School Governor or PTA - which would you choose?

[TheSweetLittleBunny]

DS starting Reception this year. It is a very good school, great Ofsted etc. I have no worries about the way school is run at all.

I have been a school governor before. I did not enjoy it, because most of the governors were new and inexperienced (myself included), and the head basically made decisions, and simply used the meetings to inform us of what she had already decided to do!

Was thinking of trying the Parent Teacher Association at DS's school instead - which as I see it is more involved with practical and social things in the school.

So which is best governor or PTA?

The PTA is more fun.

I speak from experience since I was aschool govenor and now an depute head of the PTA. Both enable you to find out about the school but the PTA is more social

IMO get involved with the PTA, get to know the school and its politics, move on to governor if it feels right.

And it is perfectly possible to do both at the same time

I'd advise taking your time and seeing how the land lies first.

Never been a governor, but am chair of PTA. I think it depends on what your strengths/skills are as to what your best position is. Also how committed do you want to be, and do you want to dip in and out during the year are be involved on a week to week basis?

The other option is her help out regularly in the class (with reading/baking etc)

I wouldn't jump into either straight off.

I'm vice chair of PTA and while it's rewarding adn fun working with teh committee, you get nothing but earache and complaining from the parents who do feck all. It's hard to stay calm in the playground (for me anyway ). It's a totally thankless task but if you're OK with that, go for it.

I wish I'd stayed on the periphery of PTA - help out when I want but with no obligations. Being on the committee is time consuming and actually quite a lot of responsibility - I didn't realise quite how much until it was too late.

I'm only doing one more year and I'm done!

i am in the periphery of the pta and its much easier/better and rewarding. But it depends on your circumstances

I have chosen to work part time so I can be quite involved with the school. I think I am more of getting people together, social type of person. I did find my stint as a governor a bit dull at times. Though this may have been owing to the circumstances, rather than the role itself.

I do both but they are definitely different.

PTA usually a lot more informal and relaxed tho more hard work ime but maybe I just volunteer too much! No, really, any PTA would be glad to have someone who will just run a stall a couple of times a year tbh.

I would probably be a peripheral helper of the PTA to start off with.

I have been on the committee on DS's nursery - the meetings used to go on until nearly 10pm sometimes. And rather like the school where I was a governor, the decisions had more or less already been made by nursery management, prior to the meeting anyway.

I have been a governor for three years now and love it, but it is a lot of hard work getting to the stage where you are knowledgable enough to have useful input into the governing body. I sit on lots of working parties, go to training courses etc and it is quite time consuming. Equally, there are governors who barely attend full GB meetings and I can't see what they get out of it at all.
PTA I am involved with as well, and that is so different, and as you say, more practical and social.
I would look at how much time you have available - I love being a governor, but if I had less time, would stick with the PTA where you can do as much or as little as you want.

I do both. I'm happy as a governor but as you did I don't feel used enough as the school runs along nicely led by the headteacher. This is my second year as secretary of the PTA and I'm struggling to find the time and am finding it a bit of a burden and hope to hand it off next year (in much better shape than how I got it) and just become a regular PTA member who helps out.

I think you're right there. I'm going to join the PTA in the New Year, after DS is nicely settled in. I have already done some governor training and did not want it to go to waste, but as I said, my last experience of being a governor was not a brilliant one.

I do both. Have made good friends through the PTA, but like Gobbdigook get incredibly frustrated at times trying to get help. TBH I prefer being a Governor - more rewarding and challenging.

I do neither...but I do fundraise for the school directly, liasing with the head. She tells me her fundraising needs, and I go off and fundraise grants as oppose to raffles, fairs etc. I feel like I make a difference, but don't need to make regular meetings or do the social stuff with the PTA etc.

That's interesting uptomyeyes - my DH is a development manager for a charity and has wondered about doing grant fundraising for DS's school.

Similar to me - I'm the Director of a charity....its a bit of a busmans holiday. Whilst I am on the subject and sorry to hijack....but would you ladies be so kind as to vote for my DS1's Special needs ice hockey team - I nominated them for National Lottery Award and from 720 applications they have made the top 70. It now goes to a public vote. They are called The Werewolves of London Special Ice Hockey Team and are in the Best of Health Projects catagory. (pssstt my DS is the one featured in the narrative about the Werewolves_). Click on the link below, click on Best health projects and then click on Werewolves of London.

www.lotterygoodcauses.org.uk/awards

Thanks ladies

Shameless bumpety bump to generate votes. The Threadkiller thread ladies are voting Werewolf!

repost this link and loads will vote

I just did!!

new thread