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Secondary boost for black and minority ethnic parents

Parents of black and minority ethnic (BME) pupils in London will soon be able to obtain a DVD which aims to support them to be more involved in their children's education.

The 30-minute DVD is part of a parents' pack produced by the London Challenge, a Government initiative that encourages and empowers all parents to take more of an interest in their children's education.

This pack is designed to help raise the performance levels of BME pupils in secondary school, many of whom fail to obtain the national average for GCSE attainment when they leave school at 16. The DVD will be accompanied by a letter, written in several community languages, which shows parents how to get involved in their child's schooling, how to become a parent governor, and provides information about local homework clubs and the importance of parents' evenings.

Parents will be able to obtain the pack from school-parent events, libraries, supplementary schools and community centres.

For more information contact the Department for Education and Skills by telephoning 0870 000 2288 or emailing info@dfes.gsi.gov.uk.