Primary Thinking
Primary education lays foundations for future learning and success at secondary school and through life. Getting it right is essential and everyone has a part to play.
Achievement in education has a huge impact on a child’s life chances: good education is the groundwork for the success of any child, young person and their career. It also underpins our economic fortunes by shaping the knowledge, skills and aspiration of the next generation.
For all our children and schools to flourish they need more support. Teaching, developing and inspiring each and every child is a tough job – and it’s not just down to teachers.
All of us – schools, businesses, government, parents – have a part to play in improving standards of education across the country, and it starts at primary school.
For many businesses, engaging with local primary schools is less familiar than working with secondary schools or colleges. However, it’s just as valuable for the pupils, as well as rewarding for both the school and business.
What can be done will differ according to the needs of those involved. This leaflet gives examples of what’s working and the benefits it brings. The common theme is collaboration and support with the aim of giving every child the best start in life.
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The new education landscape, and move towards academisation, creates new opportunities for schools, alongside some challenges for heads and leaders who need to adapt to realise potential benefits. |
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Where schools collaborate it can open up broader experiences for pupils, development opportunities for staff as well as savings. Collaboration can also help address challenges such as control over pay or reduced Local Authority support. The practicalities vary depending on the schools: from discussing best practice or sharing staff or facilities, to more formal collaboration in a Multi- Academy Trust (MAT) or federation. Expertise from business can help in establishing partnerships and on an ongoing basis. Whatever form it takes, the best schools should be encouraged to support others, as part of making a ‘school-led system’ the reality. |
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How schools can collaborate Multi-academy trust – group of academies with a single oversight body. |
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87% of headteachers view school partnerships as critical to improving outcomes
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Next steps |
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Primary school shapes aspirations and attitudes. While businesses can play a valuable role, engagement at primary level is still too uncommon. |
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Whether boosting expertise on a governing board, inspiring children about their futures or providing leadership support for teachers, there are many Engaging with the education system makes business sense – employees benefit from the opportunities to develop and build links with the community. Taking time to understand a school, and its needs, will mean business support is offered where it adds most value.
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Primary Futures Bringing businesses into UK primary schools, from Capgemini to Sainsbury’s and many others – helping children make the connection between their learning and their futures. |
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Fewer than a quarter of employers have links with primary schools compared to 55% with links to secondary or colleges
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Next steps |
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Children learn best where parents are actively involved in their education, so it’s important parents make it past the school gates. |
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Where pupils’ parents aren’t actively involved, schools will need creative ways to bring in parents, meet on informal terms and get them closer to Schools can act as a hub by recognising the needs of the wider community then deciding how best to engage parents. It could be as simple as a ‘bring
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Greggs’ Breakfast Clubs
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Good parental engagement can be equivalent to adding an extra 2-3 years to a pupil’s education.
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Next step |
You can download PDF version of Primary Thinking here and to get more information please contact Grace Breen
Primary Thinking in action
Highlees Primary School’s ‘Family and Community Hub’ offers activities for pupils and parents which support and enhance both home and school life.
At Sky Academy’s interactive learning experience, Sky Academy Skills Studios, children aged 8 to eighteen get the chance to use the latest technology to make a TV report linked to the topics and subjects they are studying at school.