Drone shots are becoming increasingly popular across various industries. From real estate to tourism, businesses use aerial photography to provide unique perspectives and captivating visuals. This trend is now making its way into the education sector, with schools recognising the value of school drone footage.

Visual content plays a crucial role in making a school website appealing. High-quality images and videos can capture the essence of a school’s environment, making it more attractive to prospective students and their families. Drone shots, in particular, offer a fresh and engaging way to showcase a school’s campus and activities.

This article will explore five key benefits of incorporating drone shots into school websites.

Enhanced Campus Overview

Drone shots provide a comprehensive view of the entire campus, capturing all its features in a single frame. This bird’s-eye perspective allows visitors to appreciate the layout and beauty of the school grounds, something ground-level photos simply can’t match.

Creating a memorable first impression is crucial; visually stunning drone footage can do just that. When prospective students and parents visit the website, they are greeted with breathtaking aerial views highlighting the school’s best features. This can set the school apart from others, making a lasting impact on visitors.

Improved Navigation and Virtual Tours

Drone shots can enhance virtual tours, making them more engaging and informative. Parents and students can better understand the school’s layout by providing a clear aerial view of the campus. This helps them feel more oriented and comfortable before setting foot on the grounds.

Dynamic drone footage adds a new level of excitement to online open days and virtual visits. Prospective families can experience the school environment in a way that’s both visually impressive and highly informative. This makes the virtual experience more immersive and memorable, helping the school stand out in the minds of visitors.

Highlight School Events and Activities

Drone shots capture large-scale events like sports days, assemblies, and outdoor activities. They provide a sweeping view of these events, showing the full scale and energy that can be missed with traditional photography. This makes for more engaging and dynamic content on the school website.

Drones offer unique perspectives that ground-level photos and videos simply can’t match. Aerial shots can highlight the organisation and excitement of school events from rarely-seen angles. This unique viewpoint makes the website content more captivating and memorable for visitors, showcasing the school’s vibrant community in a new light.

Boost Engagement and Retention

Engaging visual content, like drone shots, can significantly increase website traffic. Visitors are more likely to explore a website with captivating images and videos. This keeps them on the site longer, increasing the chances that they’ll learn more about the school and its offerings.

Drone footage also encourages social sharing, boosting visibility and word-of-mouth promotion. High-quality, unique aerial shots are more likely to be shared on social media platforms, spreading the word about the school far and wide. This can attract prospective students and parents to the website, further enhancing the school’s online presence.

Professional Image and Branding

Using cutting-edge technology like drones reflects a sense of modernity and innovation. Schools that incorporate drone shots into their websites show they are forward-thinking and embrace new ways to present themselves. This can make a strong, positive impression on prospective students and parents.

Professional drone footage also ensures consistent visual branding. High-quality aerial shots can be seamlessly integrated with other visual content on the website, creating a cohesive and polished look. This consistency helps reinforce the school’s brand identity, making it more recognisable and appealing.

5 Benefits of Drone Shots for Schools

Drone shots offer several key benefits for school websites. They provide a comprehensive view of the campus, enhance virtual tours, highlight events from unique perspectives, boost engagement and retention, and contribute to a professional image and consistent branding.

Given these advantages, incorporating drone shots into your school’s website strategy is a smart move. If you’re looking for done shots for your school or educational institution, get in touch with School Jotter today!

Having an Ofsted-compliant school website is essential for legal reasons and to create trust within the school community. It ensures that all necessary information, such as policies and performance data, is easily accessible to parents, staff, and inspectors. This transparency helps build a strong relationship between the school and parents, making them feel informed and involved in their child’s education.

In this article, we’ll discuss five key reasons why your school website needs to be Ofsted compliant. From improving parent communication to meeting legal requirements, these points will help you understand the importance of Ofsted website compliance and how it benefits your school community.

Enhancing Parent Communication

Clear and accessible information is crucial for parents to stay informed and engaged with their child’s education. An Ofsted-compliant website ensures parents can easily find essential documents, updates, and policies without hassle. This ease of access helps parents feel more connected and involved in the school community.

Compliance with Ofsted guidelines means that important information is organized and readily available. Parents can quickly find what they need, from school performance data to contact details, making their interaction with the school smoother and more efficient.

Transparency is a key factor in building trust between the school and parents. When parents see that the school is open and honest about its operations and performance, they are more likely to trust the school’s leadership and feel confident in the education their children are receiving. This trust fosters a positive and supportive school environment.

Improving Student Enrollment

An informative school website plays a crucial role in attracting new students. Parents often use the internet to research potential schools, and a well-designed, Ofsted-compliant website can make a solid first impression. When parents find all the information they need quickly, they are more likely to consider enrolling their children.

Displaying compliance on your website can significantly enhance the school’s reputation. It shows that the school meets national standards and is committed to providing a quality education. This assurance can be a deciding factor for parents when choosing a school.

Detailed information about the school’s achievements and facilities is another way to attract prospective students. Highlighting awards, academic successes, and state-of-the-art facilities can make your school stand out. Parents want the best for their children, and showcasing these aspects on your website can help convince them that your school is the right choice.

Meeting Legal Requirements

Schools have legal obligations to be Ofsted compliant, which includes maintaining an up-to-date and informative website. This compliance ensures that the school meets national standards and provides parents, staff, and inspectors with essential information. It’s fundamental to being accountable and transparent in the education sector.

The potential consequences of non-compliance can be severe. Schools may face penalties, receive lower inspection ratings, and suffer from a damaged reputation. These issues can negatively impact student enrollment and overall trust in the school’s management.

To meet legal requirements, the school’s website must include specific information, such as performance data, school policies, contact information, and inspection reports. Ensuring this information is readily available and accessible demonstrates the school’s commitment to transparency and accountability.

Showcasing School Performance

Displaying Ofsted reports and performance data on your school website is essential. It provides parents and the community with a clear picture of the school’s performance, helping build confidence in the school’s quality and educational standards.

Showcasing achievements can significantly boost school morale and enhance its reputation within the community. When students, parents, and staff see the school’s successes highlighted, it fosters a sense of pride and accomplishment. This positive image can attract new students and encourage community support.

Transparency plays a vital role in fostering a culture of continuous improvement. The school demonstrates its commitment to excellence and accountability by openly sharing performance data and achievements. This openness encourages feedback and engagement from the community, helping the school continually strive for higher standards and better outcomes.

Facilitating Engagement

Engaging various people, including parents, students, and the local community, is crucial for a thriving school environment. An Ofsted-compliant website plays a significant role by providing a reliable platform for communication and involvement.

An Ofsted-compliant website supports effective communication by ensuring all necessary information is easily accessible. This helps parents stay informed, students feel more connected, and the community be more involved in school activities and decisions.

Features like newsletters, event calendars, and forums can significantly enhance stakeholder interaction. Newsletters keep everyone updated on school news and achievements, while event calendars help parents and students stay informed about important dates and activities. Forums provide a space for discussion and feedback, creating community and collaboration. These tools make the website a central hub for engagement and involvement, benefiting the entire school community.

Is Your Website Ofsted Compliant?

An Ofsted-compliant website is crucial for transparency, legal adherence, and community trust. It ensures parents can access essential information and showcases the school’s commitment to high standards.

Schedule a website audit from School Jotter to ensure your website meets all Ofsted requirements.

Staying updated with website design trends is crucial for schools to remain effective and engaging. As technology evolves, so do user expectations. Modern parents and students expect a seamless, intuitive online experience that provides easy access to important information.

Evolving technology and user expectations greatly influence school website design. Innovations such as mobile-first design, AI integration, and enhanced security measures are becoming standard. Schools must adapt to these changes to meet the needs of their communities.

This article explores future trends in school website design and highlights what schools can expect in the next five years.

Enhanced Personalisation

Enhanced personalisation is a growing trend in school website design. Websites are increasingly tailored to offer personalised user experiences, making interactions more relevant and engaging.

For example, a school website can display different content for students, parents, and teachers. Students might see homework assignments, grades, and class schedules. Parents could access important announcements, event calendars, and contact information for teachers. Teachers might have quick links to lesson plans, staff resources, and internal communications.

Customising the user experience means schools can ensure visitors find the information most relevant to them quickly and easily. This level of personalisation improves user satisfaction and streamlines access to essential resources.

Integration of AI and Chatbots

Artificial intelligence is rising in school websites, bringing innovative solutions to enhance user experience. AI can analyse user behaviour and preferences, offering personalised content and recommendations.

Chatbots, a popular AI application, are particularly useful for school websites. They can answer common questions, provide instant information, and guide users through the website. For example, a chatbot can help parents find enrollment details, direct students to their homework assignments, or assist teachers with accessing resources.

Virtual and Augmented Reality

Virtual and Augmented Reality is set to revolutionise school websites by enhancing learning experiences. VR can create immersive environments where students can explore historical sites, conduct virtual science experiments, or visit distant planets, all from their classrooms.

AR adds interactive elements to the real world, making lessons more engaging. For instance, students can use AR apps to see 3D models of biological cells or historical artefacts on their devices.

Schools can also offer virtual tours of their campuses, allowing prospective students and parents to explore facilities remotely.

Interactive learning modules using VR and AR make education more engaging and accessible to a broader audience, transforming traditional learning methods.

Accessibility Improvements

Making websites accessible to all users is crucial, especially for schools. An accessible website ensures everyone, including those with disabilities, can access important information and resources.

Standards like the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) 2.1 provide a framework for improving accessibility. Tools such as screen readers, keyboard navigation, and voice commands can significantly enhance usability for all users.

Implementing these standards and tools demonstrates a school’s commitment to inclusivity. It ensures that every school community member, regardless of ability, can navigate the website and participate fully in school activities.

Seamless Integration with LMS

Integrating school websites with Learning Management Systems is a growing trend. This integration provides a unified platform on which students, teachers, and parents can easily access educational resources, assignments, and grades.

Linking the school website with a LMS allows schools to streamline administrative tasks and improve the user experience. Students can find assignments, submit work, and check their progress all in one place. Teachers can manage course materials and track student performance efficiently. This seamless integration enhances the educational process, making it more efficient and user-friendly for everyone involved.

Emphasis on Visual Storytelling

Using multimedia elements to tell the school’s story is becoming increasingly important. Photos, videos, and infographics can bring the school’s activities and achievements to life, making the website more engaging.

For example, photo galleries of school events, video interviews with students and teachers, and infographics highlighting key accomplishments can captivate visitors. These visual elements make the content more appealing, and help convey the school’s culture and values effectively.

Future Trends in School Website Design

In summary, key trends in school website design include:

• Enhanced personalisation.
• The integration of AI and chatbots.
• The use of VR and AR for immersive learning.
• LMS integration.
• Accessibility improvements

Schools should adopt these trends proactively to enhance their website’s effectiveness and user experience. Embracing these innovations ensures that school websites remain modern, engaging, and accessible, meeting the needs of their diverse communities and supporting educational goals in a rapidly evolving digital landscape.

Contact School Jotter to discuss how we can support you with your new school website design.

A well-designed website is crucial for schools. It is the central hub for all school-related information, making it easy for parents, students, and staff to stay connected and informed.

An effective school website enhances communication and engagement. It provides quick access to important updates, events, and resources, ensuring everyone is on the same page.

This article will highlight the top 10 must-have features for school websites in 2024, ensuring your school’s online presence is modern, functional, and impactful.

1: Mobile Responsiveness

It is essential to have a website that works seamlessly on all devices, including smartphones and tablets. With more people accessing the internet on their mobile devices, schools need websites that look and function well on smaller screens.

Mobile responsiveness improves user experience by ensuring visitors can easily navigate the site and find the information they need, no matter their device. It also enhances accessibility, making the website usable for everyone, including parents and students who rely on their phones for quick updates and information.

2: User-Friendly Navigation

Intuitive navigation menus are vital for helping users find information quickly and easily. A well-organised website ensures visitors aren’t frustrated searching for important details.

To achieve this:

1. Organise content logically by grouping related information.
2. Use clear, descriptive labels for menu items, and keep the menu structure simple.
3. Ensure key sections like calendars, news updates, and contact information are easily accessible from the main menu.

This approach enhances the user experience and ensures that parents, students, and staff can quickly find what they need.

3: Secure Portals for Students and Staff

Secure login areas are essential for protecting sensitive information and providing personalised access to school resources. Students and staff need a safe space to log in to view and manage private data.

These secure portals can include features like homework assignments, grade tracking, and internal communications. This allows students to keep track of their progress and access their assignments efficiently. It streamlines communication and administrative tasks for staff, ensuring that everything from lesson plans to student reports is organised and accessible. Secure portals help maintain privacy and improve the efficiency of school operations.

4: Comprehensive CMS

A good CMS is crucial for any school website. School staff can quickly update and manage website content without technical expertise. Teachers and administrators can quickly post news updates, add event details, and upload resources, keeping the site current and relevant.

Having a CMS designed specifically for educational institutions offers additional advantages. These systems often include features tailored to schools, such as integration with student information systems, customisable templates for different types of content, and tools for managing class schedules and staff directories.

5: SEO Optimisation

SEO is crucial for increasing the visibility of your school website. When your site ranks higher in search engine results, it’s easier for parents, students, and the community to find important information about your school.

To optimise your content, use relevant keywords that parents and students might search for, such as “school calendar,” “homework help,“ or “school news.“ Write clear and informative meta descriptions for each page to give a snapshot of the content’s topic. Additionally, regularly update your site with fresh content, like news articles and event updates, to keep it relevant and engaging for search engines and users alike.

6: Integrated Calendar System

A dynamic calendar feature informs students, parents, and staff about important dates and events. It ensures everyone stays up-to-date with school activities, from holidays and parent-teacher conferences to sports events and school trips.

Integrating features like reminders and event notifications can further enhance this tool. Parents can receive timely alerts about upcoming events, while students can be reminded of assignment deadlines and exam dates. This improves organisation and fosters better communication within the school community, ensuring no one misses out on important information.

7: Social Media Integration

Linking the school’s social media accounts to the website offers numerous benefits. It allows for real-time updates and provides a platform for sharing news, events, and achievements with the broader community. This integration helps parents and students stay connected and engaged with school activities.

Social media integration also keeps content fresh and dynamic. The website remains current without constant manual updates by automatically displaying recent posts and updates from platforms like Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. This not only enhances community engagement but also showcases the vibrant life of the school to prospective families.

8: Multimedia Galleries

Photo and video galleries showcase school events, achievements, and activities. They provide a visual glimpse into the vibrant school life, making it more appealing to current and prospective families. Students’ participation in various events and activities helps build a sense of community and pride.

Regularly updating these galleries is crucial to keep the website vibrant and engaging. Fresh content captures ongoing activities and encourages visitors to return frequently to see the latest updates. This consistent refreshment of visual content maintains interest and highlights the school’s dynamic environment.

9: Multilingual Support

A translation feature on your school website is crucial for catering to non-English speaking parents and community members. It ensures that everyone can access important information, regardless of language proficiency, making the website more inclusive.

This feature significantly improves communication by breaking down language barriers. Parents can easily understand updates, event details, and resources in their preferred language, which helps them stay engaged and involved in their child’s education. Multilingual support demonstrates the school’s commitment to diversity and inclusivity, fostering a more welcoming and supportive community for all families.

10: SSL Certificates and Security

Website security is paramount, especially for school websites that handle sensitive information. Protecting data like student records, personal details, and internal communications is crucial to maintaining trust and confidentiality.

SSL certificates play a vital role in this protection. They encrypt data transmitted between the user’s browser and the website, ensuring that any information shared remains private and secure. An SSL certificate also provides visual assurance to users, often indicated by a padlock icon in the browser’s address bar, signalling safe browsing. Implementing SSL certificates helps safeguard against data breaches and cyber threats, ensuring a secure online environment for all users.

10 Must-Have Features for School Websites in 2024

A modern school website needs to be mobile responsive, user-friendly, and equipped with secure portals for students and staff. It should feature a comprehensive CMS, be optimised for SEO, and have an integrated calendar system. Social media integration, multimedia galleries, multilingual support, and SSL certificates for security are also essential.

Schools should evaluate their current websites and consider incorporating these must-have features. Doing so will ensure their websites remain competitive, effective, and able to meet the needs of their community in 2024 and beyond.

Get in touch to discuss how School Jotter can help you build the perfect website for your school.

A well-designed school website is crucial in today’s digital age. It serves as the main source of information for students, parents, and staff, helping them stay informed and connected.

Good design can improve user experience, making navigating and finding necessary information easier. For students, it means easy access to resources and updates. For parents, it provides a reliable platform to stay engaged with their child’s education. For staff, it simplifies communication and administrative tasks.

This article will provide actionable tips for improving your school website design and ensuring it effectively meets all users’ needs. With these tips, you can create a functional, engaging, and user-friendly website.

Tip 1: Prioritise User-Friendly Navigation

Simple and intuitive menus are key to a good user experience. They help visitors find what they need quickly and without frustration. Make sure your menus are well-organised and labelled clearly.

Effective navigation structures guide users through your site smoothly. Group related pages together and use drop-down menus to keep the layout clean. This helps users access information effortlessly.

Search functionality optimisation is also essential. A prominent search bar allows users to find specific content quickly. Make sure your search feature is accurate and responsive to enhance overall usability.

Tip 2: Optimise for Mobile Devices

Responsive design is crucial for a school website. It ensures your site looks and functions well on any device, from desktops to smartphones. This is important because many users will access your site from their phones.

To achieve a mobile-friendly design:

1. Start by using a responsive template.
2. Test your site on different devices to make sure everything displays correctly.
3. Pay attention to font sizes and button placements to ensure they are easily read and click on smaller screens.

Incorporate mobile-specific features like touch-friendly buttons and simplified navigation. These elements improve the user experience on mobile devices, making it easier for students and parents to find the necessary information quickly.

Tip 3: Use Engaging Visuals

High-quality images and videos can make a big difference on your school website. They grab attention and make the site more appealing. Use photos and videos that reflect your school’s environment and activities.

When selecting visuals, choose clear and relevant images. Avoid using stock photos that feel generic. Instead, use real pictures from school events and daily activities to create a more authentic connection with your audience.

Infographics and icons can also enhance your website. They make information more accessible and easy to understand. Use infographics to highlight key data or icons to break up text and guide users through the content.

Tip 4: Ensure Fast Loading Times

Optimising images and videos is essential for fast loading times. Compress your files without losing quality to reduce their size. This will help your pages load more quickly, keeping visitors from getting frustrated.

Efficient coding practices also contribute to faster loading times. Clean up your code by removing unnecessary elements and using efficient algorithms. This helps your website run smoother and more efficiently.

Use site performance tools to monitor and improve your loading times. Tools like Google PageSpeed Insights can provide valuable insights and recommendations for speeding up your site. Regularly check your site’s performance to ensure it remains fast and responsive.

Tip 5: Create Engaging Content

Regular updates and news keep your website fresh and relevant. Post about recent events, achievements, and upcoming activities. This keeps parents, students, and staff informed and engaged with your school community.

Consider adding a blog section for fresh content. Share student stories, highlight teacher accomplishments, or provide educational tips. Regularly updating your blog with interesting articles can attract more visitors and keep them returning.

Parent and student resources are also crucial. Include helpful information like study guides, event calendars, and newsletters. Easy access to these resources helps parents and students find the information they need, enhancing their experience on your site.

Tip 6: Highlight Key Information

Easily accessible contact information is vital for any school website. Ensure that phone numbers, email addresses, and physical addresses are easy to find. This helps parents and students get in touch quickly when they need to.

Follow best practices for displaying contact details. Place them in the header or footer of your website so they appear on every page. Consider adding a dedicated contact page with a simple form for inquiries.

Displaying important announcements and alerts prominently keeps everyone informed. Use banners or pop-ups for urgent messages, like school closures or event reminders. This ensures that visitors see critical information when they arrive on your site.

6 Essential School Website Design Tips

To recap, prioritise user-friendly navigation, optimise for mobile devices, use engaging visuals, ensure fast loading times, create engaging content, and highlight key information. These tips will help create a website that is both functional and attractive.

Start implementing these tips today to improve your school website. Small changes can significantly affect users’ interactions with your site.

Traditional communication methods are giving way!!

This seems to be the trend since the digital age has entered society and school life. It seems that more parents are moving away from the traditional forms of communication, handwritten notes from teachers, face-to-face conversations with teachers, and calls from the school to the home.

Many parents of primary school children feel these old-fashioned methods just do not work anymore and prefer a more modern approach viz modern technological communication options.

Instead, they prefer a digital communication system that lets them receive text messages, videos, and other information straight to their mobile devices or computers. These alternative methods is useful for parents and school for communicating unforeseen events like school closure due to weather conditions or providing information about important upcoming seminars or conferences.

The Importance of Parent Engagement

The consensus among education experts is clear: Parental engagement significantly influences a child’s academic and social growth. A few of the universally accepted advantages include:

• Academic Performance- Good parental engagement is seen as a vital reason for students performing better grade-wise. They do their homework, get better grades, and learn better with this support.
• Behavioural Impact- Good parental engagement helps their children to choose healthier activities and behave in a socially healthy manner. Without this support, the behaviour of the students is not exemplary but adds to the stress teachers have to endure.
• Social Skills Development- Finally, parental engagement is important for students as the latter develop better social skills. This can cut down on bullying, and negative interactions with other students and make school life more tolerable for all students.

Also, parental engagement seems to pay off as more students fail to develop a smoking habit and turn to physical education activities. They have a better attitude and perspective on life giving each student a better foundation to succeed in life.

This engagement needs a little help from the primary schools and this help can come in the following ways:

1. Creating a vision for parent engagement
2. Preparing school staff to work with parents
3. Assessing and improving the school’s strategies for involving parents
4. Assessing what parents and families need to be more involved in school health

Designing a Parent-Centric User Experience of the school mobile apps

While children and teens are very good at downloading and using apps, more often than not, their parents are not gifted or agile. It is important to create a parent-centric user app whose design allows the less technological advanced parents to use the app easily and without hassles.

To accomplish this objective, the user-centred design method is the go-to option. This allows designers to create an app for adults to use. Its simplicity enables all adults, including the less technologically advanced ones, to use the school mobile phone apps and communicate with teachers, learn about events, the news, and more.

Often parents miss the information needed because they do not have the technological ability to use the different apps and they are in a job that keeps them from accessing this information and more.

These parent-centric user mobile apps create a better experience for parents as they get to access important information concerning their children without trouble.

Various Communication Tools For Parent-School Interaction

The digital age has brought innovation and new tools for parent/teacher communications. There is a vast array of these tools that have moved parents away from the old-fashioned methods used by their parents and grandparents.

One tool is Jotter 3.0 which provides access to school information if one has a QR code. Only the parents will have this code giving them privacy to see what is going on in their child’s school life.

There are various other tools available, all of which include text messages, videos, and alerts that parents need to know about and see. Parents should be able to interact with their children’s teachers with the help of these tools.

Last but not least, there are a host of social media outlets where parents can connect with teachers through private social media accounts.

The digital age has supplied enough tools that parents do not have to take time off from work to communicate with a teacher.

How To Use The Priamry School Mobile Apps To Share Student Accomplishments

These mobile apps come with built-in features that allow teachers to easily upload and share student accomplishments. The instructions are usually found in the operational information that is a part of each app.

The key would be to access the menu to reach the appropriate function that allows you to send student accomplishments to their parents. All mobile apps should be easy to use but some are not as simple as others.

The complicated operation tends to deter parents from using those apps and learning about their children’s success. Then with the direct communication features, parents can interact with their children’s teachers no matter where they happen to be.

This access is also 24/7 so even if you come home late you can still take the time to access the information and learn about your child’s day without waking them up.

Each app will have its own method of operation which may not be the same as another app. Make sure to read the instructions so you understand what to do.

Some Additional Words

While the journey to maximising parental engagement in primary schools has its challenges, leveraging the right technological tools can significantly bridge the gap. With Ofsted compliance in the UK underscoring the importance of effective communication between schools and parents, such platforms become even more critical.

Our suite of products at School Jotter is designed to make this engagement seamless. Visit our website to explore our offerings, and don’t hesitate to reach out with any questions. Your child’s academic success may be just a click away.

School Jotter Podcast – Website Accessibility

School Jotter Podcast – School Podcasting

Around 41% of parents agree that they would like their child’s school to communicate with them more often.

School communication, both internally between teachers and students and externally with parents is one of the foundations of effective all-around learning.

School website calendars are a means for schools to organise school events as well as keep everyone from teachers, staff, students, and parents in the loop about the happenings at school.

Let us take a look at ways to optimise the functionality of your website calendar that strengthens communication between schools, students, and parents.

3 features of a school website calendar

A school website calendar is a schedule of all school events during an academic year displayed on the school website for everyone to see and use. School staff, students, and parents use this to keep up with the school events and not miss out on anything.

A regular school website calendar will include:

● Term time dates

● School holidays

● Activities and events such as Sports Day, Book Fair, etc.

● Examination dates

● Inset days & teacher training dates

Here are the 3 features that are a must-have for your school website calendar.

1. User-friendly for parents and staff

The purpose of a school calendar is to help teachers and students pre-plan activities and stay ahead in their curriculum. This is why the most important feature your calendar needs to have is user-friendliness and ease of use.

The calendar loses all its purpose if the people it is meant for are not able to use it the way it is intended. The interface should be personalised, meaning a user will only see events that pertain to them.

For example, a student who has opted for drama classes but not for music classes should be able to view all drama class-related events and no events related to music classes. This keeps the calendar from becoming too convoluted.

Secondly, not everyone is well-versed with technology. They should be able to view and use a calendar without putting in much work. Steps to set reminders and highlight events should be simplified.

2. Personalization and customization

Another important feature to have is one that facilitates personalization. Parents and staff should be able to use the calendar how they wish to. This could be in the form of highlighting events that pertain to them or hiding/silencing ones that don’t.

We have already talked about setting the calendar to your personal setting such as only seeing events related to the classes you are a part of or interested in. This helps in keeping the calendar clean and organised.

People can always access the ‘master calendar’ to view all the events at once whenever they want. Moreover, you should make sure that people with disabilities are also able to have a personalised experience with your calendar.

3. Mobile-friendly experience

Over 55% of website views come from mobile. Your school website calendar should provide a mobile-friendly experience to make it accessible to all. See if the font, images, and graphics are well-suited for a mobile layout or not.

A way to put your school calendar in the parent’s pockets is via mobile apps. Make your calendar a key feature in your school mobile app. Enable it with features such as notifications and mobile-friendly UI & UX.

This has the dual effect of not having to remind parents or teachers to check school calendars regularly. And they will receive reminders about events with ease. They will not have to go to the school calendar on the website anymore, the school calendars will come to them, so to speak.

Conclusion

School calendars are an excellent way to keep everyone associated with schools in the loop about their workings. When creating a school website calendar, your focus should be on making it user-friendly and accessible.

Everyone from the staff, parents, teachers, and students should be able to view events that pertain to them and plan for them accordingly. Making them Mobile-friendly goes a long way in integrating school calendars into the daily life of people seamlessly.

When it comes to building and maintaining a website, you must conduct thorough research before getting started. There are several features to look for, ranging from a server location to website security. Your website provider’s facility can make or break both your and your website visitors’ experience.

6 questions you should ask your school website provider 

Before you choose a website provider for your school, you must ask certain questions. This way, you can avoid problems such as frequent downtime, inadequate bandwidth, etc. Here are the six questions you should ask your school website provider before opting for their service.

1. Questions about the timeline

You wouldn’t want your web development process to be delayed. But at the same time, it is tough to determine how much time it takes for your website provider to get your site up and running. So, the first question you must ask your site provider is “How long will your new website take to develop?”

Also, make sure you clarify everything related to migration services. It might happen that over time, you decide to change your host. Ask your provider if they charge any money (if yes, how much) for migrating their clients’ websites.

Also, ask your website provider if you would be assigned a project manager to handle the everyday maintenance and management of your CMS (Content Management System).

2. Accessibility

The next thing you should ask your website provider is whether your site would be compliant with ADA and be easily accessible to people with certain disabilities. Simultaneously, ask your provider if they would prepare a mobile responsive website that works well on all types of devices.

The last thing you would want is to spend hundreds of dollars on a website that doesn’t work on mobile devices. That would be a waste of money.

Additionally, make sure that parents can access their personalised portal through your website’s CMS. This would ensure enhanced audience engagement that would put your school ahead of its competitors.

3. Website support

Now, this one is crucial. Ask your website provider about their customer service hours. Also, clarify if there are any differences in service levels. If there are different service levels, it is often possible that your provider might charge an extra fee for extensive customer support.

That’s why you should ask upfront about what happens when and if you require advanced technical assistance. It’s better to stay prepared ahead of time.

4. Vendor reputation and track record 

Obviously, you would want to hire someone who has the necessary experience and amazing reputation for handling projects like yours. Ask them how long they have been providing services in the education sector.

Ask them if they have any experience working with schools or districts similar to yours. If possible, ask them to provide some details of their previous clients in your sector whom you can talk to about their experience.

5. Data security

Encryption is one of the most important methods for keeping data safe. Your website provider should be committed to providing you with dependable, effective security measures, which they can do in part by encrypting passwords to ensure password privacy. Ask them if they offer HTTPS encryption.

Using HTTPS, businesses can assure that traffic is encrypted and hence unreadable by potential hackers when transmitted over a secure connection.

6. Flexibility, scalability, compliance

It’s easy to feel overwhelmed while trying to figure out what kind of bandwidth a web server provides. In simple terms, bandwidth refers to the speed at which data may be sent from a website to your computer.

With this in mind, always look for a provider that offers plenty of bandwidth. So make sure you ask your website provider about the infrastructure specifications they would provide you. Ask them how fast they can help scale your website.

Final word

It’s more crucial than ever for your school to find the correct website provider to compete in today’s fast-paced world fueled by the internet. Your school website serves as the foundation for your school communications. Make sure you hire a reputable website provider who can ensure that your site stays up and running, no matter the circumstances.

Branding refers to the “image” associated with your product or organisation and how this “image” is strategically defined in the eyes of your target audience. Anything that makes your product unique forms a part of its brand. This includes the company’s name, logo, tagline, and website.

Now, how is branding related to schools? Well, irrespective of the industry type, a strong brand is an immensely valuable asset.

It draws attention to the amazing work your school is doing and enables parents to know what to expect from the institute. They can make an informed decision based on authentic information conveyed through smart branding. 

Let’s glance over some of the benefits of school branding.

●  Allows your uniqueness to shine through

●  Instils trust and confidence

●  Creates a sense of belonging

●  Allows students and staff to forge an emotional bond with your school

●  Marketing becomes seamless and organic

●  Attracts the most competent staff

Let us take a look at some of the top elements of a school website brand.

Top 7 elements of a school website brand

School websites encapsulate almost everything one needs to know about a school. They’re a storehouse of information, performing multiple tasks and catering to families, prospective staff, as well as meeting Ofsted guidelines.

Here are the top 7 elements for creating an successful brand that can tilt the scale in favour of your school:

1.   Brand Promise: Stand by what you say 

A brand promise states the school’s purpose in no uncertain terms. It serves as a guide for an effective marketing strategy and ensures you’re accountable for delivering a message that is at par with the customer experience.

Ensure your promises are genuine and backed by consistent performance. If there’s a discrepancy between what you promise and what you eventually deliver, your brand’s popularity will take a hit.

2.   Positioning Statement: When words ring true  

Often, it’s the short and simple phrases that linger for a long time. Trust those gripping taglines to sum up your school’s brand promise in the most memorable way!

Crisp and concise at two to six words, these statements resonate with prospective and existing families likewise. Besides “sounding good”, the taglines should be in sync with your school’s ideals and principles.

3.   Visual Identity: Seeing is believing

More recognition equates greater trust. Thus, elevate your brand stature by creating a strong visual identity with appropriate logos and colour palette.

This is one investment you won’t regret. Make your branding style guide easily accessible to staff and faculty through the school’s website. Back it up with a list of do’s and don’ts so that your brand’s image remains untarnished.

4.   Differentiators: What makes you different?

Besides the visual differentiators, try relying on quick facts, statistics, and infographics to put across your points. Visitors would be at ease recalling key facts from a sea of information. Sprinkle these statistics on the oft-visited pages of your website and watch the impact they create.

5.   Personality: Let yourself be heard

What you say and how you say it makes a lot of difference. As your brand is the truest reflection of who you are, be mindful of the tone and tenor of the language used to represent your school in the public domain.

Adhere to grammar rules and ensure there’s consistency in terminology and degree of formality. Different people from different backgrounds may contribute to your website’s content. The overall language should be aligned with the brand’s values and promises.

6.   Brand Communications: Convey and Connect

For communications to be effective and impactful, try adopting a multi-layered approach. Reach out to parents, students and your staff through newsletters, emails, contests, banners, notices on school boards. Keep an eye on details to ensure every time you communicate, it becomes a natural extension of the brand’s core values.

7.   Brand Story: Stories that stay with you

Once you’ve completed the above steps, it’s time to put out poignant stories that’ll generate positive buzz and bring in the right families. Here, testimonials come in handy.

A truly heart-felt testimonial has the power to appease anxious parents and affirm their faith in the school. Brand stories encompass newsletters, blogs, social media posts and almost anything you share online and offline.

Conclusion

A focused and consistent approach to school branding displays a degree of professionalism and shows how seriously the school pursues its standards of excellence.

With the right branding strategy, your school can stand out from its competitors and make a lasting impression in the minds of impressionable young kids and their concerned parents.