Head invents online aid to update parents about pupils

Aug 27 2008 By Adam Courtney, Staines News

IT'S probably every pupil's worst nightmare - a school website that gives parents live updates about their offspring's behaviour, performance and attendance.

But Simon Uttley, head of St Paul's Catholic College, Sunbury, claims his 'parent portal' has not only improved standards, but also given parents a greater sense of involvement in their child's academic career.

And he says the programme, designed in collaboration with an IT company and launched six months ago, has been so successful, it's being sold to schools across the country with a share of the profits being ploughed directly back into St Paul's.

He said: "We live in a 24/7 society where people can bank online, shop online and book holidays online and I wondered why schooling should be any different.

"Parents can feel disempowered because when their kids start at secondary school they are confronted with a whole new set of jargon and systems that are different from when they were at school.

"One of the common complaints we get from parents is that problems can go unchecked because they sim

ply didn't know about them. You don't want to find out six months down the line that your child has done something bang out of order. They don't like being left in the dark."

Simon, who says the scheme required an investment of less than £5,000, denies the portal has turned the school into a 'big brother' institution and says it is as much about highlighting good work as bad, although he does concede poor behaviour has been reduced.

He said: "Teachers are encouraged to catch children doing the right things, not catch them out. Positive comments are posted as much as negative ones."

Parent Mark Tyler, from Chertsey, whose children Kathryn, 16, and Stuart, 14, attend the school, is in favour. He said: "It's an excellent idea. For parents who are out working, it's good they no longer have to wait until the end of the year to find out what's been going on."

Mr Tyler says his kids accept the system because of the positive feedback. He added: "All youngsters probably thought they were being watched but now they realise it's useful for them too."