Website redesign for a private or international school in Brisbane: budget, timeline and risks (2026)

The verdict in three sentences

For an independent school in Brisbane, a redesign is the moment to fix privacy and cookies: a banner that actually blocks tags, a clear notice for parents and pupils, and a defined retention period for enquiries. With Kolonell the redesign costs USD 2,900 (Starter), USD 4,900 (Growth) or USD 8,900 (Premium, the multilingual tier, languages set in the quote), delivered in 3 to 4 weeks once content is ready. The December to January summer break is the best cutover window, and the admissions portal and fee payment stay on quote.

Which signals call for a redesign?

In Toowong, Ascot, Indooroopilly or the inner north, families compare schools on their phones, and some, coming from Europe, expect a working consent banner. Common signals: a decorative banner that lets analytics fire anyway, a 2016 privacy notice naming none of today's tools, enquiries kept indefinitely in a shared inbox, a form asking for full date of birth and medical details, and an incomplete version in the school's second language.

Privacy and cookies: what must the redesign change?

Australia has no EU-style cookie consent rule. Many independent schools still fall under the Privacy Act 1988 and its Australian Privacy Principles, through turnover above AUD 3 million or other criteria, with exceptions. Personal information collected through tags is then covered. This is not legal advice.

What is the budget, line by line?

2026 ballpark, based on typical Brisbane agency quotes; AUD amounts converted approximately to USD (AUD 1 ≈ USD 0.65).

See tier details on Kolonell's international offer. The Australian Consumer Law prohibits misleading representations: if you publish fees, show compulsory levies clearly.

How does the project run?

Before the project, the school gathers approved content in both languages. Kolonell then works 3 to 4 weeks: a first week inventorying URLs (admissions, curriculum, open days, fees if published, transport) and installed tags, two weeks of design and build with the banner wired to the tools, then migration, a 301 redirect map and testing. Cutover happens mid-December after term ends, with 6 weeks of Search Console monitoring before the late-January start.

Which risks should you watch?

• Orphan tags. An old advertising pixel keeps collecting after the redesign. Fix: full inventory and a test with consent refused.
• Lost search visibility. Admissions and curriculum pages in both languages each get a 301 redirect.
• An outdated notice. The new notice names the tools actually used and is approved by the school's adviser before launch.
• Broken portal links. The admissions portal and fee payment are kept and tested on launch day.
• Unchecked claims. Curricula, Queensland accreditation and inspections only as the school actually holds them. Child protection pages remain the school's own documents, and pupil photos appear only with documented parental consent.

Questions for any supplier: how do you test refused cookies? Who keeps the tag inventory? How is the second language reviewed? A Brisbane agency remains the better choice if you want in-person legal and technical support or on-campus filming.

Mini case study

Illustrative example: Jacaranda Bilingual School, a fictional English and French bilingual school of about 250 pupils. Claire, the head of operations, finds 4 years of enquiries, about 1,200 messages, sitting in a shared inbox.

• Kolonell Premium redesign (English and French, languages set in the quote): USD 8,900
• French review by an independent translator: 12,000 words x USD 0.12 = USD 1,440 (third-party cost)
• Lawyer review of the notice: about USD 1,500 (third-party cost)
• Total: USD 11,840, against about USD 20,000 for a mid-range Brisbane agency on a bilingual site
• Retention: with a 24-month period set by the school and 300 enquiries a year, the inbox drops from 1,200 to about 600 messages

Maintenance after the 3 included months: on quote.

FAQ

Is a cookie banner mandatory in Australia?

There is no EU-style rule, but the Privacy Act 1988 covers many schools above AUD 3 million turnover. A banner that truly blocks tags remains good practice.

How long should we keep enquiries?

The school decides in its policy, with its adviser. A period of 12 to 24 months for enquiries that go no further is a common starting point to discuss.

Which tier suits a bilingual school?

Premium, at USD 8,900: the multilingual tier, languages set in the quote. Review by an independent translator is a third-party cost.

When should we go live?

Mid-December after term ends, so the 6 weeks of monitoring finish before the new school year.

What stays on quote?

The admissions portal, fee payment, the SIS, the parent app and search optimisation. The Growth site alone costs USD 4,900.

Let's scope your project. A redesign from USD 4,900 to 8,900 with cookies and privacy notice put right, live for the new school year. See the international offer or request a free quote: detailed reply within 48 hours.