Building home-school trust

Abstract

Positive relationships between home and school are important for providing consistent support for pupil academic progress and behaviour. This paper explores the central role of trust between parents and teachers as an element of successful parent-teacher partnerships. Perspectives of 35 parents, defined as low or high trust, and 25 teachers in 4 schools were sampled through telephone interviews and focus groups. The format of the interviews was semi-structured and questions were asked about what schools need to do to build trust with parents. Transcripts were analysed using a qualitative procedure and commonalities and differences of view identified. The results highlighted a range of features that are consistently indicated in the development of trust. The central importance of communication was identified by teachers and parents (low and high trust). There was a high frequency of teacher statements across categories citing factors external to the school (such as child, family or societal factors) as being at the root of difficulties in establishing trusting home-school relationships. High trust parents were more likely to commend the school on the consistency of its procedures in managing behaviour. However, difficulties relating to discipline and dissatisfaction with the school’s approach to tackling bullying and disruption were more likely to be raised by less trusting parents. The results are discussed in relation to theory and research and implications for school policy and practice are outlined.