How do you use your school website

[jamiess]

Hi all,

We have been approached by our head to create a new website even though ours isn't all that bad heart of england . I was wondering what features get the most use on your websites.

Many Thanks

Jamie

[garethedmondson]

Nowt wrong with your current one.

Gareth

[kmount]

Did your head provide a requirements specification or anything other than "I want a new website"?

Your current joomla one looks quite good, I'd find out more of his request first personally.

If it's a new look he's after a theme on the current one might be good enough!

[steve]

We've had this request in the past and without the head making clear what they want it's going to be near on impossible to do. Is there another site they have seen that they want it to look like / have similar content to?

Inevitably content is king, without the head telling you what they want on the site and telling the other staff they must get it to you, you're on a hiding to nothing.

Maybe its time to get out the crystal ball..

[jamiess]

I think the main thing is he wants the content restructuring, more engaging and in some places finishing. We have a web developer and graphic designer in our team and he likes to keep them busy with extra projects. I agree with steve more staff involvement is key.

[MK-2]

get staff/parents involved. is the site to be used to attract prospective parents/pupils or just for current parents to get info?
does he want content updated daily/hourly/live and if so what content goes on.
what are the goals of the new site to be? if a section is for new parents, what should it do, should it have a prospectus download, a virtual tour, etc?
if a section is about governors, do you have a list of names, or a list of names and short history on them. do they do the history or will the school.

i dont think it will be as simple as "make it look better". as others have said, heads will want the world in a website. unless they can nail down what they want i wouldn't start, or two months down a redesign line you will get "actually could we make that do this instead, and teacher x says they dont like colour scheme y"