WHAT IS THE ROLE OF A PTA?
PTA activity will vary from school to school. Almost all PTAs are involved in fundraising and most will organise social events for parents and children. Many provide helpers for outings and special events and a large number run clubs for sport, music or drama. Some PTAs will organise meetings to inform parents about education issues, too, particularly when changes are taking place.
Recent figures show that PTAs raise over £73 million a year, providing funds to improve the school experience for millions of children in both the primary and secondary sector - from buying skipping ropes for playtime to equipping an ICT suite.
This achievement makes a real difference to schools and their pupils, providing extra resources and, in some cases, making it possible for activities such as school trips to happen.
A successful PTA will bring together parents and teachers who are interested in supporting the school. Meetings are usually very informal with event planning and organising the main focus. PTAs tend to meet a couple of times each term with an extra meeting just before an event. Meetings may be held at school but some PTAs get together at a local pub to make it more of a social gathering
The importance of involving parents:
Research has shown that parental involvement has a very significant impact on a child's achievement and attainment at school.
A successful PTA provides parents and teachers with the opportunity to exchange views, work together and to develop mutual trust and confidence. The NCPTA supports this success with a wide range of information and practical guidance.
In a world where everyone's time is precious, getting people to join a PTA can be a daunting task. But all parents and teachers can get involved, even if they only have a small amount of time available.
The lifecycle of a PTA committee will vary. Some members may stay involved for ten years or more - particularly if they have subsequent children attending the school. Others may stay for a few years and then move on.
1. To fundraise to enhance the school environment, resources, and experiences by supplementing the school’s budget.
2. To create a memorable programme of run and varied fundraising events throughout the year for the community.
3. To collaborate with school to identify educational and wellbeing needs for all children.
4. To nurture a community spirit at RHPS.
The Chair provides leadership for the committee, sets the agenda for meetings and manages meetings in line with the agenda.
The Chair should ensure that issues are properly debated and an agreement is reached. Some committee members will be better at expressing themselves than others; it is important that the chair welcomes contributions from all members of the committee so that everyone feels involved.
The Chair will ensure that all new members feel welcome and their contributions valued. The Chair will introduce them to the other members and encourage them to play an active part in the discussions at committee meetings.
To ensure the smooth running of meetings the Chair must remain impartial and make sure that all parties have a voice and the opportunity to participate in decision-making.
The Chair will work closely with the Treasurer and Secretary to ensure that the PTA is run effectively. As an Officer of the committee, the Chair will be one of designated signatories and will sign cheques on behalf of the PTA along with other designated signatories.
Job function:
To ensure that the business of the PTA is conducted in accordance with the wishes of the representatives of the PTA, to uphold the constitution of the PTA, and prepare and submit statutory reports to Regulatory Bodies.
Main duties:
- Provide leadership
- Sign the approved minutes of the last meeting
- Set the agenda for meetings
- Get to know members of the committee
- Run meetings in an efficient and timely manner ensuring that everyone is able to contribute
- Agree a date for the next meeting
- Welcome and involve new members
- Write the annual report in cooperation with the Secretary
- Sign cheques for the PTA with one other committee member
The support provided by the Vice-Chair is invaluable. Deputising for the Chairperson when necessary, the Vice-Chair helps to ensure that the Committee and all of the events continue to run smoothly. As with the Chair, leadership, enthusiasm and energy are necessary qualities for this post.
Job Function
To support the chair in all aspects of their role, to ensure that the business of the PTA is conducted in accordance with the wishes of the representatives of the PTA and to uphold the constitution of the PTA.
Main duties
- To chair meeting in the absence of the Chair
- To draw up an annual PTA programme in consultation with the Chair.
- To prepare meeting agendas by consulting with the PTA Chair.
- To welcome and involve other parents into the PTA.
- To lead parent and wider school community engagement in PTA (class representatives, use of local contacts and skills).
- To prepare with the Chair the PTA annual report for the Annual General Meeting
The Secretary ensures that the PTA runs smoothly and provides a link between Committee Members and the PTA, and between the PTA and the School. This requires good organisational and communication skills and being able to stick to deadlines.
Job function:
The Secretary is a key committee member as they are responsible for ensuring effective communication links between committee members and between the PTA and the school.
The Secretary deals with all the correspondence that the PTA receives and helps the Chair ensure that committee meetings run smoothly. Building up a good relationship with the school Secretary will help make sure that correspondence, sent to the school, is passed onto the PTA promptly.
As well as dealing with correspondence, following a committee meeting, the Secretary will need to make bookings and other arrangements for events. Confirm arrangements made by telephone in writing (by letter or e-mail). The Secretary will make arrangements for the Annual General Meeting (AGM) and help the Chair prepare the annual report. The Secretary may also be involved in co-signing cheques on behalf of the PTA.
Main duties:
- Deal with correspondence
- Arrange meetings
- Prepare and distribute agendas
- Take the minutes of meetings, type them up and distribute them
- Ensure that enough committee members are present to make the meeting quorate
- Sign cheques as required
- Write the annual report with the Chair
- Preparation and distribution of newsletters and other communications to parents
- Preparation of publicity flyers, posters, tickets, etc. for events
A key role for all committee members is to manage and control the funds the PTA raises. Although all the committee members have equal responsibility for the control and management of PTA funds the Treasurer plays an important part in helping the committee carry out these duties properly.
Job function:
To maintain up-to-date records of all PTA financial transactions
Main duties:
- Day-to-day management of accounts, including issuing bills and receipts on behalf of the PTA and making payments.
- To prepare and update financial ledgers on a regular basis.
- To complete banking transactions on a regular basis.
- To organise floats for fundraising events, collect and reconcile monies raised at these events and report totals raised to the appropriate stakeholders. Money raised at school events will be locked in the school safe after the event.
- To prepare and report financial statements at PTA Meetings.
- To prepare a concise Financial Report for the Annual General Meeting.
- Charity registration and Gift Aid
Information to follow soon...
Information to follow soon...
PTA Meeting Minutes
Parent Teacher Association Constitution
| Name | |
|---|---|
| Robin Hood Primary School Parent Teacher Association Constitution.pdf | Download |
