5 Summary

A school does not exist in isolation. It not only serves the local population living around it, but also interacts with the wider community and operates within networks and regulatory functions at state, district and sub-district levels. The school leader is responsible for building collaborative relationships and investing time to initiate and sustain those partnerships in order to have a positive impact on teaching and learning in the classroom. Just as a school does not exist in isolation, nor does a student’s learning – it permeates their out-of-school lives. Through partnerships with parents and their communities, it is possible to extend the students’ learning and make it more meaningful.

The school leader needs to build networks and relationships so that the school makes maximum use of the local resources and expertise, as well as ensuring that each student benefits from a shared responsibility for their learning.

4 Engaging with students’ parents and guardians