2007

Trustees’ Report 2007

Overview

2007 was another successful year for our delivery of benefit as evidenced by high levels of member satisfaction with over 80% of respondents to our 2007 member survey reporting “excellent or good” and a nearly 90% rating for “good value for money”.

Objectives and Activities

The principal objects contained within the charity’s memorandum and articles of association are:

“To advance education by encouraging the fullest co-operation between home and school, education authorities, central government and all other interested parties and bodies”.

The charity carries out periodic reviews of its aims and activities and during 2007 defined new areas of strategic priority as noted below.

Achievements and Performance

Membership numbers in 2007 were close to those in 2006. Net membership income was £970,373 in 2007 compared to £967,079 in 2006. High levels of expenditure on charitable activities were maintained totalling £1,165,398 in 2007 similar to the £1,162,346 in 2006. Expenditure on governance was again tightly controlled at £78,164 in 2007 approximately £1,000 down on the £79,189 in 2006. This represents some 6% of total resources expended.

The investment portfolio, held by RCM (UK) Ltd, performed in line with the chosen benchmark index as set by the WM Company for the Charities universe.

The six key strategic objectives agreed in December 2003 which remained in force throughout 2006 were the subject of a full Board review during 2007. Close attention was paid to the static nature of membership numbers, the continuing high levels of expenditure on member services and consequent high levels of operating deficit together with the education and market environment. The result was the definition of new key priorities as detailed below.

1. Overriding priority for growth in membership

Membership remained our core focus during 2007 and we are most grateful to our staff in the office and in the field who continue to manage the relentless demand. However, the combination of near static membership levels which represent approximately 51% of the available market and a desire to maintain expenditure on member services made the growth in membership the overriding priority. To this end a comprehensive membership development plan was constructed in the latter part of 2007 and endorsed by the Board at their December meeting. This plan now forms the backbone of our ongoing work and development.

2. Maintenance of the quality and range of PTA support and high levels of service

Member response to our range of products and services continues to be very encouraging as the figures quoted in the overview above demonstrate. Our research amongst members continues to reinforce this priority. Top three in the list of member interests remain insurance at over 90% with website and fundraising ideas at about 80%. These services will therefore continue to be centre stage in all that we do.

The investment in a new website mentioned in our report last year has been very well received as noted by the figures above but also by the congratulatory feedback from the Institute of Fundraising and a more recent 5 star rating from the Good Web Guide.

2007 also saw the completion of our Regional Adviser expansion and we now offer members local support in all 9 regions of England as well as Northern Ireland and Wales.

We are fortunate that historic prudence has provided reserves which have enabled us to invest in high quality member services. However this investment over the last three years has seen operating expenditure exceed income by over £350,000. Our attention therefore turned in 2007 to seek a break even situation by 2010. The first step in this process was a decision to raise member subscriptions for 2008 onwards. We are pleased to report that this decision has not had an adverse effect on membership renewals although we will continue to monitor member views on value for money. Concurrent with the change in subscription rates we also introduced the opportunity for members to pay by direct debit. Early indications are that this is proving very popular. As we move to a break even position our ambition is to focus primarily on expanding membership and although we will continue to monitor expenditure very closely we are determined to maintain value and quality for our members.

3. To promote parent and school partnerships as a lead in to parental involvement

We mentioned last year that two new award schemes were introduced in our 50th anniversary year and we are pleased to report that the schemes continued their success in 2007 with another range of excellent examples of good practice by PTAs and of emerging projects to encourage parental participation in learning and education.

PTA committee members have always been interested in expanding the number of parents who are involved in the running of and participation in events. However research has shown that parents’ involvement in their child’s education is a critical success factor in their child’s future attainment. We will therefore continue to promote parent and school partnerships and involvement in view of the benefit it offers to both parents and their children.

Staff Commitment

Particular thanks are due to our staff and Chief Executive for continuing to drive our key interests forward and for keeping member services at the heart of our activity. We continue to receive requests for parental opinion and consultation responses and to speak at conferences and participate in Government task forces from a wide range of stakeholders. Our Chief Executive’s continuing commitment to the role of parents in education was recognised in the 2008 New Year Honours List with the award of an OBE. As he said at the time “with the amount of development that has gone on at NCPTA over the last nine years and the improvements we have delivered to our members, I see the award as much for them and everyone at NCPTA who has contributed to that success as it is for me.”

Structure, Governance and Management

The NCPTA is both a company limited by guarantee and a registered charity. It governs itself in accordance with its memorandum and articles of association which were last reviewed by the Board in December 2003. The number and appointment of trustees is set out in the memorandum and articles of association. The decision to appoint all trustees is a power of the Board and there are no appointments made by external organisations.

The organisational structure of the charity is set by its Board who form from amongst their number working committees to make recommendations to the Board. Following a review in 2005 there are now five such committees, namely:

Membership Services and Development
Policy and Research
Finance, Insurance and Risk
Employment and Remuneration
Nominations (of trustees)

Minutes of these committees are always reported to the Board. The Memorandum of Association includes the power of investment and the power to delegate the management of investments to professional advisers. The powers also include the ability to establish subsidiary companies, one of which, NCPTA Enterprises Limited, was incorporated in 1999. Towards the end of 2005 the Board established a document which lays out the powers reserved to the Board and thereby which matters can be delegated to the Chief Executive. In line with good governance practice the Board is itself responsible for the definition of strategy and the establishment of strategic and financial objectives including the operating budget. The Chief Executive reports progress on strategy, budgets and activity in writing to the Board on a quarterly basis.

Through its finance, insurance and risk committee the Board reviews, on an annual basis, major risks which it may face together with actions and provisions appropriate to ameliorate such risks. Once reviewed the committee’s recommendations are passed to the full Board for their approval.

Policies, Procedures and Operational Authorities

The Board reviews its policies, procedures and operational authorities annually and again with a few small changes all were reaffirmed as appropriate during 2007. General reserves of between one and two years’ expenditure are held to fulfil commitments and to meet obligations for the repair and maintenance of facilities.

Trustees’ Responsibilities

The Trustees are responsible for preparing the financial statements in accordance with applicable law and United Kingdom Generally Accepted Accounting Practice.

Company law requires the Trustees to prepare accounts for each financial year which give a true and fair view of the state of affairs of the company and of the surplus or deficit of the company for that period. In preparing these accounts the Trustees are required to:

select suitable accounting policies and then apply them consistently

make judgements and estimates that are reasonable and prudent

prepare the accounts on the going concern basis unless it is inappropriate to presume that the company will continue in operation

The Trustees are responsible for keeping proper accounting records which disclose with reasonable accuracy at any time the financial position of the company and to enable them to ensure that the accounts comply with the Companies Act 1985. They are also responsible for safeguarding the assets of the company and hence for taking reasonable steps for the prevention and detection of fraud and other irregularities.

Statements of disclosure to auditor

So far as the Trustees are aware, there is no relevant audit information of which the company's auditors are unaware, and
They have taken all the steps that they ought to have taken as Trustees in order to make themselves aware of any relevant audit information and to establish that the company's auditors are aware of that information.

Auditors

A resolution for the re-appointment of Creaseys LLP as auditors will be put to the Annual General Meeting.

Summarised Accounts - 2007

A copy of the full report and accounts can be obtained by writing to NCPTA at 39 Shipbourne Road Tonbridge Kent TN10 3DS.