School Governors
Becoming a parent governor at your child's school is a good way to get involved in the life of the school and to help make positive changes that can benefit all children at the school. This may appeal to you if you feel strongly about the way the school is run or if you are a non resident parent. School governors play an important role in helping to run the school, including managing discipline, recruiting teachers and introducing new learning programmes. More
Your PTA
Parent Teacher Associations play an important role in the life of the school - the more active the PTA is, the more enriching the learning experiences of the pupils at that school. Members play a variety of roles in the school, such as fundraising, learning support, organising extra curricular activities or simply providing an important communication link between parents and school staff. PTAs are much more active at primary level and there has been quite a bit of discussion about how schools can encourage more activity at secondary school level too.
Home School Relations
The link between home and school is very important in supporting a child's education. When children know that their parents and teachers keep in touch they are more likely to take their own education more seriously. Parents can feel more at ease about approaching the teacher should they have any questions or concerns between parent consultation evenings or days, and teachers likewise can inform parents should any concerns arise regarding the child's learning or behaviour while at school. It sends a powerful message to all parties that you are interested in and care about your child's education.
Parental involvement is especially important if you had negative experiences while you were at school yourself as this can have a impact on the way parents feel about approaching their child's school. Try to overcome these feelings - it will help your child to develop a positive attitude about school, too. Also, schools have changed quite a bit since you were there! Whilst some are still more welcoming that others, all schools are much more open and are encouraged to do so at policy level. Parents also have a right as a partner in their children's learning to approach the school to check their child's progress.
Parental involvement is especially important if you had negative experiences while you were at school yourself as this can have a impact on the way parents feel about approaching their child's school. Try to overcome these feelings - it will help your child to develop a positive attitude about school, too. Also, schools have changed quite a bit since you were there! Whilst some are still more welcoming that others, all schools are much more open and are encouraged to do so at policy level. Parents also have a right as a partner in their children's learning to approach the school to check their child's progress.
