The Vineyard School

About the Vineyard School PTA

Our goal

• Serve as a model for (fun) parental support of a state primary school in the United Kingdom.

Our role (In order of importance):

• Connect teachers to parents and carers

• Convene the Vineyard Community

• Raise funds to elevate The Vineyard School beyond the level of minimum state funding. (State standards of funding do not include funding for the library, an additional photocopy machine, AV equipment, smartboards, playground equipment and many elements of the school that our children use every day.)

How we act

• Openness: We listen closely to parents and operate transparently.

• Efficiency: We aim to make it easy to help your child’s school and we value any form of contribution, from time to money, ideas or cake.

• Fun: We are an inclusive group that people want to join (and are welcome to do so)

Follow us on Facebook !

How is the PTA Structured?

The PTA is a flat organisation of which every parent or carer is an automatic member. For efficiency, there are several sections to the PTA. Core functions are the following:

1. Core support functions: Chair, Secretary and treasurer

• Work with parents and carers to set vision and priorities

• Ensure all necessary roles are filled

• Enable all forms of communication

• Account for money raised and spent

• Sponsorship Coordinator: Find, prioritise and approach organisations local and national that may be willing to support financially or other ways

• Ensure the legal entity delivers books to the charity commission, pays insurance, etc

• Maintain PTA assets remain in good working order (wooden hut, noticeboard, store room, etc )

2. Class Reps: Class Rep Coordinator and Class Reps

• Ensure each class has two Class Reps

• Enhance connection between the individual parents and teachers in each class

3. Event Leads

• Coordinate our school-wide and other events (e.g., Fireworks, Summer Fair, May Fair, etc)

Quick links

Vineyard PTA-related

• The Vineyard PTA Facebook Page

• How can I donate to The Vineyard via autopay? (The PTA UK 2017 Parent survey found that one third of parents donate monthly to their state school. At The Vineyard, parents autopay between 5 pounds and 50 pounds per month.)

• Charity Commission page for the Vineyard PTA and Friends of the Vineyard

Beyond The Vineyard PTA

• PTA.org.uk - A great resource with templates for events checklists, etc. Anyone can access, just send an email to pta@vineyardpta.org

• School funding links

  • Institute of Fiscal studies report: Long-run comparisons of spending per pupil across different stages of education

  • National Union of Teachers Spending Cuts Estimator for all schools. (This may be somewhat inaccurate due to growth of Vineyard School. )

  • Schools Financial Benchmarking by government