Hunter & Central Coast Private School Websites Ratings
MAP Marketing rated 22 Hunter and Central Coast private school websites in 15 categories. The websites were allocated a score ranging between 0.00 - 5.00 with increments of 0.50 for each category. The highest possible score for each category was 5.00. A score of 2.50 was considered average and score of 5.00 was considered excellent.
The final rating for each school website was derived from the average of the 15 categories. The final ratings for 2010 ranged from 0.90 - 4.57 with the average final rating being 3.05.
In comparison, results from the 2009 website ratings were as follows. The final ratings ranged from 0.67 - 4.83 and the average final rating was 3.21.
In certain categories such as school portal, parent portal, search function, and map, school websites were allocated a score of zero if these were not available.
Categories that school websites were rated on:
Overall Quality
Currency of Information
Image & Photo Quality
Language & Content Quality
Online Enquiries
Information Quality
Ease of Finding Information
Aesthetics
Location Map
Search Bar Function
Loading/Que Time
Student Portal
Parent Portal
Calendar of Events
Curriculum Outline
School Name
2009 Average
2010 Average
Newcastle Grammar School
4.43
4.57
Macquarie College
4.73
4.53
St. Philips Christian College
4.83
4.43
Avondale School Cooranbong
4.67
4.27
Hunter Christian School
3.47
3.80
Belmont Christian College
4.27
3.77
Central Coast Grammar School
3.47
3.70
Charlton Christian College
2.53
3.63
Maitland Christian School
4.20
3.37
Christadelphian Heritage College
3.77
3.33
Hunter Valley Grammar School
4.00
3.07
St. Joseph's Catholic College
3.07
3.03
Green Point Christian College
2.90
3.03
San Clemente High School
2.60
2.77
Bishop Tyrrell Anglican College
2.47
2.60
St. Francis Xavier's College
2.90
2.50
Lakes Grammar - An Anglican School
2.73
2.43
St. Peters's Catholic College Tuggerah Lakes
2.83
2.40
St. Mary's High School
2.40
1.77
St. Pius X High School
2.57
1.60
Brightwaters Christian College
1.13
1.50
St. Paul's Booragul
0.67
0.90
Overall Averages
3.21
3.05
Overall Ratings
More than 2.50
71%
15
Less than 2.50
29%
6
The top final scores were close, with the top 4 school websites being separated by small increments. The difference between the top rated school website and fourth was 0.30.
Newcastle Grammar School came out on top of the ratings with a final score of 4.57 out of 5.00. This is a significant improvement on their 2009 score of 4.43 out of 5.00, and was enough to snare first place. Their website received high scores for overall quality, currency of information, language and photo quality, information quality, ease of finding information, aesthetics, map, que/loading time, student portal, calendar of events and curriculum outline.
Macquarie College was once again a close second with a final score of 4.53 out of 5.00. This was a slight drop on their 2009 final score of 4.73 out of 5.00, but was enough to maintain their ranking. Their website received high scores in overall quality, currency of information, information quality, aesthetics, map, que/loading time, student portal, calendar of events and curriculum outline.
St Philips Christian College came in third with a final score of 4.43 out of 5.00. They were the top school website last year with a score of 4.83 out of 5.00, but the relative improvement of Newcastle Grammar School and Macquarie College meant St Phillips Christian College has dropped two places.
The St Phillips Christian College website scored highly in the following
categories; overall quality, currency of information, language and photo quality, information quality, aesthetics, map, search bar, que/loading time, student portal, calendar of events and curriculum outline.
Charlton Christian College has the most improved school website. They increased their final score from 2.53 in 2009 to 3.63 in 2010. Their website received high scores for image and photo quality, online enquiries, currency of information, map, student portal and parent portal.
Out of the 22 school websites rated, 71% had a score greater than 2.50 and 29% had a score were less than 2.50.
School websites are an affective way to communicate within both the school community and to members of the public.
Schools need to ensure that they undertake ongoing improvements and updates to their website so that they remain competitive.
Types of School Websites
The Internet is an efficient form of communication that reaches a worldwide audience. The number of schools using websites to promote and deliver information has increased as technology has advanced.
School websites are grouped and identified in relation to their content and design. There are 4 types of school websites that have certain characteristics.
Main intention is to annunciate information on the schools curriculum and facilities.
Focus on communicating information via e-mail, intranet, chat rooms and blogs.
Provide information, communicate and entertain by engaging the wider school environment via video, animation, graphics, podcasts and virtual tours.
Main purpose is to inform, communicate, entertain and showcase innovation. This is done by promoting concepts in education, practising innovation through web design and educational structure.
Most of the Hunter and Central Coast private school websites rated were either 1 or 2.
If you wish to include your school in the 2011 Internet Research please contact us.
Schools rated can obtain more information from:
Maria Charlton
MAP Marketing
maria@mapmarketing.com.au
P: 02 4929 7766
Classification by Carmel Maio-Taddeo, University of South Australia.
Research by Jonathan Walker,
Research Assistant, MAP Marketing.
