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Parents and the curriculum
07/06/2008
Parents have a crucial role to play in supporting children's learning and the successful implementation of Curriculum for Excellence, Cabinet Secretary for Education Fiona Hyslop said today.
The Cabinet Secretary was speaking ahead of her speech to the Parent Council Conference being held today in Glasgow.
Ms Hyslop said:
"Parental involvement is incredibly important to children's learning and parental contribution will be just as important to the success of Curriculum for Excellence.
"We live in a world where change occurs at an ever increasing pace. It is important Scottish education keeps up with that change and adapts so that our children can be fully equipped to meet tomorrow's challenges.
"Curriculum for Excellence is not just about exams it is about preparing young people with the skills they need for learning, skills for work and skills for life. How children learn is as important as what they learn.
"I am really encouraged when I hear about parents and Parent Councils working alongside staff and headteachers, thinking about what the changes mean and working together to share the successes of pupils. This is exactly the input we need for Curriculum for Exellence to be a success."
During the conference, the Cabinet Secretary will also hear the views of parents on the development of a National Parent Council body. Ms Hyslop said:
"There are two main national organisations - the Scottish Parent Councils Association and the Scottish Parent and Teacher Council. I am pleased that both will be represented at the conference today. They both offer different services and support to parents and Parent Councils.
"I don't believe it is for Government to establish a new national body for Parent Councils. The decision on how parents and Parent Councils make their voices heard nationally must be made by them and in their own time.
"However, I agree with the many parents who think there should be a national body for Parent Councils and I want to listen, respond to and support suggestions as to how this important issue is taken forward."
Work being taken forward to encourage parents involvement in Curriculum for Excellence includes:
- A dedicated Curriculum for Excellence website - currently being updated and improved
- A range of resources from Learning and Teaching Scotland, including the planned production of a DVD for Parent Councils
- A series of events aimed at parents, pupils and employers in the Autumn
- A Curriculum for Excellence workshop at today's conference.
Over the past year parents have set up Parent Councils in more than 90 per cent of Scottish local authority schools. Indications are that more parents are involved in those Parent Councils than were ever on School Boards.
The Scottish Government is funding a National Parental Coordinator post at Learning and Teaching Scotland until 2010 to support education authorities and parents to work together. We have also established a 'Field Team' of three Coordinators to work directly with schools on specific aspects of parental involvement, with the aim of sharing what they learn as good practice nationally. The Field Team's work will complement Curriculum for Excellence.