Parent teacher association (PTA): guidance

Get to grips with how to set up a PTA, register it as a charity and see examples of PTA constitutions.

Last reviewed on 7 February 2024
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Contents
  1. PTAs can provide plenty of benefits for schools 
  2. Set up your PTA
  3. Register your PTA as a charity 
  4. Examples of constitutions

PTAs are often known as parent, friend and teacher associations, or PTFAs, or other similar names. This reflects that in some communities, these organisations include extended family members and other members of the community, as well as parents and teachers. 

Some of the advice in this article comes from Parentkinda charity that aims to develop co-operation between school, home and other stakeholders, and provides insurance and policies for PTAs. Though it's a subscription service, some of its resources and guidance are free for non-members. Please note its inclusion does not constitute an endorsement from The Key.

PTAs can provide plenty of benefits for schools 

Raising money for the school to contribute to resources and subsidise trips and extracurricular experiences among other things This can include direct fundraising through parents/carers, as well as match funding, and events such as raffles, cake sales and parent/carer socials PTAs can raise money directly for specific