The School lays considerable stress on having positive relationships with all parents. It believes that great benefit derives from parents and teachers working in partnership. Thus, the School encourages as much parental involvement as possible.

Progress reports are issued at regular intervals and these can be amplified, supplemented or updated on request. Parents are encouraged to contact the appropriate Senior House Tutor if they have any cause for concern. The School welcomes constructive comment about its work.

Each year, parents are offered an opportunity to consult with subject teachers at meetings arranged for this purpose. Sometimes, special meetings are organised, either to provide additional information or to outline the work of a particular department.

Many parents involve themselves actively in the School. Some have offered their services voluntarily in helping with a variety of tasks during the school day, assisting within departments or accompanying educational visits, for example. Others provide expertise and advice with regards to careers counseling or give access to useful contacts.

Of great importance, the Hall Mead Friends' Association, of which all parents are members, does an enormous amount of work to support the School and to enhance the quality of its work. In the past three years, the H.M.F.A. has raised nearly £150,000, which has been used to purchase a range of expensive equipment to enrich the education of all pupils. Each new generation of entrants to the School benefits from the work of the H.M.F.A. and it is hoped that parents of all new pupils will wish to contribute to the high standards which the Association has established.

Each year, the school holds an open evening for interested parents prior to their children transferring to secondary education. Details of this meeting are provided to parents early in the autumn term. Hall Mead understands that the choice of a secondary school is a crucial and difficult one. Accordingly, parents are invited to spend time in the School during a normal day so that they can experience the working atmosphere of the School at first hand. Arrangements for such a visit can be made by telephoning the School Office

The Hall Mead Website (www. Hallmeadschool.com) contains information of interest to parents and will increasingly be used as a means of communication between school and home.