Parental involvement in education and the future role of the local authority

London’s education system stands on the brink of seismic change.  Legislation in the Academies Act 2010 Opens in a new window has paved the way for ‘free schools’ – established by collectives of parents, teachers or similar groups – to be developed to allow local communities a far greater stake in the planning and running of schools across the capital.

London Councils publishes here two pieces of commissioned research on the subject of parental involvement in education and the future role of the local authority. 

Together these different, but complementary, pieces of research provide interesting insights into how parents might be motivated to become more involved in their children’s education and even open their own free schools.  They also point to how the local authority role may need to adapt to best support the establishment and integration of free schools into the local education offer.

• Read our foreword and recommendations in response to both reports Opens in a new window
• 'Putting Local Communities at the Centre' Opens in a new window - Institute of Education research paper - examines how the role of the local authority might evolve as parents become more involved with education through programmes such as 'free schools'.
• 'Community Engagement with London Schools' Opens in a new window - Ipsos MORI report - outlines the views of parents in London on how they would like to engage with their children’s school.