Now father education is way ahead

Campaigners today called for a fresh drive to get fathers involved in their children's education.

Children do better at school when both parents take an interest in their learning, according to a government-backed poll.

But the National Family and Parenting Institute research stressed that many fathers still need much more encouragement to take an interest in education.

Perceptions that education is the mother's role while the father's job is to be the family breadwinner put men off, as did some fathers' own schoolday experiences.

The poll pointed to schools finding new ways of getting fathers involved, such as Kensal Rise Primary School which held a Bring a Dad to School Day attended by 100 fathers. And Steve Davies, head of Coopers Lane Primary School in Lewisham, holds monthly meetings for the fathers of his pupils in a local pub.

Education secretary Ruth Kelly vowed to take the report's findings on board. She said: "It's vital schools engage fathers and build positive attitudes towards their involvement among teaching staff."