A page plan for a Nigerian private school website

Begin with what a parent needs to know

List the questions a family is likely to ask before contacting the school: where it is, which classes or levels it serves, how its admissions process works, what the current term dates are and how to reach the appropriate office. Ask the school to identify the source for each answer. A page is only useful when the information is current and somebody is responsible for correcting it.

If your school separates nursery and secondary admissions but uses one main contact route, make that arrangement clear. Families should be able to find information for the right level without guessing which office to contact. Use the school's actual structure and terminology rather than borrowing another school's menu.

• Location and campus contact
• Levels or classes served
• Current admissions steps
• Current term dates and fees information

Make a strong homepage and school overview

The homepage should identify the school by its correct public name, give its location and explain who it serves. It can point families to admissions, school information, fees or contact details. Avoid slogans that make claims about exam outcomes, rankings or student success unless the school has verified evidence and permission to publish the claim.

An About page can explain the school's history, approach, leadership or facilities using facts supplied and approved by the school. Keep the language specific. If the school describes a teaching philosophy or programme, ask the appropriate staff member to confirm the wording and make sure the page does not imply that every learner has the same experience.

Give admissions a clear destination

Use a dedicated Admissions page to explain which age groups or classes the school is considering, how a parent starts an enquiry and what the next step normally involves. If the school has application forms or assessment dates, publish the process only after admissions staff confirm it. Make it clear whether a website message is an enquiry, a submitted application or a confirmed offer of admission.

A short FAQ can answer administrative questions, but it should not replace an admissions contact route. Families may need to ask about a particular class or intake period. Include a phone, email, WhatsApp or enquiry form that the school actually monitors and explain what information is useful for the first response.

Keep curriculum, calendar and fees information findable

A school may need pages for its curriculum, learning stages, term dates, school day, uniform or transport, depending on what it offers and what families ask about. Publish details the school has verified and can maintain. Term dates and other time-sensitive notices should show the applicable academic session so old material is not mistaken for current information.

Fees can sit on an admissions page or on a separate page if the information needs more explanation. If the school chooses not to display exact amounts publicly, explain how a parent can request the current schedule. Avoid a vague “contact us for everything” when there are routine questions the school can answer directly online.

Show people and places with care

A leadership or staff page can introduce relevant team members using names, roles and background details that the school has checked with them. A campus or facilities page can describe actual premises and give practical location details. Only include facilities that are available and accurately represented; avoid treating a stock photo as a school building, teacher or pupil.

Photographs of children need particular care. Decide what images the school is comfortable making public, confirm the appropriate permission through its own process, and avoid revealing names, class lists, schedules or other personal details in captions and backgrounds. If the school is not ready to publish student images, it can show its actual spaces or use text and diagrams instead.

Use a compact menu and review it on a phone

A practical menu might include Home, About, Admissions, Learning, School life, News and Contact. The exact labels should match the school's language. Keep the most important family tasks close to the top, and avoid long dropdowns where a parent must guess which page contains fees or term dates.

Test the structure on a phone. Ask someone unfamiliar with the school to find the current term dates, admissions contact and location. If they need help, rename or reorder pages. Revisit the site when the school changes its admissions process, campus details or annual calendar. A manageable set of accurate pages is more useful than a large site no one can keep current.