Scottish Government

Kay Russell, Sue Granville and Shona Mulholland
George Street Research
ISBN 0 7559 4776 2
This document is also available in pdf format (808k)

Contents

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

CHAPTER 1 : BACKGROUND TO THE CONSULTATION
1.1 Background
1.2 The Consultation
1.3 Aims of the Consultation

CHAPTER 2 : THE CONSULTATION PROCESS
2.1 Timing of Consultation
2.2 Nature of Consultation
2.3 Distribution and Advertising of Consultation Document
2.4 Responses and Respondents

CHAPTER 3 : APPROACH OF ANALYSIS
3.1 Analytical Framework
3.2 Publication of Written Responses
3.3 Ground Rules
3.4 Reporting

CHAPTER 4 : PROMOTING PARENTAL INVOLVEMENT
4.1 Introduction
4.2 Duty of Education Authorities
4.3 Strategies for Parental Involvement
4.4 Appropriateness of Incorporating Strategies into Existing Annual Statements of Education Improvement Objectives & School Development Plans

CHAPTER 5 : THE PARENT FORUM
5.1 Introduction
5.2 Proposals for a More Flexible System
5.3 Prescribed Means of Appointment
5.4 Education Authorities to Promote Parent Forums
5.5 Composite Parent Forums

CHAPTER 6 : ASPECTS OF THE PARENT FORUM
6.1 Introduction
6.2 Initial Setup of the Forum
6.3 Determining the Constitution
6.4 Membership of the Parent Forum
6.5 Looked After Children
6.6 Automatic Disclosure Checks
6.7 Rights of Attendance of Non Parent Members

CHAPTER 7 : THE FUNCTIONS OF THE PARENT FORUM
7.1 Introduction
7.2 Appropriateness of Functions
7.3 Agreement with Open Ended Provision
7.4 Insurance & Parent Forums as "Agents" of the Education Authority
7.5 Appropriateness of Obligations
7.5 The Duty on Education Authorities to Provide Financial Support

CHAPTER 8 : FOUR OTHER PROPOSALS
8.1 Introduction
8.2 Education Authority Duty to Provide Advice & Information
8.3 The Appointment System
8.4 Disagreement with the Principle of Parent Involvement in the Appointment Processes
8.5 Complaints Procedure
8.6 Transitional Arrangements

Appendix 1: Consultation Document
Appendix 2: Distribution List
Appendix 3 : Petitions
Appendix 4: Summary of the Scottish Executive Presentation Delivered at the Public Consultation Events
Appendix 5: Overview of the Public Consultation Events
Appendix 6: Summary of the Key Themes Arising from the 12 Public Meetings April-May 2005, Scottish Civic Forum
Appendix 7: List of Venues for the Public Meetings

TABLES
CHAPTER 2: THE CONSULTATION PROCESS
2.1 The Questions Contained in the Consultation Document
2.2 Total Number of Respondents by Category
2.3 Form of Response
APPENDIX 5: OVERVIEW OF THE CIVIC FORUM EVENTS
5.1 Profile of Participants at Civic Forum Events
5.2 Balance of Respondent Types

CHARTS
CHAPTER 4: PROMOTING PARENTAL INVOLVEMENT
4.1 Placing a New Duty on Education Authorities
4.2 Strategies for Parental Involvement
4.3 Incorporating Strategies
CHAPTER 5: The parent forum
5.1 Proposals for a more Flexible System
5.2 Prescribed Means of Appointment
5.3 Education Authorities to Promote Parent Forums
5.4 Composite Parent Forums
CHAPTER 6: THE PARENT FORUM
6.1 Initial Setup of the Forum
6.2 Determining the Constitution
6.3 Membership of the Parent Forum
6.4 Looked After Children
6.5 Automatic Disclosure Checks
6.6 Rights of Attendance
CHAPTER 7: THE FUNCTIONS OF THE PARENT FORUM
7.1 Appropriateness of Functions
7.2 Agreement with Open Ended Provision
7.3 Insurance & Parent Forums as "Agents" of the Education Authority
7.4 Appropriateness of Obligations
7.5 The Duty on Education Authorities to Provide Financial Support
CHAPTER 8 : FOUR OTHER PROPOSALS
8.1 Education Authority Duty to Provide Advice & Information
8.2 Whether Education Authorities should be Enabled to Replace Appointment System
8.3 Reasons for Disagreeing with Parental Involvement in the Appointment System
8.4 Whether Education Authorities should Establish Complaints Procedure

Who is this for?
This is for everyone who responded to the consultation paper Making the difference - improving parents' involvement in schools (consultation on the draft Scottish Schools (Parental Involvement) Bill) and any others with an interest.

What is it?
This is a report on the consultation.