try to be her best friend; she will definitely ask you about anything...!
While reading the starting part of the post, I was thinking about the father, daughter friendly relationship and I think every guardian should have a friendly relationship with his child, the reason is pretty simple...If the uncle has a friendly relation with his daughter, she can express what she feels good or bad in school with his father, the good things have not to worry about, but the bad things he can find out a suitable better solution what happen by a friendly relationship with his daughter.
You've mentioned the core point in this situation. Parenting is tuff job. As father one needs to be more friendly and should look the things in a different perspective at the same time.
Thank you for your valuable feedback brother.
Best wishes!