The verdict in three sentences
In Douglas, a private or international school website built by an Isle of Man agency costs, as a 2026 ballpark, between 6 000 and 20 000 GBP, and more when the brief includes a bespoke parent portal or a full film shoot. Kolonell builds the admissions journey, the pages per school stage and the enquiry form for a fixed price of 2 300, 3 900 or 6 900 GBP, delivered in 3 to 4 weeks on Starter and Growth. What settles the comparison is the 3-year total cost, who photographs pupils on campus (an island agency can, Kolonell cannot) and how each quote handles parental consent and children's data under Manx law.
What do Douglas agencies, freelancers and Kolonell charge?
The Isle of Man has a small digital market: a few agencies in Douglas and around the island, a handful of experienced freelancers, and many organisations that also ask agencies in Liverpool, Manchester or Belfast to quote. The ranges below are prudent ballparks, not official figures. They draw on public rate cards of agencies on the island and in the North West of England, minimum project sizes on Clutch.co profiles, hourly rates published by UK regional agencies (often 70 to 110 GBP per hour) and rates visible on Upwork or PeoplePerHour.
| Criterion | Isle of Man agency | Local freelancer | Kolonell |
|---|---|---|---|
| Build cost, 2026 ballpark | 6 000 to 20 000 GBP and up | 2 000 to 6 000 GBP | 2 300 / 3 900 / 6 900 GBP, fixed |
| Changes outside scope | Often 70 to 110 GBP per hour | Often 40 to 70 GBP per hour | Quoted before any work |
| Usual timeline | 8 to 16 weeks | 5 to 10 weeks | 3 to 4 weeks, Premium usually 4 to 6 |
| Photo and film on campus | Often offered, sometimes via a partner | Sometimes | Not included: your images or an island photographer |
| Admissions and stage copy | Often billed separately | Rarely included | Native English or French included |
| Support after launch | Separate retainer | Case by case | 3 months, 6 on Premium |
| Ownership | Check the contract | Check the contract | Domain in the school's name, all access handed over |
An honest note: an established Manx freelancer can come close to the Starter price for a simple site. At that level, Kolonell adds a fixed price, written copy and a project manager, not a lower bill.
Payment is by bank transfer or Wise: 50 % to start, 50 % at delivery. A project manager works in your time zone, with Google Meet calls at a time that suits the school and a written update every week. The team is based in Senegal (GMT), the same time as Douglas in winter and one hour behind during British Summer Time. Full details are on our international website offer.
Which 3-year total cost should a Douglas school compare?
The build price is only part of the bill. A school also pays for hosting, maintenance, the updates every new school year brings (fees, calendar, staff) and photography. The table assumes the same maintenance budget on both sides, since Kolonell maintenance after the support period is quoted on request.
| Item over 36 months | Island agency (mid range) | Kolonell Growth |
|---|---|---|
| Website build | 12 000 GBP | 3 900 GBP |
| Support included after launch | Depends on contract | 3 months included |
| Maintenance (same assumption) | 120 GBP per month over 33 months, 3 960 GBP | 3 960 GBP, maintenance quoted on request |
| 3 new pages over 3 years (sixth form option, boarding, bursaries) | 6 hours at 85 GBP, 510 GBP | Quoted beforehand, assumption 450 GBP |
| Campus photography, one day | 1 200 GBP | Island photographer booked separately, 1 200 GBP |
| Indicative total | 17 670 GBP | 9 510 GBP |
These figures structure the comparison; they do not predict your invoice. Ask every supplier to fill in the same table.
What does each Kolonell tier include for a school?
| Item | Starter 2 300 GBP | Growth 3 900 GBP | Premium 6 900 GBP |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pages per stage | Nursery to sixth form grouped | One page per stage | Full structure, boarding included |
| Admissions journey | Steps page and form | Steps, documents, deadlines | Journey per family profile |
| Open days and visits | Request form | Embedded visit calendar | Virtual tour embedded if the school supplies it |
| Admissions software or parent portal | Link to the existing tool | Integration of the chosen tool | Polished integration; bespoke portal quoted on request |
| Teacher recruitment page | Included | Included, per vacancy | Included, with island life content |
| Bilingual FR/EN site | No | No | Included |
| Timeline | 3 to 4 weeks | 3 to 4 weeks | Written schedule at kickoff, usually 4 to 6 weeks |
A bespoke parent portal, a fee payment module or an extranet is a custom application, quoted on request. So is ongoing search work.
What does a school website in Douglas need?
The families reading the site are Manx, returning to the island after years in London, or relocated by employers in finance, insurance, online gaming or fintech. Others consider boarding from Hong Kong, Dubai or continental Europe. Many discover the school on a phone, months before they see the campus.
- Stage pages that state clearly what is taught. If the school offers GCSEs, A-Levels or the International Baccalaureate, the site says so; if not, it does not mention them.
- Tuition fees: published as a table or sent on request is the school's call, but relocating families compare quickly.
- A mid-year arrivals page for families transferred in January or April, with the steps and documents required.
- A virtual tour or video for families who will not visit before enrolling.
- A recruitment page that presents island life and points to official Isle of Man Government guidance on work permits.
On compliance, the facts only. The Isle of Man has its own data protection legislation (the island's Data Protection Act 2018 and the GDPR as applied locally), overseen by the Isle of Man Information Commissioner. Children's data calls for particular care: a minimal form, known hosting, a fixed retention period. Every published pupil photo requires written, current parental consent. WCAG 2.2 AA serves as the technical reference for accessibility. Accreditation or inspection badges appear only if the school genuinely holds them. This is not legal advice.
Need a professional website?
Kolonell builds websites that attract clients, optimized for the Sénégalese market. Free quote in 2 minutes.
Which red flags should you look for in quotes?
- A price without a written scope: ask for the list of pages, integrations and languages.
- A domain registered in the supplier's name: it must be in the school's.
- No line on photo consent when the gallery is central to the project.
- A parent portal promised in a brochure site quote, with no technical detail.
- Mandatory long-term maintenance with no way to take back control.
Mini case study
Illustrative example. Fiona M., bursar of a day and boarding school of about 350 pupils in Douglas, receives two proposals. An island agency quotes 14 500 GBP, delivered in 14 weeks, with a half-day photo shoot at 900 GBP. Kolonell proposes Premium at 6 900 GBP, delivered in 5 weeks, with the same photographer booked separately for 900 GBP.
Build and photos: 15 400 GBP versus 7 800 GBP, a 7 600 GBP gap. With the same maintenance assumption, 130 GBP per month over the 30 months after the 6 months of support (3 900 GBP on each side), the 3-year total becomes 19 300 GBP versus 11 700 GBP. Fiona keeps the local agency in mind for the centenary film.
FAQ
How much does a private school website cost in Douglas in 2026?
With an island agency, expect a ballpark of 6 000 to 20 000 GBP, and 2 000 to 6 000 GBP with a freelancer. Kolonell charges a fixed 2 300, 3 900 or 6 900 GBP.
Can Kolonell photograph our pupils?
No. The school supplies its images or books an island photographer, often 600 to 1 200 GBP for a half or full day based on published rates. This is a genuine advantage of local agencies.
Can you integrate our admissions software?
Yes, from Growth at 3 900 GBP, Kolonell integrates or links the admissions tool or parent portal the school has chosen. A portal developed from scratch is a custom application quoted on request.
Can the site be in English and French?
Yes, the bilingual FR/EN site is included in Premium at 6 900 GBP. Any other language is supplied by the school or quoted separately.
How does payment work?
By bank transfer or Wise, 50 % at kickoff and 50 % at delivery. On Growth, that means two payments of 1 950 GBP.
Let's scope your project. Send us your school stages, your admissions journey and the tool you use, and we come back with a fixed-price tier and a 3 to 4 week timeline. Request your free quote or see the international offer.
Mohamed Bah
Fondateur, Kolonell
Passionate about digital and entrepreneurship in Africa, Mohamed has been helping Sénégalese businesses with their digital transformation since 2020. Founder of Kolonell, he believes every SME deserves a professional and accessible online présence.
