CYP Now - Selfishness drives most 'sharp-elbowed' parents

Last month, David Laws, the Liberal Democrat schools minister, made a speech in which he defended "sharp-elbowed parents" who "invest a huge amount of money to give their young people opportunities in life". He went on: "We shouldn't complain about any parent who is doing those things, whether they are in the state sector or the private sector. To do all you can to help your child succeed in life is what we want everyone to be doing."

This led me to think about the various contexts in which parents might be seen as being sharp-elbowed and whether this might sometimes be a good thing. On the positive side, I have always believed in local governance of schools, including parent governors, and with parents actively involved in school life, both formally and informally. If this occasionally proves uncomfortable for head teachers and local authorities, that's a price worth paying. Parental involvement generally has all sorts of positive effects on schools. Making the engagement of parents a priority can have a positive social impact well outside the school gates, and that is particularly beneficial in deprived areas. Where parents are actively engaged, they are more likely to support actively their child's learning. That is all to the good.

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