Parental Responsibility and Schools: Q&A
We are increasingly contacted by schools who have found themselves in the middle of a dispute between parents of pupils. These issues can be particularly delicate, not only to ensure that the school continues to have a positive, collaborative relationship with the parents, but also in ensuring not to inadvertently put the pupil in a difficult position.
Published: October 21st, 2025
4 min read
Who is a parent?
The Department for Education considers that a ‘parent’ is: (i) a biological parent; (ii) any person with parental responsibility for the pupil who is not a biological parent (e.g. adoptive parent, step-parent, guardian or other relative); or any person who has care of the pupil but is not a biological parent and does not have parental responsibility (e.g. the pupil lives with them full or part time, and they look after them).
What should schools provide to parents?
Any parent can participate in their child’s education, and all parents can also receive information about the child. This is the case even where the school’s main contact is the parent with whom the child lives on school days.
All parents must be treated equally. Even if they are not a biological parent, those with parental responsibility for or care of a pupil can:
receive information, such as school reports
participate in statutory activities
be asked to give consent, for example in respect of school trips
be informed about meetings involving the child
The Education (Pupil Information) (England) Regulations 2005, required maintained schools to provide access to or copies of a pupil’s educational record to parents on request.
Academies are required to provide a parent with an annual written report of the pupil’s progress and attainment in the main subject areas pursuant to the Education (Independent School Standards) Regulations 2014.
What if there is a court order in place?
As stated above, all parents must be treated equally. However, a court order can limit a parent’s ability to make educational decisions, participate in school life or receive information about their child. For example, a prohibited steps order means that no step specified by the court, that a parent could take in meeting their parental responsibility, can be taken without the court’s consent.
Can one parent prevent another parent from receiving information about their child?
A parent cannot obstruct the school from carrying out its duties under the legislation. This includes its duties to provide information subject to the Education (Pupil Information) (England) Regulations 2005 or the Education (Independent School Standards) Regulations 2014.
Even where, for example, a father requests that the school does not provide the pupils mother with educational information about the child, the school cannot comply with this request (unless there is an applicable court order in place).
What if the child does not want their parent to receive information?
Whilst from the age of 13 a child can assume control of their personal information, and restrict access to it, until the child is 18 their parent is entitled to request access to or a copy of their educational record, even against the pupil’s wishes.
We sometimes find that pupils do not want GCSE results to be shared with their parent. However, this forms part of the pupil’s educational record and should be disclosed unless doing so could result in serious physical or mental harm to the pupil or another individual.
Complex family arrangements are increasingly common, and schools can be placed in a particularly difficult position where there is dispute between parents.
We are well versed in guiding schools through issues involving parental responsibility to ensure that the school acts in accordance with the duties placed on it.
Please do get it touch if you require further information.
For further information please contact Coral Peutrill
