School reports available online from 2012

By Rich Bowden, M&C Staff Writer Jan 9, 2008, 8:58 GMT

Parents will be able to access online daily school reports by 2012 to follow their child\'s progress in a new government initiative to be announced today. EPA/MOHAMED MESSARA

(M&C) - Parents will be able to access online daily school reports by 2012 to follow their child's progress in a new government initiative to be announced today.

The move could end parent/teacher nights, replacing it with a more real-time reporting system. Schools are also being encouraged to use SMS and video-conferencing to communicate with parents.

Jim Knight, the Schools Minister, will address the British Education and Training Technology (BETT) education technology event today and say that all schools should have the reporting system in place in four years reported the Times.

“All parents will get regular electronic reports on their children’s progress in future,” he will say.

“Real-time reporting means parents will be able to access updated information on children’s achievement, progress, attendance, behaviour and special needs, whenever they want using secure online systems. Other systems could include text alert systems or video conferencing.”

Mr Knight said the data used will be selective so as not to swamp the schools with extra work.

However the National Union of Teachers was suspicious of the minister's claims saying, “Until a proper, independently evaluated pilot happens, Mr Knight cannot claim that there will be no increase in workload,” it said.