New on-line instrument launched to assist dad and mom select major college for teenagers
EXCLUSIVE: Parents will no longer have to spend hours trawling through documents and websites when picking a school for their children after the launch of an online profiles system
A new online tool will allow parents to see a school or college’s profile by searching a site name or their postcode(Image: Getty Images)
Parents will no longer have to spend hours trawling through documents and websites when picking a school for their children after the launch of a new online profiles tool.
Education Secretary Lucy Powell said she wants to make it easier for mums and dads to find basic information such as whether their child’s prospective school has a breakfast club or their attainment rankings.
Speaking to The Mirror, the Cabinet minister said it is “far too hard” to find relevant details under the current system and pledged to ensure parents aren’t “spectators” in their child’s education.
A new online tool allowing parents to see a school or college’s profile by searching a site name or their postcode will launch on Friday. It will bring together information about the school’s location, age range, attendance, results and wider offerings, like free breakfast clubs.
For parents of older children, there will be information about secondary schools’ GCSE subject entries and the next steps pupils took after year 11, such as going on to further education, apprenticeships or employment.
The service will continue to develop after its launch, with a side-by-side comparison feature currently offered for secondary schools to be rolled out to primary schools – and Ofsted reports will be incorporated next year.
The government is also announcing two new independent and expert-led School-Parent Partnership Alliances, bringing together experts, schools, trusts and parents to build stronger relationships between families and schools.
New findings show that children whose parents received clear information about their progress achieved higher GCSE results and were less likely to be persistently absent from school.
Where parents described information about their child’s progress as “very clear”, pupils achieved around six additional Attainment 8 points in Year 11 and had 27% lower odds of persistent absence.
Ms Powell told The Mirror: “Parents shouldn’t have to spend hours trawling through websites and documents just to understand what a school can offer their child.
“Basic information, from whether there’s a breakfast club that means you can get to work on time, to the support available if your child is struggling, can be far too hard to find. Our new school profiles will start to bring that information together in one clear place, helping parents choose the right school and stay informed as their child grows.
“Parents aren’t spectators in education. They know their children better than anyone, and if we want every child to participate, achieve and feel they belong, schools and families need the tools to work together.
“I will make sure every parent feels they have a voice in their child’s education, and every child knows that the adults in their life are pulling together for them.”
