School and educational achievement is dependent on many complex factors and is usually seen as the key outcome measure by which school effectiveness can be judged. Originally published in 2000, this book aimed to establish whether or not educational achievement can in part be ascribed to the quality and range of home–school links. It provided a timely contribution to the continuing debate at the time on the pivotal relationship between schools and the families which form their constituencies.

Government initiatives such as the Literacy and Numeracy Strategies and Sure Start acknowledged the importance of parental involvement. This book enabled all those interested in education to evaluate the educational benefits of a home–school relationship between pupils, parents, teachers and schools.