It is now generally acknowledged that effective links between home and school are essential to children’s learning. How can the governing body help?

Much will depend on how parents of your pupils see their role and how the school regards them.

Formally, the relationship between parents and the school is encapsulated in the home-school agreement which sets out the mutual expectations of the school and parents.

This should re-inforce the responsibilities parents have for their child’s education as part of a partnership between home and school to support the pupil.

Parents are asked to sign the agreement but admission to school cannot be dependent upon this. If a parent breaks the agreement this could be a matter for discussion but such a breach cannot be used to discipline or exclude a child.

The governing body must make sure the agreement is in place and is regularly reviewed, but it is also well-placed to take the lead in consultations with parents about the content. Parents must be given the chance to express their views about what should be in the agreement and how it seems to be working. They also need a mechanism to raise concerns if they feel the school is not meeting expectations.

The secret to effective home-school links lies in the quality of the day to day relationships. Ask yourselves the following questions:

* Are parents kept informed about what goes on in the school? Is the prospectus updated regularly?

* Are parents kept informed about their children’s progress ? Are parents’ evenings well attended and useful?

* Are parents generally encouraged in school - is the environment welcoming?

* How well do you know the parent body? What steps are being taken to engage with “hard-to-reach” parents?

* Are there opportunities for parent and family learning?

* Do parents understand the pastoral care system and are they clear about whom to contact if they have concerns?

* And finally, how good is the governing body at ensuring parents’ concerns are aired both at school and at local-authority level?

The annual parents’ report should look forward and generate discussion on the future direction of the school.

Parent-governors and the elected parent-governor representatives who sit on local authority committees are the “voice” of parents and should use any routes they can to connect with local opinion.

The governing body can set a style and tone in the way things are done which helps build a democratic school, one which has positive and constructive relationships with pupils and their families.