Parents and education: a survey of their involvement and a discussion of some issues

Abstract

Summary There is widespread interest in all aspects of parental involvement in schools. This is evident from the rapidly increasing academic literature written on the topic as well as from the frequent references made in the media. This general interest has been reflected in, and fuelled by, official reports and Education Acts. The research on which this article is based was funded by the Department of Education and Science (DES) for a period of three years from April 1986. Some of the findings from questionnaires distributed during phase 1 of the research are discussed here, together with an initial analysis of the forms that contact between home and school can take.