A school website is often the first impression that prospective parents, Ofsted inspectors, and even future staff, will have of your school. It needs to be clear, compliant, mobile-friendly, and a true reflection of your ethos and values. Whether you’re updating an old site or starting from scratch, choosing the right partner for your school website design is crucial.

But what should you look for when selecting a web design company for your primary, secondary,special school or multi-academy trust? (Of course we feel we fit the bill, but feel free to shop around using these top tips before confirming that!)

1. Choose a company with education expertise

Designing a school website is very different from designing a corporate site. Schools have a wide range of stakeholders – students, staff, governors, and parents – all with different needs. It’s best to work with a company that specialises in education website design services, and ideally has a track record of working with schools like yours. Our website portfolio can help you find websites similar to your needs. 

Have a look through feedback from other schools as well as portfolios of work to see examples of how each company works with other UK schools or trusts. Do they understand safeguarding best practices, statutory content requirements, and what matters most to your community?

2. Ensure the website looks great!

With photography, AI photography, and videos all being a key feature of modern websites, you will need a company who can create all of these at a high standard along with giving you the design which suits you best. 

Some schools want a template to save money – but there should be a good choice of templates and colour schemes so that you can personalise everything you need to stand out from the crowd in your local area. Many schools want something more bespoke and this can even include unique design options and illustrations which show off your school ethos, and environment. 

Whatever your design choices are, one thing is universal – everyone wants their new website to make them smile when they first see it. You want something which makes you proud when you launch it with parents and the wider community. 

3. Check for accessibility and legal compliance

UK schools are required to meet public sector accessibility standards (WCAG 2.1 AA). This ensures that your website can be used by people with disabilities, including those who use screen readers or navigate by keyboard. Choose a provider that offers WCAG 2.1-compliant design as standard.

You also want to work with a company who understands, and keeps up-to-date with, the DfE website requirements and what Ofsted want to see on your website. You may also want an audit of your current site to see how you can make improvements. 

A Policy Compliance Manager can also help you to keep on top of your policy documentation via your website CMS – giving relevant staff reminders on when policies need reviewing. Taking all the headaches away from staying one step ahead. 

4. Make it easy for staff to update

Your website should be easy for office staff, teachers, or leadership teams to update with minimal training. A good school website CMS for teachers allows staff to post newsletters, update events, and change content without needing technical skills. You may also want to ask any potential provider if you have the option to give some staff admin rights over certain pages, without them needing admin rights to everything, so that everything doesn’t rest on one person to keep everything up-to-date.

You also want to make sure your staff will have ongoing support from the company you work with. 

5. Find a solution that suits your school type

The needs of a small independent nursery will differ from those of a large MAT or state secondary. If you’re a fee-paying school, it’s worth working with a company that understands your marketing and admissions goals. That’s where great school website design comes into its own – often with a focus on storytelling, branding, and user journeys.

Similarly, Multi Academy Trusts may want to roll out new websites across multiple schools with elements of consistent design to tie them together. You want to know you will work with a dedicated contact at your chosen company to ensure an easy working relationship to meet your goals and needs. 

6. Compare platforms before you decide

Don’t rush into a contract. Take time to compare school website platforms based on usability, design flexibility, support, and ongoing costs. Make a comparison based on longer term costs rather than simply the up-front charges – you are likely to want to keep the new website for at least 5 years so work out the cost over time for getting exactly what you want so that you know you are making the right long-term decision. 

Look at online reviews, speak to other schools in your local authority or trust, and request a full demo before signing up.

7. Look at the extras you can add on to save more money

Some website companies also offer school apps to accompany the site. This can provide parents with an easy way to stay on top of news and diary dates. Look for things like absence reporting via the app which also helps save you money on adding this from a third party provider. 

Your app can be designed to match your website and is free for parents to download. 

You may also find the additional elements such as social walls, and video tours or interactive campus maps, can save you on the additional time spent in supporting parents with open days and ongoing communications. The more you get for your money all in one place, the better!

Want to see what we can offer you (all of the above and more of course!)? Please get in touch for a demo.