Educational insights & theory

Most teachers enter the classroom with training in pedagogy, assessment, and safeguarding, but not in how to work with parents. This article explores why parent-school partnerships are essential to student success and teacher wellbeing, and argues that training in family engagement must become a core part of Initial Teacher Education.

This article examines how Ofsted’s inspection framework positions parents and carers, the extent to which parental engagement is embedded into inspection processes, and whether proposed changes in 2025 truly address past concerns. It invites teachers and leaders to reflect on whether parent partnerships are consistently lived out beyond compliance.

The IB expects schools to build genuine partnerships with parents and legal guardians. Across all programmes, parents must be informed, involved, and treated as key stakeholders. Strong communication, clear policy sharing, and active engagement are not optional extras, they are essential to how IB schools are meant to operate every day.

It was a real pleasure to speak with Stephen Newlin from Business Gateway East Lothian for their latest ' Talking Heads ' episode,...