6th November 2019
In a first for Connect, we’re commissioning academic research from Stirling University. The research is being funded through Partnership Schools Scotland*, which is supported by Skills Development Scotland. Its purpose is to identify the impact of parental engagement on schools which are punching above their weight in terms of children and young people’s learning and outcomes.
We’ve asked the researchers, led by Dr Andrea Priestley, to look into the reasons some school communities exceed expectations in terms of outcomes for children and young people, when compared to similar schools. This will include a number of factors, including engagement with families. There will be desk-based research as well as interviews and focus groups and in-depth work on case studies. Some of our Partnership Schools Scotland participants as well as non-partnership schools will be involved.
Executive Director Eileen Prior said:
“We’re very excited to be contributing to Scottish education research. Evidence-based approaches are essential to improving outcomes for our children and young people. We’re looking forward to the findings of the research, both to inform our own work on making parental and family engagement in children’s learning as good as it can be, and to help shape the education agenda in Scotland.”
Four themes will be used for desk-based research and with case study schools: learning and teaching; leadership style; parent/carer engagement and collaborative working.
A research report will be produced, with recommendations. Findings will be shared at a conference in 2020.
*Partnership Schools Scotland is a programme run by Connect, with support from Skills Development Scotland. It uses the well-established and proven model of school, family and community partnership from the Johns Hopkins University in the United States to make a difference to children’s learning and outcomes.