You're looking at an archived page, which may not reflect current policy.

In its White Paper, Higher Standards, Better Schools for All the Government made a commitment to increase parental involvement in schools: not only involvement in their child’s learning but also influencing decisions about the pattern of service provision and decisions about the running of their child’s school. Part of this strategy is to encourage all schools to review the effectiveness of their current arrangements and consider setting up a Parent Council that will provide a forum for parents to express their views and influence the running of their child’s school. 

Only certain foundation or foundation special schools with a Trust that appoints the majority of the governing body members (these are referred to as “majority governance Trust Schools”) must establish a Parent Council. All other maintained schools are free to decide whether or not to set one up.

Parents have a vital role to play, not only in their own child’s achievements, but also in the life of the school and the wellbeing of its pupils. Parent Councils can provide an excellent forum for parents to come together, share ideas, and put forward their views to the headteacher and governing body of their school. They can break down barriers, perceived or actual, between the school and parents who are less involved in the school. As well as giving schools a means of meeting their obligations to consider the views of parents, a Parent Council can provide schools with support in many areas, from developing their strategies for engaging hard-to-reach audiences, to developing community cohesion, to supporting the wellbeing of the school and its pupils.

A Parent Council can make a real difference to the school’s efforts to increase parental involvement and confidence in the school. Parent Councils can develop parents’ influence within the school, raising pupil achievement and helping schools to meet their strategic objectives.