Do Parents Know They Matter?: Raising achievement through parental engagement

Alma Harris · Kirstie Andrew-Power · Janet Goodall

May 2009 · Bloomsbury Publishing

About this ebook

It is commonly agreed that engaging parents with their child's learning is positive and has wide-reaching benefits. This book articulates why parental engagement is of value and how it can be achieved with positive results. Beyond the why and how, the book explores what effective parental engagement is, making explicit the link between this and the impact on the learning of the child. To support this, practical, workable solutions and strategies are provided through case studies.

The book provides a powerful combination of academic theory supported with quantifiable and qualitative evidence from students, parents and schools, alongside answers provided by those who work with the challenges of this agenda on a daily basis. It will challenge, motivate and inspire understanding through the political agenda, and empower and enable schools to develop their practice.

About the author

Alma Harris is Pro-Director (Leadership) at IOE, UCL's Faculty of Education and Society, University College London, UK and Professor of Educational Leadership at the London Centre for Leadership in Learning.

Kirstie Andrew-Power is Head of Achievement at the Specialist Schools and Academies Trust and formerly a school leader in two secondary schools. Kirstie leads the 'Every Child Achieves' network of over 700 schools focusing on enabling schools to maximize outcomes for every learner.

Dr Janet Goodall is a lecturer in educational leadership and management at the University of Bath. Over the last ten years, she has researched and supported parental engagement in children's learning through work with schools and local authorities. She has published widely on the subject in both academic and popular literature.