How schools and parents can work together to keep poorer pupils’ aspirations high

via JRF – Combined Feed by Loic Menzies

It’s not a lack of aspiration that prevents poorer pupils going to university, it’s giving up on their original aims.

How can schools help keep aspirations on track?

It is often argued that education needs to tackle a “deeply embedded culture of low aspirations” but it is time to challenge this myth. When their children are born, 97% of mothers say they want them to go to university. But by the time children are 14, only about half of the poorest parents think they will make it there.

Aspirations are not low to start with – they fall because they start to seem unrealistic.

This trend can be seen amongst both parents and their children. However, many schools are showing that they can address this problem and raise attainment by engaging with parents and helping keep aspirations on track. In the new JRF report published today [29 January 2013], we look at the good practice in schools which helps achieve this. The research shows that engagement with parents works best when schools meet parents on their own terms and tap into their interests.

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