Parents prefer informal chats to parents’ evenings

Ed Balls, Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families, has published research showing that parents want even more involvement in their children’s education and that they prefer informal chats with school staff to parents’ evenings.

The research, the Parental Involvement in Children’s Education survey, found that just over half of all parents (51%) feel very involved in their child’s education – up from just 29% in 2001. It also found that 65% want to get more involved.

On the topic of communication with schools, parents told that they preferred informal discussions with school staff to parents’ evenings. The proportion of parents who see parents’ evenings as the “most useful” way of communicating has dropped from 43% in 2001 to just 19% in 2007.

Speaking at the Parent Know How event in London, Ed Balls told that he would also set out plans to consult with parents within the next month (June) on a range of issues to help them play a full part in their child’s education.

Ed Balls said:

“Parents tell us they like having informal contact with their child’s school – whether that’s a chat in the playground or the chance to go online to see their teenager’s latest marks and make sure that they are going to all their classes.

“I believe parents’ evening will always play an important role – but in today’s complex world we need to help parents keep up-to-date in the way and at a time that suits them………So in the next month we will be asking parents to tell us how they want to be involved.”

Parents prefer informal chats to parents’ evenings

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