There’s an increasing appetite amongst landowners of all kinds to diversify their income streams. This applies as much to schools and sixth-form colleges which have an estate as much as any other landlord: we have recently seen an uptick in all types of schools looking to establish or develop their offers as filming or photography venues. This potentially may run alongside or be in addition to a corporate event and weddings offer, which works in synergy with the core educational activities, either year-round or during holidays.

Many spaces and event facilities at schools and sixth-form colleges are often world-class but underutilised, and can be interesting and very attractive. We’ve seen more educational establishments welcoming lucrative external events. To date, conferencing has been a key focus: many school facilities can compete with those of hotels, with superfast broadband, state-of-the-art video conferencing, and the capacity for a large number of delegates. Many also offer a significant amount of overnight accommodation during school or college holidays.

Some more traditional schools and sixth-form colleges also offer a very attractive ‘heritage’ setting for high-end events such as wedding ceremonies and receptions. The latter aren’t only popular with alumni, but others with no particular attachment to them. We’ve advised the University of Glasgow, for example, which hosts over 100 wedding ceremonies and partnerships annually in their magnificent Memorial Chapel. Westonbirt School an independent school in the Cotswolds, meanwhile, has Westonbirt House, a wedding and event venue.  

One of the most exciting areas that’s developed in recent years, however, is demand for schools and sixth-form colleges as filming and photography locations. This has corresponded with an influx of TV, film and media production to the UK – total spend on film production in 2022 hit a record £1.97 billion, according to the British Film Institute. This has been helped by increased awareness of the range of locations and scenery on offer across the country, and tax incentives for international co-productions which make the UK attractive.

We’re currently seeing exceptional demand from the likes of Netflix, Prime, HBO and Sky for of all kinds of locations and spaces. While the UK’s stately homes and castles may have brought us on to international radars, it’s often the quirky and unique locations which are sought after. There’s an opportunity for institutions and schools across the whole spectrum, from imposing historic buildings to those from the mid-1960s, to generate income.

Compare, for example, Harrow School, with some buildings from the sixteenth-century, which has appeared in some of the Harry Potter films, TV’s Endeavour and The Crown, and Ed Sheeran and Travis Scott music videos. In contrast, Herne Bay High School in Kent, built in the twentieth-century, is the location for Netflix’s teen drama Heartstopper, with filming taking place in its modern classrooms and grounds. These two illustrate the range of locations currently in demand. 

For those schools looking to establish an offer, careful planning is required. The first question is how such a proposition sits alongside your core education purpose – any opportunities cannot detract from this, and pupil health and safety, safeguarding, and wellbeing are paramount. We therefore suggest in most cases, and certainly if this is a new venture, starting by looking at opportunities outside of term-time. Once you’ve identified the spaces and locations appropriate, and when they’ll be available, the next step is promotion. Agencies which publicise facilities can be very helpful here. Key, however, is negotiating an appropriate location fees and agreements; if is this is a new area for you, specialist advice may help you reach an arrangement that delivers the maximum possible benefit for your institution.

Further information

Contact Simon Foster or Adam Davies

Tourism, Leisure & Events Consultancy