As schools think more and more like mini businesses, creating a ‘brand’ is becoming more important. When it comes to your school website, though, that doesn’t have to mean taking the fun out of how you present yourself.
Ss Peter & Paul Catholic Primary School’s website is the perfect case in point. Created using School Jotter, it utilises the school’s colours to great effect – but manages to still be bright, engaging and welcoming.
Best of all is the website backdrop that the West Yorkshire school have gone with: School Jotter websites can be created with these bespoke designs – so in this case we have the crest repeated in the background.
As for the rest of the website, it’s rich with content – from pictures showing what the children have been up to, to links to other sites that parents and pupils may find useful for learning.
If you want to create a fun, colourful brand for your school, get some inspiration by checking out the Ss Peter & Paul Catholic Primary School website here. Ask us about creating a bespoke school website design for you by clicking here.
The latest update for School Jotter 2 is an exciting one: all School Jotter 2 users now have access to literally hundreds of clipart images!
The massive bank of images, accessible through your School Jotter 2 account, includes everything from images of the Ancient Romans to seasons, arctic animals to superheroes. You can use them either as part of classroom activities – or to enhance your School Jotter 2 school website.
To access the new School Jotter 2 bank of clipart images, just log in to your account, click on My Site from the top tabs, and then choose My Files from the Manage drop-down menu on the right hand side. Your files should all appear in the window – but you’ll notice at the top of the window the new Clipart button.
Click on Clipart – and then you can choose from the hundreds of images throughout the dozens of categories on the left! You can download any of the images simply by clicking Download underneath your chosen image.
We’ve tried to cover popular topics being covered by classes this term – and also provide you with images that will enhance your school website. Of course – these are all free to the School Jotter user, to use whenever you want!
On their School Jotter 2 website, Wimborne Infant School describe themselves as a ‘safe, bright, airy and colourful school’ – and, using School Jotter 2 to its full potential, this is the impression you get when you visit their website.
The Southsea, Hampshire school has gone for a background on their website that reflects their locale: all British townhouses and local wildlife. The content they’ve uploaded to the website equally reflects the ethos of the school: bright, fun pictures of children learning, and a warm friendly, welcome letter from the Headteacher.
One of the strongest features of the website is on the homepage – Wimborne Infant School have put a comment from Ofsted there, along with a parent’s thoughts on the school. This is perfect for attracting potential pupils’ parents.
Some of the school website is yet to be finished – but Wimborne Infant School have made a very promising start.
If you’re looking for a brighter, more engaging primary school website – send us a message via our Contact page. Take a look at Wimborne Infant School’s website here.
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.
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.
If you wanted an example of a school website that gets across information simply but effectively, look no further than Westfield Primary School’s School Jotter website. With a clean, attractive design and with just five menu options, getting around it isn’t a problem at all.
This is is great if you’re a parent who doesn’t want to be bamboozled by content or baffled by a complicated website layout. It makes the Cottingham, Hull school look welcoming too – especially as the school building itself forms part of the bespoke design.
For those who do want a bit more in-depth information about the school – parents, Ofsted inspectors – they can find all they need in the Office section. Here, there’s the latest Ofsted report, the school’s prospectus and information regarding school dinners, term dates and school policies.
One of the best features – which you don’t see very often – is the ability to search the website, with the search bar at the top right of every page. It’s no wonder Westfield Primary School got an Outstanding by Ofsted – with such an outstanding website!
You can view Westfield Primary School’s website by clicking here.
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.
