PTA
What is the PTA?
The Parent Teacher Association (PTA) is a group to which all parents/carers and staff at Wolvercote Primary School automatically belong.
What does the PTA do?
The PTA exists to support the school community:
- It provides opportunities for families to get to know one another and to socialize
- It provides useful information and reminders to parents/carers and keeps communication between class parents and teachers open
- It raises much needed extra funds for the school; the PTA funds activities, subscriptions, equipment and projects in agreement with the Headteacher and school leadership team and aligned with the school’s strategic aims and goals.
The PTA arranges a range of events to further these two goals, including:
- Bring and Share suppers at the start of the school year
- The annual Craft and Summer Fairs which are big community days out on the school grounds
- The Children’s Christmas Bazaar
- Parents-only socials
- Second-hand uniform and costume sales.
Class Reps
At Wolvercote Primary School the PTA organises a system of Class Representatives (Class Reps) made up of parents in each class. The role of the Class Rep (or Reps – often there are two per class to spread the load) is to:
- run the class WhatsApp Group, keeping parents/carers up to date on forthcoming events and providing reminders (e.g. ‘send in wellies for Forest School on Friday!’). Occasionally they pass on messages directly from the class teacher.
- organise ‘socials’ which are opportunities for parents/carers to meet socially (with or without children), such as a class picnic or just getting together for a coffee.
- Mobilise class contributions for PTA events (donations where required, or volunteers needed on a one-off basis to help with events, or parents with particular expertise to contribute to specific projects).
Class Reps are encouraged to attend the termly PTA meetings if at all possible and are part of the ClassReps WhatsApp group in which events such as the Summer Fair are discussed and arranged.
What does the money pay for?
PTA funds are used for a wide range of things and we are grateful for the generosity of our community in contributing to our efforts. In recent years these have included:
- A new set of class iPads for enhanced learning in class;
- A new sandpit cover in the EYFS play area and sunshade for the playground;
- A canopy for the Reception and Nursery children to better enable them to make the most of the school’s outdoor space for learning regardless of the weather
- Individual class teacher budgets for every class, enabling extra enrichment projects, supplies and other class-specific support (equivalent to £10 per pupil per class); this enables teachers to provide ‘extras’ without dipping into their own pockets
- Subscriptions to English and Maths magazines, music teaching services and phonics training for new EYFS staff
What are you raising money for now?
Pupils will shortly be voting on what will replace the Climbing Boulder in the playground. Whichever new outdoor feature is picked the PTA will be raising money to help fund it. In 2023 the PTA raised over £15,000 (including two individual donations of £3,000 and £5,000) to enable us to upgrade the new Library space at school. The PTA funded the refurbishment of the old Snug including repainting the walls, commissioning a mural, re-carpeting and the purchase of new furniture and rugs/beanbag chairs to make the space light, bright and inviting. The new Library is now a place which encourages readers of all ages and stages when they have their school library time. We are still looking to raise additional money to purchase new books for the Library.
So how can I get involved?
Feeling Keen? Volunteer as a Class Rep (on your own or with someone else)
Willing to volunteer on an ad hoc basis but don’t fancy being a Class Rep? Keep your eye on the class WhatsApp group and get involved when you can. Maybe you could help out at a second-hand uniform stall or spend an hour on a stall at the Summer Fair?
Limited time but want to feed into our activities or have good ideas? Attend the once a term meetings and have your say on what events we organize and where the money should go.
Honestly I don’t have time, couldn’t I just give some money?
- May we direct you to our Just Giving page: https://www.justgiving.com/wolvercoteprimary-pta
- Or perhaps you could give regularly with Easy Fundraising: If you do your shopping whilst registered to Easy Fundraising.com you can make money for the school without even noticing. Setup takes about 5 mins for each device, and then money is donated whilst you sleep! This year we have raised over £1200 already by using the app. Joining is simple: download the app to your device and each time you shop a small donation is made to the school. It is a very easy way to donate money to the school via activities you would be doing anyway. To sign up: visit the EasyFundraising website or download the app on the Apple app store or Google Play.
In conclusion
The PTA is for everyone and our goal is to benefit all pupils; we are proud of the strong sense of inclusive community at Wolvercote Primary School and want the PTA and the parent community to reflect that ethos as well. So look out for our messages and consider getting involved!
