Carlam Cymru

Revolutionising education in Wales through innovative digital partnerships.

Some projects challenge you to be efficient. Others push you to be creative. Our recent collaboration with E-sgol demanded both in equal measure, and we couldn’t be prouder of the results. E-sgol is a truly innovative Welsh initiative, breaking down geographical barriers to connect students and broaden their educational horizons. When they approached us, they had a clear goal: raise awareness of their free services.

Their services are aimed at distinct audiences: primary schools, secondary schools, and Carlam Cymru, a vital program supporting newly qualified teachers. The challenge for us was to craft a unique and compelling narrative for each one. E-sgol doesn’t supply teachers; it enhances the incredible work schools are already doing through partnership and technology. Our mission was to translate this unique, non-traditional model into a series of engaging, heartfelt videos.

This journey began with a deep, collaborative creative session. The E-sgol team knew they needed videos, but were unsure how to visually represent their services without simply showing kids staring at screens—a definite no-go. The breakthrough moment came when we shifted the focus from the process to the outcome. We decided the story wasn’t about the technology; it was about the human connection and opportunity that technology enables. Our “big idea” was to show students enjoying the benefits of these expanded lessons, often physically together in a shared space, as a visual metaphor for the virtual connections E-sgol creates. This led us to develop three distinct treatments, each with its own core message:

• For Primary Schools: The message was fun, friendship, and new experiences. We wanted to show that E-sgol allows a child in a small, rural school to learn alongside, and even make friends with, a child from a school miles away.
• For Secondary Schools: The focus shifted to opportunity, ambition, and pursuing your passion. We aimed to highlight how E-sgol empowers students to study subjects their school might not offer, opening up new pathways for their future careers.
• For Carlam Cymru: The narrative was one of support, community, and professional growth. We wanted to show students that they are not alone, connecting them with a network of peers and mentors to help them thrive.

With the creative vision set, we faced our next hurdle: logistics. The video production world is full of constraints, and ours were tight. We had just a single day allocated to film each video, and all filming had to be completed within the limited hours of a school day. A traditional 10-hour filming schedule was out of the question. Efficiency became more important than ever.

We found our perfect location in Cowbridge School, a fantastic facility with diverse architecture that we could cleverly adapt. To make one school look like several, we engaged in a bit of filmmaking magic. By carefully selecting different parts of the building — a modern glass-fronted section for one scene, a traditional fascia building for another — and combining this with different school uniforms and specific props for each “school”, we created the illusion of multiple locations. Our production days were meticulously planned using a “block shooting” schedule, grouping all scenes in one area together, regardless of where they appeared in the final video. This minimised company moves and maximised our precious time.

Working with the students was the highlight of the project. The primary school children were absolute naturals, bringing an infectious energy to the set. The secondary students were incredibly professional; they grasped the “why” behind the project and were genuinely excited to showcase a service that offers their peers so much.

In the final videos, we used a combination of techniques to tell the story. Split-screen effects visually demonstrated the connection between different locations, while clean, simple graphics explained the service without disrupting the human narrative. Crucially, we made sure to show teachers in a supportive role — setting up the technology and guiding their students to reinforce the message that E-sgol is a collaborative partner, not a replacement.

The response from E-sgol was everything we could have hoped for. They felt we had perfectly captured the essence of their mission, creating a powerful suite of tools to help them connect with schools across Wales. For us, this project was a rewarding reminder that the best stories are human stories, and it was a privilege to tell this one.

Find out more about E-sgol here.