MEET THE PARENTS

Meet the Parents is about strengthening communities by encouraging parents to support their local schools.

Our core activity is running events in primary schools where people can ‘meet the parents’ and students from their local secondaries. We arrange for families to come and talk frankly about their experience at school. It fills a gap between slick open days and playground rumours.

Since 2012 we have won over scores of parents to staying local rather than sending their children to schools outside the area. Each child builds community cohesion and brings a boost to the secondary schools’ budget. The school roll is falling across London and beyond, increasing the pressure to attract more pupils.

In today’s educational landscape schools can change extremely quickly, yet parents’ views can often lag behind. Meet the Parents ensures they get up-to-date information they can trust.

We are now running events in the pre-school sector to build the school roll in primaries. We also advise on open days, branding and appearance, and make promotional films for schools through http://www.schoolsonscreen.com

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““I went with my son to a Meet the Parents event at his primary school when he was in Year 6. We were stuck choosing between two schools and we came out of the evening with a clear decision that we haven’t regretted. We were able to ask the kids and parents informal questions that gave us a better idea of the school environment and the day-to-life of the school.””
From a Meet the Parents event at Yerbury school, Islington

““Meet the Parents is a fantastic, innovative and incredibly simple idea and it has massively benefited our daughter and our whole family. Like many families in our neighbourhood private schools were very much on our radar, especially my husband’s, and by attending Meet the Parents evenings along with school open evenings we were convinced that Parliament Hill was the right choice for our daughter.””
From a Meet the Parents event at Gospel Oak school

““Like all parents looking for secondary schools, we started looking at our options with some excitement and some trepidation. Thanks to the Meet the Parents sessions we have now chosen the school we would like our son to attend. Amazingly, it was the school that was the top of our ‘scrap heap’ last year.””
Pete, Year 6 Parent

““After attending open evenings and official events, I wasn’t sure what to expect from Meet the Parents. Not only were the children all excellent ambassadors for teaching at the schools, but they were able to give us insights into what it feels like to be pupils there. The parents were also helpful and were refreshingly open about aspects of their schools which they felt needed to improve.””
From a Meet the Parents event at Brookfield School, Camden

Madeleine Holt

Madeleine Holt is involved in a number of education projects. In 2019 she won the Fred and Anne Jarvis Award for education campaigning from the National Education Union. She is regularly interviewed in the media. She was previously a reporter at the BBC for twenty years, most recently as culture correspondent on Newsnight.

Steve Sklair

Steve is an experienced all-round filmmaker. He was initially a picture editor on Panorama and Arena, then Channel 4. He subsequently moved into filming, producing and directing and became a series producer. Awards include a BAFTA for best single documentary, a FELIX (European Academy Award) Special Mention, and a UNICEF award for furthering the rights of the child.

Sue Gayton

Sue is in charge of administration, marketing and tech for Meet the Parents. She is a parent of two daughters, former primary school governor and has a background in bookkeeping and administration.

Consultations

Our events only work if we get parents to step inside local schools after hearing from our families. But if – once they visit a school – they come away with a poor impression, then that’s one more family lost to the local community.

We have been to many school open days and have a clear idea what works and what puts parents off. Parents are often very attuned to the atmosphere of a school, for example.

We have worked with schools on improving their branding, ambience and general appearance. Simple things can make the world of difference.

If you would like a short and affordable consultation, please get in touch through the contact form below.

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Films

Our background is in television journalism, and we are passionate about using our skills to tell the strongest possible story about the benefits of state education.

We make promotional films for comprehensives and primary schools alongside campaigning films and videos about innovative schools.

Here are some examples. You can also check out our website at schoolsonscreen.com

If you are a parent, local authority, school improvement partnership or trust, primary school or secondary school who would be interested in working with us, get in touch.