Blogging in schools is becoming more and more and more popular. It’s a way for children to share their stories with others – and it’s also a way for the staff to keep parents up to date with what’s happening in school.
Mossfield Primary School, Manchester are keen bloggers – and their new School Jotter 2 website has all their latest blog posts – with pictures too. It’s an interesting read and provides an insight into the day-to-day goings-on, from Comic Relief celebrations in March, to a write up about Year 4 having a go at their own animations.
School websites now have to abide by strict Ofsted guidelines on what content they must include – and Mossfield have made sure all the relevant content is available. All presented beautifully on their colour-coded, stylish School Jotter 2 school website design.
Take a look at Mossfield Primary School’s website by clicking here.
Some of the best school websites are those that present the school clearly and simply. All Saints Church of England Infant School, based in Hessle, near Hull, have gone for such a school website.
Their School Jotter 2 design echoes their location perfectly – with the iconic Humber Bridge forming part of the header – as well as being the image for the menu on the left-hand side of the website.
As well as the website’s design being simple yet fun, the way the school have arranged the information on the website is clear and easy to find. With only four menu links on the left-hand side bar, it doesn’t take long to find all those section essential to keep Ofsted happy – policies, their prospectus and recent reports about the school.
Aside from the essential content, also included is a section called Wow Moments – which illustrates how fun the school is for pupils with pictures of lesson and play time. It’s the kind of addition to the school website content that makes it ideal for engaging more with parents.
Take a look at All Saints Church of England Infant School’s website by clicking here.
King’s Rise Academy looks like a fun place to learn. We can tell that by the content and the colourful, attractive design of their school website – which recently went live.
As school websites go, much of the content on this School Jotter 2 website is what you’d expect – and, of course, what Ofsted expects. But there’s other information included that is perfect for parents considering the school for their child. The homepage contains a rotating gallery of the school’s children at work and at play – dressed up as pirates, reading and writing. The Celebration section includes pupil achievements, from Lego models they’ve created to attendance winners.
The Pupil Zone, yet to be completed, gives an insight into the work done by each class. Over in the Parents section, a useful inclusion for parents of both pupils and potential pupils are the results of a recent survey. Apparently, 78% of parents strongly agreed that their child enjoys going to the Birmingham-based school – and 81% strongly agreed that the teaching was good. A fun place to learn indeed!
You can view the King’s Rise Academy’s School Jotter 2 website by clicking here.
At Webanywhere we’re seeing more and more schools opt for exciting, engaging website designs that are a little different to your typical school website.
One such school is Watton-At-Stone, based in Hertfordshire. Their new school website benefits from an animated header, with cartoon children waving at the visitor. Fantastic! Delve further into the website, however, and there’s a wealth of information already uploaded, despite this School Jotter 2 website being only a couple of weeks old.
For example, the Friends of Watton School section has details of funds raised for the school through events and activities, with pictures of some of the things the Friends of Watton School have been able to provide the pupils with.
The Virtual Office section also contains some useful information – in particular the results of a parents’ survey conducted in 2012 – one of the many aspects of this school website that makes it great for engaging with the pupils’ parents.
Take a look at Watton-At-Stone’s school website here. Find out more about having your own animated School Jotter 2 website by filling in the contact form here.
Horsted School’s website is another example of a really simple, yet effective School Jotter website. Colourful and eye catching, the homepage – with images of the children – proudly announces ‘welcome to our new website!’
The Kent-based school’s website is as much for the pupils as it is for the parents, with fun, child-themed menu bars on the left hand side of the page. There’s a Horsted Kids’ Club too – with details of the club available from the appropriate menu bar.
Horsted School have an international school partner – and in the International section you can learn more and watch a video about Mtiya Primary School in Malawi.
School websites should echo the beliefs and ethos of the school – both in the website design and in the content. Horsted School’s School Jotter website does this perfectly – and you can see for yourself by clicking here.
A picture tells a thousand words – and on Birchfields Primary School’s new School Jotter 2 school website, a slideshow of creative photographs bring the school to life.
Celebrating Recognition: Website of the Week
It’s not every day that a primary school’s website garners widespread recognition, but Birchfields Primary School achieved just that. Their exceptional website has caught the attention of SchoolJotter.com and was named “Website of the Week.” This prestigious title highlights Birchfields’ website as a leader in the world of educational online platforms. So, what sets their website apart from the rest? Let’s take a closer look.
Why Birchfields Primary School Website was chosen as the website of the week?
Each photograph on their homepage includes a line that sums up the school’s ethos and aims, with colourful images showing the school, pupils and the work they have done.
The Manchester school’s website is full of great content, too: rather than just populate every page with as much text as they possibly can, there’s just enough for potential parents and casual visitors to take in, and get an understanding of what Birchfields is all about. Our favourite bit is the B-Force section – a page dedicated to the pupils’ school council, made up of children from each year group between 2 and 6.
This colourful, welcoming website is completed by great images of children created on the footer of each page – all part of the school website design that includes their wonderful strapline: ‘enjoying the opportunities to achieve.’
What are the essential elements for the school website for ‘Birchfields Primary School’?
Essential Elements of Birchfields Primary School Website
- User-Friendly Design: The website’s layout is intuitive and easy to navigate, ensuring that even the least tech-savvy visitor can find information quickly.
- Updated Information: With regular updates, the website stays relevant and becomes a reliable source for parents, students, and staff.
- Engaging Visuals: Utilising vibrant colors and engaging visuals, Birchfields’ website is not only informative but also visually appealing, capturing the essence of the school’s dynamic environment.
- Accessibility Features: Inclusion is key. The website is accessible to all, including those with disabilities, ensuring no one is left behind in accessing vital school information.
- Comprehensive Academic Resources: From curriculum overviews to homework help, the website provides a wealth of academic resources, supporting students’ learning journeys outside the classroom.
- Community Engagement: Highlighting school events, achievements, and news, the website serves as a bridge between the school and the broader community.
What are the primary school website features that help to engage with parents?
Engaging with Parents: Features That Make a Difference
- Parent Portal: A dedicated section for parents offers tailored information, from school policies to upcoming parent-teacher meetings.
- Interactive Calendar: An easy-to-use calendar keeps parents informed about school events, holidays, and important dates.
- Newsletter Sign-Up: Regular newsletters provide parents with a snapshot of school life, keeping them connected and informed.
- Feedback Opportunities: Channels for parent feedback encourage a two-way communication stream, making parents feel heard and valued.
- Social Media Integration: Links to the school’s social media pages offer another layer of engagement, showcasing daily activities and news.
- Multilingual Support: Considering the diverse linguistic backgrounds, the website offers content in multiple languages, making it inclusive for all parents.
Conclusion
The Birchfields Primary School website exemplifies what a school web design can and should be. It’s a digital hub that not only serves its immediate community but also sets a benchmark for educational websites globally. The blend of functionality, design, and user engagement makes it a deserving recipient of the “Website of the Week” accolade. Other schools can look to Birchfields as a blueprint for creating a digital presence that truly serves its community and enhances the educational experience.
The Westborough School’s website represents their location perfectly: with a beautiful design showing a beach and gentle waves, backed by blue skies.
Having a bespoke design for your School Jotter website allows you to be a little more creative with how the website looks – but of course the content is just as important. The Essex school have plenty of content uploaded for children and parents – here are our favourite bits.
The Our Classes section breaks down what’s being studied, accompanied by photographs and, for some classes, information regarding the teacher and teaching assistants. This is a great area for parents to go to find out what their child will be doing – and catch up on recent activities via photographs.
The best feature is Virtual Office: here, parents can find out everything they need to know, without having to ask the school or their child’s teacher. From school uniform details and reporting absences, to newsletters and school meal information, it’s all here. There’s even a question and answer section, in case a parent’s query isn’t answered in the other areas of this section.
Take a look at The Westborough School’s website by clicking here.
