I’m Mike. I’m a Buckstone parent. After more than 50 years working in cutting-edge digital technology as a computer and data scientist, and doing my time as a company executive and chair of societies, I’ve led a fair share of change. It was my child’s progress in Primary 5 that first caught my attention. Like any diligent parent, I kept an eye on things, and so did my child’s private tutor (who happens to teach P6).
Alarm bells started ringing when we saw our child’s 2023/4 Primary 6 end-of-year report. It painted a picture of a completely different child than the one we knew at home (she’s studying right now, her own choice). But here’s the kicker: all of last year’s P6 kids are the first generation of humans to spend their lives surrounded by intelligences that, at the very least, match our own. They’re entering a potentially scary world of digital assistants, intelligent machines and bio-tech. It’s an exciting time, also a bit nerve-wracking and dangerous for those unprepared. We want our child prepared, educated, not the result of a tick-box exercise when teachers at BPS are still not using modern tools for teaching.
Naturally, with a background like mine, I couldn’t help but dig into why parents didn’t seem to have a real voice with the school. When I reached out to the Parent Council to ask some fairly basic questions about education, their response was… less than inspiring. We were essentially told to “take it up with the school.” Well, thanks for the warm, fuzzy feeling of inclusion!
After a few conversations and a lot of research, I decided enough was enough. And so, the Buckstone Parents website was born. The goal is simple: cut through the noise, increase transparency, and deliver genuinely helpful content for parents like us. Think of it as a mix of useful articles, like how to use AI tools to reinforce the Scottish curriculum at home, and ideas to engage our kids in a future that’s already so full of technology. Online safety too: you know you’re monitored in almost everything you do online, right? And yes, this might mean the occasional gentle (but firm) whinge to hold the school, the Parent Council, or any other responsible body accountable. Accountability, after all, is not a dirty word. Transparency cleans!
So far, the website is still finding its voice. A dozen or two articles should do it. And amendments to them. But the idea is clear: deliver helpful, positive information to fellow parents, promote inclusion, and enhance education. And we’re open to collaboration. For example, a parent set up an ASN group at our school, just like the one with her contact on the other side of town: so now we can discuss matters that were previous hidden. A bit of cooperation goes a long way!
If you’re a parent at another school and you’ve got something to share, we’d love to have you on board too. After all, we’re all in this together, and there’s strength in numbers (and sanity in shared experiences).
So, if you’ve got something to say—whether it’s a tip, a tech insight, or a relatable rant—send it in. This isn’t just about Buckstone; it’s about creating a place where parents can feel informed, and maybe even a little less lost in this brave new world.