Parents

Successful schools often have children who receive strong support for learning from parents. In fact studies have suggested that the quality of parental support could be the single most important factor in determining how well a child does at school. Finding out about the parent cohort at a school and investigating a school’s relationship with its parent group is therefore a key element in deciding upon the right school for your child.

• If a school has an active Parent Teachers Association, PTAAlso known as parent association (PA). A PTA, parent teacher association, is an organisation of parents, with some school staff input, who arrange events for the school, such as fetes or quiz nights, usually to raise funds and generate a social link between and amongst school staff and parents., the likelihood is that it has a parent body that supports learning.
• It is important to look carefully at what the school does for parents, as well as what the parent body does for the school. A school which tries hard to engage parents, even though parents may be difficult to engage, is better than a school that does not try at all.
• A successful school involves parents in children’s learning. For example, they might have parents helping at a school production, or parents reading with students.
• Parents should be made welcome at the school.They should be greeted hospitably and warmly by reception, and the school should facilitate all communication with parents, not hinder it.
• It should be made very clear by the school whom parents should contact about issues concerning their children.
• A school with a strong pastoralThe pastoral system is the mechanism responsible for your child’s welfare. Most schools have Heads of year*, assistant heads of year and tutors*. In some schools there is a houseSee also 'Head of year/ Head of house'. A house is a team that groups of students are organised into for reasons of motivation and camaraderie. Houses usually stretch across year groups.* system, with a head and deputy head of houseSee also 'Head of year/ Head of house'. A house is a team that groups of students are organised into for reasons of motivation and camaraderie. Houses usually stretch across year groups.. These people are usually responsible primarily for your child’s social wellbeing, although in recent years there has been more emphasis in school pastoral systems upon raising academic attainmentSchools are measured nationally in terms of progressSchools are measured nationally according to attainment and progress. Progress is how well pupils have done given their starting points. For example, pupils' progress from key stage 2 to key stage 4 is measured. and attainment. Attainment is how well pupils do according to national averages, and in national examinations, regardless of how good they were when they started the school.. systemThe pastoralThe pastoral system is the mechanism responsible for your child’s welfare. Most schools have Heads of year*, assistant heads of year and tutors*. In some schools there is a houseSee also 'Head of year/ Head of house'. A house is a team that groups of students are organised into for reasons of motivation and camaraderie. Houses usually stretch across year groups.* system, with a head and deputy head of houseSee also 'Head of year/ Head of house'. A house is a team that groups of students are organised into for reasons of motivation and camaraderie. Houses usually stretch across year groups.. These people are usually responsible primarily for your child’s social wellbeing, although in recent years there has been more emphasis in school pastoral systems upon raising academic attainmentSchools are measured nationally in terms of progressSchools are measured nationally according to attainment and progress. Progress is how well pupils have done given their starting points. For example, pupils' progress from key stage 2 to key stage 4 is measured. and attainment. Attainment is how well pupils do according to national averages, and in national examinations, regardless of how good they were when they started the school.. system is the mechanism responsible for your child’s welfare. Most schools have Heads of year*, assistant heads of year and tutors*. In some schools there is a houseSee also 'Head of year/ Head of house'. A house is a team that groups of students are organised into for reasons of motivation and camaraderie. Houses usually stretch across year groups.* system, with a head and deputy head of houseSee also 'Head of year/ Head of house'. A house is a team that groups of students are organised into for reasons of motivation and camaraderie. Houses usually stretch across year groups.. These people are usually responsible primarily for your child’s social wellbeing, although in recent years there has been more emphasis in school pastoralThe pastoral system is the mechanism responsible for your child’s welfare. Most schools have Heads of year*, assistant heads of year and tutors*. In some schools there is a houseSee also 'Head of year/ Head of house'. A house is a team that groups of students are organised into for reasons of motivation and camaraderie. Houses usually stretch across year groups.* system, with a head and deputy head of houseSee also 'Head of year/ Head of house'. A house is a team that groups of students are organised into for reasons of motivation and camaraderie. Houses usually stretch across year groups.. These people are usually responsible primarily for your child’s social wellbeing, although in recent years there has been more emphasis in school pastoral systems upon raising academic attainmentSchools are measured nationally in terms of progressSchools are measured nationally according to attainment and progress. Progress is how well pupils have done given their starting points. For example, pupils' progress from key stage 2 to key stage 4 is measured. and attainment. Attainment is how well pupils do according to national averages, and in national examinations, regardless of how good they were when they started the school.. systems upon raising academic attainmentSchools are measured nationally in terms of progressSchools are measured nationally according to attainment and progress. Progress is how well pupils have done given their starting points. For example, pupils' progress from key stage 2 to key stage 4 is measured. and attainment. Attainment is how well pupils do according to national averages, and in national examinations, regardless of how good they were when they started the school.. usually has good communications with parents. Tutors are accessible and know their students well. The school contacts parents with good news as well as bad. The school contacts parents when they can help, not when it is too late.
• Schools who successfully communicate with parents are more likely to be right for your child. A school should have ways of having a regular dialogue with parents. Usually, schools will have a system where each student has a journalAlso known as ‘day book’, or ‘diary’. Most schools give students a school journal. It is used primarily for recording homework, and facilitating communication between home and school. The journal usually has a place where parents and tutors* can sign every week, to say they have read the homework set and acknowledged any communications with each other. to record homework, important dates and information; and which parents and tutors sign every week. If the use of this journalAlso known as ‘day book’, or ‘diary’. Most schools give students a school journal. It is used primarily for recording homework, and facilitating communication between home and school. The journal usually has a place where parents and tutors* can sign every week, to say they have read the homework set and acknowledged any communications with each other. is not enforced by the school, then the system is useless. Or, in some schools now, all communication is done electronically
•  Schools should make all appropriate publications accessible to parents. The  the prospectus, the website and the newsletter should all be parent friendly.
• Schools which want to communicate with all of their parents and not just a select few will make sure that key communications are appropriately translated.
• A school will usually have some sort of newsletter which it sends out to parents, keeping them up to date. If this publication is working, it should be informative, celebrate success, be published regularly and actually be read by parents.
• Schools should have means of regularly informing parents about their child’s performance. Legally, a school has to produce a report for each child at least once a year. Some schools also give every parent an end of term breakdown of levelsAt key stage 2* and key stage 3* students are awarded National Curriculum levels to measure academic progressSchools are measured nationally according to attainment and progress. Progress is how well pupils have done given their starting points. For example, pupils' progress from key stage 2 to key stage 4 is measured.. The levels go from level 1 to level 8. In Year 9*, level 5 is the average nationally. or grades. In others, teachers record progressSchools are measured nationally according to attainment and progress. Progress is how well pupils have done given their starting points. For example, pupils' progress from key stage 2 to key stage 4 is measured. in the students’ journals, or electronically.  If communications are working successfully, a parent should be able to find out, with little difficulty, what level their child is working at in each subject at any time.
• Parents should be invited to school at least once a year for a Parents’ Evening or an Academic ReviewAcademic review is a form of parental consultation,often in lieu of parents’ evening*. Parents come to an event where they meet their child’s tutorAlso known as ‘form tutor’. A tutor is a teacher who registers a class of students and oversees their moral and social welfare. They should have a close overview of each tutee’s progressSchools are measured nationally according to attainment and progress. Progress is how well pupils have done given their starting points. For example, pupils' progress from key stage 2 to key stage 4 is measured., although it is quite likely that the tutor will not teach the students in their tutor group. Tutors are often the first point of contact for parents. A tutor is line managed by a head of year* or head of houseSee also 'Head of year/ Head of house'. A house is a team that groups of students are organised into for reasons of motivation and camaraderie. Houses usually stretch across year groups.*.* and set targets to help their child to improve. day to discuss their child’s progressSchools are measured nationally according to attainment and progress. Progress is how well pupils have done given their starting points. For example, pupils' progress from key stage 2 to key stage 4 is measured..
• Schools should have a schedule of parents’ events. These should not be limited to parents’ evenings. Successful schools could hold revision evenings, optionsTaking place in Year 9* options is the process where students choose which subjects they wish to study at key stage 4*. English, Maths, Science, RE*, Citizenship* and ICT* are not normally optional. Students can normally opt for a number of other subjects depending on the school’s curriculum. There is normally no guarantee that students will be given the subjects they opt for.’ evenings or curriculum evenings. Schools should be facilitating parental involvement at all the key points of your child’s career.
• Schools which are particularly strong extended schoolsExtended Schools provide a range of services in addition to traditional school provision. For example, child care or evening classes for adults. By 2010 all schools had to be extended schools. will offer a full programme for parents, which includes parenting support.
• Some Head teachers are better at and more interested in communicating with parents than others. A good Head teacher works hard to involve and inform parents.
• Remember that a Head teacher is not at the beck and call of parents. Although the notion of ‘parent choice’ is very popular at the time of writing, the Head teacher is a highly qualified professional who knows their own mind, not simply that of their parent body. As well as listening to parents, a Head teacher sometimes needs to stand up to them. Not all parents will have the good of the school at the top of their agenda, and a Head teacher must not be intimidated by parents or respond to their every whim.

Further Information

Extra-curricularExtra-curricular activities take place outside of lesson times, for example, at lunchtime or after school.

Contact the school and ask about extra-curricularExtra-curricular activities take place outside of lesson times, for example, at lunchtime or after school. events, such as the school production. If possible attend a school’s production before you decide whether to send your child there. You will get to observe the parental cohort in the audience, and you can chat to the parents who are usually involved providing the refreshments.

Informal Visit

Pop into the school to pick up the prospectus. See how the reception staff treat you as prospective parents, whether they are warm and welcoming, or indifferent.

Open Evening

Find out if the school has a parental survey and if so what they have learned from it. Have any actions been taken as a result of the survey findings? Ask about their reporting cycle.

PTAAlso known as parent association (PA). A PTA, parent teacher association, is an organisation of parents, with some school staff input, who arrange events for the school, such as fetes or quiz nights, usually to raise funds and generate a social link between and amongst school staff and parents.

It is helpful to talk to parents of children who attend the school you are considering. One way of doing this is to contact the school and see if there are any events coming up that are organised by the PTAAlso known as parent association (PA). A PTA, parent teacher association, is an organisation of parents, with some school staff input, who arrange events for the school, such as fetes or quiz nights, usually to raise funds and generate a social link between and amongst school staff and parents., for example, a school fete, or other fund raising event. If there is, get tickets and go.Then,you can get a feel for the type of parents involved, and whether you would fit in with them.You can also ask them informally about the school, and what their endorsements or reservations are.

School Publications

Contact the school and ask for any recent back copies of their communications with parents: letters, examination time tables etc. This will give you an idea about how hard the school works to involve its parents, and also give you a taste of how the Head teacher addresses her parents. It is a good idea to ask the school for the most recent copy of their newsletter and two or three back copies. See how often the newsletter comes out, see if the school celebrates its success, and see if there is any evidence from the newsletter of parents actually reading it, for example, comments from parents etc.

Visit

Ask the student showing you round about their journalAlso known as ‘day book’, or ‘diary’. Most schools give students a school journal. It is used primarily for recording homework, and facilitating communication between home and school. The journal usually has a place where parents and tutors* can sign every week, to say they have read the homework set and acknowledged any communications with each other. or day bookAlso known as 'journalAlso known as ‘day book’, or ‘diary’. Most schools give students a school journal. It is used primarily for recording homework, and facilitating communication between home and school. The journal usually has a place where parents and tutors* can sign every week, to say they have read the homework set and acknowledged any communications with each other.'. Most schools give students a school journalAlso known as ‘day book’, or ‘diary’. Most schools give students a school journal. It is used primarily for recording homework, and facilitating communication between home and school. The journal usually has a place where parents and tutors* can sign every week, to say they have read the homework set and acknowledged any communications with each other. or day book. It is used primarily for recording homework, and facilitating communication between home and school. The day book usually has a place where parents and tutors* can sign every week, to say they have read the homework set and acknowledged any communications with each other., or how the school communicates with their parents electronically.  Find out whether their parents and tutors regularly sign the journalAlso known as ‘day book’, or ‘diary’. Most schools give students a school journal. It is used primarily for recording homework, and facilitating communication between home and school. The journal usually has a place where parents and tutors* can sign every week, to say they have read the homework set and acknowledged any communications with each other. or day bookAlso known as 'journalAlso known as ‘day book’, or ‘diary’. Most schools give students a school journal. It is used primarily for recording homework, and facilitating communication between home and school. The journal usually has a place where parents and tutors* can sign every week, to say they have read the homework set and acknowledged any communications with each other.'. Most schools give students a school journalAlso known as ‘day book’, or ‘diary’. Most schools give students a school journal. It is used primarily for recording homework, and facilitating communication between home and school. The journal usually has a place where parents and tutors* can sign every week, to say they have read the homework set and acknowledged any communications with each other. or day book. It is used primarily for recording homework, and facilitating communication between home and school. The day book usually has a place where parents and tutors* can sign every week, to say they have read the homework set and acknowledged any communications with each other., if they have one.

Summary