Parents set up their own council on East End education issues

A parents council is being launched today to get them more involved in their children’s education in London’s deprived East End.

It aims to boost adult literacy for those whose main language isn’t English as well as help parents with behavioural problems or tackle their social isolation.

More than 100 parents, carers and local council support workers are at this-morning’s launch of the Tower Hamlets Parent & Carer Council being staged at Bethnal Green’s Rich Mix arts centre.

Mayor Lutfur Rahman said: “The new parents’ council will ensure families have access to services that make a real difference to people’s lives.”

It is based on local parent forums set up by many East End schools which involved 10,000 parents last year.

Today’s launch follows a Town Hall commitment to let mums and dads contribute more to the decision-making process on family issues, especially education.

Some local school forums have already helped parents take up training and education courses to improve knowledge and skills and have encouraged families to volunteer to ‘make a difference’ in the community.