Web design and content management specialists, ‘EIBS’, along with re-sellers and project managers, ‘Hawthornes’ have developed a new website for the Nottingham High School which enables staff at the school to update the site themselves.
The website incorporates EIBS’s own Content Management System – ‘EasySite’ which allows administrators to create an unlimited number of sections and pages within the site.
The Nottingham High School, which is one of the UK’s leading and oldest independent schools, already had a website which had been designed internally, but it could only be updated by a member of staff with a technical knowledge of site design.
Kevin Fear, the school’s Deputy Head consulted with staff and pupils at the school to find out about their requirements and then started to look for a supplier that could provide the website solution they wanted.
“From consultations with staff in the different departments, it was clear that they wanted to have the flexibility to be able to update the site as and when required,” said Kevin. “We wanted a system that would be easy enough for all staff to use and after looking at a number of options, we decided that the EIBS EasySite content management system was the best solution.”
The EasySite system allows administrators to create an unlimited number of sections and pages within the site enabling each academic department to have its own section along with other services such as the library, catering and sports department.
David Bolton, Sales and Marketing Director of EIBS believes that other schools could benefit from using EasySite.
“Our EasySite system is designed to enable clients to control the structure and navigation of the site, so it is ideal for schools, colleges and universities where there are numerous departments that need to communicate with both internal and external audiences.
“In the case of the High School, we have also developed private areas, with different levels of permission within the site, which means that information can only be accessed by the people for whom it is intended. This could potentially be used by staff to share management information or even teaching resources.”
Kevin Fear is hoping that the school’s website will become the first ‘port of call’ for prospective parents or pupils.
“We have received excellent feedback about the site from everyone who has seen it,” said Kevin. “The students find it easy to use and can access links to other curriculum related sites via our site.
“Once the departments get all of their pages online, I am sure that we will see them using it for all kinds of things such as setting homework assignments, providing messages to pupils about trips and other activities.
“The site is also a very important marketing tool and we are promoting the site’s address in all of the school’s promotional materials, such as the prospectus and in any advertising that we do.
“Having a website is a more up-to date way of communicating. We don’t want it to replace everything else, but we understand that websites play a unique role - allowing people to access whatever information they need at any time they want to, so it is a great asset for the school.
“The great advantage of the EasySite system for us is that anybody can use it. I have trained many members of staff on how to use the site and add information to it and within 20 minutes that are able to do it themselves. It also gives me the ability to moderate the content, so I can still keep a hold of what goes on to the site.”
See for youself, visit Nottingham High's website
