A Parent Teacher Association (PTA) is a voluntary group of parents, carers and staff that raises funds and organises events to support the school community. PTAs have no authority over how a school is run, but they play a valued role in enriching school life and fostering positive parent-school relationships.
What does a PTA actually do?
The activities of a PTA fall into two main areas: fundraising and community-building.
Fundraising is usually the most visible function. PTAs raise money through events and activities and donate the proceeds to the school for items or projects that fall outside the normal school budget. Common examples include:
| Activity | Typical income generated |
|---|---|
| Summer fete or fair | £1,000–£10,000 depending on school size |
| Quiz nights or bingo events | £200–£1,000 |
| Second-hand uniform sales | £100–£500 per event |
| Christmas markets or festive events | £500–£3,000 |
| Online fundraising (e.g. Easy Fundraising, JustGiving campaigns) | Variable |
Community-building includes events that bring families together — welcome evenings for new Year 7 families, social nights, film screenings, and informal gatherings. At secondary level, these tend to focus more on informational events (such as talks from the school on GCSE options or sixth form pathways) than on the craft fairs and bake sales more common at primary level.
What do PTAs spend their money on?
PTAs typically fund extras that the school budget cannot cover, focusing on visible, pupil-facing improvements. Common examples include:
- New equipment for the school library, sports hall, or art department
- Minibus hire or subsidies for school trips
- Outdoor seating or garden areas
- Drama, music or performance equipment
- Curriculum enrichment activities — visiting speakers, theatre trips, science experiments
- Wellbeing resources — reading corners, sensory equipment
PTAs do not fund core school operations — staffing, heating, maintenance and standard equipment are the school's responsibility. A school should not rely on PTA fundraising to meet statutory obligations.
Does a PTA have any formal authority in the school?
No. A PTA is a voluntary group and has no decision-making authority over the school. It cannot direct how the curriculum is taught, how staff are deployed, or how the school's budget is spent beyond the funds it has itself donated. Decisions about school policy, staffing, curriculum and admissions rest with the headteacher and governing body — the PTA can inform those discussions but cannot determine them.
This is a common source of misunderstanding. A parent who raises a serious concern about school policy at a PTA meeting will generally be told — rightly — that the PTA is not the appropriate forum, and that they should use the school's formal complaints procedure or contact the governing body.
How is a PTA structured?
Most PTAs have a small elected committee:
- Chair — runs meetings and leads the organisation
- Treasurer — manages the PTA's bank account, records income and expenditure
- Secretary — handles communication and keeps minutes
Beyond the committee, all interested parents, carers and staff can join as general members. Most PTAs hold two to four meetings per year and communicate via email, a school app, or social media group. Larger PTAs may also have sub-groups organising specific events.
PTAs with an annual income of over £5,000 are required to register as a charity with the Charity Commission for England and Wales, which brings additional accounting and governance requirements.
How can parents get involved?
There is no one-size approach to PTA involvement. Options range from:
- Joining the committee — a significant but rewarding time commitment
- Helping at individual events — turning up for the fete or a quiz night
- Donating items — contributing to raffles, second-hand sales, or baking for events
- Online fundraising — registering shopping accounts with platforms such as EasyFundraising
- Spreading the word — sharing event invitations with other families
Secondary school PTAs often struggle to attract the same level of parent engagement as primary ones — partly because secondary parents are less present at the school gate and partly because the school community is larger and more anonymous. Even low-level involvement from a wider parent base can make a meaningful difference.
What if my school does not have a PTA?
Many secondary schools do not have an active PTA. If you want to set one up, the usual first step is to speak with the school business manager or headteacher — they will need to be supportive for it to work, as the PTA will need access to school facilities and communications channels. The Parentkind charity (formerly the National Confederation of Parent Teacher Associations) offers resources and support for establishing new PTAs.
Frequently asked questions
Can a PTA tell the school what to spend the money on?
The PTA donates funds to the school and typically discusses with the headteacher or a nominated senior leader how the money will be used. In practice, schools usually consult the PTA on priorities, and the PTA's wishes are given significant weight — after all, the money was raised by parent volunteers. However, once the funds are transferred to the school, the school's governors have legal responsibility for how all school income is spent.
Should I raise a complaint about the school through the PTA?
No. The PTA is not the right channel for formal complaints or serious concerns about the school's management. Use the school's published complaints procedure for those. A PTA meeting is a suitable place to raise general suggestions or feedback, but complaints about specific staff, pupil welfare matters, or policy concerns should go through the proper channels.
Is PTA membership compulsory?
No. Membership of a PTA is entirely voluntary for parents and carers. There is also no requirement to attend events, make donations, or contribute in any way. Some PTAs ask for a nominal annual subscription (often £1–£5) to help with administrative costs, but this is optional.
Do secondary school PTAs work differently from primary ones?
In practice, yes. Primary PTAs tend to have higher parent engagement, more frequent contact between parents and school (through daily drop-off and pick-up), and a broader range of events. Secondary PTAs often have smaller active committees, fewer events, and a focus on larger fundraising projects or informational evenings. Both are valuable, though secondary PTAs frequently need to put more effort into recruiting active members from a parent body that has less daily contact with the school.
Getting involved in your child's school community is one way to support them. AI Tutors is another — expert, flexible tutoring that fits around family life.