The Joseph Rowntree School Parents Teachers Friends Association exists to provide closer links between home and school, and it is an excellent way to bring staff, parents and friends together socially in support of the school, working towards a common goal. All parents and members of the school community can get involved and all parents are automatically members of the PTFA when their children join our school. The PTFA is extremely conscious of the ethos and morals of our school, and we try very hard when organizing and planning events to respect this. Not all of our events are run with the sole purpose of raising funds. In fact, the majority are run with the aim of giving the students and adults a good time.

Like most PTAs, the majority of our funds are raised through the events that

we run. Some of our most popular events are:

The Annual Quiz – where parents and staff pit their wits against some very talented and knowledgeable 6^th Formers to win the coveted trophy. Last year the event was themed “Space Odyssey” and everyone entered into the spirit with most coming in costume.

Health and Beauty Evenings – an evening of pampering for all with support from local businesses and staff providing massages/manicures/tanning/reflexology etc

Refreshments – we serve refreshments at school events e.g. music evenings/parent’s evenings and have provided teas and coffees for Adult Education classes.

Student Fundraising – we have supported events when students are fundraising for trips to South America and New Zealand and the next trip to Kenya by helping at BBQs and Promises Auctions.

Once money is raised from events the funds are banked straight away. It is

at our PTFA Committee Meetings, that the decisions on how to spend the

money is agreed. In the past, the school would have a ‘shopping list’ of items that the staff would like to purchase. Sometimes this will be as a result of the students asking for something. At other times it will be for resources to improve a particular area of the curriculum or school environment. In the main the PTFA funds are for the ‘extras’ not provided by the school budget, which makes our children’s learning experiences so much more fulfilling and exciting.

 

How Can You Get Involved

There are lots of ways you can help and support your child through the PTFA.

Offering to help before events or at other times during the year is so valuable

– it really is a case of ‘many hands make light work’. It doesn’t matter if you

can’t help on a regular basis.

 You can of course, if you feel able, volunteer to be a Committee Member. We meet once a term to discuss events, issues etc and hold an AGM once a year. We also get together socially twice a year just for fun! If you would like to help, please contact the school and leave your details and a member of the committee will get back you.