how to make a website for a school club | Lillian purge

how to make a website for a school club

From experience, making a website for a school club sounds simple until you actually sit down to do it. I have helped schools, teachers, and parent volunteers create club websites for sports teams, music groups, drama clubs, coding clubs, eco groups, and after-school activities, and in my opinion the challenge is never technical first, it is clarity, responsibility, and purpose.

A school club website is not a marketing site in the commercial sense, and it is not just a noticeboard either. It sits in a sensitive space where safeguarding, communication, trust, and usability all matter. Parents want clear information. Pupils want to know what is happening. Schools want reassurance that nothing inappropriate or risky is being published.

This article explains how to make a website for a school club properly, not just how to build one technically, but how to structure it, write it, and manage it in a way that is clear, safe, and genuinely useful. Everything here is grounded in real-world UK school guidance, safeguarding expectations, and practical experience rather than theory.

start with purpose before platform

Before choosing any platform or design, the first question I always ask is why the website exists.

From experience, many school club websites fail because they try to do too much without a clear purpose. A club website usually exists to inform, reassure, and organise, not to impress or persuade.

Common purposes include sharing schedules, explaining what the club does, helping parents understand supervision and safety, and providing updates without relying on emails alone.

In my opinion, if you are not clear on purpose, every later decision becomes harder, including what pages to include and what content is appropriate.

decide who the website is for

School club websites always have more than one audience.

From experience, the primary audience is usually parents and carers. They want practical information, reassurance, and clarity about who is responsible.

A secondary audience may be pupils, especially older ones, who want to know what is happening and when.

Schools and staff are another audience, particularly if the club is external or run by volunteers.

The website should be written primarily for adults, not children, even if pupils read it. This is an important safeguarding principle.

understand safeguarding responsibilities from the start

Safeguarding is not an optional consideration.

From experience, the biggest mistakes with school club websites come from not thinking about safeguarding early enough. Photos, names, contact details, and language all need to be handled carefully.

A school club website should never publish full names of pupils, personal contact details, or identifying information. Photos should only be used with explicit permission and should avoid identifying individuals where possible.

In my opinion, if safeguarding feels unclear, keep the site more informational and less personal.

choose whether the club needs its own website

Not every club needs a standalone website.

From experience, many school clubs are better served by a section or page within the main school website. This reduces safeguarding risk, keeps branding consistent, and simplifies maintenance.

Standalone websites make sense when the club runs independently, has external involvement, or operates across multiple schools.

Before building anything new, check whether the school already offers space or guidance for club pages.

picking the right platform

Once purpose and safeguarding are clear, platform choice becomes easier.

From experience, simple platforms are best for school clubs. WordPress, Google Sites, or school-approved website builders are usually sufficient.

Avoid platforms that encourage social interaction, comments, or user-generated content unless there is strong moderation in place.

In my opinion, ease of updating matters more than advanced features. If the site cannot be updated easily, it will become outdated quickly.

keeping design simple and familiar

Design should never distract from information.

From experience, school club websites work best when they are simple, readable, and consistent with the school’s visual identity.

Use clear headings, plenty of spacing, and readable fonts. Avoid animations, pop-ups, or aggressive visuals.

Parents often visit these sites on mobile devices, sometimes quickly, so clarity beats creativity every time.

structuring the website logically

Structure is more important than design.

From experience, a good school club website usually includes a small number of clear pages rather than lots of fragmented content.

Typical pages include an overview of the club, practical details like times and location, supervision and safety information, and updates or news.

Each page should answer one type of question clearly rather than mixing everything together.

writing a clear club overview

The overview page is often the first thing parents read.

From experience, this page should explain what the club is, who it is for, what pupils do, and what the benefits are, without exaggeration or marketing language.

Avoid phrases that sound promotional or competitive. Focus on learning, enjoyment, and inclusion.

In my opinion, reassurance is more important than excitement in this context.

explaining supervision and responsibility

One of the most important pages is supervision.

From experience, parents want to know who runs the club, whether staff or volunteers are present, and how safeguarding is handled.

This does not need to include personal details, but it should explain roles clearly. For example, the club is supervised by a qualified teacher and a teaching assistant, or run by an external provider approved by the school.

Clear explanation here builds trust instantly.

being clear about timings and logistics

Unclear logistics cause frustration.

From experience, the most common parent questions are about times, pickup arrangements, and locations.

These details should be easy to find, accurate, and updated when they change. If sessions vary, explain that clearly.

Avoid vague language like after school or most weeks without clarification.

explaining who can attend and how to join

Eligibility and joining processes should be clear.

From experience, confusion around sign-up leads to unnecessary emails and disappointment.

Explain whether the club is open to certain year groups, whether places are limited, and how selection works if oversubscribed.

Transparency here supports fairness and reduces conflict.

handling consent and permissions online

Consent should never be assumed.

From experience, if the website mentions photos, recordings, or external activities, it should clearly state how consent is handled and who to contact with concerns.

This does not replace formal consent processes, but it reassures parents that these issues are taken seriously.

In my opinion, visible respect for consent reflects strong values.

using photos carefully and sparingly

Photos are optional, not required.

From experience, many clubs feel pressure to include photos, but this increases safeguarding complexity.

If photos are used, they should be group shots, activity-focused, and non-identifying. Never label pupils by name.

It is perfectly acceptable to use illustrations or no images at all.

keeping language appropriate and inclusive

Language matters.

From experience, school club websites should avoid slang, jokes, or language that could be misinterpreted.

Use inclusive language that welcomes all pupils and avoids assumptions about ability, background, or interests.

Clear, neutral language builds trust and reduces risk.

avoiding external links where possible

External links create risk.

From experience, linking to third-party sites can expose pupils or parents to content outside school control.

If links are necessary, they should be relevant, reputable, and checked regularly.

Explain why the link exists and what it contains.

managing updates and news responsibly

Updates are useful but need discipline.

From experience, a simple news or updates page works well for sharing termly information or changes.

Avoid frequent short posts that quickly become outdated. Stale news creates the impression of inactivity.

If updates cannot be maintained, keep the site more static.

deciding who maintains the website

Ownership is critical.

From experience, websites fail when responsibility is unclear. Decide who updates the site, how often, and who approves changes.

This should align with school policies and safeguarding expectations.

In my opinion, fewer editors with clear responsibility is safer than open access.

ensuring accuracy over time

Accuracy builds trust.

From experience, outdated information is worse than no information. Review content regularly, especially at the start of each term.

Dates, staff roles, and procedures change, and the website should reflect reality.

Search engines and parents both notice when content is stale.

making the site accessible

Accessibility is a legal and ethical responsibility.

From experience, school club websites should follow basic accessibility principles, readable fonts, clear contrast, proper headings, and simple navigation.

Avoid images with text embedded and ensure pages work on mobile devices.

Accessibility improvements also improve SEO naturally.

using the website to reduce admin workload

A good website reduces emails.

From experience, clear answers online reduce repetitive parent queries.

FAQs can be useful if written carefully, focusing on real questions rather than imagined ones.

This saves time for staff and volunteers.

aligning with school policies

Club websites should align with school policies.

From experience, content should reflect safeguarding, behaviour, inclusion, and complaints procedures already in place.

If the club is external, link to or reference relevant school policies rather than creating new ones.

Consistency protects everyone.

avoiding promotional SEO tactics

SEO should be quiet and responsible.

From experience, school club websites do not need aggressive SEO tactics. Avoid keyword stuffing, exaggerated claims, or competitive language.

Simple, clear headings and descriptive page titles are enough.

Search visibility should support understanding, not competition.

how SEO actually helps a school club

SEO helps people find information.

From experience, parents search for club name, school name plus club, or activity plus school.

Clear page titles and structure ensure the right page appears.

SEO here is about findability, not ranking against others.

managing expectations about visibility

School club websites are not marketing funnels.

From experience, they rarely attract large amounts of external traffic, and that is fine.

Success is measured by clarity, reduced confusion, and trust, not visits.

using the site during transitions

Transitions are sensitive.

From experience, club websites are often visited during the start of term or after changes.

Ensure information is especially clear during these periods.

Temporary notices can help if changes are ongoing.

planning for handover

People change roles.

From experience, many club websites fail when a teacher or volunteer leaves.

Document login details, processes, and responsibilities so the site can be maintained long term.

This is often overlooked.

knowing when to keep it simple

Not every club needs complexity.

From experience, the simplest sites are often the most effective.

If a single page answers all key questions clearly, that may be enough.

Complexity increases risk without adding value.

final checks before going live

Before launching, review the site carefully.

From experience, check clarity, tone, safeguarding, accuracy, and accessibility.

Ask someone unfamiliar with the club to read it and see if they understand it easily.

If something feels confusing or risky, simplify it.

final reflections from experience

From experience, making a website for a school club is less about technology and more about responsibility.

The best school club websites are calm, clear, accurate, and reassuring. They help parents feel confident, reduce unnecessary communication, and reflect the values of the school.

In my opinion, success is not measured by how impressive the site looks, but by how little confusion it creates.

When a school club website is built with purpose, safeguarding, and clarity in mind, it becomes a quiet but powerful support for the club, the school, and the families it serves, and that is exactly what it should be.