About the Parents' Association

INTRODUCTION
A very warm welcome to our school to parents of all new pupils.  The PA is a big part of our school life and we hope you will join us in the events that are organised and we are always delighted to welcome new members onto the Committee.

WHY DO WE HAVE A PARENTS’ ASSOCIATION?
We are very fortunate that Durlston Court has had a PA that has been an active, integral part of the school community since 1986.  In its time, many thousands of pounds have been raised which have been spent on improving equipment and resources to enhance our children’s enjoyment of their time at Durlston.

However, it is much more than just fundraising.  The PA exists to provide closer links between home and school and it is an excellent way to bring parents together socially in support of the school working towards a common goal.  Not all our events are fundraisers.  In particular the annual ball has gained a certain standing as the social event of the year where parents are able to bring friends to the school and enjoy a spectacular evening experiencing hospitality with true Durlston style.

All parents are automatically members of the PA and all are welcome to get involved if they wish to, even if they have only a small amount of time.

ROLE OF THE PARENTS’ ASSOCIATION COMMITTEE
Our PA committee consists of four officers being Chairman, Deputy Chairman, Treasurer and Secretary.  We also have four other Committee members to make up the full Committee.  Together with three co-opted members from the teaching staff and access to the class representatives network, this allows us to represent the children throughout the school and also means that responsibilities do not weigh too heavily on any one individual.

The Committee meet usually once per half term with smaller groups meeting as necessary to organise our bigger events.

ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING
Our Annual General Meeting is held in September.  This is an opportunity for parents to come along and hear in more detail about events run and funds raised, and how the money has been spent.  It is also the occasion when we elect our new Committee members and Class Representatives.

CLASS REPRESENTATIVES
Our class representatives play a very important role in school.  There are between one and two for each year group to provide a link between individual classes and parents, and the PA Committee.  The support from class reps is vital when it comes to organising our main events.  They take charge of their individual class stalls for both the Christmas Fayre and Durlston Day – we really could not manage without them.

In addition, class reps will organise informal coffee mornings and other events for parents of their year group.  Please visit the PA page on the school web-site (www.durlstoncourt.co.uk) which gives details of the class reps and the future events that they are planning.

WHY ARE WE A REGISTERED CHARITY?
The Charities Act requires organisations such as ours to register with the Charity Commission.  As a Charity, we must abide by Charity Commission rules and regulations and we are bound by a Constitution.  Our Constitution lays down rules about how we operate as a PA and how we conduct ourselves.  A full copy is in the back of this booklet.

• Being a Registered Charity gives us many extra benefits:
  
  ♦we are able to apply for Gift Aid, which can earn us an extra 28.2p in every pound donated to the PA (click here to download a form)
  
  ♦we can raise funds more easily from grant giving trusts, local businesses etc.
  
  ♦we can take advantage of charity matched giving schemes.

HOW WE RAISE MONEY
As with most schools, the majority of our funds are raised through the events that we run.  Some of our most popular events are the Christmas Fayre, the summer ball and Durlston Day.  We have also had race evenings, a barn dance, quiz nights and there is the annual football match between fathers and staff which has become part of the folklore of the school.

There are always a number of ideas in the pipeline for each academic year and we hope you will keep a weather eye open for announcements in the weekly newsletter and also on the two PA notice-boards (in the two main car parks) for details of these.  Information can also be found on the web-site.

Donations are extremely important.  These can be time, money, items for sale, donations for raffles or offers of skills.  As our PA is a Registered Charity, we are able to raise money through the Gift Aid scheme.  This scheme allows us to claim tax back from the Revenue from donations made to us out of your earned income.  The procedure for this is very simple.  

HOW WE SPEND THE MONEY RAISED
Very quickly!

Usually the Headmaster and Head of Pre-Prep will have compiled a shopping list of items that the school would like to purchase both for the senior school and Pre-Prep.  Sometimes this will be as a result of the children asking for something through the School Council as in the case of the picnic tables.  At other times it will be for resources to improve a particular area of the curriculum (such as the purchase of the bass clarinet) or for the school environment (such as the purchase of a number of whiteboards).

PA funds are not generally spent on improving the fabric of the school building as this is the responsibility of the school Governing Body.  Our Constitution commits us to spending money on things that will benefit the children directly.

HOW YOU CAN GET INVOLVED
There are lots of ways you can help and support your child through the PA.

Offering to help before events, or at other times of the year is so valuable.  It doesn’t matter if you can’t help on a regular basis, or even if you can’t come into school.  You can of course if you feel able, volunteer to be a Class Rep or a Committee Member.  Please attend the AGM if you can and give us your ideas for fundraising events – this is also the time to ask questions or voice your opinion.

We are always extremely grateful to receive donations as mentioned before.  Some of the requests may appear a little unusual (chipped china for a recent event was something of a first!) but as a rule please bear us in mind for any unwanted Christmas presents or toys and books that could be sold at either our Christmas Fayre or at Durlston Day.

WHAT THE PARENTS ASSOCIATION MEANS TO US
Our PA involves the whole school community and we thought you might like to hear what others think about our PA

Thank you for taking the time to read this.  We hope you now know a little more about your Parents’ Association.  On behalf of all the children we would like to thank you for your very valuable support which enriches their learning experiences and makes their time in school so enjoyable.