The National Parent Forum of Scotland (NPFS) held their second annual conference last weekend in Bishopbriggs. Ahead of the event and working in partnership, Engage For Education hosted an online discussion covering a range of issues pertinent to parent councils in Scotland.

As well as NPFS members, the discussion contained contributions from the Education Secretary Michael Russell, Minister for Children and Young People Angela Constance, Minister for Learning and Skills Alasdair Allan, the SQA, Lorraine Sanda, the Scottish Government’s National Parental Involvement Coordinator, Education Scotland and many others. For a PDF summary of the issues raised go here.

Now Iain Ellis, Chair of the National Parent Forum of Scotland reflects on the online discussion with his closing summary:

This is the first time this has been done in Scotland by Parents for Parents in partnership with all the main players in Scottish education.

It has been great success and the volume and responses have been better than we could have expected, it just reinforces the message that parents care about what is happening and that Ministers, partners and officials want to respond.

I felt one of the biggest issues was around communication and how it does/ doesn’t work. Yet look at this and the people who have taken part, it shows me that where there is a will there is a way to achieve effective communication. We parents have got to use our voices at every opportunity.

We heard the same messages at our 2nd Annual Conference at Bishopbriggs on 1 October. The NPFS will continue to do what it can to get the views of parents heard and listened to, so that our children get the best education possible. 

Thanks for taking part and keep the discussion going and up to date on what we are doing on behalf of parents on our own blog ”

Iain Ellis
Chair, The National Parent Forum of Scotland
http://www.parentforumscotland.org

 

Related links:
Angela Constance, Minister for Children and Young People’s Closing Summary
NPFS – Conference 2011 – Online Discussion Highlights Summary – PDF
Iain Ellis, NPFS Chair’s Closing Summary
Angela Constance, Minister for Children and Young People’s Closing Summary