About
Our Aims
There are more than 12 million parents of school-aged children in England, but their voices are often missing from the national conversation about education.
Teachers, unions and policymakers are regularly consulted on national education issues. Parents, by contract, are usually engaged locally through schools, or indirectly through media and campaigning groups. The Parent Voice Project was established to build a clearer, more representative understanding of what parents think about education: what they value, what concerns them, and how they experience the school system day to day.
This work does not advocate for a particular approach. Its purpose is to provide robust, balanced insight that others – schools, trusts, policymakers and researchers – can use to inform education policy and practice at all levels.
The project brings together two strands of research:
A large-scale survey, capturing nationally representative views at a scale not previously available.
In-depth focus groups, allowing parents to explain the reasons and experiences behind their answers.
Our approach is guided by three principles:
Constructive
We start from the assumption that everyone in education wants the best for children. Our aim is to contribute insight, not contention.
Inclusive
Parents’ experiences vary widely across regions, backgrounds, phases and needs. We aim to reflect that full diversity.
Evidence-led
The work is rooted in rigorous research, rather than politics, ideology or advocacy. We report what parents say – no more, no less.
By bringing these perspectives together, we hope to support a more informed, balanced understanding of parents’ experiences within the education system.