5 ways to strengthen your PTA’s relationship with your school
Three adult women sat around a table with laptops, talking.
1) PT…eh?
Does your school really know what a PTA does and what it can offer? Or do they have some misconceptions? If you think that might be the case, put up a poster in the staff room or hand out flyers to the teachers explaining how your committee supports the school. Why not inject a bit of humour and list the stereotypical attributes of a PTA (and why you’re nothing like that)?! You could also include contact details for anyone who has questions or suggestions. Social media is another great way to shout about what you do, or attend a staff meeting so you can say hi to everyone.
2) Stuck in the middle
Does your PTA ever get caught in the middle of conflicts between the school and parents? Your PTA should remain a neutral body, so transparency and maintaining an open dialogue is key. You’re not on the side of the school or the parents, you’re on the side of the children. Reminding everyone involved of this might help calm the situation. If all else fails, you should refuse to take a stance and walk away.
On the flip side, if parents are complaining to the school about your PTA, remind them that you are a separate entity to the school and share and uphold your complaints procedure, or create one if you don’t have one yet. It might be worth giving the school your contact details so they can forward them on to parents, since they shouldn’t have to be involved at all.
3) Who’s who
It’s really important to make sure your PTA is visible in the school and that staff can put names to faces. The beginning of the school year is a great opportunity to sit down with the headteacher and discuss your fundraising plans, but it shouldn’t be the only time you speak with them. Also, the headteacher shouldn’t be the only member of staff you’re in contact with – everyone working at the school is an asset to your PTA and can be an extra pair of hands should you need them!
4) Out of the loop
If the school isn’t communicating very well with you and your PTA misses out on opportunities or information that would have been useful to know, make it as easy as possible for them and meet them halfway. Who knows the sort of information you need? What does their work schedule look like? How do they prefer to communicate? Are they happy to have regular meetings with you?
5) Common ground
At the end of the day, everything you and the school does is for the benefit of the children. It’s easy to forget that in times of frustration, stress and when you’re feeling a bit under-appreciated. Celebrate the small wins, take challenges one step at a time and remember you’re not alone – you can always reach out to others on PTA Hangout for tips, advice and guidance.
Still struggling with your relationship with the school? You can arrange a 30-minute appointment with one of our friendly Community Advisers via our online booking system to discuss conflicts. While this is not a mediation service, we can help you find a way forward. Calls can be booked via Your PTA Expert.
Get in touch