Parent and teacher Association PTA

Mrs_J_S

Hi (again)
Another school related question.
Our school does not have PTA as our head deems it unnecessary.
This is despite the fact that numerous parents are in place ready to make it happen.
Does anyone who if it is the headteachers decision?
It is my opinion that she wasn't to avoid parental input and contact at all costs, even at the detriment to the children.
Thanks in advance
Jen

jackomdj

Does the head and her team arrange things like discos, fetes etc ?

We have an active PTA and raise quite a lot each year which all goes back to the school.

I suppose you could escalate it to the governors, but I do think you need the head behind you as you end up having a lot of contact within the school (eg I am often there collecting bits re tombola, hampers etc, then arranging the Cisco which requires teacher imput.

Mrs_J_S

I have been there since september and we have had one disco nothing else.
The disco cost £3.50 per child, it was straight after school 3.30 til 5pm and they didn't even get a DJ just a stereo and some lights.
The school have no timetable of events and only arrange something when they need quick cash.
She has made it clear she doesn't want one but I am hopeful that the decision doesn't end with her as she doesn't have the best interests of this kids and the school at heart.

GobbledyGook

How bizarre. Most heads are keen for PTAs are they are a good source of cash that they can access when they have no hope of getting cash from anywhere else.

Given your other thread have the parents from your school expressed their concern higher up? Especially if there's been an unsatisfactory inspection.

Mrs_J_S

Like I say I am new to the school, from what I can gather and form of feedback or concern raised to the head is just met with Excuses and blame and from what I can see most people are afraid to pursue their issues for fear of reprisals through their kids.
I am not prepared to let my issues lie and I want to play an active part in the school which is proving difficult.
I have expressed my concerns with the board of governs too which was 3 weeks ago now and despite 2 letters and 1 e mail I am yet to hear from them. I think they are in cahoots with the head and not playing their role correctly which is why nobody has bothered to contact me.
The heads response to requests for info re the sponsor and lack of discussion on my other issues has made me suspicious. Like you say what Head doesn't want a PTA, it doesn't make any sense.
I am trying to establish some facts about roles and responsibilities of governors and heads etc so I can escalate my concerns and I was hoping the sponsor might me a route to go down, as the school is an academy I know the Local authority is a no no.
My only other option I think is ofsted or Secretary of State for Education in London. But this seems extreme at this stage, I just need an impartial mediator.

Tigsteroonie

I'd say that you need to either speak to a Governor directly (telephone) or give them longer to reply - my experience is that they really aren't terribly good at written correspondence!! If you want to really become involved, you could always try to become a Governor yourself ...

I don't know much about how PTA work but I was shocked to discover that my son's school doesn't have one. They have a "Parent & Carer Group" that is completely unregistered anywhere, who seem to raise money but don't have to be scrutinised or keep any kind of legal record, run by one of the parent governors. If the school don't find an excuse to bump my son off their books later this year (it's an SEN school and places are limited) then I'm going to try to get a formal PTA initiated.

GobbledyGook

Once you get details of the sponsor I'd write to the head and copy in the sponsor and the board of governors stating that we (whoever parents) would like to begin a PTA after seeing the positive impact their fundraising etc has on X, Y and Z schools (ring round some good schools in your area or check their website for ideas of what good the PTA have done) so that you as parents can play your part alongside them in benefiting the children of the school. Have a look at the PTA website (i think it's just .co.uk but i'm not sure offhand) and see if there is any set up required.

The Head will have to justify any turning down of the offer.

Also if the Head really objects look into a "friends of X school" association. They can do almost the same as a PTA, but without the school involvement. My daughters' school has a friends of as the old head is heavily involved still, but isn't employed by the school nor has children, but she's fantastic.

Mrs_J_S

Glad to hear its not just my school,
Its bizarre that the only way you can contact the board of governors at our school is through the school office. I am very very dubious about the relationship between the two. I need intervention as I have heard that many before me have tried and failed. Good luck to you, hope it works out for you.

GobbledyGook

Tigsteroonie wrote: »

I'd say that you need to either speak to a Governor directly (telephone) or give them longer to reply - my experience is that they really aren't terribly good at written correspondence!! If you want to really become involved, you could always try to become a Governor yourself ...

I don't know much about how PTA work but I was shocked to discover that my son's school doesn't have one. They have a "Parent & Carer Group" that is completely unregistered anywhere, who seem to raise money but don't have to be scrutinised or keep any kind of legal record, run by one of the parent governors. If the school don't find an excuse to bump my son off their books later this year (it's an SEN school and places are limited) then I'm going to try to get a formal PTA initiated.

Even if they are not registered there should still be an open and transparent record.

We have a 'Friends of...' rather than a PTA and the Head teacher only lets them be active within the school because they have an audited set of accounts and are very open in the newsletter about how much was raised and what was spent where.

The problem with a PTA is that if the head/school/teachers (or if the head has ideas for 'important things' that parents really don't agree with) don't want to be involved then it can be a pain. A good parent & carers group doesn't have to be an issue.

Mrs_J_S

GobbledyGook what is the difference between a friends of and a traditional PTA. This sounds interesting as if we can do something without consent it is definitely worth exploring for the good of this kids. I am drafting a freedom of Info letter re the sponsor as we speak.

GobbledyGook

A friends of isn't limited to Parents/Carers and teachers currently active in the school.

So on ours as well as the usual folks there is the ex head teacher (very active, she's retired and I'd say she's the most active members), there is a local councillor and also a local businessman who has very strong links with the school.

It can be a good tool when you've not got enough current parents who want to have a role and also to keep good people around. Our Chair's daughter is going to secondary school next year, but the fact we're a friends of means she could still be chair if she wanted (and gets voted back on!).


Also on the governor thing - the contact being through the office could be to protect them from parents who forget that governors/pta members etc have their own lives. When I was head of the friends of I got a call at 11pm from a parent who'd just thought of something.

That said our Chair governor's contact details are in the school handbook.