Gordon Brown demands schools listen to parents

Schools must take more steps to communicate with parents, according to prime minister Gordon Brown.

Mr Brown made the comments yesterday in a speech on education in south London.

He said: "We will look at how local authorities can improve their knowledge of what parents want and how satisfied they are with their local schools," adding that "significant dissatisfaction" among parents would lead to the local authority taking action.

Full details of the plan will be announced in a white paper next month.
A further scheme announced by Mr Brown will involve teachers at secondary schools delivering reports to parents via the internet by 2010. Teachers at primary schools will be required to follow suit by 2012.

The Department for Children, Schools and Families recently published a report by Sir Jim Rose reviewing the curriculum for primary education.

Recommendations include extra training being given to teachers and additional focus being given to technology along with maths and English.

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