Parents

The latest news, research and advice when it comes to parent-school relationships, including communication, safeguarding, parental involvement and more

Thursday

2nd Jul 2026

Union calls for ‘flexible’ school start after England vs Mexico
The call from NEU’s Daniel Kebede follows England manager Thomas Tuchel, who told parents to ‘write an excuse for school and let children watch’ the World Cup match
There have been calls to start school later in the day to allow pupils to stay up and watch England v Mexico in the World Cup

Monday

29th Jun 2026

We need to target KS3 to improve white working-class outcomes
A member of the inquiry into white working-class pupils’ outcomes says successive governments’ efforts to drive up standards have overlooked a phase of education where students often become disengaged
Dame Sally Coates

Tuesday

23rd Jun 2026

Schools set to close amid rare red warnings of extreme heat
Scores of schools across England announce they will close or finish early over the next few days as record-breaking temperatures predicted
Children playing in fountain

Monday

22nd Jun 2026

We’re returning to pen and paper to combat smartphone fatigue
An international leader explains why they are now setting more homework that does not require any device use, and bringing back physical student planners
Graffiti hand with quill

Monday

15th Jun 2026

The big lesson we learned from returning to remote teaching
A leader at an international school in Dubai that was forced to return to online learning explains how this provided a valuable insight into the use of technology in education
Student in headscarf sitting in front of laptop

Tuesday

9th Jun 2026

Let birthday pupils skip lunch queue to cut absence, schools told
Schools will be provided with new tools highlighting absence patterns over the year, and new communications guides to improve engagement with families
Skip the lunch queue

Monday

8th Jun 2026

Parent complaints ‘contributing to school staff quitting’
Research comes amid a rise in the volume and complexity of complaints faced by schools, including an increase in AI-written grievances
Complaints emojis
Exclusive

Friday

5th Jun 2026

The tricky art of satisfying parents’ expectations for school events
A leader with experience in the UK, China and now Nigeria reflects on why leaders have to be flexible over the different ways communities host and engage with parent-focused school events
Little girl playing princess

Friday

29th May 2026

Smartphone bans must not ignore students’ medical needs
A phone is a vital medical accessory for some, and this must be considered in phone ban legislation, writes Alice Gregory
Smartphone bans must not ignore students’ medical needs

Thursday

21st May 2026

DfE set to fall ‘significantly short’ on school nurseries target
Most primary schools without a nursery do not intend to open one and many lack suitable space, research finds
Missed target

Wednesday

20th May 2026

Ofsted will update toolkits to ‘clarify’ approach to disadvantage
Watchdog director insists that achievement grades from inspections are ‘fair’ – despite fears that schools with more disadvantaged pupils are being penalised
Ofsted will clarify how it focused on disadvantaged students in its inspection toolkits.
Exclusive

Tuesday

19th May 2026

Why our school dropped Samuel Pepys as a house name
Revisiting the history of the famous diarist led his old school to ask its students whether they wanted to retain his name for a pastoral house, leading to a much wider debate, as the head explains
Samuel Pepys attended Hinchingbrooke School in Cambridgeshire