The Parent Teacher Association (PTA) at St Birinus supports the school by raising funds for resources that enhance, enrich and improve learning experiences of students. The PTA raises these funds by organising and running activities and events that are supported by SBS families, school staff and also local businesses (through sponsorship, raffle donations and Match funding). The PTA is registered with the Charity Commission (number 1124383).

All parents/carers and school staff are automatically members of the PTA! This means that everyone is welcome to help to run our activities/events and to come to meetings – whether to learn more, share ideas, be a voice for your child’s year group and have a say on how funds are spent.

Upcoming meetings, activities and events are announced in the PTA News column of The Saint newsletter each week and via social media:

Facebook: www.facebook.com/groups/sbspta
Twitter / X: x.com/ptasbs
Email: sbs_pta@st-birinus.oxon.sch.uk
Email about pre-loved uniform: sbsptauniform@gmail.com

The PTA works to support a range of resources and activities across the school. Projects that the PTA has voted to support over the last couple of years include:

• Sports equipment
• Sanders for the Technology Department
• Indoor and outdoor seating
• A reading book for each Year 7 student
• Theatre group visit for Year 8
• Sound absorption panels for a Music classroom
• Wall decals with inspirational quotations
• Board games for student clubs
• Lighting and AV equipment for the Hall
• Contribution to the Year 11 leavers’ event

Of this year’s contribution of funds for new sports equipment, the Head of PE wrote: 

The new sports equipment, funded by the PTA, has already created opportunities for the students to be exposed to new sports. Cricket has been added to the curriculum and is thriving. The PE team are busy exploring the new options created for the curriculum by the additional equipment and this will lead to a broad offer for all students in the next academic year.  

The PTA contributed funds to enable the visit of an applied theatre group to support Year 8’s Personal Development lessons this year. The Head of PD reported back as follows:

The performance impressed upon the students how older people might sway younger people into being exploited and the message that they need to look out for each other and inform a trusted adult if ever concerned about someone. This is something we talk about regularly in school, but the message coming from another agency is always influential.

Of the PTA’s funding of extra seating and board games for the Library, the Librarian wrote:

The library hosts several clubs for students including board games, Dungeons and Dragons, chess and Pokémon and the PTA have supported the library by providing extra seating and funds for various table top games. This social time should not be underestimated for the students, as it allows them to explore opportunities away from sports and devices, and is invaluable for learning social skills, teamwork and building leadership qualities.   

Raffles and events
The PTA holds big raffles once or twice a year, with tickets available through an online shop, and small hamper raffles at evening events once or twice a year. You can support our raffles in two ways: buying tickets and/or donating prizes (whether personally or through your employer). All donations help us raise money!

The 500 Club
The 500 Club is the PTA’s monthly lottery. The more families that become members, the more prize money is available – up to a maximum of £500 each month! To join, all you need to do is set up a regular payment of £2 per month (or £24 for the year) for each ticket you want in the lottery. Sign up at https://bit.ly/3VPyZBv or follow the QR code below.

Easyfundraising
There are many low or no-cost ways to support the PTA. One of these is to sign up to Easyfundraising so that, every time you shop online with over 7000 participating retailers, the retailer makes a small donation to the PTA … at no cost to you! It takes five minutes to create an account via the QR code below.

Match funding
Does the company you work for – whether it’s a national organisation or an independent firm – offer match funding for registered charities such as SBS PTA? Match funding is a pledge by a company to ‘match fund’ an employee’s charitable cause. Informa / Taylor & Francis recently donated £500 of match funding in relation to an employee’s involvement with the PTA’s Big Christmas Raffle 2024.

There are many benefits for the company, from satisfying their social responsibility to opening up PR opportunities, including a piece in PTA News. Also, charitable donations can be deducted from taxable profits. Ask your HR department if your employer offers match funding and – if you’d like to be the PTA’s next match funding champion – please be in touch!

Pre-loved uniform
The PTA accepts uniform that’s in good condition for re-circulation to other families for a small donation. Families appreciate the low-cost uniform, it’s great for sustainability and all funds raised from sales go towards supporting SBS students! We particularly welcome blazers, ties and PE tops. Drop-off at reception, or email sbsptauniform@gmail.com to make other arrangements.  (This is also the way to contact us if you need some pre-loved uniform.)  

School events
Across the school year, the PTA runs bars, refreshment stalls, raffles and pre-loved uniform sales at school events including the Rising Year 7 evening, the three RET concerts and awards evenings. Please support the PTA at these events, whether by buying a drink or a raffle ticket, or just stopping by and saying hello. 

The PTA also works with the Headteacher to organise a couple of non-uniform days each year. You will see a line in ParentPay to make your £1 donation for these special days.

The PTA hopes to run some social, fun events in the 2025-26 school year. If you have ideas and energy to help get these off the ground, please be in touch!

Next meeting: 6.30pm Monday 15 September 2025.
Next AGM (annual general meeting): 6.30pm Monday 20 October 2025.

Parents/carers and school staff are automatically members of the PTA. Everyone is welcome to come to meetings – to learn more, share ideas, be a voice for your child’s year group and have a say on how funds are spent – and to help to run our activities and events.

The PTA has three ordinary meetings and one AGM (annual general meeting) each year. There are currently four Officers (Chair, Secretary, Treasurer, Deputy Treasurer) and six Trustees, including the Headteacher, who attends all PTA meetings. In addition, we have a wider group of parent/carer volunteers who attend meetings and offer different kinds of vital support in organising and running fundraising events.

The benefits of getting involved with the PTA include getting to know the school and staff from a different angle, meeting parents with different experiences in other year groups and having the satisfaction of knowing you’ve made a valuable, and very much appreciated, contribution to the school community.

Upcoming meetings, activities and events are announced in the PTA News column of The Saint newsletter each week and on
Facebook: www.facebook.com/groups/sbspta.
Email: sbs_pta@st-birinus.oxon.sch.uk