Trustees and their work

The Trustees of the Claires Court PTA (Registered Charity No. 1052993) play a vital role in steering the direction, governance, and financial management of the association. Comprising elected and co-opted parents, teachers, and school friends, they volunteer their time entirely without remuneration.

Their primary contributions include:

  • Strategic Governance & Objectives: Trustees ensure that all PTA activities align with the charity’s constitutional goals—specifically advancing the education of Claires Court pupils
    • Develop more extended relationships between the staff, parents and others associated with the School; 
    • Engage in activities which support the School and advance the education of the pupils attending it; 
    • Provide and assist in the provision of facilities and opportunities for the education of the pupils at the School; 
    • Promote and assist a past pupils’ network (Alumni).
  • Financial Oversight & Reporting: They are legally responsible for controlling the charity’s funds, approving annual budgets, and preparing transparent financial statements submitted to the Charity Commission.
  • Direct Fundraising Leadership: Trustees actively create and lead official online fundraising campaigns (such as dedicated campaigns on JustGiving) to secure extra funding for target projects, like supporting humanitarian student bursaries or specific campus resources.
  • Event Management: Alongside wider parent subgroups, trustees help orchestrate large school community milestones, including the Summer Fete, Summer Ball/Party, Family Quiz Nights, Drama events and the October Fireworks display.

Current PTA Trustees & Main Board members June 2026

NameRoleStart of PTA main board serviceConnection to the school
Phyllis Avery MBEPresident & Chair1996Former parent
Trevor SharkeySecretary2018Former Parent, previous staff
Simon BallTreasurer202?Current parent
Richard AveryTrustee2026Former pupil
Dominic BeeverTrustee2026Former parent
Claire SamberTrustee2026Former parent, previous staff
Anna-Taylor-WestTrustee2024Former parent
Jeff WatkinsTrustee2023Former parent, previous staff
James WildingTrustee1996Founding pupil, former parent, former Principal
Deborah MussellSchool finance linkNACurrent employee, current parent
The committee is supported by current serving Principals and deputies, division PTA committee chairs (Juniors, Seniors, Sixth Form) and Teacher Reps (Juniors, College site, Senior Boys). Each Trustee carries a specific additional responsibility to assist in liaising with the specific section of the school or other responsibility of the charity.

The table below gives recognition for the founding members of the PTA Charity in 1996, and meritorious service by the school administrative staff in supporting their work.

Brian CullingfordVice-President1996-2006Former Parent
Laura CullingfordVice-President1996-2006Former parent
Roger SpanswickVice-President1996-2006Former parent
Marsha SpanswickVice-President1996-2006Former parent
Rosemary BarkerPrincipals’ PA1996-2016Former parent
Sheila HookerSchool Secretary1996-2010Former parent

The table below gives recognition for those Trustees who have given extended support for the PTA Charity

Felipe FoyTrustee2012-2026Former parent – Digital services
Tina WebsterTrustee2014-2026Former parent – Beverages & Licencing

The photograph below was taken during the 2024-25 Reporting period, showing the committee as it was then at their Summer-end Trustees meeting.

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