Volunteering

The PTA Chair directs your committee’s meetings, making sure everyone’s views are heard, and that everyone is involved in the meeting. The PTA Chair also holds the casting vote where there is a tied vote.

Duties and responsibilities of the PTA Chair 

• Prepares for meetings (with the Secretary)  

• Invites committee members, parents, and staff to PTA committee meetings  

• Suggests items for the agenda  

• Identifies outstanding items from the last meeting  

• Prepares introductions for any new committee members attending  

• Sets the ground rules for meetings, and makes sure they are inclusive and efficient  

• Delegates tasks to other committee members and volunteers, and checks they’re completed  

• Liaises with the school, and requests a ‘wish list’ for the PTA committee to use when deciding which projects to fund  

• Ensures the committee fulfils its role in respect of the governance of the association as set out in its constitution – for example, holding an AGM, electing committee members, working with the Treasurer to ensure annual returns are completed if the PTA is registered as a charity  

• Ensures any decisions made are clear, fit the objectives of the association, and are made by agreement of the committee as per your PTA’s constitution 

• Can be a signatory on the PTA bank account (along with at least one other committee member) 

The PTA Secretary supports the PTA committee to build effective communication links between the school and the association. They also maintain accurate records.

Duties and responsibilities of the PTA Secretary 

• Prepares for meetings (with the PTA Chair) 

• Takes minutes at meetings, recording attendance, action points, decisions, and proposals 

• Circulates approved minutes, along with a reminder of any actions agreed 

• Maintains association records 

• Makes sure the association is GDPR-compliant 

• Updates trustee details with relevant charity commission (as appropriate) 

• May be a signatory on the PTA bank account (along with at least one other committee member) 

• Handles the association’s correspondence

Key skills 

• Organised and efficient – keeps accurate records in a format that can easily be handed over to a successor 

• Good listener – able to identify key discussion points, actions, and agreements at meetings to accurately record in minutes 

• Calm, friendly, and approachable – able to communicate confidently with the school and the committee members 

The treasurer controls the PTA funds in line with the committee’s decisions as well as charity law. They make sure upcoming events are affordable and profitable and report financial information to the rest of the team.

Duties and responsibilities of the PTA Treasurer

• Manages the day-to-day finances

• Keeps a detailed and accurate record of the PTA’s financial activity

• Arranges floats for events

• Banks the takings from events and fundraisers

• Completes the Charity Commission annual return (if registered)

• Gets accounts audited where necessary

Key skills 

• Confident at handling money and budgets

• Good with numbers

• Methodical