For many parents, your school website is the first and most frequent point of contact with your school. Before an email is opened, before a phone call is made, parents will usually check the website. That makes it one of your most powerful communication tools – if it’s used well.

Yet in many schools, the website becomes a digital dumping ground: outdated letters, hard-to-find documents, and news pages that haven’t been updated in months. This isn’t due to lack of care, but lack of time and the wrong tools.

In an ideal world, a truly effective school website should act as a parent engagement hub, reducing pressure on staff while keeping families informed and confident.

Why parental engagement matters

Strong communication builds trust. When parents can easily find accurate information, they feel reassured that the school is organised, transparent and responsive.

Poor communication, on the other hand, creates friction:

• Parents regularly email or phone with repeat questions and to find simple answers 
• Important information is missed or duplicated in so many places it becomes overwhelming
• Staff spend time clarifying details that should be easy to find
• School leaders look to find new software to fix the issue, leading to added pressure on budgets and staff training time

One example is around key times of year such as exams. School residentials can be another element where parental communication becomes fraught with parents keen to get everything right for their child’s trip while school staff are already feeling the pressure of organisation (and risk assessments!)

Over time, this increases workload and frustration on both sides.

A well-designed website doesn’t replace direct communication – it supports it.

What makes a website an effective parent engagement hub?

An effective school website prioritises clarity, consistency and accessibility.

1. Clear, regular news updates

Parents don’t need long, complex updates. Short, clear news posts that explain:

• What’s happening
• When and where
• Why it matters
• What (if anything) parents need to do

Regular updates help parents feel connected to school life and reduce uncertainty.

2. Easy-to-find information

Parents should never have to search for basic information such as:

• Term dates
• Uniform expectations
• Contact details
• Policies
• Start and end times for the day, and arrangements for pupil collection

Clear navigation and logical page structure are essential. If staff struggle to find information, parents definitely will too.

3. Centralised paperwork

Letters, forms and policies should live in one clear place. When documents automatically update or list themselves, schools save hours of admin time and avoid outdated information remaining live. Our Compliance Manager ensures you never miss a deadline for the policies and key documents! 

For MATs our centralised documents help you to update multiple websites across your trust all with a click!

4. Timely alerts for important messages

Urgent information – such as closures, changes or reminders – should be visible immediately. Home page alerts or banners ensure messages aren’t missed and reduce follow-up queries.

Consistency over perfection

One of the biggest misconceptions about school websites is that they need constant, large updates. In reality, small, consistent updates are far more effective.

A short weekly news post, regular document updates and occasional reminders keep the site fresh and reliable without overwhelming staff.

This is where a school-specific CMS makes a significant difference. When systems are designed around how schools work, updating becomes manageable rather than burdensome.

Reducing pressure on staff

A strong website reduces workload and stress for visitors and staff. 

When parents can self-serve information:

• Phone calls decrease
• Inbox traffic reduces
• Admin staff regain time

This allows staff to focus on what matters most: supporting pupils.