Primary schools see better parents evening turnout than secondary schools

A recent TeacherTapp survey found that only half of parents attended parents evening appointments (either online or in person) at secondary schools, whereas a much higher proportion (77 per cent) attend for primary schools.

In secondary schools, 46 per cent of teachers answered that between 75-99 per cent of parents came to parents evening appointments, while in primary schools 70 per cent of teachers said that 75-99 per cent of parents attended.

This question was answered by 2,365 teachers on the 8th May 2025.

TeacherTapp, using a survey that categorised schools, found that schools with the highest number of free school meal (FSM) pupils are less likely to have parents attending, while more affluent schools had better turnout. This is the same across both secondary and primary schools, but turnout is still higher in primary schools. 

For the most affluent state primary schools, 93 per cent of teachers reported a 75 per cent and above turnout, whereas this figure was at 83 per cent in the most affluent state secondary schools.

In the most deprived secondary schools, none of the school leaders reported that all parents attended.

When year group was factored in, turnout to parents evenings in secondary schools did not change much between KS3 and KS4. KS5 attedance is higher, but this group of pupils have chosen to attend further education, so the higher numbers of 59 per cent reporting 75-100 per cent of parents attended could be explained by the different demographics of students who stay on to study in schools or colleges.