How to Create a Class Website in Under an Hour

A class website is the single most effective way to communicate with students and parents outside the classroom. It reduces the number of "I didn't know about that" conversations and gives everyone a reliable place to find resources, deadlines and announcements. Here is how to build one in under an hour.

Which platform?

For most teachers, Google Sites is the best choice: it is free, integrates with Google Classroom and Drive, requires no account for visitors to view, and produces clean, mobile-responsive sites with no ads. Wix and Weebly offer more design flexibility but show small brand banners on free plans.

This guide uses Google Sites. The same principles apply to any builder.

Step 1 — Open Google Sites

Go to sites.google.com and click the + button to start a new site. Choose a template — the "Classroom" template is a solid starting point — or start blank.

Step 2 — Plan your pages

Keep the structure simple. A class website needs three to five pages maximum:

• Home — Welcome message, your name, a photo (optional) and the current week's focus or announcements.
• Resources — Organised links to textbooks, revision sites, past papers, YouTube playlists and any tools students use regularly.
• Homework / Assignments — A list or calendar of upcoming deadlines.
• Class Blog (optional) — A page where you (or students) post updates, reflections and photos from lessons.
• Contact — Your preferred contact method (school email, not personal).

Step 3 — Add content

In Google Sites, click Insert to add text, images, Google Docs, Slides, YouTube videos, Maps, calendars and file folders from Drive — all embedded directly on the page. Everything auto-updates: if you update the Google Doc, the embed on the website updates too.

Step 4 — Design

Click the paint palette icon to choose a theme — a consistent colour scheme and font combination. Pick your school colours if possible. You do not need to design anything manually; the theme handles visual consistency throughout the site.

Step 5 — Preview on mobile

Click the phone icon to see the mobile version. Google Sites handles responsive layout automatically, but check that images and text are readable at phone size. Parents often visit on a phone.

Step 6 — Publish and share

Click Publish. Choose a URL — something like sites.google.com/view/mrsmith-year9-english. You can restrict viewing to people within your school domain (safest for student privacy) or make it public. Copy the link and share it via email, Class Dojo, your LMS or on a printed sheet at parents' evening.

Content to add over time

• Weekly announcements (update every Monday morning — takes two minutes)
• Revision resources and past papers organised by topic
• Student exemplars (with permission) to show what good work looks like
• Homework instructions with clear deadlines
• Links to the tools students use in lessons so they can access them at home

Safety considerations

• Never post student photos without explicit written consent from parents.
• Use your school email for contact forms — never a personal email or phone number.
• If posting student work as exemplars, remove names or use first names only with permission.
• Check your school's acceptable use policy before making the site publicly accessible.