Why parental engagement matters more than ever
- Justin Robbins and Karen Dempster
- 1 day ago
- 3 min read
With the publication of the latest Schools White Paper - parental engagement and the role that parents play in supporting their children’s education are back in the spotlight.
We recently had the pleasure of joining 'The Real' David Cameron on the EduTalk podcast from Crown House Publishing to explore this very topic.
Or click this link: https://rss.com/podcasts/edutalk/2596673/
Our conversation focused on one key question:
"What does meaningful parental engagement actually look like in practice?"
Because while most schools recognise the importance of engaging parents, many are still searching for practical ways to make it happen.
Why parental engagement matters
The evidence around parental engagement is compelling. Research shows that when parents are actively engaged in their child’s education, the impact across their school career can be equivalent to adding two to three years to their education.
Yet despite this, parental engagement remains one of the most commonly cited challenges for schools.
Part of the reason is that engagement is often misunderstood.
It is sometimes reduced to attendance at parents’ evenings or the number of emails sent home. But genuine engagement is far more than communication alone.
At its heart, parental engagement is about building a trusted partnership between school, parents and pupils, with the child firmly at the centre.
A framework for active parental engagement
Through our work with schools across the UK, we developed the Four Pillars of Parental Engagement to help schools take a more structured approach.
Knowledge: Parents understand why their involvement matters and know how they can support their child’s learning.
Environment: Schools create welcoming physical and digital environments that encourage parents to engage.
Culture: Schools build a culture of trust and partnership, where parents feel respected and valued.
Communication: Clear, consistent and inclusive communication, while just as importantly, schools take the time to listen.
When these four elements work together, parental engagement becomes sustainable rather than sporadic.
Moving from communication to partnership
One of the themes we explored on the EduTalk podcast is that schools often work incredibly hard to communicate with parents, but communication alone does not always lead to engagement.
Parents are busy. They are managing work, family responsibilities and the pressures of modern life. If schools want parents to be actively involved, they need to go beyond simply sharing information.
They need to help parents understand:
Why their role is important
When their support is most needed
How they can make a difference at home
When schools do this well, something powerful happens. Conversations about learning begin to extend beyond the classroom and into the home.
Parental engagement is not solely the responsibility of schools.
It works best when it is seen as a shared responsibility between schools, parents and pupils. Each has a role to play in creating a supportive environment for learning.
The Schools White Paper "Every child achieving and thriving" reinforces this idea by recognising the important influence families have on children’s outcomes. But policy alone will not create stronger relationships between schools and parents.
That work happens in everyday interactions, through listening, trust and consistent communication.
Continuing the conversation
Parental engagement is not a quick fix. It requires a thoughtful and sustained approach.
But when schools and parents work together effectively, the benefits extend far beyond academic results. Pupils feel more supported, teachers build stronger relationships with families and school communities become more connected.
These are exactly the kinds of conversations we explored on the EduTalk podcast with David Cameron.
Or click this link: https://rss.com/podcasts/edutalk/2596673/
We’d love to hear your perspective:
What do you think is the biggest challenge schools face when it comes to parental engagement today?
Want to go deeper? Why not sign up for one of our Four Pillars masterclasses and walk away with a draft parental engagement strategy for your school.
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