advertising for a maths teacher and will soon be advertising for a maternity leave cover teacher and a humanities teacher.
‘We’ve had queries from both potential teachers and parents,’ said Mrs Wilson.
‘The promotion video is a true reflection of the culture and ethos of the school.’
Local filmmaker Cam Cairnduff worked with the school on the project. He said the target was to reach 3m. UK parents and teachers and inspire 30 new families to move to the island.
'This is just the beginning,' he said.
The video can be seen on St Anne’s Facebook page.
