What's the purpose of a school website
Marketing and Information.
As a marketing tool, it is essential that the site reflects the ethos of the school. Prospective parents should come away from a visit to the site with a clear idea of what the school has to offer and why they should choose YOUR school over any other. To this end it is important that the site is clearly laid out; that navigation is easy to manage, and that the school is reflected in the best light possible.
Information on fees, examination and term dates etc should be easy to find; they should be able to glean some idea of the regular school activities, and the whole package should be presented in a professional way.
Communication with parents
A website is also a useful tool for communicating with existing
parents and children. It should contain information on term dates,
uniform details, calendar of events etc and also can easily be used
to showcase specific items from the children, such as art exhibitions,
book reviews etc. These can be woven into the site in such a way
as to make an appealing content which reflects the daily activities
of the school. Regular newsletters should also be uploaded in
order to help eliminate the 'bottom of the schoolbag' syndrome.
Fulfilment of legal obligations
The website can also be used to fulfil legal obligations such as the publication of the annual Governors' report. This again makes content accessible to a wider audience, and can be used as a reference long after the paper copies have been lost or recycled. School policies can be stored on the website for download, and can then be referenced and exchanged with other schools who like what you are doing. Links to associations, companies and other educational establishments can be added to indicate partnerships and relationships.