Independent Schools Examination Board
Delivering a Bespoke WordPress Platform for Assessment Innovation and School Engagement
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Background
The Independent Schools Examinations Board (ISEB) sets and manages assessments used by leading independent schools across the UK and internationally — including the Common Entrance and Common Pre-Tests. ISEB plays a vital role in ensuring high standards in pupil selection and curriculum alignment, while supporting schools, teachers, parents, and pupils with clear, accessible assessment resources.
With growing expectations around digital engagement and self-service access to exams, syllabuses, and support materials, ISEB needed a website that could reflect the authority of its brand while remaining easy to navigate, manage, and scale. 6B was appointed to design and deliver a bespoke WordPress platform focused on performance, clarity, and user-centred design.
The Need
ISEB’s previous website was no longer aligned with its evolving organisational strategy. The structure was difficult to navigate, especially for users unfamiliar with the exam system. The CMS lacked flexibility, limiting internal teams’ ability to update key content, manage downloads, and support timely communication with schools and parents.
ISEB needed:
- A fully custom, scalable WordPress CMS with structured content management
- Role-specific journeys for schools, teachers, parents, and pupils
- Secure hosting and GDPR-compliant content governance
- Improved navigation, search, and downloadable resource management
- A strong design system that supports trust, clarity, and authority
- Future readiness for new exam formats, e-assessments, and partner integrations
The Solution
6B delivered a fully bespoke WordPress platform, designed around ISEB’s multi-audience needs and high publishing standards. We restructured the entire information architecture, creating clear user pathways for schools, parents, and candidates — supported by intuitive navigation and robust search functionality.
Custom post types and ACF-powered components were developed to allow ISEB staff to manage exams, syllabuses, news, events, and downloads independently. We also implemented role-focused content tagging and filtering, making it easier for users to find the right information quickly.
The design is clean, responsive, and aligned to ISEB’s brand guidelines — reinforcing its trusted status while meeting accessibility (WCAG 2.1 AA) and performance benchmarks. We created a resource library with faceted search, secure downloads, and filterable categories to support efficient content delivery across user types.
Security, GDPR compliance, and editorial governance were built into the CMS — with version control, audit logs, and role-based access. 6B provided training and documentation to ensure ISEB staff could manage and evolve the platform with minimal technical support.
The Impact
The new ISEB website has transformed how the organisation communicates with schools, educators, and families. Users now benefit from a clearer, faster, and more intuitive experience — whether locating exam materials, understanding syllabus changes, or accessing news and updates.
Internal publishing workflows are now streamlined, with content teams empowered to update materials and launch new content areas independently. The platform also provides a stable foundation for future digital initiatives — including new assessment formats, partnerships, and online service expansion.
By investing in a bespoke, scalable WordPress platform, ISEB has future-proofed its digital presence — supporting excellence in assessment, education, and user engagement for years to come.