What Information Should a School Website Have?

Schools have a responsibility to not only their students, put to the parents and guardians, too. Places of education should be as transparent as possible so as to show themselves as a respectable body, as well as showing that children are in safe hands.

Aside from letters handed out from teachers to students to pass on to their parent or guardian, the school website is often the only material that parents can refer to in order to find out important information. School websites also act as a valuable marketing material to persuade parents and guardians to enrol their children in their school. So, what should information should a school have featured on its website.

Who the School is

First and foremost, the website should clearly tell the audience who the school is. What are the school’s values? Is the school an academy or reliant on government funding and who are the main points of contact in regards to any questions? These are just some of the questions that the website must answer without endlessly trawling through poor navigation.

It is commonplace for headmasters to have their picture on the website, either on the homepage or an about us page, for parents/guardians to make a human connection. Where the school is the body, the headmaster is the face that is recognisable.

Specialist Subjects

Most secondary schools will specialise in a certain key subject where, in theory, pupils with an interest in that area can flourish. These schools normally offer higher education courses after compulsory education ends.

As well as attracting parents and guardians of prospective students, school websites should also reach out to teachers looking for employment. In 2018, there is a major shortage of teachers and schools face huge competition for experienced practitioners. To make the school stand out from the rest, schools should ensure their website offers a clear view of what they can offer and what differentiates them from the rest. You can visit this website for more information on some of the marketing tactics that schools employ.

Term Times

Term times differ from one school to the next. Without proper information readily available, schools run the risk of parents and guardians being unsure of when the school is open which can then lead to accusations of poor communication.

Although the school may send out printed copies of term dates, it can be all too easy to misplace or damage letters. Including the year’s term dates, clearly specifying when the school opens and closes, saves any issue of parents/guardians not having easy access to term times.

News

Another method of maintaining transparency with parents and guardians is to regularly post updates from the school on the website. Important updates only should be published, rather than including all issues that arise in order to retain an authoritative and formal tone that a school should uphold.

News of trips, reports and academic results are the types of topics that should be broadcast, as well as appointments to the school’s leadership team so as parents and guardians stay updated on who the figureheads are.

Pictures

Lastly, pictures of the school inclusive of students are a must! As much as the website should uphold a formal tone, it should also be user-friendly – and all text and no images are not user-friendly. Pictures of happy students project a positive image of the school, as well as humanising your organisation.