Home-School Agreements

A home-school agreement is a document that sets out the responsibilities of the school and the parents, along with what the school expects from its pupils. All state schools should have a written home-school agreement, and whilst it is not compulsory for you to sign it, by doing so you can help the school to maintain its standards.

The home-school agreement is a document which spells out the responsibilities of the school, the pupils and the parents. All state schools should have a written home-school agreement, which explains the aims and values of the school.

The School Standards and Framework Act (1998) states that a home-school agreement should cover the six following areas:

1. Standard of Education

This area of the document may state:

• that children have the right to a broad and balanced curriculum
• the standard of teaching parents can expect
• how the needs of all children of all abilities will be met
• the statutory school targets for National Curriculum assessments, GCSEs and vocational qualifications

2. Ethos of the School

This section of the agreement could refer to the following areas:

• the school's particular character and spirit and how this is conveyed through the attitudes expected of pupils and staff
• how pupils relate to each other
• how pupils relate to staff
• how the school relates to the community it serves
• the school's aims for pupils' spiritual, moral, cultural and social development

3. Attendance

Home-school agreements were introduced as an addition way of promoting regular attendance. The Act states that agreements should state that:

• parents are responsible in law for ensuring that children of compulsory school age receive full-time, suitable education
• where the child is registered at a school, the law requires regular attendance. This means attending school punctually on every day and for the whole school day during term time, unless there is a good reason (such as illness) for absence
• parents are responsible for notifying schools if their child can not attend
• if attendance problems do develop, the school expects parents to work actively with school staff and the education welfare service to solve them
• parents do not have a right to take children on holiday in term time; leave of absence MUST be granted in advance by the school
• schools are responsible for alerting parents as soon as possible when their child is absent

4. Discipline and Behaviour

Parental influence is critical in shaping pupil attitude and behaviour and parents have a vital role in fostering good behaviour. Good behaviour and discipline in pupils should be promoted through a partnership between home and school. The agreement should make clear that:

• parents and teachers need to work together to maintain good behaviour and discipline
• the pupil will be expected to observe the school's discipline and anti-bullying policy

5. Homework

The Act states that the home-school agreement clearly set out what is expected of pupils, teachers and parents in relation to homework. Parents should have a right to be consulted over changes to or developments in the school's homework policy.

6. Information for Schools and Parents

The agreement should stress the importance of effective communication between the school and the parents. Guidelines may include:

• when parents should expect a written report on their child's progress
• how parents can discuss their child's progress with a teacher
• the importance of parents informing the school about any issues that might affect the child's work or behaviour
• encouragement for parents to approach the school if they have any concerns
• details of how parents can help their children at home