"Parental Responsibility" (PR) is defined by the Children Act 1989 and means assuming all the rights, duties, powers, responsibilities and authority which, by law, a parent of a child has in relation to the child and his property.
The UNCRC (United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child. Article 7) enshrines the right of children not only to a name, but to know both his or her parents.
Over the last few years the UK government has brought in a number of changes relating to PR. Fathers are no longer required to be married in order to acquire PR. As long as they have put their name on the child’s Birth Certificate they will automatically have been granted PR even if they are not co-habiting with the child’s mother. Unfortunately these changes were not retrospective and many fathers still find themselves having to approach the Court in order to apply for it.
The Welsh Assembly Government has issued Guidance for Schools on "parents and parental responsibility".