Parental Engagement Programme Rationale

Parental involvement in the form of “at-home‟ interest and support have a major influence on pupils’ educational outcomes and attitudes. Many parents, however, feel uninformed about current educational practices and how they can be more involved with their child’s learning.

1. Bryan (2005), children are likely to excel in academics when their parents actively participate in their education.
2. Desforges & Abouchar (2003) parental involvement accounts for at least a 10% increase in the academic achievement of children
3. Nzuruba (2024) one of the most influential factors on academic achievement is “Parental involvement in their child’s education”

A number of initiatives have been implemented internationally to encourage home-school links, but the implementation of these initiatives, particularly in the area of mathematics education is somewhat impersonal.

Parents can feel “out of date” and often respond to their children’s needs with “that’s not how I was taught it.” This often creates a feeling of tension for both parents and children. So, this can unintentionally lead to a reduction in support from parents, especially parents who really would like to engage in helping their children, but do not want to upset them either.

Aim:

Helping and supporting your child through GCSE Mathematics, does not just take the form of solving equations. It comes in many forms such as:

1. Emotional
2. Financial
3. Intellectual, and
4. Social

It is our goal through this program to help parents’ breakdown down some of the barriers to supporting their child’s education and thereby maximise their potential in GCSE Mathematics.

We do not expect parents to be fully efficient in contemporary GCSE mathematical teaching techniques, but we do aim to give parents the confidence to help by supplying them with:

1. Confidence in the knowledge that parental support WILL HAVE ACADEMIC IMPACT.
2. Access to the up-to-date techniques that encourage parents to SUPPORT MEANINGFUL LEARNING.
3. Evaluative methods to help parents to CHOOSE WISELY which additional resources are required for their child
4. NO NONSENSE UNDERSTANDING of key GCSE topics to allow parents and their children to COMMUNICATE CLEARLY with each other.

The Program:

The program is designed over 7 weeks:

1. Understand GCSEs. ...
2. Build a revision plan. ...
3. Make revision efficient and effective. ...
4. Set up a dedicated learning environment. ...
5. Use the best revision resources. ...
6. Where to get help when needed...
7. What went well…

Week 1: “Understanding GCSE”Introduction to GCSE Mathematics ‘How to be successful’ and resources available.

PLUS: Introductory session based around a GCSE Mathematics past paper.

Week 2: “Build a revision plan”

• How long have I got?
• How much should I do?
• How do I stop my parents from worrying/nagging?

PLUS, Focus session based around a GCSE Mathematics past paper.

Week 3: “Make revision efficient and effective”

• What’s the point?
• How do I know it’s working?
• When do I stop?

PLUS, Focus session based around a GCSE Mathematics past paper.

Week 4: “Set up a dedicated learning environment”

• Distraction!
• Disruption!
• Dishonesty!

PLUS, focus session based around a GCSE Mathematics past paper.

Week 5: “Use the best revision resources”

• Mathematician heal thyself!
• Over my head!
• Child’s play!

PLUS, focus session based around a GCSE Mathematics past paper.

Week 6: “Where to get help when needed”

• This is too easy!
• I’m still struggling!
• Stop digging!

PLUS, focus session based around a GCSE Mathematics past paper.

Week 7: “Final thoughts”. An evaluation of “what went well” and how to incorporate these WWW practices into family life e.g. “the contract”