About the PTA
Supporting the school: Verulam PTA strives to support the school by raising supplementary funds through a variety of events and initiatives which will help the school provide the best possible learning environment, facilities and opportunities for all the students. The PTA also works with the school to promote a positive and welcoming whole-school community ethos.
A Vital Role
PTAs play possibly an even more important role at secondary school than at primary school level. Everything is on a larger scale: the premises, the number of pupils, the range of subjects, the extended opportunities … and so it follows that more funds are needed to support all these aspects of school life. At a time when school budgets have been severely squeezed, and many grants have just disappeared, schools are ever more dependent on additional funds … and this is where the PTA can help to make a real difference.
Bringing Parents Together
The transition from primary to secondary school can be a more daunting experience for the parents than it is for the boys; there is no longer the opportunity for day to day contact with other parents. This is another area where the PTA can help to make a real difference. A variety of opportunities are provided to bring Verulam parents together, whether this is through social events such as quiz nights, or through helping out at school events such as Open Day, concerts or information evenings.
How can I help?
Each year, as our new Year 7s begin their Verulam journey and our sixth formers move on, Verulam is supported by a constantly evolving pool of parents. In order for our students to have the best possible experience at school, our PTA encourages all new, and existing, families to get involved in the activities and initiatives at Verulam School, in whatever ways are possible for them.
Contribute to discussions at planning meetings; all parents welcome
We hold regular meeting to which all parents are invited to attend. Current events, activities and initiatives are discussed, new suggestions and ideas are raised, updates on wider school development are received from the Senior Leadership Team, and decisions are taken on funding requests. Indeed, without the participation and involvement of the wider parent body, it becomes impossible to put ideas into practice.
Join the Main Committee: elected at the autumn AGM
Verulam PTA, as a registered charity is obliged to adopt a Constitution which governs the way the association is run. Verulam PTA, as a member of PTA-UK a national charity which provides advice, guidelines and support to PTAs nationwide, has adopted the model PTA-UK constitution. This recommends election of a Main Committee whose role is to represent parents as the official decision-making body. There are currently 8 individuals on the Main Committee of which Chairman, Treasurer and Secretary are the three essential named posts without which it is difficult for the PTA to function effectively.
Join a working group and help run a specific event
If the commitment of joining the Main Committee sounds too onerous, why not volunteer to join a smaller team of parents to organise and run a specific event during the year, such as a Quiz Night, or maybe you could become part of the “Verulam PTA Refreshment team” or help develop and run the Verulam Lottery? Maybe you have an idea for a new event or initiative that could be run at Verulam?
To find out more send us an email and ask to join the volunteer WhatsApp group.
Support the PTA from home
Maybe you just don’t have the time or inclination to participate in events at school. You can still support the school through fundraising initiatives such as shopping online via Easyfundraising, where you can raise funds when you shop on-line at over 3000 retailers including Amazon, John Lewis and Sainsbury’s. Alternatively join the Verulam Lottery through which you not only raise money for the school, but also have the chance to win prizes.
Verulam Lottery
As a Verulam Lottery member, you will not only be helping to raise vital funds for specific projects at the school, but will also have the chance to win money for yourself from draws which will be held at least twice a term.
Complete the Verulam Lottery Application Form to join. As soon as you have been registered onto the Verulam Lottery system, you will be allocated your own “lucky numbers”, one number for each £5 you have spent. Each lucky number will take part in all draws over the next 12 months. Draws take place towards the end of each half term and winners are notified within 14 days of the draw.
50% of the money goes into the prize draw, and 50% is donated to the school, so the greater the number of participants, the greater the amount of money in the pot! Our target is to make the Verulam Lottery the PTA’s major source of income. If every family at the school paid just the minimum £5/month subscription, this would raise a fantastic £60,000 each year, i.e. £30,000 for the school and £30,000 in prize money.
Charity Registration No. 1023584
Contact the PTA
Any queries, suggestions or offers of help are always welcomed at verulamschoolpta@gmail.com Messages are checked regularly and passed onto the most appropriate individual who will get in contact with you as soon as possible.
Up-to-date details of PTA events, meetings and other initiatives please visit https://www.pta-events.co.uk/verulamschoolpta
