School Website Design: A Requirements Checklist

Start with the people the website needs to serve

School websites may serve parents, students, staff and the public. List the main users and the information they need, such as school details, contact information, news or admissions information. Each school has different content and workflows, so confirm requirements before assuming features from a template.

Plan pages, languages and content owners

List the expected pages, an owner for each, the language versions, and who will supply text and images. If more languages are needed, define translation, review, updates and approvals. Decide who can edit content, who reviews it, and how accounts are handled when staff change roles.

Check mobile access and the editing workflow

Review important pages on common phones and computers. Check navigation, readable text, downloads and contact details. If staff need to update content themselves, clarify the editing interface, permissions, training and support. The presence of a CMS alone does not mean every editing need is covered.

Inventory the existing website and migration work

For a redesign, gather the existing pages, files, domain access and URLs that may still receive visits. Decide what to keep, rewrite or remove, and ask how old URLs will map to new pages. Back up content and files, and clarify who owns migration and launch tasks.

Put accessibility, performance and privacy requirements in the brief

List the checks the school needs for keyboard use, text contrast, image alternatives, loading experience, and readable tables or documents. Confirm who will test and fix issues. If the site collects personal information, includes student or parent accounts, admissions forms or school-system integrations, define data flows, access, security and privacy responsibilities separately. Assess these against the actual system and applicable requirements; do not infer compliance from a standard website quote.

Prepare these details before requesting a quote

• Website goals, key users and approximate page list
• Required languages, content approvals and update owners
• Current domain, old website, pages and file inventory
• Required features, integrations and data-collection workflows
• Accessibility, privacy, security and launch acceptance needs
• Responsibilities for content, migration, training, maintenance and support

Separate essential requirements from optional improvements. Ask each provider to confirm what is included, what needs further assessment, and what is outside scope. This is a procurement checklist; it does not claim that Chillax Techie has delivered school projects or confirmed a school-specific service. Delivery capability and pricing need to be assessed against the actual brief.

If you are comparing providers, use these criteria for Hong Kong web design companies and review the general website development service and scoping process. You can start a conversation about your requirements.