A marketing and social media management expert has helped a small west Wiltshire primary school to promote its unique qualities.

Marketing and social media consultant, Gaby Nichol also helped to teach pupils how to stay safe online.

She was invited to help Wylye Valley CofE Primary School in Codford to improve its social media posts on Facebook and Instagram.

The school is already a regular user of Facebook, providing information to any parents, grandparents or other relatives who are keen to see what happens in the school.

It is a popular format for many and is led by headteacher, Robert Barnes, with the assistance of other staff.

The school's posts on Facebook and Instagram typically feature events, updates, breaking news and activities throughout the term. Now the school has launched a new Instagram page (wylyevalleyprimaryschool).

Mr Barnes asked Miss Nichol to come into the school and help with the project.

With a degree in International Hospitality Management, she has worked across the USA and has worked in marketing and digital advertising.

Mr Barnes said: “Gaby introduced the upper Key Stage 2 children into the why's and wherefore's relating to online safety, one of the key learning objectives of this venture, appropriate content and a light-hearted approach to promoting the unique qualities of the school.

“She began by asking the children what they thought marketing was and explained the idea of the child-led Instagram page."She tasked the pupils to create a non-scripted tour of the school, encouraging them to use their own thoughts and words and interact with their virtual audience in a chatty and informal manner. “The children embraced the challenge and have been learning how to film and edit video and photo content to post onto their Instagram account, which although child-led is supervised by adults.Mr Barnes said: “Gaby was impressed with the whirlwind of great imagination on how to create the Instagram page.Every child immediately got stuck in and came up with fantastic ideas.”

Although the school’s Instagram page is still in its infancy Mr Barnes believes it is a ground-breaking venture.

He added: “Wylye Valley are one of the first schools to take such a hands-on and practical approach to internet safety and awareness.”