Websites for Schools

A school website serves more audiences simultaneously than almost any other kind of site. Prospective parents are trying to get a sense of your ethos and whether their child would be happy. Current parents need term dates, uniform lists, and the letter that was sent home last Tuesday. Staff need to update news and events without a computer science degree. Ofsted inspectors expect to find specific information in specific places. And all of this needs to be accessible to everyone, regardless of ability.

It’s a tall order, and most school websites struggle under the weight of it. Pages that haven’t been updated in two years sit alongside today’s news. The admissions information is buried four clicks deep. The term dates are in a PDF that won’t open on a phone. The whole site was built by a company that specialises in selling templates to schools, and it looks exactly like every other school website in the country.

We think schools deserve better than that.

Making a first impression on prospective families

When a family is choosing a school, the website is often the first thing they see — before the open day, before the prospectus, before the phone call to the office. Within seconds, they’re forming an impression of your school. Does it feel warm and welcoming? Does it look well-run? Does it reflect the values you talk about in your mission statement?

We design school websites that communicate character, not just information. The photography, the colour palette, the tone of the writing — everything works together to give families a genuine sense of what your school is like. Not a corporate brochure, not a bland template, but something that feels like your school and no one else’s.

The admissions journey is particularly important. From the moment a prospective parent lands on your site, they should be able to easily find information about the application process, key dates, entry requirements, open events, and how to arrange a visit. We design clear admissions pathways — often for multiple entry points — that guide families through the process without overwhelming them.

The information parents actually need

Current parents visit your website frequently, but usually for very specific things. They need to find what they’re looking for quickly, on their phone, probably while making dinner. The most-visited pages on any school website are remarkably consistent:

• Term dates and calendar — including INSET days, half terms, and key events
• News and letters — the weekly newsletter, trip letters, updates from the head
• Uniform information — what’s required, where to buy it, second-hand options
• School meals — menus, allergen information, how to pay
• Contact details — for the office, specific staff, the SENCO, governors
• Parent portal links — quick access to Arbor, SIMS, ParentPay, or whichever systems you use

We structure these essentials so they’re accessible within one or two taps from the homepage. No hunting through dropdown menus, no guessing which section something lives in.

Meeting statutory requirements

School websites have specific statutory obligations. Ofsted expects to find governance information, pupil premium strategy, SEN provision, safeguarding policies, curriculum details, and performance data — and they expect to find it easily. We’re familiar with the DfE’s guidance on what maintained schools must publish online, and we make sure your site is structured to meet these requirements clearly and completely.

This isn’t about ticking boxes — it’s about presenting important information in a way that’s genuinely useful. A well-organised policies section with clear document names and up-to-date files reflects a well-run school. Curriculum pages that explain what children learn in each year group help parents support learning at home. Transparency builds trust.

We’ve built school websites including MNSP Sixth Form and Beechen Cliff, so we understand the specific requirements and challenges schools face. We know what Ofsted looks for, and we know how to organise it so it’s findable without turning your website into a filing cabinet.

Accessibility is not optional

Public sector bodies — including state-funded schools — are required to meet WCAG 2.1 AA accessibility standards and publish an accessibility statement. This isn’t a guideline; it’s a legal obligation under the Public Sector Bodies (Websites and Mobile Applications) Accessibility Regulations 2018.

We build accessibility into the foundation of every school website, not as an afterthought. Proper heading structure, sufficient colour contrast, keyboard navigation, screen reader compatibility, alt text for images, and accessible document formats. Your website should be usable by every parent, carer, and community member — regardless of whether they have a visual impairment, motor difficulty, or cognitive disability.

Easy for your staff to manage

School offices are busy places. The person updating the website is almost certainly doing it alongside a dozen other responsibilities. The content management system needs to be straightforward enough that any member of staff can publish a news article, upload a letter, or update the calendar without training. We build on WordPress with a carefully structured admin interface — clear page templates, simple editing tools, and logical organisation so updates take minutes, not hours.

We also provide training for your team and ongoing support when things need changing. Whether it’s adding a new section for a curriculum change, updating the site for a new academic year, or troubleshooting something that’s gone sideways — we’re a phone call away on 01225 667 977.

More than a template

Too many school websites are produced by companies that sell the same template to thousands of schools with different colour schemes. The result is a sea of identical-looking sites that strip away everything that makes each school distinctive. Your school has its own character, its own strengths, its own story — and your website should reflect that as clearly as your reception area does.

We design bespoke school websites that are as individual as the schools they represent. Whether you’re a small village primary, a large secondary academy, a specialist sixth form, or a multi-academy trust needing a family of sites — we’ll create something that’s genuinely yours. If you’d like to talk about what your school needs, give us a call on 01225 667 977. We’re based in Bath and we’d welcome the conversation.