Does your school website give a great impression of your school? If the answer is NO.... then read on.

Your school may have already developed an initial website, perhaps using a template or completing it via inhouse efforts. Or you may be from a school that is still looking to develop it's first web site. In either situation SchoolSite can be of assistance.

SchoolSite offers a professional custom design service for your school website, backed up with a hands-on 1:1 consultancy service.

The service provides both Headteachers, staff and schools an excellent solution to website requirements as well as total piece of mind via a full support service.

Reasons why a website is so valuable?

The reasons why a school website is so important and can be so valuable is due to it's potential to communicate to many different sectors very effectively. [See below]. The knock on effect of this communication network is an invaluable feedback loop that allows the school's online presence to grow and grow.

What can a school website do for your school?

Show your school achievements
Communicate effectively with parents and the school community
Offer a pupil website they can work on and develop
Improve and encourage IT learning
Communicate internally to staff and pupils
Offer a platform for school clubs and the PTA
Communicate with the worldwide web community

Built and designed correctly a school website can be an excellent communication tool as well as a great learning platform for pupils.

Unlike some companies who offer template solutions [this would include schemes such as local authority LGFL sites for example] the service offered is a complete professional design service. To design and build for your school a unique website to suit the unique needs of each individual school.

A template website is when there may be one main website designed in a way that slight variations of it can be made so that it can be reused by hundreds of other people.

SchoolSite is totally bespoke and is not a template solution. It is a personal custom design service. For more information about bespoke custom websites V template websites

Bespoke Web Design V Templates?

Some companies offer templated websites whilst SchoolSite is a custom design solution. For those new to the world of web design it's quite important to understand the key differences between the two. A simple explanation and a table of pros and cons has been created below.

What is a template website?

Is a basic design with certain parameters that can be edited. For a template to work certain elements must always stay the same and hereby lies one of the major limitations of template websites.

Template websites are often cheaper than custom built bespoke websites and this is because the same template can be reused hundreds or even thousands of times for various sites with only slight variations.

What is a bespoke website?

A bespoke or custom designed website is exactly that, a website geared specifically for each clients individual needs and is thus a unique design solution. Some of the pros and cons of bespoke design and template websites are given in the table below.

Bespoke/ Custom Web Design	Templated Websites
For	For
Advanced design possible Unique for each client Implementation of any media Pages structured to needs Can adapt to changes Full control of layout design Professional looking Fits individual requirements Greater perceived value and better image presented. Full control over navigation Full control over look of site Scalable to needs	Can be a cheaper solution Minimal design input Already exists so quick to implement One design covers all
Against	Against
Can be slightly more expensive More time required to design More time to build	Can appear less professional Site not unique Can be inflexible Limited scalability Limited control over look of site Limited control over navigation Lower perceived value

About : SchoolSite is a web design consultancy service available to schools provided by Gareth Davies of GSINC Ltd.

The service is a one stop website solution for your school, giving you a single point of contact for all your school website needs.

From domain name registration, web hosting, or an assessment of your school site to the design to a build, rebuild or ongoing support you can be assured of total piece of mind.

SchoolSite offers a professional custom web design service for your school that is backed up with a hands-on 1:1 consultancy service.

The service offered is a personal 1:1 service for schools and colleges in and around the Greater London and Home Counties area. The reach is geographically dictated so it is always possible to provide both high quality professional web design, and on-site support when required.

The service provides both Headteachers and schools an excellent solution to school website requirements as well as total piece of mind via a full support service.

** For a sample of the standard of design you will received visit the Preston Park Primary School website by clicking here.

Whether you are looking for your first school's website or looking to revamp and improve your current website then feel free to call on 01923 284992.

About Gareth Davies

A senior web designer with many years design experience and for the last 5 years company director of design consultancy GSINC Ltd. The company has been involved in wide ranging projects including web design solutions at both Primary and FE College level.

As a web designer Gareth Davies has over the past few years worked on many multi media projects and has received awards from International design based Flash forums. Gareth has written tutorials for young designers, contributed many articles to e-zines over the years including many how to's on website design, the use of audio and website promotion. In addition to this in 2002 Gareth even worked on the design of the fascia for a British Police Car.

Having personally designed and built scores of websites over the last 5 years as well as project managing and consulting on advanced E-Commerce websites Gareth is well placed to help your School with it's website.

Educational / Learning

Before becoming a design consultant Gareth spent time working in student services at Norwich FE college where he specialising in helping disabled students at the college with IT and Art. In addition to this a further 2 years were spent working in both adult day care and training centre environments working in IT, Art and Music Departments as well as spending time working with teenage young offenders.

You can benefit from a one on one hands on website consultancy service

Available to assist Schools in and around the London and home counties area.

To contact Gareth about school web design and support services call 01923 284992 or alternatively email info@school-site.co.uk

Profile : The aim is to make available to your school, the best web based solutions out there.

The key services available include the following

Website appraisals and recommendations
Website design and build using a range of technology including Macromedia Flash
Pupil based webpages
Integration of audio or video for online use and streaming.
E-newsletter set up to send to parents
In house editing applications
Ideas for educational web related school initiatives

The Internet and web based technology is every changing. A useful role for your school is to have a consultant to keep you informed of new developments.

In addition to this a consultant can make available the best of the new technology for your school's use as well as implement design changes when required.

Over the course of a year a school may receive a number of ongoing suggestions of tools, ideas and initiatives that could be of interest.

The best of these can be implemented into the website for you.

It is beneficial for decision makers in schools to be kept up to date and well informed when it comes to web based matters. With clear information and support the school can make better well informed choices when it comes to their website.

"My role is to find the best solutions for my clients, and more often than not, to find the most effective way of implementing them." G. Davies.

FAQs : Frequently Asked Questions

1.What are the main types of commercial websites?

Informative or brochure style websites.
These are often built using static HTML or Macromedia Flash or both. This site is nearly all static HTML with the exception of the small Flash Movie on the top right of the Homepage. Brochure sites present information to users.
Lead Generating websites
The usual technology can include Flash, Html, Asp, Php. This applies to commercial websites that are designed to generate sales enquiries. A mortgage website with an apply now form would be a cut and dry 'Lead Generating' Website. On a more general level some Brochure sites have a lead generating element if they have an online form or want users to sign up for newsletters.
Content Management Systems or Databases
Associated technology is very often Asp, Php, Perl/Cgi to name a few]. These are dynamically driven websites that either allow webmaster to add and change pages or require the build of a database that can be activated to provide results pages to users.
E-Commerce Websites
The main scripting language frequently used includes Asp, Php and Perl/Cgi. Websites that sell online and take payment are E-Commerce websites.

2. What are the pros and cons of each?

A Macromedia Flash website can be great for presenting brochure style websites. It's ability to integrate sound and video, as well as permitting smooth animations makes it more attention grabbing and thus making the website appear more lively. However it can require more support to update certain elements.

Pros: Great for displaying information in eye catching ways, and good for implementing a wide range of multimedia. Cons: Less flexible for inhouse editing than basic Html pages.

Content Management Systems or CMS is generally most appropriate if you have relatively large website. Corporate companies will generally need content management systems so that many staff can access and edit pages on the website simultaneously. Some Universities and FE Colleges have used content management systems for their websites but equally some still seem to manage without them. Content Management Systems work best where there is a strong will to run the website virtually totally in house and for it to change often.

Pros: Good for large organisations and ones with alot of content changes. Cons: Start up costs are often greater than brochure sites as they require both design and development work.

Simple Content Management - an alternative to a full CMS website system is to make certain areas of the website available to edit in-house and to achieve this you don't need a content management system. It is possible to set up software to allow certain areas of the website to be easy to edit such as a news or staff page and/or pages for the pupils to work on.

Pros: Easy to set up and relatively inexpensive. Cons: Is not well suited on sites where lots of content will change all over the website on a day to day basis

Database driven websites typically store key information in a database and then the required information is drawn out via a query.

For example if you had a holiday website the database will contain the holidays, the dates, prices and booking info etc. So when a user searches they are returned with a list of information based on their query.

So for example if you were on a travel website and were looking to find a holiday for 14 nights in Taba, Egypt leaving on the 28th of June from Gatwick Airport. The database would send back all the information relating to that query. IE All the available holidays that relate your query. The pages that you are presented form a database are what we refer to as created 'on the fly'. This implies the page only appears as a result of your query and was not a webpage that was published and placed on the website in advance.

Pros: Fast and powerful for delivering results and information. Can provide advanced information solutions Cons: Relatively high start up costs, can be quite technical and often requires more support.

E-Commerce websites are typically less relevant to schools, but what they do offer is the ability to browse items for sale on an online store and to be able to add required items to purchase to a shopping cart. Once you are finished with your shopping you go to an electronic online checkout where you can pay for your goods using a debit or credit card. Most people will have used an E-Commerce website at some point, especially if they have bought any presents on Amazon.com!

Pros: Allows Webmasters to sell online to make money online from their website Cons: Relatively high start up costs, quite time consuming and can require alot of ongoing attention to ensure good operation at all times.

3. Can the pupils become involved?

The answer is a very definite YES and this is actively encouraged. It is possible to add a pupils area [or site] that they can work on and for them to develop their own website as part of the whole. This is one clear educational advantage of a school website and opens up many learning opportunities.

4. Can we look after and edit our own website in house?

Most areas of a school website are editable in house. If there are key areas that will need to be edited these are usually identified from the outset so the design can ensure these pages are as easy as possible to change in house. The interface is very easy to use, and software is installed on a school PC for you, to allow editing of agreed webpages. You are also offered an onsite tutorial in how to use the system.

5. What are the approximate costs involved?

Every website is custom built so pricing does vary depending on requirements. However it is possible to build a very professional looking main school website and to integrate a mini pupils site with a budget of a few thousand pounds.

6. Can we have year round technical and design support?

Yes. This is recommended for schools setting up their first website. Your school can then benefit from full on site support and tuition as well as having the piece of mind that there is professional design input there should you need it. As part of the support you can receive up to date feedback regarding the latest technological advancements as well as recommendations for useful tools and software. Please call for more information.

7. What is the process of building a website - how long does it usually take?

Once a website is agreed the process is as follows.

Review and assessment of schools needs and vision
School provides initial text content and images [if required digital photography can be undertaken on the school's behalf]
Design blueprints made up with navigation ideas
Feedback from school and changes made as required
Second blueprint made available and website navigation finalised
Website build. A test version is then made available online
Website completed and any changes required are made
Website hosting and any emails are configured and tested
Website is given final testing and subject to approval it is placed online.

To contact Gareth about school web design and support services call 01923 284992 or alternatively email info@school-site.co.uk

Contact :

Gareth Davies - School Site Consultant

Providing web design and consultancy services to schools and colleges in the Greater London and Home Counties Area.

If you have any questions or would like to arrange an appointment:

Please Call: 01923 284992

Postal Address:

GSINC Ltd Long Lane House, Long Lane, Heronsgate, Herts, WD3 5BT