At South Hunsley School and Sixth Form, TrilbyTV is a marketing tool as much as a communications one. Every screen is an opportunity to reinforce who they are – their brand, their values to “inspire and aspire”, and the experience they want people to feel as they walk through the door.
The school is part of The Education Alliance, a multi-academy trust in East Yorkshire, and has been using TrilbyTV for four years. We had the pleasure of meeting with Paul Parker, IT Engineer at The Education Alliance, and Julie Judson, Marketing Officer, who showed us how digital signage is used across the school.
Simplifying school communication
TrilbyTV came recommended by Malet Lambert, a fellow school within their trust. Once they had seen the platform in action, the results were enough to bring it to South Hunsley shortly after.
“We were using another digital signage software,” Paul explained. “But scheduling and uploading content was really difficult, and there wasn’t as much support. TrilbyTV is much easier to use, […] even adding the players – just putting in the code and away you go.”
With 16 screens spread across the school campus, that simplicity has made it easier to control the content across the different areas of the school. With multiple buildings to manage, TrilbyTV didn’t add any unnecessary complexity.
Made in-house, delivered with impact
What makes South Hunsley’s approach stand out is that content is created entirely in-house by Julie, using the Adobe Creative Suite – Illustrator, InDesign, and Photoshop. The result is content that looks and feels consistent with the school’s brand.
“Some people are putting information out there and not understanding how it’s going to be read, or who’s going to be reading it,” said Julie. “Whereas we’re thinking about the target audience and the best place it’s going to be displayed.”
Paul told us that although Julie creates all their content, he was also impressed by the Content Catalogue within TrilbyTV. He added, “For some schools who might be unsure of what to share, try this for a week and see how you get on.”
Director of Sixth Form, Paul Jacobs, also creates some content for the Sixth Form, including the use of the Birthdays Smart Content, which has become a favourite. Other members of staff have also got involved by creating content for events such as bake sales and student council.
The school’s strong brand thinking has the most visible impact at open events. When asked about a specific moment where TrilbyTV made a real difference, Julie said, “I do think having the screens on for open events, showing our slideshow of promotional photographs, gives a sense of professionalism. Open events are selling our school and sixth form, so it can make a big difference as to whether someone decides they want to come here, […] those little things make a big difference.”
Content created for the screens is also repurposed for the school’s social media channels, keeping the brand voice consistent across all digital touch points.
Designed with signage in mind
A new student reception is currently being developed at South Hunsley, with digital signage as part of the design from the outset – carefully positioned to maximise visibility and impact.
“We’ve been able to be intentional about where it goes,” said Paul, “so it’s exactly where students will walk in and see it straight away.” Julie mentioned she is already planning a playlist specifically for that space – distinct from the main school feed, with messaging shaped around students rather than visitors.
The portrait screen in the main reception also sets the tone before anyone has said a word. “When people come in for interviews, the screen is one of the first things they see,” Paul noted. “It adds to the professionalism. It fits perfectly – like it’s meant to be there.”
A platform the Trust believes in
TrilbyTV now runs in five of the twelve schools within The Education Alliance, with more set to follow. In most cases, the roll-out has come from seeing it work elsewhere in the trust – schools trial it, see the impact and never look back.
Its use hasn’t been limited to student-facing spaces, either. TrilbyTV is also used in staff environments, like their allocated teacher training college, where schedules and key information are shared clearly and consistently.
More than just a screen
At South Hunsley School, digital signage isn’t just another channel – it’s become part of how the school communicates day to day.
“It’s always changing, so people actually notice it,” Julie explained. “Whereas a poster becomes part of the furniture.”
That shift is also about practicality. For Julie, the move to digital has transformed how quickly and effectively messages can be shared. “I can do everything from my laptop and have it on the screens in minutes. With paper, it might sit on my desk for a week – or stay up long after it’s relevant. With digital signage, it’s quick, it’s instant, and you can remove things just as easily.”
Looking for a simple digital signage solution? You can try TrilbyTV free for 30 days. Or, if you’d prefer to see it in action, book a free, no-obligation demo with one of our experts and discover how it can transform communication and branding across your setting.