Helping at school: from reading to governing

Story 2 of 8

Embroidery-style illustration: bunting hung beside a red-brick school, and a parent sitting on a bench reading with a child

If you have children, there are lots of ways to help their school: helping in the classroom, supporting activities, or listening to children read.

Many schools hold fundraising events, such as second-hand book sales, toy sales or sales of food that people bring in, to pay for extra equipment or activities outside lessons, and you can suggest your own fundraising ideas too. Sometimes a parent-teacher association (PTA) organises these events. Volunteering to help, or joining the PTA, is good for the school and a way to make new friends in the community. Notices at the school, or letters your child brings home, will tell you what is going on.

School governors and school boards

A school governor, or in Scotland a member of a school board, is someone from the community who wants to help improve children's education.

You must be 18 or older when you are elected or appointed, and there is no upper age limit.
They play an important part in raising school standards and have three main jobs: deciding the school's strategic direction (its long-term plan), making sure it is held to account for its results (accountability), and monitoring and evaluating how well the school is doing.
If you are interested, you can simply ask your local school whether it needs new governors or board members. In England you can also apply online through the Governors for Schools website.
Parents and other community groups in England can apply to open a free school in their area. The UK government website (GOV.UK) explains how.

Key facts

Parents can help at their child's school: in the classroom, by supporting activities, or by listening to children read.
Schools often hold fundraising events (book sales, toy sales, food sales) to pay for extra equipment or out-of-school activities, sometimes run by a parent-teacher association (PTA). Volunteering or joining the PTA helps the school and is a way to make new friends.
School governors (in Scotland, school board members) are local people who want to help children's education. They must be at least 18 when elected or appointed, and there is no upper age limit.
Their three main jobs: setting the school's strategic direction, making sure it is accountable, and checking and judging how the school is performing. Contact your local school, or in England apply online through Governors for Schools.
In England, parents and community groups can apply to open a free school.

Quiz

Which of the following statements is correct?

Chapter contents: Your Role in the Community