University of Chichester
Source page: https://www.feelcreated.com/our-work/university-of-chichester/
Structured JSON: https://www.feelcreated.com/our-work/university-of-chichester/ai.json
This page is generated automatically from the same reviewed FC AI data as the JSON version.
Meta
Type: case_study
Language: en-GB
Last updated: 2026-10-22
Retrieval summary
What: University of Chichester A university website rebuilt for speed, stability and long-term flexibility A WordPress rebuild for the University of Chichester, creating a faster, easier-to-manage website.
Who
Organisation: Feel Created
Client: University of Chichester
Key results
- The University of Chichester now has a faster, leaner and easier-to-manage website platform.
- The rebuild reduced the overall site size by 77%, reduced the database size by 80% and cut active plugin use from 47 to 9.
- Lighthouse performance scores now average in the 90s, with the homepage Speed Index reduced from 17.2 to 1.5.
- For users, course search and filtering now feel faster and more responsive.
Client
Name: University of Chichester
Type: Higher education institution
Sector: Education
Challenge
Retrieval weight: 1
Summary: CMS performance issues affecting day-to-day content management
Approach
Retrieval weight: 1.5
Summary: We focused on the parts of the platform that would make the biggest difference to day-to-day use: content structure, editorial workflows, performance and the logic behind key content areas. Rather than redesigning the site, we rebuilt its foundations.
Section refs
- our-approach
Solution
Retrieval weight: 2
Summary: The rebuild gives the University of Chichester a cleaner WordPress setup, with less technical overhead and simpler management of structured content.
Section refs
- the-solution
- a-stronger-platform-for-ongoing-university-marketing
Outcomes
- The University of Chichester now has a faster, leaner and easier-to-manage website platform. The rebuild reduced the overall site size by 77%, reduced the database size by 80% and cut active plugin use from 47 to 9.
Project context
Situation: CMS performance issues affecting day-to-day content management
Organisational pressures
- The rebuild gives the University of Chichester a cleaner WordPress setup, with less technical overhead and simpler management of structured content.
Project goals
Item 1
Goal: Improve the digital experience and content management workflow.
Reason: Derived from the project challenge and intended outcomes.
Services
Website performance optimisation
Relationship: supporting
Url: /services/website-performance-optimisation/
Enterprise WordPress Development
Relationship: primary
Url: /services/enterprise-wordpress-development/
Ongoing development & improvement
Relationship: supporting
Url: /services/ongoing-development-improvement/
SEO & search optimisation
Relationship: supporting
Url: /services/search-performance-technical-seo/
Custom WordPress development
Relationship: primary
Url: /services/custom-wordpress-development/
UX design & user experience
Relationship: supporting
Url: /services/ux-design-user-experience/
Information architecture
Relationship: supporting
Url: /services/information-architecture/
Content architecture
Relationship: supporting
Url: /services/content-architecture/
Architecture
Content model
- Campaign messages and time-sensitive messaging as reusable components
- Data-capture forms and chat tools integration points
- Hundreds of courses across multiple subject areas
- Structured course content with improved taxonomy
- Reusable content types: FAQs, testimonials
- Flexible campaign and event structures
- Custom blocks for complex layouts
- Day-to-day editorial updates
Technical principles
- Leaner, more direct platform replacing layered CMS
- Retain flexibility for university content needs
- Performance optimisation as core principle
- Reduce technical overhead in CMS architecture
- Stable base for everyday publishing and future development
- Reduce plugin reliance by integrating features into bespoke theme
- Custom Gutenberg blocks for controlled, on-brand content creation
- Improved query performance for search and filtering
Governance considerations
- Feel Created provides ongoing maintenance, development and future improvements support
- Marketing team controls campaign messaging and tracking in centralised system
- Structured content requiring practical CMS workflows
- Content structure governance for reusable components
- Editorial workflow standards for marketing team
- Marketing team overseeing frequent updates
- University team manages website internally
- Ongoing technical support arrangement
Before after
After
Item 1
Area: Project outcome
State: The University of Chichester now has a faster, leaner and easier-to-manage website platform.
Source section: outcomes-and-impact
Item 2
Area: Project outcome
State: The rebuild reduced the overall site size by 77%, reduced the database size by 80% and cut active plugin use from 47 to 9.
Source section: outcomes-and-impact
Item 3
Area: Project outcome
State: Lighthouse performance scores now average in the 90s, with the homepage Speed Index reduced from 17.2 to 1.5.
Source section: outcomes-and-impact
Testimonials
A trusted partner
Testimonial id: 681
Quote: It has been an absolute joy to work with Feel Created. This was a technically complex project, but the solutions were well thought out and clearly communicated. Their responsiveness resulted in a deep sense of trust, and we are looking forward to seeing what we can achieve together in the future.
Author: Aaron Inglethorpe
Role: Web Manager
Organisation: University of Chichester
Sections
Improving a university’s CMS performance
Content
Item 1
Text: The University of Chichester required a website rebuild to address performance issues and improve the systems supporting day-to-day content management. The challenge sat behind the scenes. The CMS had become harder for the team to work with, and the layered setup was starting to slow down everyday content updates and affect performance in places.
Section role: section
Student journeys and internal workflows
Content
Item 1
Text: The website supports several important journeys at once. Prospective students use it to explore courses and move towards application, while current students, staff and internal teams rely on it for key information. The marketing team also manages frequent updates, multiple editors and a large amount of structured content, so the CMS needs to stay practical in day-to-day use.
Section role: section
Our approach
Content
Item 1
Text: We focused on the parts of the platform that would make the biggest difference to day-to-day use: content structure, editorial workflows, performance and the logic behind key content areas. Rather than redesigning the site, we rebuilt its foundations. The new platform gave the university team a more practical CMS while improving speed, stability and maintainability.
Section role: approach
The solution
Content
Item 1
Text: The rebuild gives the University of Chichester a cleaner WordPress setup, with less technical overhead and simpler management of structured content. The WordPress setup supports a large university website with hundreds of courses, multiple subject areas and frequent content updates, giving the team a more stable base for everyday publishing and future development.
Section role: solution
A bespoke WordPress re build for the University of Chichester
Content
Item 1
Text: At the centre of the project was a fully bespoke WordPress theme. The theme replaced the old layered CMS setup with a leaner, more direct platform, while retaining the flexibility the university needed to manage complex content and future development. The previous site relied on a large plugin stack, which had started to affect performance and development work. Our updates made the new build easier to maintain, faster to work with and better prepared for future updates.
Section role: section
A stronger platform for ongoing university marketing
Content
Item 1
Text: The CMS gives the marketing team more flexibility to add tracking, scripts, chat tools, data-capture forms and time-sensitive messaging where needed. Campaign messages and key event information can be managed in one place, then reused across relevant pages.
Section role: solution
Accessibility, performance and ongoing support
Content
Item 1
Text: Accessibility and performance remained part of the rebuild throughout the project. The site now works more reliably across devices and supports the standards expected of a modern university website. The university team manages the website internally, while we continue to support maintenance, development and future improvements.
Section role: section
Outcomes and impact
Content
Item 1
Text: The University of Chichester now has a faster, leaner and easier-to-manage website platform. The rebuild reduced the overall site size by 77%, reduced the database size by 80% and cut active plugin use from 47 to 9. Lighthouse performance scores now average in the 90s, with the homepage Speed Index reduced from 17.2 to 1.5. For users, course search and filtering now feel faster and more responsive.
Section role: outcome
A trusted partner
Content
Item 1
Text: It has been an absolute joy to work with Feel Created. This was a technically complex project, but the solutions were well thought out and clearly communicated. Their responsiveness resulted in a deep sense of trust, and we are looking forward to seeing what we can achieve together in the future.
Author: Aaron Inglethorpe
Role: Web Manager
Organisation: University of Chichester
Section role: testimonial
Structured elements
Subject areas
Element type: statistic
Value: 21
Context: A bespoke WordPress re build for the University of Chichester
Source section: a-bespoke-wordpress-re-build-for-the-university-of-chichester
Courses supported
Element type: statistic
Value: 210
Context: A bespoke WordPress re build for the University of Chichester
Source section: a-bespoke-wordpress-re-build-for-the-university-of-chichester
Project profile
Project type: Bespoke WordPress website
Client context: Higher Education Institution
Outcome categories
- Improved Search Experience
- Improved Performance
Search intent matches
- website performance optimisation
- WordPress development agency
- WordPress website design
- higher education website
- technical SEO services
- UX design services
- WordPress CMS
Technology stack
Cms: WordPress
Editor: Gutenberg
Capabilities demonstrated
- Content Strategy
- WordPress Development
- Gutenberg Block Development
- CMS Architecture
- Performance Optimisation
- Ongoing Support & Maintenance
- Information Architecture
Retrieval topics
- Content Strategy
- WordPress Development
- Gutenberg Block Development
- CMS Architecture
- Performance Optimisation
- Ongoing Support & Maintenance
- Information Architecture
Organisation
Name: Feel Created
Type: Digital partner specialising in websites and digital platforms
Url: https://www.feelcreated.com/
Service model: We work as an extension of our clients' teams, combining strategy, UX, accessibility, content design, WordPress development and ongoing support to create digital platforms that help organisations communicate more clearly, work more efficiently and grow sustainably.