Short answer: a school website has two jobs. For a CBSE school, the first is legal: the Affiliation Bye-Laws require a website with a Mandatory Public Disclosure page in the Appendix IX format, and CBSE revised that format in January 2026. The second is admissions: parents check the website before they visit, so fees, results, notices and an easy way to enquire need to be there and up to date.
This guide takes the official CBSE documents, checked on 13 October 2026, and turns them into a checklist you can use on your own school’s website today.
What does a good school website need?
| Area | What to include | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Mandatory Public Disclosure | All five parts of Appendix IX, with documents uploaded | Required by CBSE |
| Annual report | Posted before 15 September every year | Required by CBSE (clause 14.5) |
| Admissions | Classes open, process, dates and an enquiry form | Parents decide here |
| Fees | Fee structure for the current session | Required, and the first thing parents look for |
| Notices and results | Dated notices, last three years of board results | Required, and builds trust |
| Teachers | Names, designations and qualifications | Required since the 2026 revision |
| Contact | Address, phone, email, Google Map | Required, and it brings visits |
Is a website compulsory for a CBSE school?
Yes. Clause 2.4.9 of the CBSE Affiliation Bye-Laws says every affiliated school will develop its own website with its affiliation status, infrastructure, teachers and their qualifications, number of students, contact details and fees. CBSE Circular No. 03 of 5 March 2021 added one line to that clause: the Mandatory Public Disclosure, in the format at Appendix IX, “shall be uploaded at prominent place on the website”.
“Prominent place” matters. A disclosure page that sits three menus deep, or only inside a PDF, does not meet it. Put a clear “Mandatory Public Disclosure” link in the main menu or the header.
What is the CBSE Mandatory Public Disclosure?
It is a fixed format, Appendix IX, that every CBSE school fills in and publishes. In the revised version from January 2026 it has five parts and 36 items:
| Part | What it covers | Items |
|---|---|---|
| A. General information | School name, affiliation number, school code, address with PIN, principal’s name and qualification, email, phone | 7 |
| B. Documents and information | Affiliation letter, society or trust registration, NOC, RTE recognition, building safety, fire safety, DEO certificate, drinking water and sanitation certificates with a water testing report | 8 |
| C. Results and academics | Fee structure, academic calendar, SMC list, PTA list, last three years of Class X and XII results | 5 |
| D. Teaching staff | Principal, vice principal, headmistress or headmaster, all teachers (PGT, TGT, PRT) by name and qualification, teacher-section ratio, special educator, counsellor and wellness teacher | 7 |
| E. Infrastructure | Campus area, classrooms, labs, library, internet, girls’, boys’ and CWSN toilets, and a YouTube video of the school inspection | 9 |
The documents in part B must be self-attested by the chairman, manager or secretary and by the principal. The format carries a warning: if an uploaded document is later found not to be genuine, the school is liable for action.
What changed in the January 2026 revised format?
CBSE Circular No. 1/2026, dated 12 January 2026 and signed by the Secretary, CBSE, said that many schools were not updating their websites at regular intervals, or were uploading incorrect details and invalid documents, and that teachers’ details were “invariably not found”. It issued a revised Appendix IX with these additions:
- Teachers by name. PGT, TGT and PRT lists with each teacher’s name, designation and qualification, linked from the disclosure page.
- Vice principal and head. The vice principal and the headmistress or headmaster are now listed alongside the principal.
- Library and CWSN toilets. The number and size of the library, and the number of toilets for children with special needs.
- Water testing report. Part B now asks for drinking water certificates and a water testing report.
Schools were given until 15 February 2026 to comply. The circular says non-compliance will be treated as a violation of clause 12.2.3 and may lead to a penalty under Chapter 12 of the Affiliation Bye-Laws (news report on the circular).
The same circular reminds schools of two more rules that touch the website. Clause 14.5: the annual report goes on the website before 15 September every year. Clause 5.4: the pupil-teacher ratio should not exceed 30:1, with 1.5 teachers per section, and the disclosure is where parents will check that.
What else do parents look for on a school website?
The disclosure page keeps the school compliant. These pages are what get a parent to call:
Pages parents use
- Admissions: classes open, age rules, dates and documents needed.
- Fees for the current session, in one clear table.
- Notice board with dated posts, newest first.
- Board results for the last three years.
- Transport routes and timings.
- Real photos of classrooms, labs and events.
Things that bring enquiries
- An enquiry form that sends to a phone the office checks.
- A WhatsApp button and a tap-to-call number.
- A Google Map and a link to the school’s Google Business Profile.
- Pages that load fast on a phone, since most parents will open the site there.
- The school’s name and town in page titles, so it shows up in local searches.
What are the most common mistakes on school websites?
These are the problems we find most often when we look at school websites:
| Mistake | Why it hurts |
|---|---|
| Disclosure tables with the headings filled in but the details left empty | It looks like compliance but is not |
| “Download” links that point nowhere, or documents missing | Part B is not met |
| Demo text and numbers left over from the website template | Parents notice, and it reads as untrue |
| Results and fees from an old session | Clause 2.4.9 asks for current information |
| Scanned PDFs that cannot be read on a phone | Parents give up; search engines cannot read them |
| The site tagline still says “Just another WordPress site” | It shows up in Google results |
How do you check your school website in 10 minutes?
- Find the disclosure link. Open the home page on a phone. Can you reach “Mandatory Public Disclosure” in one tap?
- Count the 36 items. Go through parts A to E above. Mark every empty cell and every missing document.
- Open every download. Each link should open the right, current, self-attested document.
- Check the dates. Fees, calendar and results should be for this session. The annual report should be up by 15 September.
- Search for leftovers. Look for template text, sample numbers and the WordPress default tagline.
- Test an enquiry. Fill in the admission form yourself and see if it reaches the office.
If the list turns up gaps, fixing them is usually a few days of work, not a new website. We build and look after school websites from our office in Fatehabad, Haryana. See our website design service or book a free 30-minute call and we will go through your site with you.
Common questions
Is a website compulsory for a CBSE school?
Yes. Clause 2.4.9 of the CBSE Affiliation Bye-Laws says every affiliated school will develop its own website, and since CBSE Circular No. 03 of 5 March 2021 the Mandatory Public Disclosure in the Appendix IX format has to be uploaded at a prominent place on it.
What is Appendix IX in CBSE?
Appendix IX is the CBSE format for the Mandatory Public Disclosure. It has five parts: general information, documents and certificates, results and academics, teaching staff, and school infrastructure.
What changed in the CBSE disclosure format in 2026?
CBSE Circular No. 1/2026, dated 12 January 2026, issued a revised Appendix IX. It asks for the names, designations and qualifications of teachers, adds the vice principal and headmistress or headmaster, library size, CWSN toilets, and a drinking water testing report. Schools were told to comply by 15 February 2026.
What happens if a school does not upload the Mandatory Public Disclosure?
The January 2026 circular says non-compliance will be viewed as a violation of clause 12.2.3 of the Affiliation Bye-Laws, which may lead to a penalty under Chapter 12. The format also warns that if uploaded documents are found not genuine, the school is liable for action.
Does the school annual report need to be on the website?
Yes. Clause 14.5, quoted in the January 2026 circular, says the school should prepare its annual report and post it on the school website before 15 September every year.
Who has to sign the documents in the disclosure?
The Appendix IX note says the documents must be self-attested by the chairman, manager or secretary and the principal.
How often should a school update its website?
At least every session: new results, the fee structure, the academic calendar, SMC and PTA lists, and the teacher list all change each year. CBSE’s 2026 circular says many schools were not updating this information at regular intervals.
Sources checked on 13 October 2026: CBSE Circular No. 03/2021, Appendix IX format (saras.cbse.gov.in), CBSE Affiliation Bye-Laws and CBSE Circular No. 1/2026 dated 12.01.2026. CBSE issues new circulars from time to time, so check the latest on cbse.gov.in.