In May 1988 the association of parents at Westminster City School, a London comprehensive school, appointed a parent organiser to develop the involvement of parents in the work of the school. The events that led to the appointment and the progress of the work of the Parent Organiser are the subject of this report.

The report begins by setting the scene, outlining recent ideas about parental involvement in schools. It continues with the history of the Parent Organiser Project up to the time of her appointment. A range of views on the Project are then considered, and the work of the Parent Organiser over the next 20 months is described. The next section considers the parent volunteers and the value put on their work by themselves, by teachers and by students. Students’ perspectives on the Project are then considered, followed by a section on teachers’ perspectives. The report ends with a discussion of the findings and of issues arising from them followed by suggestions on how to set up and run a similar project.

Berry Mayall is Professor of Childhood Studies in the Social Science Research Unit at the Institute of Education. She has written extensively on the sociology of childhood, social relations across the generations and social policy concerning children and childhood.