It’s important that schools and local authorities are aware that parents may be recognised differently under education law, than under family law. Section 576 of the Education Act 1996 states that a ‘parent’, in relation to a child or young person, includes any person who is not a parent (from which can be inferred ‘biological parent’) but who has parental responsibility, or who has care of the child.

For the purposes of education law, the department considers a ‘parent’ to include:

• all biological parents, whether they are married or not.
• any person who, although not a biological parent, has parental responsibility for a child or

         young person - this could be an adoptive parent, a step-parent, guardian or other relative.

• any person who, although not a biological parent and does not have parental responsibility, has care of a child or young person