To question school spending £20000 on event space in school car park…

[OrangeCrushing]

It’s an infants school, just set back from busy main road.

No gates.
Random cars regularly use car park to do 3 point turn.
Car park always full and then dubious parking.

Shed to one side (close to car park entrance) has been turned into an event space.

It’s not huge, maybe 10/15 children. But no outside space, and if door is open you wouldn’t want a child going outside into car park/near the main road without close supervision by an adult.

Think idea is to hire it out to generate more money for school.

I’ve been told that school can’t afford reading books/library books changed. So children get the same reading book 6 times or for two weeks in a row. Library is rarely used.
Money raised for event space has been raised by PTA, who are amazing and very well meaning.
However, I honestly don’t think we are going to see lots of new reading books, someone helping with library as a result.

It feels like the priorities are wrong?
I would have focused on securing the car park with gates first, ensuring reading resources are adequate - and then gradually putting additional funding towards the event space…

How big is the school? It’s hard to judge the number of non-teaching staff without that information.

Yes, it would have taken a couple of years at least for the school/ PTA/ governors to agree what they want to use the £22k for, get the building designed, have the planning application approved, appoint a contractor (following whatever procurement process applies), and get it built. This must have been communicated to parents. The OP mentioned that there were objections to the planning application so some people were aware at least!

Not to mention the process of campaigning for donations - £22k is quite a sum to achieve!

Yes, they can be.
I have an advisory role in education including safeguarding and governance. We always advise that the H&S governor and Safeguarding Governor work together as the remit is so closely linked. On many boards the two roles are carried out by one governor.

The PTA is separate to school and the finances are outside the schools control.
They should be audited separately and decisions made based on their constitution. This may exclude the usual run of the mill resources like books, it may say something about providing additionality or enrichment. I can not say as they all vary.

The car park may fall under safeguarding the school, have been identified as a risk, be on the risk register, or have other risks you are not aware of.

The sensor for a barrier costs @ £5k having been upgraded across schools following barriers coming down on cars and pupils so I know the provision and upkeep is stupidly expensive.

First thing is to ask for a copy of the PTA constitution but if the correct process has followed there is nothing you can do.

Checking back, I have tagged the OP as she is the one who requires the advice about her particular situation. The information tracks through the information shared with her and follows through from my last piece of advice given directly to her, as well as responding directly to her questions/response.

Where it is other posters, I have quoted them.

Fair enough, but perhaps your LA (or whoever you work for) work differently to mine. In my school both roles are huge and it would be very difficult for one governor to do both.
https://schoolgovernors.thekeysupport.com/school-staff/health-safety/governors-role-monitoring-risk-assessments/

@Rivertrudge depends on how many governors you can get and who are willing to take on lead roles

Possibly. We have schools ranging from 15 pupils up to 1800.

We also work to make sure that strategic planning is based on the needs of the school. Analysis of records, logs, visit notes, minutes etc etc might show a rising trend in accidents with actions required to address this, or it maybe a school circumstance or locality means it has high H&S risks.
In those cases, one governor would conduct just that one role.

In another school, with very low assessed risks, it is more prudent, for governor volunteer time, to double up the role.

My post was to the OP though.