This item was published during the term of a previous administration that ended in April 2007
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New access to schools' information
15/12/2003
A new website which gives parents instant and easy
access to information on every Scottish school was launched
today.
Scottish Schools Online, part of the
Parentzone
website, provides parents with a broad, clear picture
of schools' achievements.
The website includes:
• School exam results
• Attendance and absence rates
• School leaver destinations
• Information on the number of pupils taking free
school meals
• Links to school inspection reports and school
websites
All exam data for each school will cover three years and
will allow year-on-year comparisons to be made, as well as
comparisons with the results for the local authority as a
whole.
Education Minister Peter Peacock.said:
"Parents face a bewildering array of information when
trying to assess how well their school is performing. To
date we have not been active enough in getting the key
information into one place to help parents. Today we put
that right.
"This one-stop-shop means that parents are just a click
away from finding easily understood information on any,
each and every school throughout Scotland. The website
also gives contact details for schools, so that parents can
get in touch if they need more information.
"Today we are opening up access to more and more
relevant information - a new era of openness and
transparency. Parents will be offered a well-rounded
picture of what is happening in their schools rather than a
one-dimensional focus on attainment alone.
"Empowering parents in this way will strengthen their
links with schools and build on partnerships that already
exist. This website will also make it clear - to parents,
pupils, teachers and others - exactly how well a school is
performing, allowing everyone to measure improvements
year-on-year."
Scottish Schools Online is part of the Parentzone
website at w
ww.parentzonescotland.gov.uk.
Parentzone includes information and news about school
education, recent publications and links to useful
organisations.
Paper copies of school information, for parents without
web access, are available by calling 0870 3332870 (9am-5pm,
Monday to Friday). Alternatively, information on the
nearest public internet access point is available on 0800
771 234. School handbooks will also continue to be
available from individual schools.
The website shows comparisons with figures for the two
previous years. Comparisons are also shown for every school
against the average for the relevant local authority and
the national average.