Research suggests that the more that parents are engaged in a child’s education, the better that child will do in the long term.   For many years PTAs have served a fundraising function in schools, but their input into the decision-making and leadership of the school has been limited. 

In response to this, many schools have started Parent Councils as a way in which parents can have a voice and become more engaged in the life of the school.  Although this takes a commitment in terms of time and management by the school, the benefits far outweigh this.

10 reasons why every school could benefit from a Parent Council:

1. Parents who feel that they have been involved in the decision making process are less likely to be resistant to change.
2. They can be used to support the school’s own self evaluation strategies.
3. They can be used to ensure that the information that the school is offering about children’s learning and development is accessible to parents.
4. Parents are less likely to make formal complaints if they feel that they have a forum in which they can put their views and ideas forward positively.
5. Members of Parent Councils often have skills or areas of specialism that can be used to benefit the school.
6. They can reach out to new parents who have been difficult to engage with in the past. 
7. A strong Parent Council can support the school’s development plan, taking responsibility for the delivery of actions and monitoring progress objectively.
8. They can be used as a testing ground for new ideas and initiatives before these are launched – allowing any issues to be addressed early and increasing the chances of success.
9. The school will not only have a clearer idea of the needs and views of parents, but will also have free advice on how to address these!
10. A school’s most effective marketing strategy is a group of happy parents!