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Finding out how things are going at your child’s school

As a parent, you’ll know that there are many ways of keeping informed about what’s happening at your child’s school. Many schools send newsletters home, and you’ll get reports on your child’s progress and invitations to parents’ evenings.

Ofsted now inspects and reports on schools at least once every three years. You’ll be told about the inspection in advance so you can pass on your views to the inspectors, and you’ll get a copy of the report.

One of the areas Ofsted looks at is how schools encourage parents to play a part in making decisions that affect the school’s future.

From 2008, the Schools Commissioner will publish an annual report on parents’ satisfaction with schools.

• Find out more about how Ofsted inspects schools Opens new window

Getting more involved

Getting more involved could be a rewarding experience for you, and have a positive influence on the school.

This needn’t take up a great deal of your time – for example, you could help out on an occasional school trip. If you can make more of a commitment, you might want to consider joining the Parent Teacher Association (PTA) or becoming a school governor.

Many schools are also considering setting up Parent Councils. These are another, less formal way to give parents a say in how the school is run – and the chance to meet other parents and teachers.

By 2010, all schools will be providing ‘extended’ services to the local community. Your child’s school should be talking to you about the services you would like them to offer.

• Getting involved with your child's education
• Becoming a school governor
• Extended schools

Getting the education that’s right for your child

Finding the right school is important to every family, and many local authorities are starting to appoint Choice Advisers to provide additional, practical support for those who need it most.

Choice Advisers are there to help parents make sense of the information available, enabling them to weigh up their choices and apply to the right school for their child.

The 2007 School Admissions Code aims to make sure that admissions operate fairly for all families. If you feel that a local school’s admission arrangements don’t follow the law, you may be able to object to the Office of the Schools Adjudicator. If you apply to a school and think your child was turned down unfairly, you have the right to appeal to an independent panel.

• Choosing a school
• Find out about the Office of the Schools Adjudicator Opens new window

If there’s a problem at your child’s school

If there’s a problem, it’s usually best to approach the teacher or headteacher directly and then, if necessary, the school’s governing body or your local authority. If this doesn’t solve it, Ofsted may be able to help. New powers for Ofsted mean that it will be able to consider some complaints from parents.

If an inspection finds that standards at a school aren’t good enough, parents can expect the school to ask them for their views on how to improve things. This could be through surveys, a consultation run by the school’s governing body, or through a Parent Council.

If a school is causing concern – or there are plans to make major changes to how a school is run – the local authority can appoint a Parent Champion to make sure parents’ views are heard.

• Making a complaint to your child's school
• Complaints to Ofsted about schools: guidance for parents Opens new window

Helping to shape the school system

You should be consulted on proposals for setting up a new school in your area, or making major changes to the way your child’s school is run.

If you have a child of school age or younger, you have a right to express your views on how the local school system should develop.

You might, for example, want to ask your local authority to help a popular school expand – or point out a lack of single-sex schools, or schools connected with a particular faith or educational philosophy. Many local authority websites have guidance on how to do this.

• Contact your local council
• Guidance on how changes are made to the local organisation of mainstream schools Opens new window

Setting up and running a school

A group of parents could get together and put forward their own proposals for setting up and running a new school.

Additionally, from 25 May 2007 local authorities will use a new procedure for opening and replacing schools. Normally, they will invite bids from a range of different providers to establish a school, and parents will be able to express their views on the different options.

Opening and running a school can seem like a daunting task – but help will be available from the new Schools Commissioner. Part of his job will be providing information to any parent group which wants to put proposals to its local authority.

• Guidance on how changes are made to the local organisation of mainstream schools Opens new window
• Find out more about the Schools Commissioner Opens new window