School governors v PTA!

[mrsmootoo]

Would you expect school governors to be involved in PTA events - fairs etc? Predictably there is a handful of us on the PTA that organise the summer fair and predictably hardly any parents or staff help (this is the last one I'm doing by the way!) However, I gave the governing body some raffle tickets and hardly any bought them. I would have thought that if you're a governor you'd want to be involved at least to the extent of buying a few tickets, or am I being unreasonable? What do govs/PTAs think? Thanks

When I was PTA and a Governor, the PTA used to get the governors to man the gate at events - a really good way for them to meet people and get their faces known.
But yes, they were crap at buying raffle tickets.

The HT used to get governors to help at Parents evenings as well.

When I was a governor, and involved in the PSA, the head used to make it really clear to us that things like manning the gate, handing out glasses of Pimms etc were nice, and well appreciated. However he absolutely insisted that governors only bought raffle tickets or the like, if they were really in to that sort of thing, because they worked hard enough, and incurred enough personal expense for the school already.

I hadn't thought of it that way, but now think he was absolutely right. Although I had a foot in both camps, and as a parent had a vested interest, most of the governors didn't. They did the massive amount of work they did for the school out of genuine altruism.

Our school's PTA expects governors to run their own stall at the summer fair and purchase the prizes for it, so I would say your school's governors are copping out somewhat!

At our school the parent governors are very involved in the PTA. However it surprises me that very few of the other governors are involved at all.

Maybe next year when I am will be a governor without a child at the school, I may find my enthusiasm for tombolas begins to wane.

I am a governor and definitely feel LESS obliged to help with raffle tickets etc as I feel that I already make a huge contribution to the school.
But we do see it as part of our job to help out with events in order to become more visible and approachable to parents.

Hmmm, I am a parent governor so have a foot in both camps. Several of our governors turn up to PTA events but honestly I'm not sure if I would be bothered going to our summer fair myself if my children weren't dragging me along! It is difficult enough for us to recruit governors at our school and it is quite a commitment of time for some people so if I thought I would have to turn up to a selection of events as well I might think even harder about getting involved!

I think that Governors should show their face at school events. They are usually far too anonymous, remote and unaccountable (the exception being our current Chairman who turns up for everything).
The PTA give their time for free and are usually the first to put their hand in their pocket for tickets, raffle tickets, raffle prizes, etc.

Senua - governors give their time for free too and quite a lot of time at that. The fact that they don't attend school events that everyone attends doesn't mean that they aren't giving up a lot of time attending meetings, taking part in school visits (which at our school can take up most of a day), taking part in exclusion hearings, meeting with subject leaders, attending school council meetings and talking to children/students. And they most certainly ARE accountable!

Of course there are good governors and bad governors.

dont forget training sessions, school governors also go on regular training sessions, and book childcare, travel etc at their own expense.

I'm a Governor and have to log hours spent on school matters. Attending meetings, training, interviews, as requested. For the past 12 months that is over 100 hours. I happen to buy raffle tickets too, but to think I might be dissed by the PTA for not doing so, is a bit rich.

As for not being seen. I worry I am seen a bit too much sometimes! However, a good proportion - probably a third of the hours I give are not in school time. I have had confidential meetings recently adding up to over 6 hours giving significant challenge to the HT, but it's not necessarily ever going to be seen by anyone in school - unless they happen to log me in and out of her room.

I do know some Governors do not give much time but many more do, often quietly and diligently.

Oh, and in the week coming up I have two meetings - probably 6 hours in total and a course of 4 hours (plus report to write after to the others on what I have learned). Plus travel and petrol! (I believe I can recover the petrol cost, but never do).

I agree with some other governors here. I spend between 3 and 8 hours a week on school business every week for free, surely I am doing enough??

I do buy raffle tickets but as a parent rather than a governor.

I agree with some other governors here. I spend between 3 and 8 hours a week on school business every week for free, surely I am doing enough??

I do buy raffle tickets but as a parent rather than a governor.