Class reps 

What is a Class Rep?

The role of class rep is a link between the PTC and the parents/carers of a class.  

The PTC heavily relies on class reps to communicate with their classmates and gain support for events, in terms of participation and attendance, volunteering, donating things etc.  

Keep an eye out for the Events Calendar for upcoming events, especially those that may affect your year specifically, like Cake Sales!  We know that people are busy with work and other commitments so as a rep you may not always be able to attend/volunteer for things yourself, but your support in getting help from amongst your class is appreciated. You do not need to be at school for pick up and drop off to be a rep as so much is coordinated by WhatsApp or email.

Volunteers

One of the biggest tasks is getting volunteers from your classes to man the stalls at the Christmas and summer fairs (our biggest events), further details of which will be shared in the run up to them, but the more people who are engaged in your class to be involved in the group, the easier this task will be. 

Helping parents to integrate 

Class reps also play a part in helping parents/carers integrate, and get to know each other and make friends! It is of such value to know others in your classes as the children become friends and of course it’s lovely to have people you can call on when you might need help such as be running late for pick up, have an unwell sibling so need help with drop off etc...! You may therefore like to organise class/year group socials and get togethers to help parents and carers get to know each other! These are common place in the local pubs- you will often see others from ours and other schools when you go!

General communications

You may also send reminders and help everyone be organised with remembering things like school photo day, school trips and packed lunches required, homework due, dress up days etc. In our year group WhatsApp we have always tried to help each other out in this way as we can all easily forget something one day and things often change, and there are periods when LOTS is going on at once (namely Christmas and end of term in July), so reps can help with encouraging their class to communicate and help each other so no child is without their swim kit because the day got changed or takes a bucket and spade for the trip to the Tate Modern!

We are all volunteers and busy people, we can only do our best! You will often be able to cut and paste central messages, amending where needed to help you save time too.

Rules for this WhatsApp chat are that everyone is polite and respectful and that we are positive and supportive of our school. We avoid sending non-urgent messages between 10pm and 7am

The teachers are grateful for reps to support communications and of course the more organised we are and the more children have the right clothes on, the right kit with them etc on the right day, the easier we make the teachers’ lives!

Thank you Teachers!

As a class Rep you may wish to organise collections for Christmas and end of year gifts for your classes teaching staff- most classes do, voluntary of course as there are always some people who prefer to buy their own gift. Common gifts are John Lewis or Amazon vouchers purchased from parent donations.

Signing up Parents to the Class group Whatsapp

How to get the details of your fellow parents/carers? In most cases you can simply ask them if you and they are in the playground and add them to the chat.  

It is important people know that it is not compulsory, nor organised by the school. Only parents/carers are on the chat and any leavers are removed straight away. 

If you have a high number of non-WhatsApp users in your class or those who don’t like group chat, you may wish to consider emails or texts to those individuals especially at times of needing volunteers or wanting to ensure they’re invited to socials etc. It’s really up to you. 

If you have any questions or would like to be a rep please get in touch.