Why does parental engagement matter?
Trust and school senior leadership face a growing array of challenges: from declining pupil numbers and difficulties recruiting teachers to supporting SEND and EAL families, tackling funding gaps and improving pupil attendance.
One of the most effective yet often underutilised tools at an SLT’s disposal is a well-crafted communication strategy. Beyond simply disseminating information, strong parent engagement fosters trust, builds relationships and positions the school as an inclusive, high-performing institution.
What is parental engagement?
Parental engagement goes beyond attending parent evenings — it's about creating an ongoing, two-way relationship where both educators and parents work together to support a child's academic and personal growth.
Effective parental engagement can take many forms, including:
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Creating a positive learning environment at home.
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Encouraging and showing interest in school activities.
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Having regular conversations about what children are learning.
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Modelling positive attitudes toward education and curiosity.
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Helping with reading, homework, and school projects.
When families are actively engaged, students are more likely to be motivated, achieve more and feel supported every step of the way.
What are the benefits of increased parental engagement?
Parental engagement has been repeatedly found to be one of the most effective measures for improving outcomes for students.
Family engagement equals student success
According to research, children with families engaged in their education are more likely to:
- Earn higher grades and test scores.
- Graduate from high school and attend post-secondary education.
- Develop self-confidence and motivation in the classroom.
- Have better social skills and classroom behaviour.
Close the disadvantage gap
Disadvantaged pupils have been found to make less academic progress and even regress during the summer holidays. However, by designing and delivering effective approaches to parental engagement, schools may be able to mitigate some of these causes of educational disadvantage by supporting parents to encourage their children’s learning.
Improves confidence and self esteem
When children have parents who are enthusiastic and engaged about their learning, those children are empowered to be more enthusiastic and engaged as well. This can result in more confident children who have better social skills and classroom behaviour, with improved motivation and less of a need for redirection.
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Breaking down barriers to parental engagement
Many families face challenges that make it harder to stay connected with school life. By identifying and addressing these barriers, schools can foster stronger relationships with families.
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Language and cultural differences
Nearly one in five pupils in the UK speaks English as an additional language. Offering translated communications and culturally sensitive messaging helps ensure all families feel informed and included. -
Busy schedules and work Commitments
Traditional meeting times don't suit every family. Flexible options, like virtual meetings, mobile apps, and on-demand newsfeeds, make it easier for parents to stay involved on their own terms. -
Negative past pchool experiences
Some parents feel anxious or unwelcome due to their own past experiences in school. Friendly, informal events like open classrooms or joint parent-child activities can help break down these walls and build trust.
How to improve parental engagement in schools
When schools work with parents there are plenty of straightforward ways barriers to engagement can be overcome.
- Create an engagement strategy
With parent engagement boosting a child’s progress by up to two years, a communication strategy is essential for trusts and schools. - Invest in a Parent Relationship Management platform
Maintaining a positive relationship with families means measuring the entire parent journey across your entire school or trust. - Keep your content current and easy to find
Old, outdated websites or hard-to-find policies can damage parent satisfaction and trust. Make sure you update your content simultaneously, so it remains current. - Make communications inclusive and accessible
Can parents who use screen readers access your updates? Is your school or trust website easy to navigate for those with visual impairments? All content should be easy to find and read for every parent.