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We can't believe it - another year has flown by!
This blog is not only the last of this academic year but also my last one as Chair of the PTA - it’s been an absolute privilege to chair the PTA these past 4 years and Natalie and I look forward to handing over to the next generation of Chair and Vice-Chair - we are still looking for 2 volunteers to come forward to ensure the PTA can continue next year so do read below for more info on that.
Thank you!
Firstly though the most important thing to say is a huge thank you to everyone who has supported the PTA this year - without volunteers the PTA wouldn't exist, this includes:
The small but perfectly formed Committee - Anna, Ben, both Emmas, Jenny, Lisa, Lucy, Nicki, Natalie, Niloufer, Sam, Sara and Shagun,
the amazing Clarefest team led, for the last time, by Emma Butterworth and friends (so triple thank you for the 3 amazing Clarefests you have run - we’re going to miss you!),
the brilliant Year 2 mums who smashed the Fete out of the park, and;
the rest of our volunteer army - you've sorted endless piles of second hand uniform, sold hundreds of items at playground sales, ran events, served coffees, audited our accounts, written our newsletter and ran our event stalls to name a few...
Thank you as well to anyone who came to an event, bought a ticket / donut / item of second hand uniform or made a donation another way - every donation whether time or money really does have an impact. Read on to find out how you made a difference this year....
What we’ve raised
We’re delighted to say this year was a huge success with initial figures (yet to be audited) show the PTA has made over £37,000 profit this year!
Our two main events raised over £20,000:
Clarefest £11,727
Summer Fete £8,741
The children have enjoyed buying gifts at Secret Room, participating in the Easter Egg hunt, watching a film at the 3 cinema clubs and dancing the afternoon away at one of our 4 discos.
We made a record profit at yet another successful sell-out wreath making event before Christmas, and:
We sold over 500 items of 2nd hand uniform which raised nearly £2,000.
We wanted to make donating to the PTA easier by not asking for donations at Christmas or Easter nor having to rely so much on the weather (though we were lucky again this year that it shone for us not once but twice!)
In October we invited parents to set up a regular direct debit through our new CHIP-IN initiative from which every penny would go towards the £15,000 we give the school for I.T. equipment. This year, your direct donations have raised £7,500 to date - so 50% of that target - thank you to those who are contributing in this way. It really supports the long term viability of the PTA.
What we’ve spent
The PTA’s main job is to enhance the education of the pupil’s and provide funding where the school/council otherwise can’t. The challenges facing school budgets are only increasing. Government grants do not cover all school expenses and Local Authority are facing increased costs pressures along with the rest of the country. This has meant the PTA has been asked to contribute more this year than in other years - we’ve already donated £28,000 and have committed to another £27,262 - a total of over £55,000.
The biggest donations have been for I.T. (£15,000) and the pathway repairs (£8,000) with contributions also to the Panto trip, Year 6 yearbooks and BBQ, sports kits and D.T. expenses.
We’ve also committed to improve the outdoor play opportunities for the children with:
£4,321 for new play equipment for the front field which will be installed over the summer, and;
£23,042 for a new all weather canopy over the Maslow area at the front of the school that will be installed in the Autumn.
This is all making a material difference to your child/ren’s experiences and opportunities whilst they’re at Claremont primary school.
What about next year?
The school have lots of ideas for areas the PTA could support it next year which will be discussed and shared in the new academic year.
But the PTA won’t be able to help without a new Chair and Vice-Chair to steer the charity through the next year.
The Chair and Vice-Chair make up 2 of the 4 trustees for the charity. Trustees are ultimately responsible for the charity doing its legal duty. Without anyone in these roles, the PTA will cease to exist from 1st September 2024.
What does being Chair and Vice-Chair mean in practice?
As Chair, I chair approx 4 Committee meetings per year (mostly in the pub), attend approx 3 meetings with the school senior leadership team and ensure there are people to do all the jobs (key point - I do not DO the jobs!). The Vice-Chair supports the Chair, chairing meetings where they can’t and helping with the oversight of the PTA’s activities (steered by what you’re interested in doing). The Vice-Chair can progress to Chair if they want to after a year, though Natalie and I have run it more like a co-chairing partnership for the past few years (so it’s great for 2 friends to do). You need no prior knowledge to do these roles as a full handover will be provided as well as support from the experienced Committee (on which we will continue to sit should you wish us to). The minimum ask is you hold the role for 1 year - you don’t have to sign up for more if you don’t want to.
Why do it?
I joined as Chair when my eldest started at the school (proof that you don’t need to know anything to start!), and have found it a great way to make friends from all over the school as well as it being a great sense of achievement when you see how much joy and value the PTA brings to not only your own children, but their friends and the school as a whole. It has also been great for my CV as last year I got a job that I don’t think I’d have got if I hadn’t been chairing the PTA.
I’m keen - what do I need to do?
Please get in touch for a non-committal chat by emailing us at claremonttwpta@gmail.com.
We look forward to hearing from you and wish everyone a wonderful restful summer - here’s hoping for some sunshine!
Claire, Natalie and the rest of the Claremont PTA Committee
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