How to set up a Friends Group/PTA at a primary school.

[MorocconOil]

We are trying to set up from scratch a group at my dcs school. The staff don't seem very keen but we have several interested parents. Has anyone any experience of doing this and if so please can you give me some advice?

sorry don't know what you mean by a Friends' Group. Doesn't your school have a PTA already?

Our PTA is called 'The Friends of (name of school).

I am surprised that your school is not keen , as the PTA /Friends can end up raising alot of money for a school.

Ours is registered as a Charity , as I suppose most are.

I dont how to set one up but am very surprised that the school is not keen.

Why aren't they interested ?

The staff should not really have to be involved , except the Head really to liase with and run things by.

Have a look at this website

PTAs

mummydear, thanks for that website. Looks very informative.

A parent from a neighbouring school told me that a friends of ...group doesn't need as much teacher input. Historically the staff at our school are used to having little parental participation/interference and quite like it that way. However it looks as though you can get more done with staff on board. Maybe they are just concerned about extra work.

i was amzed to find that my local primary school didnt have a friends of.. when i asked them if they would have a problem with me setting one up..i was told in no uncertain terms that they were not interested!!! and were perfectly happy operating with out one.

Mimizan - the staff will be interested if you set it up and then set up a staff wishlist in the staffroom. Ours does this. It's like a folder pinned to the noticeboard with printed slips in it, where the staff can write things they would like for their classes. Eg. New games for Reception class, material for Xmas play costumes, etc. The Friends group then raise money and buy the items requested. It works really well at our school. Just an idea.

Do you know why that was spacecadet? Have you given into them? We can only begin to discuss a PTA now as the head has just retired after 20 years. He was very much into running the school and everyone conforming. He has to be thanked for doing a fantastic job at raising academic standards, but there are other important elements to education for example being part of the local community.

mimi-no i dont know, i moved here last may and asked about the pta when they held a summer fete in the july,the headmistress gave me the impression that she wouldnt appreciate the intervention so i didnt pursue it..which is a shame because i thought setting up a pta would be a good way of making friends.

We are in Berlin but in dd class we have something abit like that. The school isn't very co-operative or comunicative so one mum sent letters out to all the parents arranging a first meeting in a retaurant evenings and they planned things like the christmas and party the up coming german carneval party and just got to know each other. I thought it was quite a good idea as the whole idea came from one mother.