Recent Projects

Background & Challenges

Bolnore Village Primary School is the UK’s first and only self-governing parent-promoted primary school. Wanting a school in the area, local parents put forward their own proposal. The proposal was successful, funding was given and the new school will open to its first class in September 2010. Being a brand new school meant starting from scratch with a website that celebrated their unique nature and promoted community involvement. The infancy of the school was one of the main challenges early on as there was only a small team of people to write content and come up with design ideas, alongside all their other responsibilities.

Solutions & Benefits

The staff at Bolnore Village felt the expertise and value for money offered by School Website could help them deliver a website that could really stand out. It was felt from the beginning that the site should be bright, fun and visually engaging. The brand new school building made for an eye-catching focal point for the website and elsewhere they wanted to draw on their woodland setting. During the design process the school consulted pupils and parents for their feedback until a final concept was agreed. Headteacher Sharon Allen lead the development of the website, "It is my role to populate the website, I generate the feedback by consulting with a wider group. Engagement with the community was key for us. We want the school to be part of the soul of Bolnore village and our new website really reflects this."

By acting as a central hub for information, the website can cut down on the need for paper based information and help in Bolnore Village Primary’s bid to become an Eco School. School staff and their first class of pupils are currently based on a temporary site so the unique 'Meet The Builder' section gives them the opportunity to see what is happening with the development of the building. As Sharon Allen explains, "having the website in place gives parents and pupils the security that come September it will be in a school in its own right, we won’t be camping in another school forever!"

http://www.bolnorevillage.w-sussex.sch.uk/

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