Section 3 of the Children Act 1989 defines parental responsibility. Sections 2 and 4 say who has it:
- the mother, always
- the father, if he was married to or in a civil partnership with the mother at the birth, or is registered on the birth certificate, or has a parental responsibility agreement or court order
- a second female parent in some circumstances
- others through court orders, such as a special guardianship order, a child arrangements order, an adoption order or a care order.
More than one person can have it at once. Someone without it who is caring for a child, such as a step-parent or grandparent on a school trip, can still do what is reasonable to safeguard the child (section 3(5)).
Why it matters to schools. It affects who receives reports, who can consent and who can collect. Safeguarding information can be shared without consent where that is needed to keep a child safe (KCSIE 2026 paragraph 146), and KCSIE paragraph 236 asks staff to know the legal status and contact arrangements for looked-after children.
Common confusion: "parent" in education law is wider than "person with PR". It also covers anyone who cares for the child.