Parent power is the key to success at one Huddersfield primary school.
New Spring Grove headteacher Shazia Azhar firmly believes that getting parents on board is crucial if pupils are to succeed.
The mother-of-three, who returned to lead the Outstanding-rated Water Street school last month, is targeting parents in her ambitious bid to raise standards - already above national average - even further.
She was deputy head at Spring Grove from 2007 to 2012, before leaving to become headteacher at Purlwell Infant and Nursery School, Batley, where she became the first woman of Pakistani origin to lead a Kirklees school.
Shazia, 45, of Edgerton, knows she has big shoes to fill, having taken over from Hawa Bibi Laher OBE, and is determined to build on her predecessor’s impressive work at the school, even if that means imparting a few home truths.
Many parents were surprised when Shazia shared national statistics which showed that, generally, children from Pakistani families fared less well in education than their peers.
The vast majority of the 220 pupils at Spring Grove are from Pakistani backgrounds, but the school also has a host of other heritages, including Indian, African, Arab, Bangladeshi and Chinese.
She said: “All parents want the best for their children, but they don’t always know how to go about achieving that.
”What we do well here is talk to parents, and share the data and technical information to empower them.”
She and her team of experienced staff have set about actively talking to and engaging these parents so they can help their youngsters.
The school also encourages families to allow their children stay for school dinners and attend the free breakfast club, so youngsters are immersed in their school day and ready to learn, as well as learning social skills and good manners.
Shazia added: “The Press has highlighted issues around attainment within the Muslim community. Historically is has been said that they can’t do well but parents, children and teachers at Spring Grove have proved that these children can do as well as any group nationally.
“By working with parents and raising their and their children’s aspirations, I am confident that we can remain above the national average for attainment.”
The school holds parents’ evenings, open days and other events to engage parents, who are advised to talk to their children, read with them, help with homework, and discuss programmes they watch on TV.
Shazia said: “In my experience, people are afraid to speak to people from another culture because they are afraid of offending them. As heads, we need to get past the race aspect.
“I speak to all the parents here from all different backgrounds - I am not having these conversations because I am a Muslim, I am having them because I am a headteacher and educationalist.
“If you are honest with parents, I find the vast majority are very, very willing to help, and a short time out of a parent’s day really does have a big impact on a child.
“Parents here have been fantastic, they have welcomed me back and made me feel settled after such a short time.”
Shazia admits that, with an increasingly stringent Ofsted framework, keeping the school’s Outstanding rating will be a challenge - but one the school is ready for.
“With the help of parents and the school’s fantastic staff, I am confident we can keep it.”
