Primary School Web Sites

[speckytecky]

I'm a techie in a primary school. Currently our web site is built and maintained by a parent who does web development for a living. Who does it in most other primaries?

[Roopert]

Most of mine have paid for an external company to create their website - business opportunity! Wish they hadnt all got them now

[bensewell]

Loads of Primarys in Barnsley use either webanywhere or something called IK that BT give out for free, slow and crap though.

Other schools use content management systems such as Joomla and its managed by the IT dept.

[AnnDroyd]

I was paid a few hundred pounds to knock up a small, simple site for a local primary school - contact details, photo galleries, bit about the school etc.

They were really pleased with it and found it more personalised than an IK site.

Then they tried to take over and maintain it themselves. Filled it with frontpage scolling banners, flashing java gimmicks, etc. Now it looks crap!

[jimmy2007]

most schools use webanywhere in our area too. however some schools develope their own but alot of the time look cheap

[SteveB_NI]

Currently on my job list is to design / produce a website for a local primary school who we share links with.

My plan is to make it fully PHP / MySQL based - thus removing the need for the staff to make any raw code adjustments as it will all be via the online Content Management System.

I plan to allow them to enter details of school events, policies, clubs & societies etc - this reduces the burden on me but also complies with their desire for an ease-of-use site.

The only problem is finding some time to do the coding work!

[SteveB_NI]

Currently on my job list is to design / produce a website for a local primary school who we share links with.

My plan is to make it fully PHP / MySQL based - thus removing the need for the staff to make any raw code adjustments as it will all be via the online Content Management System.

I plan to allow them to enter details of school events, policies, clubs & societies etc - this reduces the burden on me but also complies with their desire for an ease-of-use site.

The only problem is finding some time to do the coding work!

[webman]

@SteveB_NI: Why not just use an existing CMS like Website Baker, Drupal or Joomla?

[FN-GM]

The primary up the road from me uses Microsoft Word, the site doest look professional at all and it is maintained by the head teacher.

[crc-ict]

Currently on my job list is to design / produce a website for a local primary school who we share links with.

My plan is to make it fully PHP / MySQL based - thus removing the need for the staff to make any raw code adjustments as it will all be via the online Content Management System.

One of my schools (primary) has a website set up like this by my predecessor and they want to get rid of it because they say its too inflexible and too difficult to add things to it!

IMHO, for a primary, the Frontpage approach works well for their needs.

[SteveB_NI]

@SteveB_NI: Why not just use an existing CMS like Website Baker, Drupal or Joomla?

I would do but I wanted to use it as a personal project of mine too - to allow me to develop my web coding skills - especially with regards to PHP and MySQL.

I aim to make it as easily updatable as possible - but I understand flexibility is always going to be an issue.

[contink]

Just an observation but one thing that works for Primary Schools if they want ANY control over the content is KISS... ie: get everything setup and use a word like WYSIWYG editor for specific areas.

Beyond that you need a tech capable individual willing/able to spend the time doing it..

One way of looking at headteachers, and/or staff doing cack handed versions... At least they're TRYING something new and not just ignoring it completely.

[FN-GM]

I offered to maintain the website for the local primary school mentioned i early on, they refused. Its not like i am a complete stranger to them. I used to go to the school i know the head and deputy, my little brother goes there i spent a few days doing coursework there. I had a few pretty good designs for a new site but they refused.

[TechSupp]

I cover four primaries and their websites are designed\managed as follows:

1 Site built by me using frontpage and kept simple so they could update it on a regular basis. Reality, I now update the site when required, newsletters each week, photos etc when given.

2 Site built by myself, to be updated by myself. Reality, still waiting for info from school to update it with.

3 Site designed by school but written by external company. School supplies data for site to be updated by external company (one man band)
Reality, site doesnt get updated regularily due to cost of external company updating site.

4 Site now uses ProCMS to allow office staff to update site with news etc. Reality, site not updated regularily due to office staff not having time or technical ability to use the software.

[eean]

I use Plone for our website. It's backend is quite complicated, so it is quite difficult to set up but the front end is very easy and intuitive. I chose it because it has a permissions system, allowing all staff to update their bit without wrecking the rest of it. Eventually, kids will be able to add content (but staff will approve it before it goes live!)