Parents could take more of a leading role in their schools, believes the Parent Teacher Association of Devon, a charity providing support services to homeschool associations in the county. Its three-year project, Investors in Parents, has been investigating strategies to involve parents more explicitly in education, as well as fundraising. Ten schools have active teams developing their own projects, such as how their school communicates with fathers and how local sporting and cultural facilities can be opened up to wider community use. Other teams are looking at supporting pupils for achievement at key stage 3 and providing parenting classes in local schools and community centres.

Further details at www.ptadevon.org.uk