Parents have equal entitlement to information about their child’s progress e.g. school reports, access to pupil records and to be involved in making decisions about their child’s education. (Reference is made to the definition of “parents” (Where we use the word ‘parents’ this refers to anyone with parental responsibilities, a guardian and/or any person who is liable to maintain or has parental responsibilities (within the meaning of Section 1(3) of the Children (Scotland) Act 1995) in relation to a child, or has care of a child or young person).
Information about a child’s educational progress e.g. school reports, will normally only be made routinely available to the parent(s) with whom the child lives. This information will also normally be made available, on request, to a parent who does not live with the child. This does not include information about day-to-day administrative school matters which are usually sent home with the child from school and which will only be sent to the parent(s) with whom the child lives. Parents are asked to ensure that their child’s school knows the names and addresses of those who have parental responsibilities and rights, and other persons who fall within the definition of parent e.g. step-parent living with the child, and to let them know if this information changes. Requests must be submitted to the school in writing by the person who claims to be a parent. Appropriate documentary evidence may be required to support the claim.
Considering Children's Views
Under Section 6 of the Children (Scotland) Act 1995, parents and other people that have parental responsibilities and rights must consider, so far as is practical, their child’s views when making decisions that affect him/her. This includes decisions about his/her education e.g. which school is attended and subject choices. The importance parents attach to those views will depend on the child’s age and maturity but children over 12 are presumed, in law, to be old enough to express views and to have these taken into account.