International schools have the unique opportunity to connect with diverse communities and showcase the richness of their global perspectives.

The best international school websites showcase these strengths by focusing on key elements that celebrate diversity, inspire exploration, and empower students to thrive in the larger, interconnected world.

From centuries-old schools with long histories and traditions to those that offer a more modern experience, an impressive collection of UK and international school websites launched this year with Finalsite. While each site has its own vision, it's apparent the sites have a few things in common:

What sets these exceptional websites apart?

• High-Quality Visuals and Content: Stunning imagery and well-crafted content capture the essence of the school's culture, facilities, and community. Videos and written content speak directly to the audience, creating a strong connection and conveying key information quickly.
   
• Effective Design: Thoughtful design, including the strategic use of white space, enhances readability and creates a visually appealing experience.
   
• Intuitive Navigation: The website's clear menu structure and logical pathways guide visitors through it, making it easy to find information and explore each school's offerings.
   
• Engaging User Experience: These websites combine compelling visuals, well-written content, and user-friendly design to create an immersive experience that encourages visitors to connect with the school.

The websites featured in this review serve as inspiration for schools around the world, demonstrating how a well-designed website can be a powerful tool for global engagement and enrollment. Let's take a look at some of the best international school websites of 2024!

British School Manila

British School Manila (BSM), a school that welcomes more than 50 nationalities and 950 students annually to its campus, went live with its new website in January, and it’s a site that beautifully captures its commitment to building global citizens ready to make a positive impact on the world.

With subtle design flairs, engaging content, and interactive elements, many standout features welcome users to explore the BSM experience.

Here's what makes it stand out:

• Design and Interactive Elements: Custom image buttons and design elements introduce users to the school's three divisions while testimonials from students, teachers, and alumni share compelling stories that define the BSM community. Panels expand on hover to reveal more details, content elements slide in from the left and right, and calls to action (CTAs) animate to create a smooth and engaging user experience.
   
• Effective Use of Color: The website uses secondary colors strategically on CTAs and panel backgrounds, adding visual interest and guiding the user's eye.
   
• Easy-to-Navigate News: The branded "Lion's Roar" news section features searchable and filterable content, making it easy for visitors to find the latest updates, stories, and messages from school leadership. Keep an eye out for the integrated social media posts on the homepage, bringing the newest content front and center.
   
• Animated Fast Facts: Animated numbers quickly tally to reveal impressive facts about the school, adding a dynamic touch and showcasing BSM's achievements.

International School of Prague

Carrying the momentum of its 75th anniversary in 2024, ISP launched its beautiful Theme site in the fall of this year. As a school serving students from over 60 nationalities, the site leans into its mission to inspire, engage, and empower all learners. It’s a great example of elevating a template design and adding its own branding and creative flair. 

Some of the standout features include:

• A Platform for Storytelling: The "Our Mission in Action" section is a showcase of ISP stories featuring the latest news and stories from around campus.
   
• A Celebration of Expertise: A rotating slideshow highlights impressive statistics, like the 90% of faculty with 10+ years of teaching experience.
   
• Well-Organized Landing Pages: The landing pages in the main navigation are well-organized with intuitive layouts. The hero areas are balanced with styled lead-in text, body copy, and headings, and they all make for a smooth reading experience.
   
• Connections That Matter: The site integrates the latest posts from LinkedIn on key pages, which allows it to keep interior pages automatically updated and extend the school's reach with the global community.
   
• A Call to Explore: Strategically placed CTAs invite visitors to go deeper to discover "Why ISP?", explore its innovative learning approaches, and be inspired by the stories of its students and faculty.
   
• Nurturing Future Leaders: A dedicated careers page promotes vacant teaching and support staff positions and, with the supporting content, invites educators and staff to join the ISP family and contribute to its mission.

International Community School of Addis Ababa

ICS Addis launched a new, best-in-class website this fall, complete with interactive features, beautiful colors, and user-friendly design, making it a valuable resource for both current and prospective families exploring the campus in Ethiopia. 

• Interactive Storytelling: The homepage features interactive scrolling that guides, engages, and informs visitors. Video testimonials from current community members provide authentic insights into their favorite aspects of ICS.
   
• Seamless Admissions: The admissions landing page supports the entire enrollment process with a user-friendly interactive timeline, ways to contact the admissions office, and enticing CTAs that encourage families to take the next step.
   
• Comprehensive School Overviews: Dedicated landing pages for each school within ICS Addis showcase curriculum details and news, providing a comprehensive overview for prospective families.
   
• Beyond the Classroom: An "Experience" landing page highlights the school's vibrant community and provides a gateway to explore extracurricular activities, events, and student life beyond academics.

Felsted School

This summer, Felsted School, a prestigious boarding school with a 450+ year history, launched a new website that beautifully blends its legacy with a modern online experience. It’s a visually stunning and informative website that captures the school's elegance and charm while providing an engaging user experience.

Here's what makes it stand out:

• Inspiring Design: The website blends traditional elements with modern design features, such as bursts of color and subtle animations with its slideshows, CTAs, and scrolls. It’s a visually engaging experience that pairs well with the school's rich history and forward-thinking approach.
   
• Consistent Visuals: The imagery has a consistent look and feel, reinforcing the school's brand identity and creating a cohesive visual experience.
   
• Creative Touches: Unique design elements, like the vines stretching vertically down the site, add a touch of creativity and personality. The innovative use of greens and yellows as secondary colors in content boxes elevates the design elements even further.
   
• Compelling Storytelling: Success stories from students and parents call out the school's impact and commitment to preparing students for life after graduation. Extensive information about life at Felsted, its boarding program, and its global influence provides a comprehensive view of the school's offerings.
   
• Personalized User Experience: Custom admissions timelines guide prospective families through enrollment, making it easy to understand the journey and requirements. Users can also select their entry point to receive a personalized admissions process. Lovely!

Fettes College

Scotland’s Fettes College launched a new website that seamlessly blends its rich heritage with modern design elements. This visually engaging and informative website provides a comprehensive overview of the Fettes experience, highlighting its commitment to academic excellence, personal growth, and global citizenship.

Here's what makes it stand out:

• Dynamic and Engaging Design: The homepage features dynamic elements like horizontal scrolling, embedded videos, and bursts of purple hues, creating a visually engaging experience. The careful placement of text and images, along with the school's distinctive branding, reinforces its prestigious heritage and modern outlook.
   
• Sense of Place: A standout element is the map near the bottom of the homepage, showcasing the college's 100-acre location in Scotland and its surrounding towns. It’s a great feature to provide a sense of place and community that highlights the school's connection to its surroundings.
   
• Holistic Development: The website emphasizes the theme of "A Place to Live, A Place to Learn, A Place to Grow," with dedicated sections for academics, boarding life, and global citizenship. Engaging content paints a picture of the well-rounded experience offered at Fettes.
   
• Comprehensive Information: The website provides extensive information for parents and families, covering the admissions process for the prep and senior schools.
   
• Interactive Campus Map: A detailed and interactive campus map allows users to explore different parts of the school grounds, providing a virtual tour and enhancing engagement.
   
• Well-Designed Admissions Section: The admissions section is particularly well-designed, featuring fast facts, testimonials, and accordions that organize information about different entry points for families.

Rugby School Thailand

Rugby School Thailand made this year’s list, complete with an extraordinary UX experience brought to life with well-written copy, vibrant imagery, and a professional design that captures its high standards for quality.

Here's what makes it exceptional:

• Powerful Language and Visuals: The website uses strong language that aligns perfectly with the school's brand, such as "The whole person, the whole point," "Discover your journey," and "One community, many stories." High-quality visuals capture the excitement of school life and all the meaningful moments in the classrooms.
   
• Sense of Place: A beautifully designed map highlights the school's 80-acre campus and its proximity to nearby cities and airports—a valuable resource for international families.
   
• Immersive Virtual Tour: A 360-degree virtual tour with integrated videos allows prospective families to experience the school before setting foot on campus. This immersive experience brings the school to life and creates a strong connection with visitors.
   
• Social Media Integration: The website integrates social media content from various aspects of school life, including the arts, sciences, athletics, and student activities, providing a glimpse into the vibrant community.
   
• Engaging Content: The website utilizes Composer's Post module to showcase the latest school news, events, updates, and more, keeping the content fresh and engaging for visitors.

Colegio Maya

Colegio Maya, an American international school in Guatemala, launched its site this year and underscores the impact of storytelling, personalization, and user-friendly features. This powerful Theme design makes the most of its layout and design features and effectively encourages families to "Join the Story" and become part of the Colegio Maya community.

Here's what makes it unique:

• "Join Our Story:" Instead of a traditional "Admissions" page, Colegio Maya invites families to "Join Our Story," creating a sense of warmth and belonging from the outset.
   
• Comprehensive Information: The admissions process is clearly outlined, with detailed information about required materials and steps. This transparency helps families feel confident and prepared as they navigate the enrollment journey.
   
• Easy Contact: Prospective families can easily connect with the admissions office to schedule a tour or ask questions, creating a sense of accessibility and support.
   
• Unique Inquiry Form: A "hover-to-expand" inquiry form provides a unique and user-friendly way for families to connect with the school. This interactive element adds a touch of creativity and encourages engagement.
   
• Personalized Options: The admissions office can personalize communications and build relationships with families from the very beginning, thanks to the school’s Finalsite Enrollment inquiry form. Straight from the homepage, users can start their admissions journey, which asks about families' needs and interests, including their current grades, anticipated start date, and academic and athletic interests.

Congratulations to these sites and all the amazing websites around the world that went live in 2024!

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

As part of Finalsite's marketing team, Debbie has worked with international schools for the past 14 years while living in both Asia and Europe. She helps schools understand how they can maximize their web presence while partnering with Finalsite. As a parent of three children who graduated from IB World Schools, she has keen insights into the marketing and communication needs of international schools.