Hertfordshire School Web Sites
Herts Schools Online To add your Hertfordshire School web site to this list, fill out the: New School Web Site Notification Form
Nominate your Web Site for 5 Stars
Nomination Form
Do not delete cell
Links
Schools Address Book A-Z

What is a 5 Star Web Site?		Current 5 Star Web Sites
			What are the Criteria for a 5 Star Web Site?
Help Becoming a 5 Star Web Site		How Does My Site Become a 5 Star Web Site?

What is a 5 Star Web Site?

5 Star Web Sites are school, extended school or children's centre web sites that meet criteria we have set for clear navigation, accessibility, good layout, safe use of images, and up to date information. These websites can be nominated by the school or children's centre and then awarded 5 Star Web Site status if the HGfL team believe that the web site meets all the criteria of a 5 Star Web Site. We will also highlight sites we come across which we feel meet the criteria.

We hope the 5 Star Web Site award will encourage schools to take pride in their web sites by highlighting and giving credit for good practice.

However, ultimately whether or not your school has 5 stars makes no difference as to how effective or useful it is. If it meets the needs of your school community, whether that means your parents, governors, pupils, ex-pupils, staff, then that is far more important than winning an award from HGfL.

Please note that nominations will be reviewed on a half termly basis.

Current 5 Star Web Sites

Below is a list of some current web sites we think meet the 5 Star criteria. We will be regularly highlighting new sites and will be removing sites already featured to make way for new ones.

What are the criteria for a 5 Star Web Site?

There are a few criteria which must be met before a site can be awarded 5 Stars:

1. The site should be hosted on its www.schoolname.herts.sch.uk domain or equivalent extended school or children's centre domain
2. Sites bought from external companies will not be considered, however sites prepared by parents, friends of the school, HGfL team in conjunction with the school, extended school or children's centre can be considered as long as the site is maintained by staff within the school without constantly requiring help from the person who created it!
3. Good use of images (safety, not too large, not overkill on animation)
4. Clear and consistent navigation (no scrolling, easy to find content, not too many items on navigation,)
5. Recently updated (with latest newsletters, children’s work, term dates, staff changes, school events etc.)
6. Accessibility (alt tags, page titles, style sheets, not using images for navigation or using alternative navigation options, colour contrast, good use of pdf documents)
7. Content on every page (no coming soon messages).

• top

How does my site become a 5 Star Web Site?

You can nominate your web site for 5 stars by completing the nomination form although filling in the Nomination Form is not a guarantee that a site will end up being awarded 5 stars!

• Nominate Your Web Site

• top

Help becoming a 5 Star Web Site

If you are unsure about how to make your web site a 5 Star Website, then feel free to contact the Schools Website Help Desk on 01438 844944 or email school.websites@hertscc.gov.uk. Alternatively look at some of the helpsheets which we have put together:

• Building and Develping Your Web Site - Helpsheets

• top