For Parent Councils – sharing ideas

This recent article on BBC Education caught my eye about school fairs and what they say about both schools and parental involvement more generally. Parent Councils around Scotland will also have been involved in running the school fair at the end of the summer term. Not all in the article is relevant to Scotland, but I can certainly associate with the comment from Annette Wiles of the National Confederation of Parent Teacher Associations – fairs are more than just fundraising, they play a role in helping parents, the school and and their communities to build stronger relationships.

Summer holidays are fast approaching and I know many Parent Councils are still in the throws of Summer Fayres and events and will be looking forward to a well deserved break over the summer. As I read my own school’s thank you to the parents for their support at the summer fayre, and saw the amount of money they had managed to raise despite it being a very cold and rainy saturday, it reminded me of how much parents and Parent Councils contribute to schools and pupils across Scotland.

However, parental involvement doesn’t stop for the holidays and for those of you looking for inspiration and ideas to keep the children and teenagers amused over the long holidays might find this website – Summer Activities for Kids useful.

Enjoy the summer!

The report on the results of the survey on a National Body for Parent Councils has now been published. A summary report is also available.

Hopefully as many Parent Councils and parents will attend the National Conference at Hampden on 13 June to have their opportunity to discuss the findings and how best to take these forward. I know many Parent Councils want to see this discussion moved on and feel that a National Body is now needed. The Conference will be your chance to shape how this should happen.

You can get more information on the parentzone website.

Just picked these two up in the media – both show Parent Councils getting involved and making a difference –

Parent Councils at Dornoch Academy and Dornoch Primary and their project to get a new Sports Hall for their school communities

Edinburgh Parent Councils and how their involvement has led to progress on school budget cuts See also this blog spot about the role that Parent Councils have played.

Thought Parent Councils would be interested in this article in the Banffshire Journal about developments in Aberdeenshire with parents accessing Glow – you can get more information about Glow on the Glow website .

Banffshire Journal: Parents set to benefit from a healthy new Glow

Whereas, we hear some great examples of Parent Councils that are making a difference in their schools, some are still telling me that they are still struggling with their role. They want to be making a difference but are finding it difficult for many different reasons. They are telling me about challenges they face: getting enough parents involved; confidence of parent members themselves; support from the Headteacher and/ or their local authority, amongst others.

But I also hear about some of the solutions and ideas they have used. At an event in Glasgow recently, I heard Parent Councils beginning to resolve some of these challenges just by chatting, putting their heads together and sharing experiences. One Parent Council Chair told of how they had identified that the parents in the school had a problem with childcare first thing in the morning. The Parent Council suggested the idea of a breakfast club. They managed to get the school to agree and played a key role in getting it set it up.

A Parent Council Chair was telling me of an example where the Parent Council felt they were spending too much time listening to the Headteacher’s report, which was taking up most of the meeting. What they wanted was to discuss it, and think about ways that they could support the Headteacher and work together to support the school. They asked for the report in writing in advance. They then used the meeting to discuss it and with a written copy they could also send it out to all parents who were unable to attend the meeting.

Another, secondary example shared with me recently was of a Parent Council who start their meetings with a visit to a department in the school to see their work, speak to staff and any young people who come along to help demonstrate the work. The same school has also started to get parents to shadow S5 pupil to see what doing 5 Highers is like.

Some of these remind me of some work I did some time ago with a wonderful Educational Psychologist who really supported what I was doing at the time on parental involvement:

1. People usually want things to get better
2. Everyone has a wealth of resources within them
3. Change is inevitable and is happening all the time
4. There are ALWAYS exceptions to the problem
5. Big problems do not always need big solutions.

I know there are lots more problems as well as ideas out there. Having local meetings is great but using this blog is another way to share ideas without having to attend another meeting – another challenge for busy Parent Council members! Lets hear what your challenges and ideas are.

Dundee held A Celebration of Partnership at its Caird Halls in the centre of Dundee on 11 and 12 November. It was a showcase of all the great work going on in Dundee’s schools and nurseries, with Parent Councils and schools working in partnership. Children and young people performed throughout the two days and many parents and carers, grandparents and others, passed through the Caird Halls to see all the stands and exhibitions.

The event was organised by Dundee’s Parental Involvement Officer, Taletta Jamieson, who has made great progress in supporting the Parent Councils and in promoting parental involvement generally – Dundee now has a Parent Council in every school. The event allowed many of them to show how they are playing a key role in supporting their school.

Fantastic event and great progress in parental involvement!

Lots happening for Parent Councils at this point in time, not least the new term and setting priorities for the new school year. There are a number of developements that you may want to follow-up. There is a new DVD coming to all Parent Councils this week on Curriculum for Excellence. It can be downloaded from parentzone. The hope is that many Parent Councils will consider how best to share this information with their Parent Forum – either by hosting an event in school or finding other more innovative ways! Please post any ideas you have of getting information on Curriculum for Excellence out to all parents. Their role in its success, and to the success of the education of their own children is vital. You can find out more on the parentzone website

Here are some links and resources which may be of use in explaining what Curriculum for Excellence means to parents. If you have any others, that parents and Parent Councils may find useful please let us have them.

Shift Happens Presentation

Presentation for Parents on Curriculum for Excellence

Presentation for parents on Skills for Learning, Life and Work<a

Handout for Parents on Curriculum for Excellence

Example of a newsletter from East Lothian to parents on Curriculum for Excellence

Example of newsletter to parents in Shetland about Curriculum for Excellence

Link to Andrew Brown’s comments and resources from the New Technologies Workshop at the Conference

What is GLOW?

Consultation on National Qualifications

Latest information on Curriculum for Excellence

Determined to Succeed Enterprise Planner

“Parents have a crucial role to play in supporting children’s learning and the successful implementation for Curriculum for Excellence.”Fiona Hyslop, Cabinet Secretary for Education in her opening address to the Conference.

“In a world of accelerating change, parents need to imagine the kind of education that will equip their children to lead fulfilled and successful lives.
We are preparing young people for jobs that don’t yet exist… requiring technologies that haven’t been yet invented….to solve problems of which we are not yet aware.” Keir Bloomer, the keynote Speaker at the Conference

What did you think of the Conference? What ideas has it given you to take back to your Parent Forum and school?