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The staffroom

Whether you're a permanent teacher, supply teacher or student teacher, you'll find others in the same situation on our Staffroom forum.

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Original poster

Getting parents to join Parent Council

7 replies

Ghirly · 04/02/2015 00:44

I wondered if anyone here has any ideas on how to get new parents involved with the parent council?
I am the Secretary of my son's school PC and we are always looking for new members but it is proving difficult. The school has a roll of approx 350 pupils and only 6 parents come to the meetings. It is not a huge commitment (one meeting per month) and it is definitely not a 'clique'.
Do PC and PTA still have negative image amongst parents?
Are any teachers on here involved in their school's PTA? Any ideas how to make it look an attractive prospect for new parents?
Any feedback would be great

OP posts:

Doublethecuddles · 04/02/2015 14:49

Are parents involved in other ways? I can't make the PTA meetings, but run the book fair, class bake sale and help at the disco and other school events. There may be people who can't make the meetings but are willing to help in other ways.

Original poster

Ghirly · 04/02/2015 22:11

Double yes we do get parents who help at discos and at the annual book fayre but not many to be honest.
I know that before I left work to return to education I couldn't make the meetings so I was a part of the (now defunct) fundraising committee.
It just seems to be the same group of parents all the time and would be nice to have fresh ideas and more friendly faces.

Thank you for replying.

OP posts:

Mostlyjustaluker · 05/02/2015 06:30

What is the aim of the parent council? Is it to make money?

Original poster

Ghirly · 06/02/2015 04:48

Yes, it's mainly to fund raise but it is also to support the school. If the school are having any events then the parent council can join in at the request of the head teacher. They also have representatives on the interview panel for head teachers. All these things are optional though as you can limit your involvement to attending the monthly meetings.

OP posts:

HereIAm20 · 13/02/2015 14:50

What age school do you teach at? Many pre-schools are run by parent committee and I found that by the time my child got to reception I had committee fatigue. So for KS1 I stepped out but when he changed schools for KS2 I stepped back on but only for 2 years as it felt like all suggestions that the new parents put forward wre blocked or met with "we tried that before and it didn't work" but with no explanations etc. Also as a SAHM I didn't really want to give up evenings for the meetings but would have welcomed daytime ones which I appreciate are difficult if school staff are involved.

DustyGold · 13/02/2015 18:11

What you describe does sound more like a PTA fund raising thing rather that a parent council or discussion forum.
Is it parent or teacher led? Or a collaboration?

BackforGood · 13/02/2015 18:19

Part of the confusion might be the name - you seem to be describing what I'd call a pta, for fundraising. Parent council suggests to me more like a forum for discussing change /school improvement.
Then, once a month is quite a commitment - why do you need to meet that often?
Also, once a group is very small, people wont come to a meeting as it is too likely you'll end up with a 'job' to do. Easier to get people to commit to a specific job for a specific fundraiser.

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