Friends Of St. Peter's, Low Fell

ow for public posts, the page does create the opportunity for parents to e-mail new ideas and give feedback on fundraising events. Why Do We Have A PTA? We are very fortunate at our school to have a PTA that is and has been such an integral part of the school community for the past few years. In its time the PTA has raised a good deal of money, which has been spent on improving equipment and resources to enhance our children’s education and the facilities in school in general. Friends of St. Peters is about much, much more than just fundraising. The PTA exists to provide closer links between home, school and parish, and it is an excellent way to bring staff, parents, friends and the wider community together socially in support of the school, working towards a common goal. It is fun too - just ask any of the committee members or helpers!! Obviously, as in any organisation, there are times when it is more ‘challenging’, but with the continued support of parents and staff, FOSP has always succeeded in its efforts. All parents and members of the school community can get involved if they want to, even if they only have a small amount of time available, and all parents are automatically members of Friends of St. Peters when their children join our school. Peters is extremely conscious of the ethos, morals and diversity of our school, and we try very hard when organising and planning events to respect this. Not all of our events are run as fundraisers (but we do try!). About the PTA

The Friends of St. Peters was re-established in September 2005 to raise funds separate to the school budget. Links with Local Business

We are continuing to develop strong links with the local community which support both residents and businesses. To date we have managed to develop this with local businesses who have been extremely generous with gift donations for our Christmas Fayre or offering their services and expertise at events. Eslington Villa, Grosvenor Casinos, Walker Walls and Turners of Low Fell to name but a few. Role of the Committee

Our PTA committee consists of 5 Officers (3 Co-Chairs, Treasurer and Secretary). We also have a number of other regular attendees to our meetings who join in as and when they can to provide the extra help we need to make things happen and organise events. The Committee meets on a regular basis usually once or twice per half term, with smaller working groups meeting as necessary to organise larger more complicated events. Annual General Meeting (AGM)

Our Annual General Meeting is an opportunity for all parents to come along and hear in more detail about events held during the year, funds raised and how the money has been spent. It is also the occasion when we elect our new committee. In addition to the AGM we usually hold one meeting per term to discuss our plans and develop ideas for new areas we can help in. A list of current PTA committee members is at the end of this segment for your information. Updated lists are sent out each year after the AGM. If you are interested in joining the committee, please do not hesitate to talk to us. Support from the Parentkind

Our PTA is a member of Parentkind, which is the national charity that advances education and supports PTAs, throughout England, Wales and Northern Ireland. Our association is one of 13000 in current membership. We pay an annual membership fee which gives us lots of member benefits including subscription linked insurance cover, support and advice on PTA and fundraising matters, opportunities to meet with other PTAs to discuss and share experiences, regular newsletters and the PTA magazine, a special banking package to help us make the most of our funds, and an extensive list of PTA information and resources. In addition, we have a valuable resource at our fingertips – www.parentkind.org.uk

Parentkind is also a valuable resource to you as parents, with signposts to useful, relevant websites on subjects such as bullying, school funding, special educational needs, homework, and much much more. To access www.parentkind.org.uk you will need our membership number, which is 36877 and our school postcode which is NE9 5TU. Do have a look. How We Raise Money

Like most PTAs, the majority of our funds are raised through the events that we run like our annual Christmas Fayre, and providing refreshments at school events

Fundraising events we have staged include –

End of term childrens disco
Family day trips
Cheese and wine evening
Family Quiz night
Barbecue at the local Rugby club
Summer Fun Day

We are always looking at other opportunities open to us to raise money so if you have any good ideas please share them with us. School Fundraising shopping web site TBC


Charity Matched Giving

Charity Matched Giving is a very simple practice. Companies or businesses pledge to donate to a charity such as ourselves an amount of money relating to the amount that an employee(s) donates or fundraises for us. We have recently benefited from this type of donation from Virgin Money, as one of our parents is an employee and helped to organise and run the Christmas Fayre and Summer Barbecue. There are several benefits to both ourselves and the company involved:

• Employees’ morale is boosted by having their efforts supported by their employer;
• The company benefits from having charitable donations written off against taxable profits;
• The company can endeavour to get publicity for their giving;
• FOSP benefits from receiving perhaps double what we have raised at an event. If you think that your employer has a matched giving scheme already in operation, or if you would like some more information about charity matched giving or setting up a scheme in your workplace, please talk to one of the PTA officers. How We Spend the Money We Raise

Once money is raised from events the funds are banked straight away. It is at our PTA Committee Meetings, that the decisions on how to spend the money are agreed. Usually, Mrs. Stokoe (our Head teacher) will have a ‘shopping list’ of items that the school would like to purchase. Sometimes this will be as a result of the children asking for something as in new playground equipment At other times it will be for resources to improve a particular area of the curriculum or school environment. In the main the PTA funds are for the ‘extras’ not provided by the school budget, that make our children’s learning experiences so much more fulfilling and exciting. PTA 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 the PTA to spending money on things that will benefit the children directly. We always endeavour to spend our funds in ways that will benefit all our children across all areas of the school and curriculum. Many of the resources purchased have a direct link to the School Improvement Plan. This is discussed at the governors meetings. The money we raise is usually spent fairly quickly. That way, you can be sure that in supporting our school, your child / children will feel the benefit, along with everybody else. The PTA does have a few ongoing commitments every year but these are very small, such as the annual fees for our Parentkind membership, so the majority of the money raised will go straight back to the school. Here are a few examples of some of our purchases;

Year 6 leavers hoodies
iPads for KS1 and 2
Interactive presentation/workshops
Whole school theatre trips
Bicycle Shed
Gazebo for key Stage 2 yard
Reading books for SEN pupils
High visibility jackets for all pupils

How We Get Information to You

All PTA correspondence we send home is either delivered via the children, via e-mail or text. We currently issue a termly newsletter which includes information and dates of forthcoming events plus requests for assistance when we are planning large events. We also include information on how much money has been raised, and if we can, tell you what the money will be spent on. In addition, two Friends of St. Peters notice boards have been erected within the school yards, both are situated on the wall of the school building in the key stage 1 & 2 yard. Copies of the FOSP newsletter and posters advising forthcoming events are posted on these boards. Any such correspondence from FOSP will be clearly marked with our logo so you can easily identify that is from us. How Can You Get Involved

There are lots of ways you can help and support your child through FOSP. Offering to help before events or at other times during the year is so valuable – it really is a case of ‘many hands make light work’. It doesn’t matter if you can’t help on a regular basis, or even if you can’t come into school. There are always little jobs that can be done from home if you have half an hour to spare e.g. wrapping gifts, preparing raffle tickets etc. We really couldn’t achieve what we do without the unseen ‘helpers’ that exists in school. You can of course if you feel able, volunteer to be a Committee Member. We currently have open positions and would really appreciate any extra support. Or you can simply support the AGM and give us your ideas for fundraising events – this is also the time to ask questions or voice your opinion. You can help by letting us know if you have any contacts or skills we could use – everything is potentially valuable to us. And finally, we are always extremely grateful to receive donations. A Message from our Head Teacher;

The PTA is an essential part of our school. All parents and carers are members and everyone’s contribution is highly valued. The work of the PTA underpins the whole school. Financial support enables us to create a richer learning environment for our children e.g. the development of our Spiritual Garden. This could never have been installed so quickly without the incredible support of our PTA. Numerous curriculum resources have been provided which children throughout the school are able to enjoy. The wide variety of social functions, allow us all to get to know one another in a more relaxed setting. The children see their parents and the school staff working together for their benefit. They appreciate this united effort and it adds to their feeling of security. Our school would not be the lively and welcoming learning environment it is without the enthusiasm, commitment and hard work of our PTA. Our PTA has achieved so much, in a short period of time, and I look forward to continuing this valuable partnership in the coming years. Mrs L Stokoe
Head Teacher


Thank you for taking the time to visit FOSP page. Please make sure you have liked our page to receive updates and messages from us. We hope you now know a little more about your Parent Teacher 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. From all the FOSP Committee



2024 Committee members :-

Co-Chairs - Claire Siddle and Rebecca Griffiths

Co-Secretaries - Natalie Lawson and Emma Onions

Treasurer - Rachel Charlton

Contact us by email [email protected] or message us via our page