Top 10 features every school website MUST have

In today’s digital-first world, a school’s website is far more than an online presence—it’s a vital communication tool, a reflection of the school’s ethos, and often the first impression for prospective families. For parents, students, and staff, it serves as a central hub for accessing important information, connecting with the school community, and engaging with daily activities. A well-designed website can enhance trust, improve enrolment processes, and even build a stronger sense of belonging among its audience.

Yet, not all school websites are created equal. Many suffer from outdated designs, poor usability, or a lack of key features, leaving users frustrated and disengaged. To stand out and provide real value, a school website must be thoughtfully designed, aiming for both aesthetics and functionally. From seamless navigation to secure portals, the right features can transform a website into a powerful tool for communication and engagement.

In this article, we’ll explore the top 10 essential features every school website should include, helping you understand how these elements can not only improve user experience but also position your school as a modern, connected, and forward-thinking institution.

1. Responsive design

In an era where smartphones and tablets are everywhere, ensuring your school’s website is fully responsive is no longer optional—it’s essential. A responsive design ensures that your website automatically adapts to different screen sizes and devices, providing an optimal user experience whether accessed on a desktop computer, tablet, or mobile phone. Yet, many of the schools that approach our website design company come with websites that are not responsive.

Why does responsive design matter for schools?

Parents, students, and staff are often on the go, checking the website for term dates, newsletters, or announcements from their mobile devices. A site that isn’t mobile-friendly risks frustrating users with clunky navigation, distorted layouts, or difficult-to-read text. This could reflect poorly on the school, making it seem outdated or out of touch with modern technology.

From a technical standpoint, responsive websites are also favoured by search engines like Google, which prioritise mobile-friendly sites in their rankings. This means a responsive design not only enhances usability but also improves the website’s visibility online, making it easier for prospective families to find your school.

At Parrot Creative, we ensure every school website we design is fully responsive, delivering a seamless experience across all devices. This commitment to mobile-first design reflects the dynamic nature of school communities and the importance of accessibility in today’s fast-paced world.

2. Intuitive navigation

A well-designed school website should make finding information effortless. Intuitive navigation ensures that users can quickly and easily locate the content they need, whether it’s term dates, staff contact details, or upcoming events. For parents, students, and staff, this ease of use is crucial—nobody wants to spend unnecessary time searching for vital information.

How to create intuitive navigation

Effective navigation starts with a clear menu structure. Key sections such as “Term Dates”, “About Us,” “Admissions,” “Policies,” and “Contact” should be prominently displayed and organised logically. Dropdown menus can be used to group related pages together, but it’s important to avoid overwhelming users with too many options. Simplicity and clarity are critical to reducing the number of clicks between the user and their desired destination.

Search functionality is another key element of intuitive navigation. A prominently placed search bar allows users to type in keywords and be directed to the relevant page instantly, saving time and reducing frustration. Breadcrumb trails, which show users their location within the site’s hierarchy, are another feature that improves navigation, particularly on websites with extensive content or a large page hierarchy.

When designing school websites, Parrot Creative focuses on creating navigation systems that are not only functional but also visually appealing. By prioritising usability and accessibility during our user journey mapping, we ensure that your website serves as an efficient resource for your entire school community.

3. Accessibility features

Accessibility is no longer a “nice-to-have” feature—it’s a necessity. A school website must be inclusive, ensuring that all users, regardless of their abilities, can easily navigate and interact with its content. With many schools serving diverse communities, this commitment to accessibility reflects a school’s values of inclusivity and equal opportunity.

How to make a school website accessible

Accessibility features include tools and adjustments that make the website usable for individuals with disabilities. These might include screen reader compatibility for visually impaired users, high-contrast colour schemes for those with vision difficulties, and adjustable text sizes to improve readability. Providing descriptive alt text for images, clear link titles, and accessible navigation options like keyboard-only controls are also essential.

Beyond functionality, accessibility is about compliance. In the UK, schools are legally required to ensure their websites adhere to accessibility standards, such as the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG). Non-compliance not only risks alienating users but could also lead to legal repercussions.

At Parrot Creative, we design websites that prioritise accessibility from the ground up. By incorporating tools like accessibility widgets and adhering to WCAG standards, we create websites that are more welcoming and functional for everyone in your school community. Accessibility is more than a design consideration—it’s a reflection of your school’s commitment to inclusivity.

4. News and announcements section

Keeping parents, students, and staff informed is one of the primary functions of a school website, and a dedicated news and announcements section is the perfect tool for this. Whether it’s sharing updates about school events, term dates, or important policy changes, this section serves as the central hub for communication.

Does a school website need a news page?

A regularly updated news section demonstrates that your school is active, engaged, and committed to keeping its community informed. It’s also a great way to showcase achievements, such as student awards, sports victories, or successful fundraising events, reinforcing the positive aspects of school life to current and prospective families.

For maximum effectiveness, the news and announcements section should be prominently displayed on the homepage or easily accessible via the main navigation. Posts should be categorised and tagged, making it simple for users to filter updates relevant to them. Integrating an RSS feed or email subscription option ensures users can stay updated without constantly checking the site.

If your school doesn’t have the ability to write frequent news articles or updates, why not integrate a social feed? You can easily include a social account such as Facebook and display the content directly on your website. Thus, only posting announcements in one place, but having them appear across multiple platforms.

At Parrot Creative, we design news sections that are not only visually engaging but also easy to manage. If needed, we can also integrate social media account feeds. With intuitive content management systems, schools can quickly post updates and maintain an active digital presence, strengthening communication and fostering trust within the school community.

5. Events calendar

An events calendar is an essential feature for any school website, serving as a convenient and centralised resource for parents, students, and staff to keep track of important dates. From term times and parent-teacher evenings to sports fixtures and school plays, a well-organised calendar ensures the entire school community stays informed and engaged.

What to consider when creating an events calendar

To be effective, the calendar should be visually clear and easy to navigate. Users should be able to view events by day, week, or month, with the ability to click on individual events for more details. Colour-coding events by category—such as academic, extracurricular, or administrative—can make the calendar even more user-friendly. Integration with popular calendar tools like Google Calendar or iCal allows users to sync events directly to their personal devices, ensuring they never miss an important date.

An events calendar supports current families and serves as a valuable resource for prospective families exploring your website. It demonstrates the breadth of activities your school offers and highlights your commitment to maintaining a vibrant and active community.

At Parrot Creative, we design dynamic and easily editable events calendars that seamlessly integrate into your school’s website. With intuitive management tools, staff can update and manage events effortlessly, ensuring the calendar remains a reliable source of information for everyone.

6. Staff directory

A well-organised staff directory is an invaluable feature for any school website, fostering transparency and making it easier for parents, students, and prospective families to connect with the people who shape the school’s community. By showcasing the expertise and dedication of your teaching and administrative staff, the directory builds trust and reinforces your school’s reputation.

Creating a professional school staff directory

An effective staff directory should include key details such as staff names, roles, and contact information, along with optional extras like photos, qualifications, or a brief bio. This not only humanises the team but also helps parents and visitors quickly identify and reach the right person for their needs, whether it’s a teacher, school counsellor, or administrative officer.

To ensure privacy, schools can limit the visibility of sensitive information or provide contact forms instead of direct email addresses. Organising staff profiles by department or role improves usability, especially for larger schools with many team members.

At Parrot Creative, we design intuitive and visually appealing staff directories that are easy to update and manage. Our solutions strike the perfect balance between functionality and professionalism, ensuring that your directory serves as a helpful resource while reflecting the values and ethos of your school.

7. Secure parent and student portals

A secure parent and student portal is an essential feature for modern school websites, providing a centralised and private space for accessing personalised information. These portals streamline communication between the school and its community, offering convenience and efficiency for both parents and students.

What is a parent and student portal?

Parent portals can include features such as viewing grades, attendance records, and fee payment histories, as well as accessing important forms and school policies. For students, the portal might offer assignment submissions, timetables, and links to learning resources. By housing these functions in a secure environment, schools can enhance engagement and ensure sensitive data is protected.

Security is paramount when implementing these portals. Features like role-based access, encrypted connections, and secure login processes are critical to safeguarding user data and maintaining compliance with data protection regulations such as GDPR.

At Parrot Creative, we specialise in integrating parent and student portals with your school’s website. Moreover, our designs prioritise security, usability, and functionality, ensuring that users can access the information they need easily and confidently. By providing a streamlined and secure platform, a school parent or student portal can contribute to a more connected and engaged school community.

8. Online forms and applications

Streamlining administrative tasks is a key goal for any school, and online forms are a powerful tool for achieving this. Whether it’s for admissions, permission slips, feedback surveys, or event registrations, online forms make it simple for parents and students to submit information quickly and securely.

Why switch to online forms?

Online forms reduce paperwork, saving time for both staff and parents while minimising the risk of lost documents. They also allow for easy organisation and retrieval of submitted data, which can be automatically stored in secure digital systems. Features like autofill, dropdown menus, and file upload options further enhance the user experience, ensuring the process is as seamless as possible.

For schools, these forms can be tailored to suit specific needs, such as integrating payment systems for event fees or using conditional logic to show relevant fields based on user responses. Ensuring forms are mobile-friendly is crucial, as many parents will access them on their phones.

At Parrot Creative, we build custom online form solutions that are user-friendly and GDPR-compliant; thus, safeguarding sensitive information. By incorporating these forms into your school’s website, we help reduce administrative burdens while improving communication and engagement with your community.

9. Media galleries

Media galleries are a valuable addition to any school website, offering a visual showcase of the vibrant life and activities within your school. Photos and videos bring your community to life, providing prospective families with a glimpse of what makes your school unique, while fostering pride among current students and parents.

Creating an effective media gallery

An effective media gallery should be well-organised, featuring categories such as events, sports, arts, and everyday classroom moments. High-quality images and videos can highlight achievements, celebrate special occasions, and reflect your school’s ethos and values. Embedding video tours or performances adds an engaging dimension, particularly for prospective families exploring your school remotely.

Usability is key for a successful media gallery. Features like filters, tags, and search functions make it easy for users to find specific content. Galleries should also be optimised for fast loading times, ensuring a smooth experience across all devices.

At Parrot Creative, we design dynamic and visually appealing media galleries that seamlessly integrate with your school website. Our galleries are built to load fast and be easy to update, allowing staff to keep the content fresh and reflective of the school’s ever-evolving story.

10. Search Engine Optimisation (SEO)

A great school website is only effective if people can find it. Search Engine Optimisation (SEO) ensures that your site ranks highly on search engines like Google, making it easy for prospective families and other visitors to discover your school online.

How to improve SEO of a school website

SEO involves optimising various elements of your website to improve visibility. This includes using relevant keywords in page titles, meta descriptions, and content, ensuring fast page loading speeds, and creating a mobile-friendly design. Local SEO is particularly important for schools, helping your site appear in searches for terms like “schools near me” or “[Your Town] primary school.” Moreover, some parents might be using the search engine to find specific pages of your website, e.g. “[School Name] term dates”.

Beyond technical optimisations, producing high-quality, engaging content—such as blogs, news updates, and event pages—helps improve your site’s ranking while keeping it relevant and informative for visitors. Linking to authoritative websites and ensuring accessibility compliance also contribute to better SEO performance.

At Parrot Creative, we incorporate SEO best practices into every school website we design. From keyword research to technical enhancements, our approach ensures that your website not only looks great but also performs well in search results. A well-optimised site attracts more visitors, builds trust, and ultimately helps your school stand out in a competitive digital landscape.

Conclusion

A well-designed school website is much more than a digital presence—it’s the foundation of effective communication, community engagement, and a reflection of your school’s values. By incorporating features such as responsive design, intuitive navigation, and accessibility, alongside tools like secure portals, online forms, and an events calendar, you can create a platform that truly serves the needs of your entire school community.

At Parrot Creative, we specialise in building school websites that are not only visually appealing but also functional, user-friendly, and optimised for search engines. Whether you’re looking to modernise your existing site or create something entirely new, our expertise ensures your school’s online presence stands out and delivers real results.

If you’re ready to transform your school’s website into a powerful tool for engagement and communication, contact us today. Let’s work together to create a website that reflects the unique character of your school and supports its success.