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Learning Directorate
The Scottish Government
Victoria Quay
Edinburgh EH6 6QQ
Tel:0131 556 8400 or
08457 741741 (for local rate throughout UK)
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Parental Involvement

Mother and child

Curriculum for Excellence emphasises the key role played by parents in supporting their children's learning. The Scottish Government works closely with partner organisations to ensure parents' views are recognised and heard and encourages all schools to strengthen their links with parents.

The Parental Involvement Act (2006) sets out the role of parents in Scottish Education, modernising and strengthening the framework that supports parental involvement in school education. The act identifies three areas of particular importance:

  • Learning at Home. Parents play a vital role in their children's learning and development. The Scottish Government aims to encourage parents to develop their children's learning at home and in the community.
  • Home/School Partnership. The Act reflects the shared role and responsibility that schools, parents and carers have in working together to educate children.
  • Parental Representation. The Act replaced the old School Boards with Parent Councils, designed to be less formal and to encourage more and different parents to get involved in the life of their school.

Guidance on the Scottish Schools (Parental Involvement) Act 2006

Further information

  • Information about Scottish education and resources for parents and Parent Councils can be found on the Parentzone site. Factfiles available on the site include Parents and partners and Supporting Learners. An accessible summary of the Parental Involvement Act is also available on Parentzone.
  • Further information, including learner entitlements (detailed under the What can learners expect tab), is on the Curriculum for Excellence site.
  • Scottish Schools Online is a searchable directory of all schools in Scotland, including independent schools.
  • Engage for Education is a platform for Scotland's education community (parents, teachers, pupils, etc) to engage directly with the Scottish Government about issues important to them.
  • Examples of Curriculum for Excellence in action can be found on the Scottish Government Curriculum for Excellence in Action site.
  • The Enquire site is particularly useful if you wish to find out more about additional support for learning.
  • Her Majesty's Inspectorate of Education (HMIE) works to inspect and review schools and to support meaningful self-evaluation. And through this process to identify strengths and priorities for improvement across the system.
  • Information on qualifications and assessment can be found on the Scottish Qualifications Authority (SQA) website.
  • School term dates by Local Authority area

Page updated: Thursday, June 09, 2011