PTA STRUCTURE

The Claires Court Parent Teachers Association Main Board provides for the coordination and management of the various PTA subgroups that work on different sites and stages to support the school. The President, Secretary, Treasurer and Trustees are elected in the Lent Term at our Annual General Meeting, and meet as a main board with the Heads to review events, authorise expenditures and discuss future developments, both for the PTA and for the school more generally.

The PTA Main Board requires that the activities of the PTA include membership of the PTA UK, and through membership is provided with valuable advice, support and insurance to support their activities.

The current President and Chair of the Main Board is Mrs Phyllis Avery MBE, supported by Secretary, Mark Mercer and Treasurer, Simon Ball.

The Charity number for the Claires Court PTA is 1052993. 

The Claires Court Foundation Fund

This is a pot of emergency funding for families associated with the School.

In 1990 the Knowles Fund was established through the generosity of a former parent of the School, Keith Knowles.  The fund target of £5,000 was reached quite quickly, and monies from the fund were utilised to give temporary or one-off support to families facing tragedy or any emotional/financial situation which may arise through difficult circumstances. This covered items such as the urgent need for uniform or equipment, external counselling or educational support, and any other expense deemed appropriate to fund.

The PTA recognised the need to expand the size and availability of such a fund, and with other donations arising from occasional gifts and donations from suppliers, what is now known as the Foundation Fund has grown steadily to over £40,000, enhanced over the 2015-17 period by a further income stream for 3 years from Keith Knowles, in memory of his wife Franca, and this provides in the region of an additional £5,000 per annum.

When the Foundation Fund was established, it was agreed that the monies would remain intact until such time as the overall funds reached £50,000.  Since then, many more needy cases have arisen, and it would seem appropriate to adapt to current needs and offer support to pupils or families with need from the existing total funds held. 

It was, therefore, agreed following discussion at the Main Board Meeting of the PTA in April 2018, that the dispersal of funds would be overseen by the Trustees, with each case considered on an individual basis, with a cap put on the amount of funding agreed for any one application.

Meet the Trustees

Sheila Hooker - Vice President and Trustee