PTA LINK If no one on your PTA wishes to become a school
governor, ask if any governors might be prepared to act as a link to the PTA. They might not be
involved in everyday fundraising, but could attend some meetings and discuss their role with the committee
I wondered if I might come off the PTA, but I’ve ended up doing both. I’m now the PTA treasurer and the chair of the Resources Committee, which is a sub-committee of the main governing board. ‘As an elected parent governor. I
had to be nominated and seconded, but because there were no other people standing for election, I was appointed automatically. Individuals need to keep the two roles separate, to understand the significant differences and responsibilities of each and be clear where each one starts and finishes. ‘Although we’re in an area of
deprivation, the PTA only funds things that are over and above what would be expected of the school. When we are asked to pay for something, we have our own
decision-making processes. If a teacher who was also on the PTA put in a request related to the children they teach, we wouldn’t allow them to vote on that because there’s a conflict of interest. We’d ask them to leave and discuss it as a group. That rule would apply to me as a governor too. The PTA has also previously applied for grants to fund a woodland at the school for outdoor education, developed a cycle library where the children can borrow bicycles and for a whole community Queen’s Jubilee event working with other local community groups. ‘Being a governor has helped me
develop a wider understanding of the needs of the pupils, particularly around SEN children. The PTA has started holding some quieter events so those children can be included.
Having better insight into the aims of the school also helps when we are looking at funding workshops and wellbeing activities. If we know what’s being done by the school, we can work out how to better support those activities.’
Time commitment According to the NGA, governors
can expect to spend ten to 20 days each year on governance duties, including board meetings, visiting the school and reading papers.
Further information: Find out more about the NGA’s
Visible Governance Campaign at
nga.org.uk/visible-governance or watch a video on the role of school governors and trustees at
nga.org. uk/role-of-governors-and-trustees
pta.co.uk SPRING 2023 27
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