Before you start
Schools should consult their local authority education officer with ICT responsibility before embarking on building a school website, as publicly funded schools may find their education authority provides formal guidance about the design and content of websites for schools in their area. Authorities may also provide web page templates, host school sites and allocate the school an official web address.
Why have a website?
Before embarking on your website it is important to make sure you know why you are creating it and who it is for. In your initial brainstorming session involve management, staff, parents and pupils. These people are usually the audience for a school website and will be able to offer suggestions for what is to be included. To help in this process you could send out questionnaires to find out what people would like to see on the website. You can get some example questionnaires from the Scottish Schools get Online website.
The following are some of the reasons for creating a school website.
| Marketing | Showcasing pupils' work | Development of skills | Sharing resources | Communication |
| You can promote your school and provide information for staff, pupils and parents. | Publish high-quality materials produced by pupils that can be viewed by teachers, parents, other pupils and people all over the world. This will motivate and develop pupils’ self-esteem. | When pupils are involved in web publishing they learn to work creatively with text, graphics and sound, and develop their ICT skills in a meaningful, collaborative context. | Materials which are produced electronically can be made available on the website for pupils, teachers and parents to access. | The website can be a way of involving parents, carers and the community in children’s learning. Communication can be a two-way process if visitors are offered the opportunity to get in touch with the school via the school’s enquiries e-mail address or to submit their views on school activities/policies. |
