Posted 28 Nov 2008

The onus for improving children’s education has been shifted onto parents by schools minister Jim Knight.

He made his comments at the Specialist Schools and Academies Trust annual conference, urging schools to do more to engage with mums and dads, describing them as "one of the most important influences on a child’s educational attainment".

Mr Knight – the MP for South Dorset – also referred to parents as a "hugely untapped resource", in comments which could well be of interest to people keen to teach English overseas.

"If we’re really serious about narrowing attainment gaps, we’ve got to put more of our focus on parents," he said, suggesting that mothers and fathers need to be engaged – and kept connected – throughout the course of their child’s educational experiences.

Mr Knight concluded by suggesting that more one-to-one support for parents and pupils, as well as increased use of technology would produce the highest standard of education ever seen in this country.

Category: Teaching and Learning