The Strategic Advantage of Redesigning Your School's Website: A Principal's Guide

Most school principals will agree that creating the best possible environment for your students, staff and community should be of paramount importance to the success of your school. It is a goal that begs a number of questions: how can the needs of students today be met? How can you attract the right audience to your school? How can current families be supported? In a world that is increasingly digital-first, having the right website to support your school is vital in shaping opinions and creating a digital footprint that attracts new families and, more importantly, helps retain the ones you already have. A website redesign is not about creating a pretty brochure site; it is a strategic investment in your school, helping you to do your job better and improving your school's reputation.

Strengthening Your School's Brand and Identity

If they're looking at your school's website for the first time on a parent night, student tour or other ‘meet and greet', you want it looking fresh and modern – not as though it was last updated when Al Gore invented the internet. If you don't like your website, your parents and prospects don't like it either. And if you aren't completely in love with your school's website, it's not a good reflection of the kind of institution you really are, the kind of education you provide, and the kind of community you are nurturing.

This means having a website that showcases the strengths of your school – the honor roll, the sports teams, the community service – so that the first impression is consistent with the other world-class standards to which you hold your staff and students. A great, visually appealing site speaks to the perception you wish your school to portray.

Enhancing Communication and Reducing Workload

An effective website is more than an information conduit: it is a communication center. As a principal, you're busy, and an updated website can make your office more efficient, reducing the number of phone calls, emails and in-person visits your staff must handle.

A well-designed, user-friendly website will help parents and students quickly find answers to common questions, download forms, find school news and more which saves time and improves the user experience. Your team will have more time to spend on more important administrative tasks, and operations will run more smoothly.

Improving Accessibility for All Users

Making sure that every student and parent has access to school information is a responsibility of any school principal. Thus, accessibility is a big deal when your school website is being redesigned today, because it is created so that the school website you design can be in compliance with web accessibility standards and could be accessible and usable for so many people, including the people with disabilities.

Making sure that your website is up to date means that all members of your community can access the information they need – including information in the languages they speak. Not only will this practice set a good example for the children in terms of good citizenship and leadership, it will equally reflect positively on yourself and your school, showing that you are determined to ensure that all students and families feel included.

Boosting Enrollment with a Competitive Edge

Many schools are constantly trying to attract new families to make up for those families who have departed. A poor website can be a major hindrance to new enrolments. Parents are used to using computers and tend to steer clear of schools whose online presence looks amateurish or unappealing. If your school does not look professional online or is difficult to navigate, prospective students might consider another school that can convey its identity more effectively online.

Web re-designs allow you to highlight what is unique about your school, whether it's your state-of-the-art facilities or your innovative curriculum or your friendly community; a vibrant, contemporary site gives you an edge over the competition, helping you attract new families and increase enrolments.

Streamlining Administration and Reporting

An up-to-date site can be integrated with other administrative-friendly tools – from online enrolment systems to event management systems and communication tools – that can save you and your staff countless hours. One day, parents will come to expect nothing less.

For example, a new website might automate services such as providing access to student information, registering for events, or receiving newsletters, thereby making those services more efficient, reducing overhead, and reducing the time you spend on administrative work so that you can spend more time leading and teaching.

Enhancing Security and Protecting Your Community

Consider the fact that your students and staff's privacy and safety is necessary. A website that is outdated may be vulnerable to cyber attacks, and you definitely want to protect your students' privacy by providing a more secure website. A redesign of your website will make it much safer by ensuring the use of upgraded security protocols.

As a principal, you are protecting your school community and investing in a safe, modern website will help you fulfill that role. It not only protects your school from any data breaches but also allows you to keep parents' information up to date. This will build a trust within the community that their child's data is safe.

Building Trust and Confidence

A well-maintained, modern website, well-run, modern school, and it can be a deciding factor for parents considering where to send their child. In turn, when your website is a smart, slick and contemporary experience, you are signaling trust and confidence in your school.

As a headteacher, having a website that you are happy to show to people boosts your professional standing, creates confidence that your school is managed effectively, and is the acid-test of your school's achievements and ambitions. Such relationships are built upon trust.

Conclusion: Growing Your School's Digital Presence

As a principal at a school, you know how important it is to be first in everything you do – with your education, in your career, and in the community where your school is located. Redesigning your website is not an online rebranding or a digital update. It is an opportunity to improve your position in your community, make your school processes more efficient, and improve your connection with the community.

A modern bespoke school website from IBA Agency will be built to fit your school like a glove. Let us make your job easier and your school stand out for all the right reasons. Call us to discuss your bespoke school website project today.