Parent Teacher Associations, or Parent Teacher Organisations, are a standard thing in many schools, and are a way in which the school community can come together to collectively work on ideas and plans to improve the school. Some PTAs are involved in things like fundraising for the school, and some even have programs where parents come into school to help out in roles such as assisting the teacher. They are a great way to make parents feel more involved in the school, and when lead properly, can have a really positive impact on your institution.

In International Schools, PTAs are a bit less common, however if your school is going for British Schools Overseas accreditation or another outside accreditation, it may be a necessary factor to meet the required standard. In many cases, when seeking accreditation, this may be the first time a school abroad has considered starting a PTA, but having one really does improve relationships with parents and is something all schools should consider, whether going for accreditation or not.

The fear of parents is a common thing in international schools. Do we really want them seeing everything that goes on in school? Will it just be a place for parents to vent at management? Do we want parents involved in decision making in our schools? All of these are valid concerns, and so it’s important that we are careful in the ways in which we involve parents, so that we can have involvement, but at the same time ensure it is controlled and beneficial. Check out my quick guide on how to get started.

1. Be Clear with your Aims and Share the Idea

Parents commonly believe that the PTA is the place that parents come to share their grievances and have their issues resolved. It is important that, from the outset, you make it clear that this is not the case. Draw up a flyer for parents to introduce the idea, making it clear that parents can be involved in their school community and share their ideas on things like school events. I like the format of ‘question and answer’ for my flyers, for example ‘Can I come and share issues I am having with the school? Answer: The PTA is where we come to discuss the future of the school with regards to events, trips etc. If parents have an issue, they can meet one-on-one with management to discuss them whenever the need arises. The PTA is not for sharing grievances’. Clarifying this from the start, and giving insight into what your PTA will be, is a great way to start. It also wards off any serial complainers.

Before moving onto the next stage, spend a few weeks promoting the idea. Send out ‘did you know …’ posts on your social media to clarify what your PTA does, and repeatedly remind parents that it’s a positive addition to your school and that it will bring the school and the community closer than ever. Even parents who don’t want to take part will feel like they are welcomed, and it will have a positive impact on your relationship with them.

2. Choose your Parents Wisely

When you first start a PTA in an International School, it is important to choose parents who are ‘for the school’ to participate. If you open up the PTA to everyone, you will really get everyone. Parents love to be involved, but we don’t always want the kind of involvement they have to offer. Send out an application form for parents to apply, much like they would apply for a job. This allows you to filter your applicants and decide who would be on board with the kind of association you want to create. You may want to select one or two parents from each year group. It’s better to start small if this is your school’s first time.

3. Set an Agenda

Don’t just start your meetings with a blank page, because we all know that the devil makes work for idle hands. If parents have space to chat too much, they will inevitably move onto problems they are having etc. An agenda makes sure that you are on track.

I recommend starting your meetings with a discussion about the upcoming school trip. Give them choices of where to go, and ask if they have any other ideas. This makes parents feel involved, but at the same time keeps them out of academics etc. When I let my toddler choose her outfit for the day, she chooses from two options that I’m already pleased with so that we avoid any weird combinations. The same principle applies to anything where you let parents decide things in your PTA. Provide them with options that you are already satisfied with, so that you get what you want, but they also feel like they have achieved what they want. As time goes on, you may want to be more flexible to meet the needs of parents, and that’s part of having a PTA and what we should aspire to, but it would be a disaster to start that way.

4. Provide Paperwork

In my experience, parents love receiving paperwork, and so giving some handouts at your first meeting is always a winner. Give printouts of the agenda, of the locations of your trips etc, and maybe even a questionnaire if you’re feeling brave. You could give them a questionnaire about past trips, with questions that will help guide your future choices.

After the meeting, put together the minutes and send them to your PTA. Follow up is really important if you want to make a success of your PTA.

5. Communicate with the Community

After the meeting, share what you discussed and the outcome with your whole school community. Just because parents weren’t chosen to take part, doesn’t mean they need to be kept out of the loop. Parents will appreciate this and will feel involved, even if it’s from a distance. It will also let parents know more about what the PTA does, and help you move it forward in the coming years. Your PTA should meet regularly, for example once a month, and so parents should know to expect updates regularly too.

These are quick tips to get you started, however it is important that your PTA grows beyond this in the future. Eventually, parents will be involved in the every day running of your school, benefitting the parents, students and staff alike. It’s useful to check out PTA guidelines online and see where you should be in the future, but if your school hasn’t invited parents in before, some of the requirements may seem a bit scary at first. Everyone has to start somewhere though, and the above tips should get you off to a flying start, regardless of your experience level.