PTA - does your secondary school have one and if so, what does it do?

[Housemum]

At primarylevel, the PTA tended to organise lots of events to fund-raise. At secondary, the view is that most parents do not have time to get involved, and the kids do not want the parents really involved. What the PTA has done to date is to issue a letter once a year asking for donations, run a raffle at the Xmas production, and distribute any funds received to departments that have asked for fundraising. It also used to receive commission from a local uniform supplier, but that is now being done directly in-school so the PTA no longer receives it. The PTA is in crisis at the mo as some of the members' youngest children are due to leave this term so they will no longer be on it. Before recruiting new members (any idea how? No-one seems to want to know!) I thought I'd canvas the views of the freat Oracle that is MN to see what other schools do at secondary level.

Thanks!

[portonovo]

PTA (or Friends) at our secondary school does no fundraising. They organise a few social things, provide refreshments at school concerts etc.

The main way of fundraising is via the enrichment fund - parents are encouraged to contribute as little or as much as they want each month via direct debit.

[Lilymaid]

Ours died through lack of interest from parents. We organised a number of events that had to be cancelled through lack of support. By the time the DCs get to secondary level most parents are PTAed out and don't want to go to yet another quiz/fashion night. Our school also has a fund to which parents are encouraged to contribute via standing order but probably less than 10% bother (and school is in an affluent very well educated area)

[Housemum]

That's what concerns me - we just can't get anyone to be bothered. But it's the PTA that organises the Year 10/11 Fashion Show and the subsequent Leavers' Ball. My DD has 2 more years there so I need to stick it out until then at least to make sure the Ball happens!!

[lilolilmanchester]

We have same problem at our secondary school. Active PTA, which aims primarily to raise funds but also to try to create some sense of community. Not all events (such as quiz nights) are geared towards making tons of money, just hoping it will generate same sense of belonging amongst parents as they did at primary and perhaps support bigger fundraising events. Unfortunately, this isn't working. We raised £5k at our auction night before Easter, which is still a load of money, but a significant proportion came from selling advertising for the brochure and matching funds from bank employees. Not many parents turned up, we the organisers probably bought most of the goods, so thehe remainder wasn't worth the hours of effort we all put in. Would be interested to hear of any fundraising efforts at secondary which don't require parents to attend! Or any way in which people have overcome the apathy of secondary parents. We do have a car boot sale twice a year, and these raise £2-3k each. Would recommend. Little work for the reward, and open to the public.

[secondclasscitizen]

fuck all. it does fuck all. and when you ask to join the fuckalliness. they say " we willg et ack to you"


lying bastards.