Not only is it now a statutory duty for state schools in England to have a website, but that website must be compliant with DfE regulations. From outdated information to lack of contact details, we take a look at five of the most common compliance mistakes on school websites.
Outdated Information
Whether it’s your policies, phone numbers, current staff details. term dates or newsletters, many websites fail to be fully updated, leaving parents to rely on outdated information.
Missing Contact Information
Parents often report finding it difficult to get in touch because the contact information is either missing or difficult to find. The main school number, address and email should be displayed on both the home page and a dedicated Contact Us tab. Key staff numbers can be included in the Contact Us tab.
Insufficient Statutory Information
There is certain statutory information that schools are required to display on their website, such as their safeguarding policy, curriculum, admissions, and SEND policy. Using a dedicated websites for schools company, such as https://www.fsedesign.co.uk/websites-for-schools, can be helpful, as they’ll be able to tell you what needs to be included.
Missing School Uniform Information
Both maintained and academy schools must publish information on school uniform requirements. This includes links to a dedicated retailer as well as advice on finding second hand items.
Lack of Ofsted Reports
All websites for schools should contain the latest Ofsted report as this is legally required for state schools in England.
You can check the DfE website for a full list of requirements for school websites.