This item was published during the term of a previous administration that ended in April 2007
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Class Dads to the fore
11/06/2006
Fathers across Scotland are getting hands-on in their kids' school lives - which for one group of Class Dads means building rafts, kites and even medieval catapults.
Sanquhar Primary School near Dumfries runs one of Scotland's most popular groups for men and their children. Twice a month they kit out nearly 40 dads, brothers and granddads for a day of fun, family - and free-form construction.
They will be applauded as a great example of what works at the Class Dads conference in Glasgow tomorrow, which looks at how councils and schools can better help dads get hands-on in their kids' education.
Group organiser Alex Douglas, who has just been named Dumfries and Galloway Council's Tutor of the Year, said:
"Men can find it daunting getting involved in their kids' school life - they can be unsure of who to approach or don't feel their skills are useful.
"That's why our dads days are so popular - we come up with exciting, hands-on challenges that give the whole family a buzz. Sixty-eight of us are off to Glenshee in Perthshire over the Fathers' Day weekend, rock-climbing and building rafts to race.
"We set up the group in August last year to help dads feel more welcome in the school, and it's now a central part of life at Sanquhar Primary. We've seen a dramatic rise in the number of dads coming to parent-teacher nights -nearly 70 per cent in my class alone - and dads are getting involved in all aspects of their kids learning.
Deputy Education Minister Robert Brown said:
"We know that children do better when their parents are involved in their education. Tomorrow's Class Dads conference will look at how to help more fathers play a larger part in their children's learning."
Class Dads: Involving men in early years, schools and their children's learning is the annual conference of the Children, Fathers and Fatherhood project, which is funded by the Executive and run by Children in Scotland in partnership with Fathers Direct and the Equal Opportunities Commission.