St James' PTA
Hello from the PTA Team
We’ve created this page as an introduction to the PTA. The PTA is a registered charity run by a committee (Charity number: 1147450) - Chris Stevenson is the chair, Suzy Morrow is the vice chair, Stephanie Nailor Stevenson is the treasurer. But the PTA is really everyone who is a parent or guardian of a child at the school, or a member of the school staff. There are opportunities for everyone to get involved and every contribution helps whether it’s leading a big project or taking five minutes to help tidy up after an event.
If you would like to be part of our amazing team, please contact us via hello@stjamespta.co.uk, or feel free to check out our volunteer options on our website.
What does the PTA do?
We raise money for the school and we run events for the children and we aim to combine those two things wherever possible.
Our regular events include an annual sponsored event, discos, ice cream Fridays during the warmer weather, Easter Egg Bingo and Bunny Hunts, a summer fair and Christmas fun.
We also offer outside event, including the Roundtable Fireworks, Assembly hall shows and Legoland.
Where does the money raised go?
Over the years the money raised has paid for things like the forest school log cabin, play equipment, smart boards (big interactive white boards) for all the classrooms in both infants and juniors and helped fund the relocation and refurbishment of the library. We are now working towards 2 sets of 30 iPads and laptops to enrich our children's education.
How do I find out more?
Information about our events is sent out via Parentmail and our PTA whatsapp. We also share information through our social media (mostly Facebook) and via your class reps so please join your class WhatsApp group and keep an eye out for all the news.
We hold meetings a couple of times a year at school – usually straight after drop off or before pick up - these are announced in the newsletter. We use the meetings to plan events, share information with parents and helpers about those events, and get your feedback and ideas too! Everyone is welcome to attend. We especially encourage class reps to come along to find out what’s coming up and where help is needed, but you don’t have to be a class rep to be involved.
If you would like to find out more about getting involved, have an idea for an event or would like to help out with something soon, please do get in touch. You can email it to us at hello@stjamespta.co.uk or print it out and post it in our letter box in the school office reception area.
Ways to help the PTA
Match funding
Match funding has been a very helpful source of income for the PTA in the last few years. If you work for a company that offers match funding, we can help you join one of the PTA activities and ensure that you meet your company’s match funding criteria. Typically this is offered by large corporations like Fidelity, Barclays and BP but an increasing interest in Corporate Social Responsibility has led to more businesses across the board setting up schemes. Please let us know if you would like to become a match funder or would like more information.
TW Lottery
Win prizes of up to £25,000. Tickets are £1 a week. 60% goes to good causes in Tunbridge wells, and the PTA receives 50p per ticket.
Easyfunding
We’ve registered St James Schools PTA - Tunbridge Wells with #easyfundraising, which means over 7,000 brands will now donate to us for FREE every time you use #easyfundraising to shop with them. Whether on a phone, PC or Tablet.
These donations will help SO MUCH, so please sign up to support us – it’s completely FREE and doesn’t take long.
Clothing Bank
Outside the reception entry steps, there is a recycling bank, this is for all clothes, paired shoes, handbags and more. We get paid per kilo donated.
AGM
Every year we hold our AGM in October to report on the previous year’s work and elect the new committee members. This is a meeting for all members of the PTA, not just the elected committee members. It is our chance to tell you about our achievements and the difference we have made. We need the support of parents so that decisions taken at the AGM are valid and in line with our constitution.
Details will be sent via Parentmail nearer the time.
Helpful links:
https://www.facebook.com/stjamescofepta
