School offers free drinks and VIP assembly seats to parents who volunteer most for PTA

Education bosses have been forced to scrap the tiered system which offered 'privileges' to those who gave most time.

A letter detailing the new Parent and Teacher Association (PTA) structure was sent out from Heyes Lane Primary School in Manchester.

The Manchester Evening News reports how it was axed after some parents described it as "patronising".

Headteacher Sam Foord was forced to apologise after volunteers were offered free tickets to school events and free school photographs.

The scheme was divided into four tiers, with 'Tier 1' being the highest.

But one mum, who asked not to be named, said: “I feel for the parents who work and cannot take time off to be part of the PTA, who don’t have holidays or free evenings."

She said it 'wasn't fair' on single parents, adding "most of the the people on the PTA are stay-at-home mums who don’t work".

The mum added: “What’s it teaching children? That you should only do something good to get a reward?”

In a letter the head wrote: "I am writing to you to respond to the feedback from parents and carers regarding the flyer sent out yesterday about our PTA recruitment drive."

She added: "I would like to wholeheartedly apologise for any offence caused and to assure you that following your feedback, we will not be introducing this idea.

"The last thing I wanted to happen is to upset or offend any part of our wonderful school community.

"The motivation behind the flyer was simply to drum up more volunteers and I thought the incentives were a way for the school to show its appreciation for parents and carers who volunteer to help."



 

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