This item was published during the term of a previous administration that ended in April 2007
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More power for parents
29/09/2005
The Scottish Schools (Parental Involvement) Bill, published today, will make it easier for parents to get involved in their children's education and with their school.
In response to consultation on the draft Bill, the proposals have been strengthened to give headteachers a role in parent councils and to give parents the right to raise unresolved concerns with school inspectors.
Other key aspects of the Bill include:
- New flexibilities which allow parents to choose the best system of parental representation for their school.
- New duties on Ministers and education authorities to promote parental involvement in education.
- New comprehensive annual reports for parents on the school's performance and the headteacher's ambitions for the school.
Education Minister Peter Peacock said:
"Parents have a vital role in helping strengthen our schools. We know that children achieve more when their parents support and are involved in their education. This Bill will make that easier.
"Our research shows that more parents want to get involved in the life of their children's school, but some are put off by the formality of the current arrangements. I want to dismantle these barriers and open up access so that parents will have more of a say in their children's education.
"We have listened carefully to the consultation responses. This is not about forcing parents to scrap systems they are already happy with. If a School Board works well, parents can choose to keep those arrangements. But for the schools where parents want to try something new, something they think will suit them better, the Bill allows and encourages this too.
"And instead of an emphasis on management issues, the new parent councils will be free to focus on any aspect of school life of interest to parents. There will be new responsibilities on education authorities, headteachers and ultimately school inspectors to listen and respond to parent's representations and concerns.
"We are putting new arrangements in place for the benefit of parents, pupils and schools in the 21st century. The changes will mean parents will make their voice better heard and so have more influence over their children's education. That is what this Bill is really about."
COSLA's Education Spokesperson Councillor Rev Ewan Aitken said:
"This Bill takes parental involvement in schools into the 21st century. Every council - indeed every school - is different and parents want choices about how they are involved in their child's education.
"The Bill frees us up from rigid structures and let's explore new ways of reaching parents who are not involved at the moment. But in those areas where current structures really involve parents at the moment they can continue - that is what is good about the flexibility of this Bill."
Graeme Millar, Chairman of the Scottish Consumer Council, said:
"The SCC welcomes the Bill and the increased flexibility it will give parents. Our research clearly shows that parents would like to be more involved in the life of their child's school but many feel left out at the moment. It is encouraging to see the support there is for parent councils but parents stress that these need to be supported by schools, education authorities and the Scottish Executive."
The Scottish Schools (Parental Involvement) Bill is available at: www.scottish.parliament.uk.