Katanning Senior High School to take part in nationwide study into parent engagement

Katanning Senior High School has opened its doors to a University of WA study group in a bid to improve parent engagement at the school.

Representatives from KSHS met researchers from UWA at the start of Term 4 to begin a case study of parent engagement at the school.

The UWA and University of Melbourne research project — parents, communities and public schools — is an investigation set to run during the term on how parents engage with school decision making.

KSHS is one of six schools in WA and Victoria in the study to examine the views, experiences and processes around parental engagement in decision making.

Principal Denise Robinson said feedback from the study would help the school meet the needs of the community.

“We were really keen to engage in this study, because the more we can find out about what our community needs and how we can engage with our parents and carers, then the better outcomes we can get for our students,” she said.

“The information from the research can be shared and can inform public schools across Australia — that is the bigger picture.”

The project will collect information in three stages — surveys from parents, educators and school leadership; interviews with educators; and school leadership and focus groups with parents.

Ms Robinson said all information was anonymous and participation in the study was voluntary, but she encouraged parents to give feedback.

“Parents and carers will be contacted with a variety of options to engage with the research and we would encourage all parents and carers to engage in the manner that works for them,” she said.