Award-winning PTAs share achievements with Westminster politicians
Parentkind CEO John Jolly and members of his staff with APPG chair Ian Mearns MP, APPG member Grahame Morris MP and two of the PTA representatives.
It was a chance for policymakers to hear directly from parent volunteers about just how crucial PTAs are to the education system. Every PTA member had a different story to tell, reflecting the diversity of roles PTAs play in contributing to the life of the nation’s schools.
The opportunity for PTAs to join politicians came about through a meeting of the All Party Parliamentary Group (APPG) for Parental Participation in Education – a group set up by politicians and supported by Parentkind. The work of the group is to remind those with political influence about the views of parents and the importance of their role in children’s education. Any MP or peer with an interest in the subject matter can join the APPG or come along to meetings and ask questions.
Last week’s gathering focussed on the impact of PTAs and, after a presentation from Parentkind it was over to last year’s award-winners to wow the parliamentarians with their accomplishments.
PTAs present were:
- Community at Linden Lodge, last year’s Changing the Life of the School Award-winner and overall National PTA of the Year.
- Willesborough Junior School Fundraisers, who brought copies of their book ‘Lockdown Learning the Willesborough Way’ which won them the PTA Community Initiative of the Year Award.
- The John Roan School Association, who collected the 2021 prize for New PTA of the Year and told attendees about their ‘120 challenge’ which raised funds for 400 laptops for their children during lockdown.
- Nields J I & N School PTFA, who won the PTA Fundraising Achievement of the Year Award in 2021 and made their dream of a new garden with sensory zone a reality.
After the presentations, the APPG chair Ian Mearns MP joined participants for further discussion on the Houses of Parliament terrace.
Parentkind CEO John Jolly said, “The parents’ feedback was that it was an enjoyable experience and a valuable opportunity to see Parentkind’s policy work up close and in real time. The day encapsulated how Parentkind works with PTAs and parents to represent parent voice to parliamentarians. The charity strives to constantly remind politicians of all stripes of the vital contribution parents makes to education, and how profoundly PTAs support their schools and enrich the educational experience of all children.”
