You can tell that some projects are going to be fun from the very first chat. The kind that come with clients who get it and who see the power of brand growth, the value of a long-term brand partner, and the impact of good data. Queen’s College ticked all three.
Queen’s is a co-ed day and boarding school in Somerset with deep family roots and a reputation built on kindness, creativity, and care. But in a region full of independent schools saying much the same things, Queen’s knew there was space to do things differently. This wasn’t about chasing prestige or polishing league tables. It was about showcasing the ambition and inclusivity that already existed within their walls and proving that independent education isn’t about status, but about finding the right environment to thrive.
That’s where Teapot came in. Together, we set out to dig beneath the surface of the brand, define what makes Queen’s genuinely different, and tell that story with the boldness it deserved.
If you’re going to help a 180-year-old school evolve, you start by listening to the history. Finding those stories. Our project opened with an extensive discovery phase designed to understand Queen’s from every angle: its heritage, its people, its perceptions. We surveyed students, parents, staff, and the wider public, ran workshops, and held one-to-one interviews.
Students repeatedly described Queen’s in words like fun, welcoming, kind, and supportive. These weren’t throwaway adjectives; they reflected real, lived experiences. One student wrote:
“The opportunities we get are amazing.”
The average brand alignment score was 3.79/5, showing a solid foundation but plenty of room to modernise and better reflect the vibrant reality of life inside the school.
Parents echoed that energy. They chose Queen’s for its ethos, small class sizes, and holistic approach. As one put it:
“The school is more attentive to the child’s needs and focuses more on well-being.”
Parents rated brand alignment at around 3.8/5, broadly supportive but clearly hungry for a more contemporary, expressive brand.
"Our relationship feels like Teapot Creative is an extension of our team rather than just an agency."
Daniel Cooper, Head of Marketing
Queen's College
Staff added another layer. They wanted the brand to reflect the calibre of teaching and the forward-thinking ethos that fuelled their work. One workshop participant summed it up:
“We want to be seen for the energy we live every day, not the traditional image people expect.”
Public perceptions showed why this mattered. Too many people still assumed Queen’s was only for wealthy families - a misconception that needed to be tackled head-on. This phase didn’t just deliver insights. It built alignment. By giving students, staff, and parents a genuine voice in the process, we created momentum before a single visual was designed. The rebrand would never feel like a top-down decision; it would feel like a shared direction.
With hundreds of data points mapped out, a clear picture started to form:
The brief became clear: build a brand that was bold and future-focused but anchored in the school’s roots. A brand flexible enough to speak to everyone, from infants to alumni, and grounded in Queen’s guiding ethos: Learn for Life.
Our response was a brand framework shaped by real voices and real data. It leaned into inclusivity, creative thinking, and that distinct mix of care and challenge Queen’s is known for. We also set clear success markers - tracking language shifts, brand alignment scores, and perceptions of exclusivity - to keep the brand evolving honestly and measurably.
The creative direction was clear: evolve, don’t erase. The Wyvern - a historic emblem of both Somerset and Queen’s - had to stay, but it needed more range and personality. We gave it just that. In the Prep School materials, it became playful and hand-drawn. In alumni pieces, it turned heritage-rich and refined. In student art spaces, it transformed into bold, experimental 3D forms. The Wyvern wasn’t just a logo anymore… it was alive.
We also rationalised the logo system into a clean, flexible suite of marks with clear usage rules. The Wyvern became a visual language, a proud crest in the prospectus, a creative spark in the classroom. Tradition, yes, but also progress.
The refreshed colour palette introduced a punchy, unmistakable yellow grounded by purple, black, and grey, supported by a lighter secondary set for freshness. Typography paired the timeless elegance of Garamond with the crisp clarity of Acumin Pro, a nod to history that spoke confidently to the present.
And we shifted photography away from staged perfection to capture real moments: muddy boots, paint-streaked hands, mid-experiment breakthroughs. Less about perfect pictures, more about what learning actually looks like.
A rebrand only works if it lives beyond the design files. So we made sure this one did. Staff were at the centre from day one, not just consulted but equipped. Discovery workshops turned into hands-on training, giving teachers and teams the tools they needed to live the new brand, not just display it. The result? A school full of brand champions who understood the story and were ready to share it. The first rollout focused on the essentials:
The Wyvern led the charge. Sometimes serious, sometimes cheeky, it flexed effortlessly across audiences. In Prep, it appeared as hand-drawn sketches; in alumni materials, as a detailed, heritage-rich illustration. That versatility proved the new identity could speak to every age and stage without losing its core character.
Inside the school, the shift created alignment. Staff and students said the new brand felt more like them. Outside, early feedback from parents and prospective families praised its boldness - especially when set against the safer, more traditional identities of other schools.
It’s early days, and the real test will come in 2026, when follow-up surveys measure how perceptions have shifted against our original baselines. But the signs are already strong.
Staff are praising the clarity and confidence of the new identity. Parents are picking up on the energy in the prospectus and open day campaigns. And the most important group, the students, love seeing their Wyvern come to life: playful, bold, unmistakably theirs. One parent summed it up beautifully:
“Queen’s feels small enough for your child to be celebrated and known as an individual.”
And across all the student surveys, one word surfaced more than 40 times: fun. This isn’t just a rebrand. It’s a reflection of how Queen’s feels from the inside.
Next up is the 2026 follow-up, where we’ll test what’s stuck. Are perceptions of exclusivity falling? Are “modern” and “creative” showing up more often? Has pride in the brand grown? The next chapter is already taking shape.
"Working with Teapot Creative has been invaluable. They truly listened to what we have asked for and took the time to understand Queen’s College – not just at a surface level, but what we were really trying to achieve. "
Daniel Cooper, Head of Marketing
Queen's College
This project reminded us of something we already knew: discovery is everything. Listening to students, parents, staff, and the wider community surfaced the truths, tensions, and opportunities that shaped the brand from the inside out. Discovery wasn’t just about collecting research; it built trust and relationships that made the rollout land with energy, not resistance.
And above all, it proved what’s possible when an independent school decides to stand out. While others stayed safe, Queen’s chose colour, creativity, and realness. That’s how you cut through. That’s how you build a brand that lasts.
The story is still unfolding. Uniforms, bus wraps, and digital campaigns all got their moment. Animations and fresh creative are in development, adding new layers of expression. A redesigned website is on the way, pulling everything into one digital home. And the admissions journey is under review, ensuring every touchpoint (from forms to welcome packs) feels like Queen’s.
The next big milestone? Another wave of discovery surveys in 2026. Same questions. Same audience breakdowns. New insights. Are we hearing “exclusive” less often? Is “fun” still front and centre? Can parents clearly articulate what sets Queen’s apart? Those answers won’t just measure progress. They’ll shape the future.
Queen’s College has shown that a school with deep roots can still lead with boldness. By putting its community at the centre and evolving with intention, Queen’s has created a brand that’s inclusive, creative, and unmistakably its own. In a sea of sameness, it now stands apart, not by shouting louder, but by telling a truer story.
From the first workshop to the final rollout, this project proved the power of courage, creativity, and collaboration. Queen’s stepped away from the expected and built a brand as dynamic, warm, and ambitious as the people it represents.