In this section

How to Make a Great Website

At a Glance

Classroom course (South Kensington)
Tuesdays 18:00 - 20:00
10 weeks | January - March
Starts 14 January 2025
Fees from £160
Tutor: Fiorella Lavado-Chiarella

This course is now full. We might reoffer it in the future. Please join our mailing list

Designing and maintaining a website doesn't have to be difficult. Whether you want to create a personal website detailing your life, hobbies and interests, a food or travel-blog, or to start selling things over the internet, or you look after a website for a charity, club, society or SME, learning how websites are put together, how to create your own websites and how to spot when things are going wrong are essential skills in today's digital world.

We invite you to join Fiorella Lavado-Chiarella on a new, 10-week class at Imperial College London in which you will learn how websites work and how to create your own website. This will include understanding the relationship between a website and the internet, tools for building websites such as WordPress and advice on how to create good-looking and effective websites that get your message across. We will look at how to get your website on search engines and how to improve the ranking of your site on search engines. For those wanting a bespoke internet address we will also discover the best way to get an effective internet address (or URL).

By the end of the course you will have a fully-functioning website which you will be able to grow and develop as your knowledge improves, and an understanding of how websites dovetail with the ecosystem that is the World Wide Web.

This is a beginners class, so you do not need any experience of computing, and we will be using the IT equipment at the Centre for Languages, Culture and Communication, although you are welcome to use your own laptop if you prefer.

Class Recordings

These classes are not recorded

Attendance Certificate

Successful completion of this course leads to the award of an Imperial College attendance certificate

Terms and conditions apply to all enrolments to this course. Please read them before enrolment

Course Programme

Programme (may be subject to modification)

Session 1: Introduction to WordPress

What is WordPress, why use it, and its benefits
Understanding your website goals
Discussion and brainstorming about the group’s projects.

Session 2: Creating Content

Understanding the role of content in engaging visitors and search ranking
Content planning: Identifying target audience, defining content types
Using AI for content creation

Session 3: Basic Concepts of WordPress

WordPress Dashboard overview: Navigating the WordPress backend
Understanding Posts vs Pages
Introduction to WordPress themes and plugins

Session 4: Installing WordPress

Domain names and web hosting: Understanding the basics
Installing WordPress.org on a web hosting server vs using WordPress.com
Setting up WordPress: Configuring basic settings and user accounts

Session 5: Modifying WordPress Themes

Overview of WordPress theme structure
Choosing and Customising themes
Introduction to Child Themes

Session 6: Creating Navigation and Menu Structure

Understanding website navigation best practices
Creating and organising menus in WordPress
Adding custom navigation elements

Session 7: Setting Up an Online Shop

Introduction to WooCommerce plugin
Installing and configuring WooCommerce
Adding products and product categories

Session 8: SEO Basics for WordPress

Understanding SEO fundamentals
Optimising content for search engines
Installing and configuring SEO plugins (e.g., Yoast SEO)

Session 9: Future-Proofing Your Website

Backup and security essentials: Importance of regular backups and website security
Updating WordPress, themes, and plugins
Scaling up: Planning for future growth and scalability

Session 10: Website Launch and Review

Finalising website content and design
Testing website functionality and performance
Launching the website
Peer review and feedback session

Throughout the workshop series, there will be discussions, interactive exercises, and real- life examples. Following each session, you will receive homework assignments to reinforce learning and prepare for the next session. Additionally, you will have access to tutorial videos, class presentations, and recommended reading materials to further explore the topics covered in the workshops.

Your Tutor

Course Fees and Rate Categories

Weeks	Standard Rate	Internal Rate	Associate Rate
10	£268	£160	£211
All fee rates quoted are for the whole course. Part-payments are not possible.

Rate Categories and Discounts

Standard Rate

Available to all except those who fall under the Internal Rate or Associate Rate category.

Internal Rate

Current Imperial College students and staff (incl. Imperial NHS Trust, Imperial Innovations, ancillary & service staff employed on long-term contracts at Imperial College by third-party contractors)
People enrolling under our Friends & Family scheme
Alumni of Imperial College and predecessor colleges and institutes, including City & Guilds College Association members
Students, staff and alumni of the Royal College of Art, Royal College of Music and City, UAL and the City and Guilds of London Art School
Students, staff and Governors of Woodhouse College and the IC Mathematics School

Associate Rate

Austrian Cultural Forum staff
Co-operative College members
Francis Crick Institute staff, researchers and students
Friends and Patrons of the English Chamber Orchestra
Friends of Hyde Park and Kensington Gardens
Friends of Leighton House/ Sambourne House
Friends of the Royal College of Music
Harrods staff
Historic Royal Palaces staff
Lycee Charles de Gaulle staff
Members of the Friends of Imperial College
Members of the Kennel Club
Members of the London Zoological Society
Members of the South London Botanical Institute (SLBI)
Members of the UK Council for Psychotherapy (UKCP)
National Health Service (NHS) employees
Natural History Museum staff
Residents of postcodes SW3, SW5, SW7, SW10 and W8
Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea Council staff
Royal Geographical Society staff
Science Museum staff
Staff of Exhibition Road Cultural Group (Discover South Kensington) organisations
Students (non-Imperial College)
Teachers and other staff of UK schools
The American Institute for Foreign Study
Tutors and other staff of institution members of the Association of Colleges
Tutors and other staff of other universities and higher education institutions
Victoria and Albert Museum staff

Late enrolment

It is possible to enrol on many of our adult education courses after the course has already started. For non-language courses this is subject entirely to agreement by the tutor. For language courses it is subject to agreement by the language coordinator conducting level assessment. If you want to join a course late do bear in mind there might be work you will need to catch up on, particularly in language courses.

Friends and Family Scheme

This course is eligible for allowing Imperial College students and staff to share their discount with their friends and family.

Term Dates 2024-25

Weeks	Autumn term	Spring term	Summer term
10	n/a	Week starting 13 January to week ending 22 March 2025*	n/a
*This is a 1-term course

Enrolment Process

Enrolment via the blue booking link is open. Early-bird discounts are available until the end of 30 September 2024

Enrolment and payment run through the Imperial College eStore. When enrolling:

Do check on the drop down menu above called "Course Fees and Rate Categories" to see if you are eligible for a discounted rate and also do make sure you select that rate when enrolling on the eStore
If you are a first-time eStore user you will need to create an account before enrolling. You can do this by entering an email address and password. This account can then be used for any future enrolments via the eStore.

When you have enrolled you will be sent the following email notifications:

What is sent	When is it sent	What does it contain
1. Payment confirmation	Is sent straight away following submission of your online application	This is a receipt for your payment and includes payment date, order number and course title Confirmation of your place on your chosen course will follow later as long as the course recruits enough students to run. If not you will receive a refund of your payment.
2. Enrolment confirmation	Is usually sent within 10 working days. Please treat your payment confirmation as confirmation that your applicant details and payment have been received	Confirms your course choice Shows your course's term dates Confirms the day and time of your course
3. Programme information	Is usually sent on Friday late afternoon the week before term starts	Contains joining instructions for your course, either online or in the classroom, depending on the course
	If you need further help with the above information please ring 020 7594 8756 / +44 20 7594 8756. All enrolments are provisional until the course is confirmed to run. This will be dependent on the course reaching the minimum number of enrolments. All enrolments are subject to our Terms and Conditions. It is not possible to join one of our courses without agreeing to be bound by our Terms and Conditions.

Any Questions?

Useful Links

Courses Now Available Frequently Asked Questions Join Our Mailing List Sci Comm Students' Discounts Staff Information (Staff Use)

Contact us

Imperial after:hours Adult Education
Centre for Languages, Culture and Communication
Level 3 - Sherfield Building
Imperial College London
London SW7 2AZ
eveningclass@imperial.ac.uk
Tel. +44 20 7594 8756