Form Programme Evenings
The Importance of Valuing and Involving Parents
Parental engagement is a powerful lever for raising student achievement in schools. Where parents and teachers work together to improve learning, the gains in achievement are significant.’ (Harris & Goodhall, 2007)
Form Programme Evenings are crucially important for the building up of a positive relationship between the class teacher and parents to work together to assist the most important element in any school – the children to achieve success and learn throughout the academic year. Teachers themselves cannot do this on their own, as you can see from the diagram and quotation above parents have a huge role to play together with the class teacher to offer the best educational experience for their son(s) in Willow Park Junior School.
We, parents and teachers, must work together to achieve the goals that will be set for the boys this year. It is not easy for teachers to stand up in front of 30 adults and convey their targets for the teaching and learning this year. However, this meeting is crucially important because straight away it involves the parents in their son’s education and more importantly creates a positive relationship with the class teacher.
Communication, trust and respect are the most important elements in any relationship and I know that these elements will be strengthened between the class teacher, parent and student after the Form Programme evenings.
James Docherty
Principal WPJS