From Standard to Gold: A School’s Journey to Excellence in Parent Participation
Every school wants the best for its students, and increasingly, we recognise that this means collaborating closely with families. But turning that belief into daily practice is a journey. The Parent-Friendly Schools Accreditation is designed not only to identify what you're doing well, but also to support you in growing a culture where home and school truly thrive together.
Let’s walk through what it means to move from a Standard Award to a Silver Award, and ultimately to a Gold Award.
Achieving the Standard Award: Building the Foundations
- Self-reported
- 40%
- Online Survey
The Standard Award recognises that your school has begun to build a meaningful foundation for parent participation. At this stage, you will have responded to the self-assessment survey, which has 325 measures, and scored 40% or more. This demonstrates you’ve started putting policies, practices, and values in place.
What it shows:
- You’re thinking carefully about how you involve parents.
- You may have a communication strategy, some volunteer initiatives, or early signs of inclusive practice.
- You are keen to know what else you can implement to support parent participation.
What’s next?
Start using your feedback to identify what’s already working and pinpoint the areas where gaps exist. Do staff and parents understand your systems? Are efforts consistent across year groups? You’re laying a strong foundation, keep going.
Reaching the Silver Award: Deepening Your Practice
- Providing stories
- 60%
- Video Interview
The Silver Award is all about confidence and collaboration. It recognises that your school has moved beyond structures and policies, you’re embedding practice and seeing it make a difference. You’ll take part in a virtual interview, offering rich, real examples of how you’ve built parent partnerships across key areas like communication, home-based learning, and school life.
What it shows:
- You’ve moved from intention to implementation.
- Staff can explain how parent participation is improving outcomes.
- Parents feel more connected, and they’re responding with trust and involvement.
What’s next?
At this stage, the key is shared and owned practice. Are you collecting feedback from families? Are you reviewing what works and sharing it across the team? The Silver Award means you’re on a roll. Continue inviting parents into conversations and classrooms, and continue to build a strong bridge between home and school.
Earning the Gold Award: Becoming a Beacon for Others
- Evidence
- 80%
- In-person visit
The Gold Award is for schools that don’t just participate, they lead. Achieving the Gold Award means you’ve built a culture where parent participation is embedded into everything from leadership and ethos to teaching and community partnerships. Assessment at this level includes an in-person visit, with supporting evidence, testimonials, and policy documents to showcase your impact.
What it shows:
- Your school is a model of best practice.
- Parents are true partners, involved in shaping decisions and direction.
- Your initiatives are inclusive, accessible, and sustainable.
- Staff across the school share ownership of parent engagement, and it shows.
What’s next?
Now you’re in a position to mentor others. Whether it’s contributing to case studies, hosting visits, or leading local partnerships, your school becomes part of a bigger movement, helping more families feel welcomed, respected, and included in school life.
Wherever You Are, Keep Going
No matter your starting point, this journey is about growth. It’s a process that involves building trust, fostering a sense of belonging, and demonstrating that education is most effective when families and schools collaborate.
So, reflect. Be bold. Ask questions. Celebrate what’s working. And remember: every small step toward partnership makes a big difference for the children in your care.