Homework is a winner

ST Hilda’s CE Primary is the first school in Oldham — and only the second in Greater Manchester — to receive a national accolade for its work to get parents involved in their children’s education.

It has scooped a Leading Parent Partnership Award (LPPA) for a range of initiatives to break down the barriers between home and school.

Most of its pupils are from Bangladeshi families, and the aim is to make it as easy as possible for their parents to get involved with the school and their children’s work.

Initiatives have included English, literacy and IT classes, as well taking part in trips and volunteering in school.

There has also been an emphasis on one-to-one contact with parents who do not speak English as their first language, rather than sending out letters.

St Hilda’s was classed as “outstanding” in its most recent inspection report and head teacher Gillian Pursey explained: “The children make really good progress when they are with us.

“We feel now we can’t do anything more in school to raise attainment without getting the engagement of parents at home.

“That is the big driver behind LPPA because there is a lot of potential out there.

“I just do not think the parents realise it because culturally, their own experience of education out of this country is that it’s very much delegated for the teachers to do. There was a huge gap between what they thought was going on in school and what is going on in school.”

Mrs Pursey wants St Hilda’s to be a place where both pupils and families learn and added: “We have seen a great take-up in the provision we have been offering and we have got parents who are much more confident to come into school.

“We are now getting parents coming up with suggestions, for example one suggested an ‘X-factor’ competition to raise funds.

“We are incredibly proud of our achievement.

“It reflects the deep commitment of the school to engage its parents in their pupils learning.”