The Trouble with Parents

Description

Teachers complain about poor parenting and aggression, and parents complain about a lack of rights and feeling blamed. Parent and journalist Fiona Millar sees how some schools are trying to improve parent-teacher relations.

When asked about the parent-teacher relationship, one teacher says "two or three times a week I've got a parent threatening to knock my lights out".

A parent-governor herself, Fiona confronts headteachers' leader David Hart, who was quoted as saying "giving parents more power is like putting alcoholics in charge of a bar".

Fiona also meets staff, parents and pupils at a school which is trying to involve parents in their children's education and behaviour. At Gospel Oak Primary, the headteacher is always available in the playground at the end of the day.

Marlborough Family Education Centre and George Green's Secondary also have a range of approaches to involve parents, which are highlighted in this whole-school video.