Online Education: getting the most
from your school website
What should your school website have to offer?
For many prospective parents, your school website may be the first and only port of call before they make a decision about choosing a school for their children.
First impressions count, and if you have recently browsed through local primary and secondary school websites (as prospective parents would do) they frequently appear neglected and out of date. The phrase 'website under construction', doesn't make for a good opening page (- after all what does this say about the school's IT facilities?).
Similarly an over emphasis on the School's disciplinary procedures or Programmes of Study may give the wrong impression about the School's ethos. After all, parents will be looking for the positive aspects a school has to offer: its successes, courses, facilities, clubs, environment, pupil support, parent liaison etc. - all the aspects that make your school unique.
Now have a look at your website and view it through a prospective parents eyes - is it a true reflection of your school (ethos, I.T. capability, communications with parents,etc). Remember - this is as far as many parents will go in comparing schools in the local area, so you may well not be aware they have paid you a visit - all the more reason to have a contact page for them to find out more!
Supporting Pupils and Parents
Many schools are beginning to recognise that the online environment can provide a unique information channel for parents, pupils and teachers to work more closely together, while significantly reduce time and cost on printing and distribution.
'Dynamic' rather than 'Static' Pages
A website that provides up to date useful information will encourage return visitors, greater pupil engagement and increased parental involvement. School events, news, homework worksheets, school prospectus literature, practise test and exam questions, pupil support materials, subject areas, staff download areas. etc are just some of the 'dynamic' possibilities. In fact we believe there are many ways Primary and Secondary schools could extend their online capability and perhaps even share costs by collaborating on web development projects such as Virtual Learning Environments (which have enormous potential for home/school liaison and support)
Bluesmoke Services
Bluesmoke has experience in educational web development in Primary and Secondary schools, as well as in Further and Higher Education. We are also able to offer advice in educational marketing, an area so often neglected in the Primary and Secondary sectors.
So whether its simply advice you need, a written website review or you would like to further explore some of the ideas mentioned on this page then please contact us at Bluesmoke.
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