Introduction: Why schools matter

Families talk a lot about schools because they play such a dominant role in family life, and children's development, enriching the social life of communities, particularly in low-income areas. Schools act as anchors within the community in two main ways: first, they have long-term, stable functions, funding and roles which almost all families accept; second, they attract a constant flow of local parents and children through their doors and ‘anchor’ families over most of their children's young lives within a consistent, day-by-day network of contacts and activities. This makes them invaluable to parents, providing often under-exploited potential to help. In this chapter we explore the role that schools play in family futures, and their special contribution in anchoring communities, bringing families together and responding to rapid social and ethnic change, as well as helping children from disadvantaged backgrounds to learn.

In spite of many ups and downs, schools were the most dominant and generally the most positive local institutions in family life. For this reason, we think of them as the archetypal community anchors. On average children in disadvantaged areas achieve lower standards of education, including the four areas where our 200 families live. There is a wide gap in aspirations between families living in disadvantaged areas from poorly educated backgrounds and more typical areas, partly because exposure to opportunity is more limited. But parents see schools as vital institutions which try to make good these shortcomings, serving not only as educators but as socialisers, and often as supports for families struggling with parenting responsibilities. Children's problems most often come to light in school and schools feel they must respond to the welfare needs of families, otherwise families will not cope with school.

The government over the last 10 years has put a heavy emphasis on improving local schools in disadvantaged areas, and there has been measurable progress in the most disadvantaged schools and areas.