AGENDA
You hadn’t been involved with the PTA before becoming chair. Was that daunting? I went straight in with no experience, but, in some ways, it was an advantage. Because I didn’t know the people on the PTA, I had no preconceptions about anyone, and I wasn’t involved in any of the politics.
Kevin Bould chairs a committee meeting of the PTA. ‘I went straight in with no experience,’ he says of taking on the role
You work full time. How do you fi t your PTA responsibilities around your job? I don’t have the time and resources to dedicate to the PTA that a stay-at-home parent or someone working part-time might have. There are now a bunch of us on the PTA who work full time, so things have had to change. For example, holding shorter and more frequent meetings and having them on Zoom.
My PTA life Kevin Bould is PTA chair at St Nicholas CE Primary School in Shepperton, Surrey
What inspired you to get involved with the PTA? Our next-door neighbour works at the school and encouraged me to apply when the vacancy for PTA chair came up. I’ve always been a big advocate for dads being more involved in their kids’ lives – I took nine months off work to help with my youngest – so I felt it would be hypocritical if I didn’t go for it. There can be casual sexism towards dads, and I’ve always rallied against it.
What kind of sexism have you come up against as a parent? It’s the Daddy Pig from Peppa Pig thing: the dad is always messing up and getting things wrong. It’s a stereotype you see a lot. When I was a new dad, I remember people coming up to me in the street to give me advice, telling me how I should carry my own child. It was well meaning, but it’s still a form of everyday sexism.
What changes have you made? Last year was the year of fi nding things out. I attended as many events as possible but didn’t try to change much. Now we’re moving towards online booking forms, online payments and online nominations. We’ve set up various subcommittees instead of having all ten of the committee make every decision. With smaller groups, you get less chat and more focus.
What events do you have coming up and how will you spend the money raised? More people have become involved this year and we’re planning a circus, a colour run, three school discos and events for parents such as a curry night, a cheese and wine night or maybe a race night. The headteacher is keen to improve the quality of play by overhauling the playground and creating activity zones, so we’re hoping to help fund that.
I’m a big advocate for dads being more involved in their kids’ lives
Do you have any advice for other dads thinking of volunteering for their PTA? I’d say: get involved. The kids love me being part of it all. Don’t be put off by people saying how much time it takes up. It can, but it doesn’t have to. And I say that as the chair.
pta.co.uk SPRING 2023 11
AS TOLD TO: NUALA CALVI; CURRY IMAGE: PROSTOCK-STUDIO/
ISTOCKPHOTO.COM
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