Claire Pritchard, Chief Executive Officer, Broadleaf Partnership Trust
If our schools and trusts are to thrive, we must engage with parent communities in deeper, more intentional ways. Parent participation can no longer sit at the edges of trust strategy; it must be embedded within our culture, leadership and the outcomes we seek for pupils.
This shift is not simply operational. It challenges us to rethink our relationships with families and to consider what it means to lead as a civic institution rooted in its community.
Why parent participation matters now
Parental engagement has moved firmly into the national spotlight. At the launch of the National Parent Survey 2025, the Secretary of State for Education highlighted the importance of Parentkind’s Parent-Friendly Schools accreditation in strengthening communication and understanding parent perspectives. This is echoed in the new Ofsted framework, which references parents more than ever before, signalling a clear expectation of meaningful, evidence-led participation.
Parents today are more informed and more invested in shaping their children’s education. They expect clarity, consistency and transparency. For trusts, this means parent participation is no longer optional. It is both a strategic priority and a measure of cultural health.
Rebuilding trust and connection
Across the sector, trust leaders are navigating rising complaints, communication challenges and a growing sense of distance between schools and families. Much of this reflects wider societal pressures, heightened anxiety and a digital landscape that amplifies frustration quickly.
I do not see this as a deficit, but as an opportunity.
Trusts that do this well invest in cultural clarity and community identity. They model visible leadership, commit to transparent communication and design systems that make school life more accessible for families. Above all, they understand that belonging is not a “soft” concept; it is foundational to trust.
When parents feel like partners rather than observers, conversations change. Misunderstandings reduce. Engagement becomes shared, not delivered.
Gaining deeper insight: The Parenting Language survey
One tool that has proven particularly valuable across our schools is Parent-Friendly Schools’ Parenting Language survey. It provides a modern, accessible way to understand not just what parents think, but how they communicate, respond and engage with school life.
The survey offers:
- Insight into parent communication styles
- Greater clarity around community needs
- Data to inform leadership and staff development
- A structured, non-judgemental platform for improving dialogue
At a time when many early-career teachers have limited training in working with families, and when parent confidence in school systems can be fragile, this kind of insight is invaluable. It allows leaders to shape approaches that are empathetic, equitable and consistent across schools.
Learning first as a parent, then as a CEO
Before adopting the Parenting Language survey across Broadleaf Partnership Trust, I completed it myself as a parent, for each of my children. I found the experience unexpectedly insightful. It was accurate, but more importantly, it felt disarming in a positive way. It removed defensiveness and encouraged reflection.
I described the experience as humanising. It created a sense of shared purpose between parent and educator, rather than reinforcing a divide. It helped me better understand my own communication habits and how they might be perceived by schools.
That personal insight fundamentally shaped how I view the survey’s value at a trust level.
The impact across our trust
Professionally, adopting the Parenting Language survey has given Broadleaf Partnership Trust:
- A richer understanding of our diverse family communities
- A shared language that strengthens conversations across schools
- A way to build trust where parents have historically felt unheard
- Data that informs better leadership and community strategy
- A platform for genuine collective ownership
Our decision to adopt both the Parent-Friendly Schools Blueprint Accreditation and the Parenting Language service is rooted in the belief that improvement is a journey. It requires curiosity and humility, qualities that strengthen leadership rather than dilute it.
Looking ahead: Parent partnership as leadership practice
Parent partnership is not about smoothing issues or reducing complaints, although these may be outcomes. It is about shaping cultures where families feel part of the mission. It is about seeing parents as an asset, not a challenge. And it is about building community identity that strengthens every layer of trust life, from governance to classroom practice.
As expectations continue to evolve, the trusts that prioritise depth of relationship will be best placed to succeed. Tools and frameworks can support this work, but the real shift happens in leadership: in how we listen, how we show up and how we build belonging.
When we invest in relationships, we invest in outcomes. For me, that principle is becoming one of the defining pillars of trust leadership today.
We welcome perspectives from a diverse range of guest contributors. The opinions expressed in blogs are the views of the author(s), and should not be read as CST guidance or CST’s position.
