Parents have their say at Parentkind’s Parliament

Representatives from the Controlled Schools’ Support Council (CSSC) attended the recent Parentkind Northern Ireland Parents’ Parliament events.

Parents' Parliaments participant group photo

The Parents’ Parliaments were established in September 2019 by Parentkind, in partnership with the following organisations: Department of Education; Council for the Curriculum, Examinations and Assessment; and The Graduate School at Queen’s University.  The Parents’ Parliaments gave parents a platform to contribute to education conversations and debates.

Jayne Thompson, Parentkind’s Northern Ireland Programmes Manager said,

'In 2018, Parentkind commissioned their first Annual Parents Survey* in Northern Ireland.  The results indicated parents desire to engage directly with the policy-makers, schools and be more involved and informed about the Northern Ireland Curriculum.

“I am delighted that CSSC, the advocacy body for Northern Ireland’s largest school sector, agreed to come on-board and attend the Parents’ Parliaments, providing practical support and advice and also ensuring that parents had access to another educational body to share ideas and feedback.

“The five regional Parents’ Parliaments have been completed and over the course of the next few months we will be compiling a report based on feedback and recommendations and presenting this in Parliament Buildings in early 2020.”

Heather McKenzie, School Support Officer for CSSC added,

“Schools work in partnership with parents, and the Parents’ Parliaments were invaluable opportunities to hear directly from parents their views on Northern Ireland’s education system.  Thank you to Parentkind for organising them.”

 

Photo caption:

Pictured at the Parents’ Parliament on Tuesday 17 September are (left to right) Jayne Thompson of Parentkind, Liam Dempsey of CCEA, Donna Hyland of QUB, Roisin McCreesh of EA, Heather McKenzie of CSSC, Jill Brown of CSSC, Dale Heaney of DE, and Janis Scallon of DE.

 

*Please note CSSC is not responsible for the content of third-party websites.

 

15 October 2019