How Long Does It Take To Build A School Website?
There’s no one answer to this question. A website could be live anywhere from within a day (using a basic template), to a few months (if an extensive site design is required). Essentially, it is all down to the complexity of the project, whether content is ‘ready to go’ and, of course, whether the stakeholders are able to approve the website to go live.
We are one of the leading school website developers in the UK. We have templates that can go live quickly, but also work with custom-designed websites for those schools that need something a bit special.
What Is the Typical School Website Development Timeline?
As cliché as this may sound, the answer to this question is ‘how long is a piece of string?’. School website development timelines can vary wildly.
For example, a template is a ready-built website where information can be quickly slotted in. A template-based website, assuming that all of the content is ready, could go live in a matter of days. On the other hand, a bespoke school website where nearly everything needs to be designed from scratch could take weeks, if not months.
The size of the school will also impact things. A small primary school with just a couple of hundred students will likely require less development time than a website designed for a secondary school, or even a MAT. This is because there will be different requirements with regards to the type of content included on the website.
There is no universal timeline, since every website is different.
The School Website Design Process: Step by Step
In order to better understand why it may take a while to develop a school website, we want to go through the brief stages we here at School Jotter consider when planning a website.
1. Discovery & Planning
The first step is to establish what the goals of the website are. For some schools, it may be to boost admissions. For others, it may be to keep current parents informed of the school. There may even be an overlap of the two. We will review the existing website to determine what works and what isn’t. We will also develop a sitemap, which is our plan for the pages to include on the website.
2. Website Design
Once planning is set in stone, we will start developing the website. The extent of this will be dependent on whether there will be a template used, or if the site will be completely bespoke. Either way, there will be implementation of branding, basic navigation, and the implementation of the first concepts of the site. Changes can be suggested at this point.
3. Content & Migration
Any existing content will be moved over from the original website. If no content is available, content can be produced. This will include relevant text for the website, images, and documents (e.g. a prospectus). School policies will also need to be produced.
4. Website Build
This is the stage where everything comes together. Content will be placed on the website, pages will start to work. Any required functionality e.g. open day booking systems, contact forms, newsletters, etc. will start to work. This is the stage where schools will have a working website. One that is often close to ready to going live.
5. Testing & Review
Before the website can go live, a few more things need to happen. The site will need to be tested on mobile devices to ensure it works. The site will also need to be checked for accessibility (e.g. alternative text for images, readable text size, etc.) to ensure everybody can access the website. Forms need to be working. Links should actually go somewhere. Stakeholders in the project can provide feedback.
6. Website Launch
Once everything is approved, the site can go live! Of course, updates will continue on the website to ensure it continues to meet the needs of the school.
What Can Delay a School Website Project?
Unfortunately, like most projects, school website development can be delayed. However, if you’re aware of the common bottlenecks for school website development projects, then the chances of a delay are considerably lower:
- Always have your content and photography ready to go. Most school website designs are delayed because there is simply nothing to put on the website.
- The more stakeholders that need to give approval, the slower things go. Keep the project to one or two stakeholders, maximum.
- If the scope of the project expands (e.g. new features), then delays happen.
- Complex features can delay the project.
- If there is a LOT of content to migrate, then things slow down massively.
Honestly, as long as you have the bulk of your content ready to go, and stakeholders ready to give feedback every step of the way, then the chances of the project slowing down are minimal. Most site developers often report these as the two ‘sticking’ points for projects.
How Can Schools Get Their New Website Live Faster?
We want to share some tips, a sort-of checklist, that will help schools get their website done faster:
- There should be one project lead. One person that interacts with the developer, provides feedback, and determines the scope of the project. Any feedback from other stakeholders can be fed through this project lead. The project lead should have the final say on everything to ensure that the website is developed quickly.
- Prepare content, including text and images, early. Ideally, you’d want to supply this to the developer near the start of the process.
- Audit existing pages on the current school website to see what information requires updates, and what is missing. Outdated content should never be placed on a new website.
- Gather all of your policies, documents, and assets early on. This allows faster upload to the school website. Talk to your website developer to determine what information is required.
- Agree who the decision-makers are in relation to the website. Cut down on stakeholders offering feedback. Consolidated feedback works best. So, like the ‘project lead’, try to provide feedback through just one or two people. Projects can get a bit muddled, and slow, when multiple people are sharing information with the website developer.
Template vs Bespoke School Websites: Which Is Faster?
School Jotter offers both school website templates and bespoke school website design.
School website templates will be the fastest way to get your new school website online, but this will come at the expense of full customisation of the website. However, templates are the cheaper option for schools facing a budget.
Fee-charging schools often work best with a bespoke school website design. This is because it enables the website developer to produce a solution that encourages admissions, and really streamlines the admissions process. This is something that would be different for all schools.
Ready to Start Your New School Website?
School Jotter is the leading school website design service. We have developed a school-specific CMS to ensure websites can be up and running quickly, while also offering all the features that schools require.
Contact us today. We will help you to decide whether a template website design or a bespoke project is right for your school.
