Reports for parents

Headteachers' responsibilities

Headteachers are responsible for ensuring that they send a written report to parents on their child's achievements at least once during the school year. The Education (Pupil Information) (England) Regulations and Amendments prescribe the minimum content of pupils' reports. Schools may issue more than one report, provided that the minimum information is sent to parents by the end of the summer term.

Where information, such as the results of National Curriculum assessments, is not available before the end of the summer term, headteachers must ensure that it is sent to parents as soon as practicable, and in any case no later than 30 September.

For all pupils

• Brief comments of a pupil's progress in each subject and activity studied as part of the school curriculum. These should highlight strengths and development needs.
• The pupil's general progress.
• Arrangements for parents to discuss the report with a teacher at the school.
• A summary of the pupil's attendance record during the period to which the information in the report relates.

Additional information required for pupils during and after Key Stage 4

• The subjects in which the pupil was entered for any GCSE and the grade achieved.
• Any other qualification or unit towards a qualification and the grade achieved (where available).
• Comparative information about the attainments of pupils of the same age in the school and nationally must be available at the school for parents to look at on request.

Powers of headteachers

Headteachers have discretion to:

• arrange for the report to be translated;
• include in the report additional information about the pupil's progress, beyond the minimum required;
• decide when to issue the report to parents, as long as the minimum required information is sent to parents by the end of the summer term;
• decide to issue more than one report, as long as the minimum required information is sent to parents by the end of the summer term.

Summary of information that must be reported to parents

* Comparative information about the attainments of pupils of the same age in the school and nationally is contained in the school performance tables for the area, the school prospectus and the governors' annual report, and must be available at the school for parents to look at on request.