PTAs and Parents make a difference

The good news...

In 2009, the average NCPTA member made £6,500 profit; we therefore estimate that in total NCPTA members generated around £87 million, for the benefit of pupils. Around a third of PTAs run activities which encourage parents to get involved in their children’s education, with a similar number working with the local community. Approximately 10% also report that they are supporting their school in the delivery of its healthy school status and extended services.

A successful PTA brings together parents, teachers and others from the school community who are interested in supporting the school, providing an opportunity for everyone to work together, with a common purpose. 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 NCPTA members provide volunteers for school trips and special events and a large number run breakfast clubs and after school activities. 97% of PTAs state that fundraising is their key purpose. It is often the more ambitious PTA projects that receive publicity and the outstanding successes in fundraising that receive the greater accolades. However, for every one of these plaudits there are many hundreds more low key fundraising accomplishments being achieved by PTA volunteers every year.

The following are some examples.

Friends of Warter School, York - Art Exhibition on the Wolds

The children at Warter School were given a unique opportunity to showcase their artistic talents, when the Friends organised an art exhibition to help raise money. Parents were asked to purchase a small canvass which the children then painted at home. The theme for the exhibition was “On the Wolds” so the paintings depicted life in and around their own local area. Once complete, the paintings went on display at a local art gallery, courtesy of a parent at the school. Family, friends and the local community were then given the opportunity to purchase their favourite piece. As an additional fundraiser, the Friends took photographs of the paintings which were then used to make greeting cards. The exhibition raised £1,300, the equivalent of £8 per child; funds have been used to pay for school trips, purchase new playground equipment and cover the cost of a visiting theatre group.

Melbourne Junior School PTA, Melbourne, Derby -Sponsor a Bit of Bunting

Colourful lines of bunting, fluttering in the wind are a traditional and stalwart part of any festival, parade or fun-day, so Melbourne Junior School PTA came up with the novel idea of making their own. However, this was not to be a simple line of bunting; the PTA wanted to involve all the pupils to create a unique and lasting memento which reflected each child’s time at the school, whilst raising valuable funds for the PTA. Pupils were given a bunting template to keep all the bunting flags the same size. For a £2 donation, their flags were then sewn together to make a line of bunting. Each flag was original and reflected the child’s own personality and creativity. The result was a line of bunting that grew week on week. The children now love to see their own highly original and imaginative flags on display; it is also a constant fundraiser as each new pupil joining the school, can add their flag. The total money raised so far is £80.00

FOR MORE AND MORE PTAs, other aspects of school life are now beginning to feature. We know that many PTAs have helped their schools involve more parents which as a result had engaged them with their children’s learning:

St Saviour’s Friends’ Association, Ealing London, W5 - Donut Mornings

Donut Mornings encourages dads, uncles, grandfathers, older brothers, family friends - in fact any male role model (and where there is no male role model mums can attend instead) to bring their children to school and enjoy a morning of donuts and playtime. The events are planned and managed by the St Saviours Friends Association, working in conjunction with the school and parent volunteers. On a Donut Morning, from 8am - 9am, dads and their children can come into the school for a breakfast of croissants, juice, coffee and other breakfast treats including donuts. There are books to read, soft play zones and various activity sheets for the children and their dads to complete. The first Donut Morning was held back in November 2008 and was so successful there are now four Donut Mornings each year, two for Foundation Stage and two for Key Stage 1 pupils, with at least 100 dads attending each event. The school is very supportive; staff feel the events are a significant enhancement to its engagement with fathers and being a father-friendly school.

Whitehall Infants School Parents’ Association, Uxbridge, Middlesex - Sponsored Read

To support the National Year of Reading, the Parents’ Association (PA) discussed the idea of a Sponsored Read with the school’s Deputy Headteacher and Literacy Co-ordinator; both were very keen to support the idea. The aim was to get children and adults reading together, obtaining sponsorship for the number of occasions that a reading activity took place, over a designated two week period, which included the half term break. The rules were kept simple; parents and their children were invited to participate in a variety of ways, including reading or listening to a story, either a few pages at a time, or the whole book; reading out loud and reading a wide variety of materials including books, comics, newspapers, leaflets and brochures. Families were encouraged to visit the local library too, to access a greater range of reading material. The PA was keen to ensure that the activity was accessible to as many families as possible and wanted to encouraged the sharing of books and reading as a life-skill. As a bonus the activity raised £775 and this was of course spent on additional books and opportunities for the pupils of Whitehall Infant School.

Getting involved

ALL PARENTS and teachers can get involved, even if they only have a small amount of time available. Parents, teachers and others involved with the school are free to decide what they want to do and the framework within which they will work. In a world where everyone’s time is precious getting enough parents to establish a PTA can be daunting but the results will undoubtedly make a huge difference to the pupils at the school.

About the NCPTA

NCPTA is a registered charity and membership organisation which currently supports over 13,400 PTAs in England, Wales and Northern Ireland. Benefits of membership include:

£10 million public liability cover, for all PTA run events

Fundraising ideas and advice

Visit the NCPTA website for more information about joining or setting up your PTA in school. You'll also find there instant access to a range of online resources such as:

A model constitution, approved by the Charity Commission for England and Wales that enables fast-track charity registration
A series of PTA Information sheets on over 50 topics
A termly magazine and e-newsletter; plus a monthly e-bulletin
Local PTA fundraising workshops
A national Advice Line, 01732 375460 open Monday to Friday, 9am-5pm
Local support through a team of regionally based NCPTA Advisers