SWOT Analysis for Education, Schools, Colleges and Universities

SWOT analysis for schools, teachers and education, colleges and universities – Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities and Threats in an educational environment.

A SWOT analysis for schools is a tool that can provide prompts to the governors, management teachers and staff involved in the study of what is practical and less effective in the schools’ systems and procedures — often used in preparation for a plan of some form (that could be an audit, assessments, quality checks etc.).

A SWOT can be used for any planning or analysis activity which could impact future finance, planning and management decisions of the school or establishment. It can enable you (the governors and management) to carry out a more comprehensive analysis.

Definitions

• Strengths – Factors that are likely to have a positive effect on (or be an enabler to) achieving the school’s objectives
• Weaknesses – Factors that are likely to have a negative impact on (or be a barrier to) achieving the school’s objectives
• Opportunities – External Factors that are likely to have a positive effect on meeting or exceeding the school’s aims, or goals not previously considered
• Threats – External Factors and conditions that are likely to harm achieving the school’s objectives or making the objective redundant or unachievable.

Before starting any planning or analysis process, you need to have a clear and SMART goal or objective. What is it that you need to achieve or solve? Ensure that all key stakeholders (relevant to the issue being explored) buy into this objective or goal. The context for a SWOT and PESTLE analysis is everything.

Then undertake a PESTLE analysis (or PESTLE in Schools), this will provide you with the external factors (OT).

Use the PRIMO-F model to ensure all internal factors are considered.

Conducting a SWOT Analysis for Schools, Colleges and Universities

One of the most effective ways to conduct a SWOT analysis for schools or within educational establishments is not to do it in isolation, but with a team effort. When the goal is shared, then a brainstorming session can be run.

Ensure than when running such a session it is facilitated by a person not involved with the content – this is best with an independent person. If budgets do not allow this – then talk to another establishments head, and arrange a contra deal.

Do this activity in several phases:

1) Share the goal

2) Data collection (no filtering or comments – record verbatim) consider all areas of PRIMO-F

3) Take a break of at least 1 hr

4) Filter, sort and analyse into the four areas – SWOT – be critical, and SMART avoid ambiguous statements or ideas at this stage

5) Prioritise the elements

Have a second session where the planning phase takes this data and puts it into a realistic plan.

IMPORTANT TIP for SWOT Analysis in Schools, Colleges and Universities

Do not hide or underestimate threats or weaknesses – if you ignore them or underplay them now they will come back to haunt you at some stage – probably when they can do the most damage!

The goal of any session like this is not necessarily to neutralise any weakness or threat – that is impossible – but to have it on your radar – and where possible, take avoiding action. To some extent, it is all about risk.

What sort of tasks and issues can a SWOT analysis for Schools be used for?

At its most sophisticated and comprehensive, it (SWOT Analysis) can be used for business planning. However, it is also of value to solving localised issues and challenges.

An Example of a SWOT analysis for schools, colleges and universities

We will use an example of a teacher working within a first school who want to improve the relationships with the parents of their pupils.

The school identified the following objective:

• To improve parent-partnership by encouraging parents to visit the school and become active members of the community.
• Outcome – to have more than 50% of parents spending one day in class per term

Currently, the school holds an open day once each year. It uses this as a way to encourage parents to visit the school and engage with school staff. The following is the initial SWOT Analysis for schools.

The next step is to develop a plan with interested stakeholders

SWOT Analysis templates for schools & education | colleges | universities

SWOT Analysis for Schools | colleges | universities Template/ Worksheet – use these templates to start your SWOT process

Try our business SWOT analysis tool for free NOW – Or return to our main SWOT analysis page

SWOT Analysis for Schools | colleges | universities Template / Worksheet 2

Try our business SWOT analysis tool for free NOW – Or return to our main SWOT analysis page

SWOT Analysis for Schools |colleges|universities Template / Worksheet 3

Try our business SWOT analysis tool for free NOW
Or return to our main SWOT analysis page
A SWOT analysis for schools, colleges, universities or other educational establishments can be a simple and yet effective way of ensuring that all relevant factors are considered. In this environment, it is particularly important to use the PRIMO-F template to ensure that all elements have been found. Indeed ensure that under People – teachers, support staff, parents and children are considered along with third party people (police, local health etc. that can form a part of your community.

Teachers, Tutors, Lecturers, Professors, PTA (Parent Teacher Associations) management committees etc. all have a valuable contribution to make

A SWOT analysis for schools |colleges|universities is just as useful as in any other organisation if done at a strategic level.

Under Resources, remember to include IT, and consumables that can be used as part of the process.

For an insight into psychology in education, check out our essay:

Page reviewed May 2015