Over the Easter break I have been busy preparing my speech for the upcoming Schools & Academies Show (SAAS).

I’m really pleased that ASCL is an official partner of the event, and look forward to addressing delegates at Excel London on 15 May. 

One of the great things about SAAS is that it is open to everyone currently working in education. There is no disparity between people working in maintained schools or academies, those in the state or independent sectors and those in colleges or universities. While professional development opportunities targeted at specific roles and sectors are uniquely valuable, there is something very special about the whole of the education sector coming together under one roof. 

It’s just as important that people working in local and central government and the wider public/voluntary sectors are also welcome, because many of the solutions to problems being faced in education lie beyond the school gates. At a time when finances are stretched right across the public sector, it is a real bonus that SAAS is free to attend and that everyone gets the opportunity to attend one of the biggest events of the year in the world of education.  

A common thread
It is my strong belief that there is far more that unites the education sector than divides it. It can be easy to lose sight of this, particularly when some media coverage of the Children’s Wellbeing and Schools Bill, and the VAT levy on independent schools, seemingly attempts to pit different parts of the education system against each other. 

But there is a common thread that runs through schools and colleges of all kinds, and it is a desire to give all children and young people the very best possible support as they move through the education system and into the next stage of their lives. This unwavering ambition, and the drive to overcome the challenges that are making it more difficult to provide this support, is something we all share. 

When I speak to school and college leaders about the biggest problems they are facing, there are a few common themes that come up time and again. For some, such as a lack of funding, the solutions are relatively straightforward and it is our job to make a persuasive case to government as to why further investment in education is so necessary. For other key issues, such as the broken SEND system and issues with inspection and accountability, the answers are more complicated but we nevertheless have a good understanding of the kind of changes that need to take place.

Growing tensions
One far more nebulous issue is the fractured relationship between schools and parents. Obviously I am talking about a minority of parents here, but enough for many colleagues to tell me that they feel under siege from the growing number of complaints. This can manifest itself in various ways, that go far beyond a school or college’s official complaints procedures. Often grievances are being directed towards Ofsted, the Teaching Regulation Agency or even the Department for Education. Rather than being dealt with privately, complaints are often being shared in parental WhatsApp groups or splashed all over social media. 

One of the implications of this is it adds to staff workload and only makes it more difficult for schools and the people leading them to fulfil all of their other responsibilities.

The unwritten social contract between schools and parents, that dictated the appropriate ways to raise concerns and conduct discussions, is clearly broken. 

There is no simple explanation as to why this has happened. The growing use of social media has patently changed the way in which we communicate, not just with friends but in more formal situations too. 
It is also likely to be related to the wider societal changes we are experiencing following the pandemic. We’ve seen growing incidences of challenging behaviour by pupils, a fall in attendance rates and a rise in elective home education. It stands to reason that growing tensions between parents and schools are part of the same, evolving educational landscape. 

While the reasons behind this are complex, what I am sure of is that it is going to take the whole sector working together to fix it. 

Dealing with disruptive behaviour from pupils already takes up a significant amount of time. Schools can ill afford parents acting in a similar way. The grown-ups have to be exactly that, grown up. 

This situation is not unique to schools and colleges. I have heard similar concerns from other public services about the inappropriate manner in which some people are speaking to staff, be this on social media, over the phone, or in person at a reception area. This is very disappointing, but in an era where senior politicians claim we have ‘had enough of experts’, it perhaps should not come as a surprise. 

A new social contract
While mistakes do occasionally happen, and it’s right that there are ways to raise complaints, this must be done through the appropriate channels and in a respectful manner. The starting point must be that highly-qualified, dedicated public sector professionals have the best interests of the people they serve at heart. 

We completely understand that parents are going to very protective of their children, I know I am of mine, but this should not be to the extent of undermining the expertise and professional judgement of school and college leaders, healthcare professionals or anybody else involved in public sector service. 

Rebuilding this trust is vital to mending the relationship between schools and parents. I believe that it is time for a new social contract, with buy-in from schools, parents and the government. There needs to be clear expectations regarding the support that will be given to pupils, what help schools need from parents and the government in order to provide this, and the appropriate steps to take if this is not happening. 

We know that, deep down, everyone has the best interests of children and young people at heart. We therefore need to put in place an agreement that ensures that everyone with a stake in education is working together for the collective good. 

I look forward to talking more about this issue, and sharing ASCL’s latest thinking on how we can work towards a solution, with delegates at SAAS next month.

If you are yet to register for your free place at the Schools & Academies Show, you can do so here. 

 I hope to see you there.