distinctiveweb

What makes a Church School's website distinctive?

There are a lot of really good school websites - colourful, interactive, informative and attractive - but does your website also help you proclaim your church school identity and Christian ethos? Here are some ideas taken from a survey of church school websites in the Diocese of Ely, showing how different schools have addressed this question. Picking up some of these suggestions may depend upon the expertise of your webmaster, but others are relatively simple to engage with.

Clicking on the small photographs below will take you to the school's website - although we cannot guarantee that the school's page has not changed in appearance!

A simple question to start with - what is your school called on your website? Are you "Church of England" or "C of E", or even a string of initials which unwitting readers might have problems interpreting? It may take up more space - but your full title "Church of England School " is best! Worst case scenario is obviously no mention of your church school title in any form!

A few websites open with sound as well as visuals. Here the distinctiveness prize has to go to James Bradfield School at Stoke Ferry, which unfolds to the sound of the children singing the hymn "If I were a butterfly..". Equally impresive, the collective worship page has "I the Lord of sea and sky" and a carousel of images of special services and acts of worship!

Some church schools which are physically close to their parish church have included a church photograph in their opening display of images. Here at Guilden Morden you can see both the church and, in the foreground, the school playing field. The website also includes the diocesan crest alongside that of the local authority and a direct link through to the diocesan website.

Also helpful and important is a link to your local parish church - this could include a link to their website, if they have one, and information about church links, activities and services could be carried on your site under the news items. Here at Burrough Green the church link is on the front page of the website.

Are there any special features of your church school life which are literally distinctive to you? St Peter's in Wisbech has their school prayer, written by the children, in pride of place on the website front page....

.......while Anthony Curton in Walpole St Peter has a gallery of Christian RE displays from all of their classes.

If you have a moving gallery of images on your website, do some of them point to your church school identitiy? Here we've caught a snapshot of St Anne's Godmanchester and their record of a visit from Bishop David.

Look again at what your website tells prospective parents about your church foundation and its importance to your school's life. This could be included in a variety of places such as the "about our school" section", or, as here at Linton Infants, on the headteacher's welcome page.

And if you were justly proud of your SIAS report, talk about it on your website - why should OFSTED get all the publicity?!

There could have been many other schools included in this photo gallery, so our apologies to those who also could have been selected and were not. We hope there are some ideas here to inspire you, and if you are doing something that nobody else has thought of, then let us know!