Your school website is more than just a static brochure, it can change and evolve with every new student cohort to reflect the current face of your school.  Often the first impression for prospective parents, students, and Ofsted inspectors alike, it should be clear, compliant, and full of personality (as well as making it easy to find the required information). At Greenhouse School Websites, we work with schools across the UK, and beyond, to build beautiful, functional websites that tick all the boxes –  both statutory and creative.

Here are our top tips to ensure your school website not only meets the latest Department for Education (DfE) requirements but also captures the heart of your school community.

First, the essentials: DfE website requirements

1. Let’s start with the must-haves. The DfE has a specific list of content that all maintained schools and academies are required to publish online. Our FREE Ofsted checklist download can help you to ensure you have everything you need to have on your website. We also offer a First Impressions service you can use for a report on your school website’s current status. 

Beyond compliance

Once the statutory information is in place, it’s time to bring your school to life. The best school websites reflect the vibrant personalities, successes, and daily happenings of your community. Here are some extra features that make a real difference:

2. Celebrate student achievements

From maths Olympiad winners to sports day heroes, showcasing student success is a great way to boost morale and promote school pride. A dedicated “Student Spotlight” section can highlight achievements both in and out of school. You can also add previous students into the mix to show how they continue to blossom from the strong grounding given at your school. 

3. News and events

An active news section keeps your community informed and engaged. Use it to share:

– Class projects

– Educational trips

– Guest speaker visits

– PTA events

– Student achievements

– Drama show ticket sales information

4. Dynamic photo galleries

Parents and prospective families love seeing photos of children enjoying learning and having fun. Keep it GDPR-compliant, of course –  but don’t underestimate the power of a smiling classroom snapshot! If you want to avoid using student photos contact us to discuss our AI photography packages for the perfect blend of real life and privacy.

5. Staff introductions

As well as the “Who’s who?” page which schools often have on the website, you can add some more personality with accompanying short videos or interviews (led by students is even more engaging!) or simply adding each staff member’s favourite food/film/song for something extra to help your school stand out. 

6. Virtual tours or welcome videos

Especially helpful for new starters or prospective parents, a short video can offer a warm glimpse into school life. We offer a range of options from campus maps to virtual tours and professionally shot videos.

7. Homework & learning platforms

If you use online tools like Google Classroom or Purple Mash, link to them clearly from your homepage banner or Quick Links bar. It saves parents time and reinforces digital learning access.

8. A message from the headteacher

This is your chance to welcome visitors personally. A heartfelt message – updated termly or at least yearly –  helps to reinforce your school’s values, vision, and warmth.

9. Keep it fresh and functional

Making sure your site is mobile-friendly (we take care of that for you!), and regularly updated is a must. Visitors will keep returning for everything from new dinner menus to photo galleries from the latest school trips and special events. You may also want to have a community focus by adding important local dates to the calendar as well as your school ones – the village fayre or local youth club information for example. This can also help to engage local organisations which can also potentially add to revenue or raffle prize donations for the PTA!

10. Keep it fun and authentic

Your school website has a lot of jobs to do – but above all, it should reflect your community. Yes, it must be compliant. But it should also be alive with the energy of your pupils, the passion of your staff, and the achievements of your school. Think of it as your digital front door – always open, always welcoming.

If you’re unsure whether your current site is up to scratch, or you are looking for a full redesign, we are here to help.