Secondary School PTA

[Mumsyof1]

Do secondary schools need a PTA? I can't decide whether to get involved in the PTA at DS's secondary school. They don't seem to have much going on, so can anyone advise me whether PTAs do serve a useful purpose in secondary or is it just not worth the bother.

They raise money for much needed equipment at the school, same as in primaries. Its much harder to get people involved IME as most parents are working full time by the time their children are at secondary and have less time to spare. I think you would we welcomed with open arms!

They do have PTA's. As well as raising money, ours organises events of a social nature (as otherwise you would never meet other parents, as most children go to/from school on their own).

I agree it is much harder to get people to join, so do go along if you can.

In dd's school, it focusses on yr 7, 8 and 9 parents. It is very difficult getting parents involved for the reasons pinkteddy gave.
We do far fewer fundraising events than primary school- Christmas Fair, trees, spring raffle- but also social things.
Definitely go along (I will be on 2 secondary school committees in Sept!!)

Thanks for your answers. Apart from you, I guess not many people do value the PTA in secondary school - do you think it's because they don't want to spend any more time with their kids than they have to? At primary school parents and kids attend events together, don't they, and it was fun. I have worked full time since DS was 3 months old and have managed to help out at school, so I'm not sure about the working parent thing.