Calling Parent Councils! Please consider gathering parent views on Education Reform!

Parent Councils might wish to gather parent/carer views on some of the topics to submit to Professor Ken Muir's current Education Reform consultation. We've provided some pointers below, if you wish to use them.

It is important that parent/carer voices and those of young people are heard in the Education Reform consultation. You can find Connect’s overview of this here.

Please take notes of your discussions and conclusions (if any) and send them to Educationreform@gov.scot, copying in info@connect.scot by 26 November. Do include representative and diverse views – it is unlikely that your discussion group will have agreement on everything!

We’ve provided some conversation-starter questions below – please use them as you wish, or think of your own questions or topics.

Topic A: Reflecting and Recognising Young Peoples’ Skills and Achievements in Secondary Schools

The questions below are to start discussion about what parents and young people want from secondary education, going forward.

Question 1: Do you think Scottish secondary school education provides young people with what they need for their next steps in learning and in life?

Question 2: Do you think the current qualifications and awards offered by the Scottish Qualifications Authority (SQA) provide young people with what they need for their next steps in learning and life?

Question 3: What needs to improve or change, if anything?

Question 4: Do you feel there are changes that could support your young people as they make the change to their next steps?

NOTE: Please also share Connect’s survey on Reflecting and Recognising Young Peoples’ Skills and Achievements in Secondary Schools. This will inform Connect’s response to the consultation.

Topic B: Involving Parents/Carers in School Inspection and Improvement

The questions below are to start discussion about what parents/carers and young people want from school inspection and improvement, going forward. Inspections are currently the responsibility of Education Scotland. However, this will change soon – there is an opportunity to reshape inspections and the role of parents and parent groups in these.

Question 1: What is your current understanding of school inspection and improvement and about how parents/carers are involved?

Question 2: In what ways do you feel these can be improved?

Question 3: What do you think school inspections should deliver for children and young people?

Question 4: How can parents/carers and parent groups be more involved in the inspection and improvement process?

NOTE: Please also share Connect’s survey on Involving Parents in School Inspection and Improvement. This will inform Connect’s response to the consultation.