Parents

The latest news, research and advice when it comes to parent-school relationships, including communication, safeguarding, parental involvement and more

Today

21st Dec 2024

VAT legal challenge claim reaches High Court
Families are seeking to take the government to the High Court over 20 per cent tax on private school fees, supported by the Independent Schools Council
Another legal challenge made to VAT on independent schools policy

Monday

16th Dec 2024

First parents’ assembly report flags lack of education reform awareness
Survey finds 70 per cent of Scottish Assembly of Parents and Carers members do not feel informed about flagship education Bill
Kept in the dark

Tuesday

26th Nov 2024

Absence fines regime ‘strengthens protections’ for SEND, says minister
Stephen Morgan also highlights schools moving to more flexible term times in debate on fines for unauthorised absence
Absence fines SEND

Wednesday

20th Nov 2024

Teachers face ‘alarming’ rise in verbal and physical abuse from pupils
Increase in challenging behaviour from children and parents is impacting teachers’ mental health and wellbeing, charity warns
Teachers face ‘alarming’ rise in verbal and physical abuse from pupils

Tuesday

19th Nov 2024

Satisfaction with Scottish schools hits record low
Opposition politicians blame the Scottish government, saying the drop in public satisfaction is a ‘damning indictment of the SNP’s record on schools’
Football fans

Tuesday

5th Nov 2024

Unauthorised absence ‘stubbornly high’ despite higher fines
Absence rates have not dropped since higher £160 fines were introduced in September, analysis reveals
Unauthorised absence ‘stubbornly high’ despite higher fines

Monday

28th Oct 2024

Why we launched a charity to run our community hubs
After setting up our first 14 hubs, our schools have reported increased parental involvement in children’s education and better attendance, writes United Learning CEO Sir Jon Coles
community allotments

Friday

25th Oct 2024

Focus on inclusion over fines to fix attendance, report says
Threatening parents with fines is ‘not working for many families and not reducing severe absence rates’, former children’s commissioner warns
A new report has said that a new era of inclusion is needed in schools to tackle the absence crisis.

Tuesday

22nd Oct 2024

Education minister ‘open’ to school absence targets
Baroness Jacqui Smith was responding to questions in the House of Lords
Jacqui Smith child archery targets

Thursday

17th Oct 2024

Long-term absence rates rise
Government data reveals more than 150,000 pupils missed half or more of their school time last year
Dusty chair cobwebs

Wednesday

16th Oct 2024

Third of parents ‘more relaxed’ about children missing school
A significant proportion of parents have changed their attitude towards school attendance since the pandemic, a Parentkind poll shows
School absence parents

Tuesday

24th Sep 2024

New education body for parents and carers seeks recruits
The Scottish Assembly of Parents and Carers starts its search for members today, months after funding was cut from another national parent body
New education body for parents and carers seeks recruits