It is well documented that parental involvement in their children's education is a key factor in improving outcomes for young people, and yet many schools struggle to engage parents. This article discusses the rationale for working in partnership with parents and makes the case for building parental participation in school life so that parents are able to contribute to the dialogue about the purposes of education and can be involved in school decision making. Examples from both primary and secondary sectors show how developing such a partnership can transform home-school relationships and create a shared sense of purpose.