Hang on, aren’t we all ‘PTAs’?

PTAs

09 September 2026

Image: Three adults talking.

Caroline Hayward is a Parentkind PTA Community Adviser and former PTFA Chair.

What is the difference between PTAs, Friends of and Parents Associations? Our very own expert, Caroline, explains all!

“We’re just a PTA.”

It’s something we hear all the time.

And most of the time, people use ‘PTA’ to mean any group of parents, carers, staff and volunteers who organise events, raise money and support their school.

But here’s a little secret…

Not every PTA is actually a PTA.

Confused already? Don’t worry, you’re not alone.

In fact, one of the most common questions we get from members is whether everyone in their school community is automatically a member of the association. The answer usually starts with, “Well… it depends.”

It all comes down to your association type.

So why does it matter?

I’ll be honest, your association type probably isn’t something you think about very often.

It’s tucked away in your constitution, alongside all the other bits of governance most of us promise ourselves we’ll read properly one day!

But it’s actually important because it determines who automatically becomes a member of your association and who gets a say in how it’s run.

And before anyone starts worrying they’ve picked the ‘wrong’ one, let’s clear something up straight away.

There isn’t a best association type.

They’re just different.

Different schools, different communities, different ways of doing things.

The classic PTA

A Parent Teacher Association (PTA), or Home School Association (HSA) is probably what most people picture.

In these associations, current parents, carers and school staff automatically become members.

It’s easy to see why this model is popular.

Parents and carers bring their knowledge of family life and the parent community. Staff bring a school perspective. Put those together and you often get a really strong partnership.

After all, everyone is working towards the same goal.

Supporting the children.

What about a Parents Association?

A Parents Association (PA) keeps things a little simpler.

Membership is made up of parents, carers and guardians of children currently attending the school.

Staff aren’t automatically members and wouldn’t usually attend meetings or stand for committee positions, although they can still be involved in honorary roles.

For some schools, this works really well.

It creates a parent-led group with a clear focus on supporting school life, whether that’s organising events, fundraising or bringing families together.

And then there are the ‘friends’

You know those wonderful grandparents who never miss a school fair?

The former parents who still turn up to help at events years after their children have left?

The local business owner who always donates a raffle prize?

Some school communities have lots of people like that.

That’s where a PTFA, Friends Association or Community Association can be a great option.

These association types allow other adults to become members too, subject to committee approval.

It’s a lovely way of recognising that school communities often stretch far beyond current parents and staff.

Because sometimes the biggest supporters of a school aren’t at the school gate every day.

Members and committee members aren’t the same thing

This is probably the biggest misconception of all.

People often hear the word ‘member’ and immediately worry they’re taking on responsibility.

They’re not.

Being a member simply means you’re part of the association.

You can come to meetings, vote at the AGM, share ideas, volunteer at events and get involved in fundraising.

That’s it.

You’re not suddenly responsible for running the association because you baked a batch of cupcakes for the summer fair or helped on the tombola.

The responsibility for running the association sits with the committee.

Which brings us to committee members.

So what’s a committee member?

Committee members are elected by the membership, usually at the AGM, to run the association on everyone’s behalf.

They’re the people making decisions, managing activities and carrying the legal responsibility for the association. They are also the trustees of the charity.

The easiest way to explain it?

Members belong to the association. Committee members run it.

Simple.

Finding the right fit

Some schools are happiest as a Parents Association.

Others love the partnership that comes from having staff automatically involved in a PTA.

And some have such strong support from grandparents, former families and local supporters that a Friends Association or PTFA makes perfect sense.

The important thing isn’t the name.

It’s understanding what your association type means and helping your school community understand it too.

Because whether someone’s a parent, teacher, grandparent, volunteer, committee member or the person who always turns up to help put tables away at the end of an event, they’re all there for the same reason.

To support the school and make things a little bit better for the children.