What is a Parent Teacher Association (PTA)?

Most schools have a PTA and here at Swimbridge we also like to include friends of our school, therefore we are known as the PTFA: Parent, Teacher and Friends Association. We are an organisation of parents, family, friends and staff and our role is to encourage closer links between home and school. The PTFA is best known for its fundraising work, but we organise fun and beneficial social functions to help families feel part of the school too. Fundraising events provide an opportunity for parents, staff and pupils to get together.

How is the PTFA organised?

At our school, all parents/carers and staff are automatically members of the PTFA. The Annual General Meeting (AGM) takes place in October, near the start of each school year and at this meeting a committee is elected to run the PTFA for the year. The committee consists of a chair, a vice-chair, and a treasurer.

Other parents/carers then volunteer to be ‘class reps’ and they pass information from the PTFA committee to the other parents/carers in their child’s class. 

How can you be involved in our PTFA?

There are many different ways you can help within our PTFA, whether you have lots of time to offer or just a little. If you can’t commit to a ‘big job’, look for things you can do less frequently e.g. running a stall at an event or baking cakes.

Please also always support the PTFA events by simply turning up and having fun!

How is money raised?

The PTFA raise money by holding a variety of events throughout the school year. The range of past events have included: discos, Christmas fayres, bingo, a summer family fun day, various cake and ice lolly sales and many other fun activities for families to take part in. 

The PTFA are always looking for new fundraising ideas so please do get involved!

How is the money spent?

Funds raised by the PTFA are intended to provide ‘extras’ not already provided by the school’s main income – often ‘fun things’ that make learning more interesting and exciting. As well as these extras, the PTFA contributes to extra-curricular activities, event/sport transport hire, theatre events, playground equipment, with larger two to three year projects to enhance the school for all pupils.

Over the past few years we have been extremely successful with our fundraising, enabling us to fund many exciting projects and initiatives within Swimbridge School for all of our children. 

We have funded the refurbishment of the school library, which has benefited the whole school. It is now a welcoming, colourful space, where children can learn, read and relax whilst enjoying the world of reading. 

Funding is also provided for transport during PE sessions, whole school activity visits, such as local theatre company productions, and wild, exotic animal days.