As summer unfolds and the school corridors quiet down, it’s the perfect time to give your school website the attention it deserves. An up-to-date and well-maintained website is crucial for effective communication with parents, students, and the wider community. At FSE Design, we specialise in school website design across the UK, and we understand the importance of making sure your online presence is top-notch for the new academic year.
Here’s a comprehensive checklist of things to look over on your school website during the summer break.
1. Update Contact Information
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Staff Directory: Ensure that all staff members are correctly listed with updated roles and contact details.
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Office Contacts: Check that the main office phone numbers, email addresses, and physical addresses are accurate.
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Emergency Contacts: Update any emergency contact information and procedures.
2. Refresh Content
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Headteacher's Welcome Message: Update the welcome message to reflect any key staff changes or new initiatives for the upcoming year.
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News and Events: Remove outdated news and add any upcoming events for the next term.
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Admissions Page: Check your admissions information for this year is up to date, including the admissions deadline and dates of any school open evenings.
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Prospectus: Check your school prospectus brochure to make sure it is the most-up to date version shown.
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Curriculum Information: Ensure that curriculum details are current and reflect any changes for the new academic year.
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Term Dates: Update the term dates, including holidays and inset days, for the new school year.
3. Check Compliance
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Policies and Procedures: Make sure all school policies are up-to-date and easily accessible.
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Ofsted & DofE Requirements: Ensure your website meets all Ofsted & DofE requirements, such as publishing exam and assessment results, pupil premium details, and SEN information.
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Accessibility: Verify that your website complies with accessibility standards to accommodate all users.
4. Enhance User Experience
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Navigation: Review the website's navigation to ensure it is user-friendly and that visitors can easily find what they are looking for.
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Mobile Responsiveness: Test your website on various devices to ensure it is fully responsive and functions well on smartphones and tablets.
5. Visual and Design Elements
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Photo Galleries: Update photo galleries with recent school photography that reflect current students and school activities.
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Brand Consistency: Check that the school’s branding, including logos and color schemes, is consistent throughout the website.
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Design Updates: Consider any design updates that could improve the look and feel of your site. Check our portfolio to see some of the most up to date website designs.
6. Engagement and Interactivity
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Social Media Integration: Ensure that your social media feeds are integrated and displaying correctly on your website.
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Interactive Elements: Check the functionality of interactive elements such as forms, quizzes, and feedback systems.
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Parent and Student Portals: Verify that any portals for parents or students are working properly and are easy to access.
A well-maintained school website is essential for effective communication and engagement with your community. By taking the time over the summer to review and update your website, you can ensure it is ready to support a successful new academic year. If you need assistance or advice, FSE Design is here to help with all your school website needs. Contact us today to learn more about how we can help your school shine online.