About – Gorebridge Primary School Parent Council & PTA

What’s the Difference Between the Parent Council & PTA?

A Parent Council in Scotland is a formal body that represents the collective views of parents in a school. Our primary role is to engage with the school’s management on matters like school policies, curriculum, budgeting, and overall improvement. The Parent Council works closely with headteachers and local authorities, ensuring that parental input is included in important decision-making processes. For example, members of the Parent Council were involved in the interview and appointment process of our new headteacher.

On the other hand, a Parent Teacher Association (PTA) typically focuses on supporting the school through community activities and fundraising. Our PTA organise events like the Christmas and Summer Fair, discos, Santa visit and other social gatherings to raise funds for extra resources, school trips, and extracurricular activities. While PTAs also work with school staff, their involvement is more practical and event-oriented rather than policy-driven.

In summary, the Parent Council is more involved in the strategic and governance aspects of the school, representing the voice of the parent community in decision-making. The PTA, by contrast, concentrates on community-building and fundraising to support the school in a more hands-on, resource-based manner. Both play important but distinct roles in enhancing the school experience for students and parents alike.

Parent Council & PTA Members

While the Parent Council and PTA have different roles in the school, there is a lot of overlap between the two groups – not least in the parents and carers involved in both! On this page, you can see the names and faces of those representing your views and working to enrich pupils experience at Gorebridge Primary School.

We are always welcoming to new members – get in touch with us via our Contact page or speak to any one of us in the playground if you see us around!