Schools and parents: working together for a better future

The phone rings at 2.30pm and it’s the school telling you after school club has been cancelled, or that the Year 6 leaver’s assembly is this Friday; the same day as your business meeting out of town. Sound familiar? With the vast majority of parents now in work – are schools doing enough to ensure working parents are positively involved? And could working parents do more too? Michelle Doyle Wildman, policy and communications director at PTA UK discusses.

There is no doubt that parents have an incredibly positive influence on their child’s attainment throughout their educational journey, whether that’s at home or in the classroom. Therefore, schools and parents should focus on working together to ensure they are fully involved and positively contributing to children’s learning.

It’s surprising that, with the majority of parents working, there is very little advice available to support working families and be flexible to both their needs, and the schools.

A survey by Working Families found that of the 5.9 million two-parent families in the UK, 95 per cent have one or both parents working and 49 per cent have both parents working full-time. This is a huge majority, showcasing the need for schools and parents to support one another to ensure their children are receiving the best possible educational opportunities. But how can working parents become fully involved in school life and engaged in their child’s learning?

Parental engagement at both primary and secondary levels differ greatly, with the former relying on interactions in the playground, and the latter focusing on direct communication through digital and electronic methods. If parents don’t favour these preferences, or simply cannot accommodate it due to their working hours, it could result in them feeling further detached from their child’s school life. With this in mind, perhaps schools could consider actively asking working parents what would help and then respond accordingly.

Communication needs to be reciprocal and welcomed by both parties; while schools could offer more flexibility, working parents could also involve themselves whenever they can, no matter how small or large the effort. If time permits, parents could consider volunteering in their child’s school, or utilise their own professional skills and become an advisor or school trustee. However, if time is an issue, then the smaller efforts won’t go unnoticed; parents can be just as active online and respond to emails, surveys and updates, or get involved with the school’s parent body. Staying connected will help parents feel like they are actively involved in their child’s learning and contributing to the school as a whole.

Parents may also consider flexible working; there is evidence that there are very few roles that can’t now accommodate some kind of flexible working. Having this option would certainly provide more opportunity to do the school run, or spend time helping with homework in the evenings.

Equally, teachers can welcome feedback from parents at any stage, and keep them involved when it comes to school processes and updates. They could also consider offering more flexibility when it comes to after school meetings or parents evening.

There’s no denying that teachers lead busy lives, and their main priority is of course the pupils. Yet, we mustn’t forget just how influential parents are and welcoming their involvement can have positive influences and outcomes for both the students and the whole school.

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Schools and parents: working together for a better future

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