Less than 4 per cent of parents are using Ofsted’s Parent View site to provide feedback about their child’s school, according to new figures.

Between September 2018 and September 2019 the site had a response rate of 3.9 per cent from parents in state schools - a fall from 4.7 per cent in the previous 12 months.

The 2018-19 response rate was higher for parents of children attending independent schools, at 8.3 per cent.

The figures come after the Commons Public Accounts Committee called for the inspectorate to collect more and better evidence from parents.

Background: Ofsted plans to replace Parent View

Quick read: 95 per cent of parents snub Parent View

Report: MPs call for inspectorate to get more and better information from parents

In the 12 months from September 2017 to 2018, the site had a response rate of 4.7 per cent among state school parents and 10.9 per cent among parents in the independent sector.

In the state school sector, Ofsted received 15 responses per state school in 2018-19 compared with 18 in 2017-18.

Ofsted parent survey

The results published by Ofsted today also show the responses to the questions asked in the Parent View survey.

Parents have been asked whether they agree with a series of statements including, “My child is happy at school”, “My child is taught well in this school”, and “I receive valuable information about my child’s progress”.

The answers show that the majority of parents who responded were happy with their child’s education.

Some 63 per cent of parents “strongly agreed”, while 29 per cent of parents “agreed” that their child was happy at school.

More than half - 52 per cent  - strongly agreed that their child was taught well at their school, while 36 per cent agreed.

The least positive answers came in response to the statement, “The school deals effectively with bullying.”

Some 22 per cent said they did not know and 13 per cent either disagreed or strongly disagreed.  However, 65 per cent either agreed or strongly agreed that their child’s school effectively dealt with bullying.

John Jolly, the chief executive of Parentkind, formerly known as  PTA UK, said: “We welcome the fact that Ofsted has a way to gather parents’ views and have been working to improve this service for parents but believe more could be done to promote this to parents.

“Parentkind is keen to support Ofsted in increasing the uptake of this service by parents as it provides a valuable way for them to feedback their views.”

An Ofsted spokesperson said: “Parent View is a valuable tool that allows Ofsted to receive direct feedback from parents about their child’s school and responses help us plan inspections.

“At the start of every inspection, Ofsted provides, via the school, details to all parents for how to access Ofsted Parent View for them to report any views they wish.  If the response rate is low, inspectors may take steps during an inspection to gather further evidence of parents’ views.

“The percent of responses received between September 2018 and September 2019 represents a very small decrease when compared with previous periods. We would encourage parents to provide feedback, but Parent View results are considered within wider inspection evidence and a low response rate will not skew findings.

“We completed the first phase of the redevelopment of Parent View during the summer and continue to work on methods to promote uptake and participation.”

Ofsted has also changed the questions it is asking through Parent View.

As of September, parents are no longer being asked whether they think the homework their children receive is appropriate.

It has also introduced new questions, including asking parents of children with SEND how well the school is meeting their child’s needs.

Last year, Ofsted told MPs that it would be replacing its Parent View site.

Chief inspector Amanda Spielman outlined plans to replace it in a letter written to the Public Accounts Committee following the spending watchdog’s report into Ofsted.

Her letter says: “While Parent View has served our inspection needs reasonably well, we are currently in the early stages of a project to replace the existing site with a new service, which better meets parents’ needs.

“The new system is being specifically designed to increase the volume, quality and diversity of views that we collect from parents both during and outside of inspection.”

A Public Accounts Committee report in 2018 said Ofsted do not give parents enough opportunity to contribute their views as part of school inspections. 

Ofsted seeks parents’ views through its online survey and by talking to parents at the school gates during inspections.

However, the PAC said this only gives parents a limited time to give their views.