PTFA

Meet Your PTFA

Treasurer - Hilary Clements

Secretary - Emilie Hulbert

Chair - Lou Phillips

In the run-up to the meeting, we will be interviewing the current PTFA committee members to find out a bit about them, why they joined the PTFA and what they enjoy about it. In this week’s bulletin, we meet our Treasurer: Hilary Clements.

Tell us a little bit about you

I’m Hilary, the PTFA treasurer. I have Pru in Year 10 and Verity, who has just left and is now in L6 at Richard Huish College. I also went to Uffculme School (as did their dad and grandad - we’re clearly loyal!). I’m a freelance marketer, help out as an exam invigilator, and live on a small farm right on the very edge of the catchment area near Dunkeswell.

How long have you been on the PTFA and why did you join?

I joined the PTFA just after Covid, mainly because a friend thought I needed to get out more! I became treasurer after the role wasn’t filled at the following AGM - the previous treasurer had been in post for almost two decades (no pressure!).

Does the PTFA take much of your time?

Honestly, the treasurer’s job is one of the easier ones - I rarely spend more than one or two hours a month on it. Everything is digital, so I hardly ever need to visit the bank, and any cash can be paid in at the Post Office. Around the craft fair it’s a bit busier, with collecting floats, clearing expenses, and double-counting and banking all the takings. On the day itself, you’ll usually find me on a café till until it’s over and the counting begins!

What does the treasurer role entail?

The treasurer helps keep track of the PTFA’s money and makes sure everything runs smoothly behind the scenes. This means helping count the takings after events, paying suppliers and reimbursing volunteers. The role also involves giving a short, simple update at meetings, helping the committee decide what we can afford to fund, and sending in the annual accounts to the Charity Commission.

What are you most proud of about the PTFA?

That’s a hard one - everything! Last year the PTFA funded over 20 projects totalling more than £12,500, which is amazing. But more than that, I’m proud of the support we get from staff, pupils, parents, carers and the wider community - and of delivering one of the best craft fairs in the region for over 35 years.

I wasn’t particularly academic myself and benefited hugely from school enrichment activities, so it really means a lot to see young people enjoying things the PTFA has helped fund, and showing the benefit of volunteering to the next generation.

What do you enjoy most about being on the PTFA?

Living in the ‘sticks’ it’s easy to lose the connection with school life. This has given me the chance to share this part of our daughters’ lives and see what a massive difference the PTFA makes to so many students.

And finally, one fun fact about you…

As most people know.... I simply can’t sit still — but I love knitting, so you’ll often spot me in the car park waiting for clubs to finish, listening to Radio 4 and knitting hats for seafarers!

Tell us a little bit about you:

My name is Emilie and I’m mum to Paul, who is in Year 8. I work as a project manager for a medical device company and have lived in the UK for the past three years. Outside of work and school life, I’m a keen runner, baker and cold-water swimmer — always up for a new challenge!

How long have you been on the PTFA and what motivated you to join?

I first helped out at the Christmas Fair in 2024, then started attending committee meetings to meet other parents and see how I could get more involved. At the following AGM, the role of Secretary came up — and I decided to go for it. I love organising things (the project manager in me!) and volunteering has always been something I’m passionate about, so it felt like a great fit.

Does the PTFA take up a lot of your time?

Not really — even as Secretary. Our main event is the Craft Fair, so we do spend a few evenings planning between September and November. Aside from that, we meet for an hour every six weeks to catch up and decide how best to use our funds to support the school. It’s very manageable and really rewarding.

What does your role as Secretary involve?

I send out meeting agendas (set by the Chair), take notes and actions during meetings, manage the PTFA email inbox, and help coordinate volunteers for school events. It’s not complicated and doesn’t take up much time — probably around an hour a month — but it makes a real difference.

What are you most proud of about the PTFA?

Seeing everything the PTFA has funded for the children over the years is incredibly rewarding. We’re really focused on supporting extracurricular activities for all pupils, sharing funding across areas like arts, sports, drama and science. I especially love being able to talk to my son about the things he benefits from that come directly from our volunteering.

What do you enjoy most about being on the PTFA?

It’s a wonderful way to stay connected to our children’s school journey. In secondary school, it can sometimes feel like their world becomes a bit more closed off to parents — but being part of the PTFA helps bridge that gap. We get to meet the staff, understand the school’s goals, and contribute in a meaningful, practical way for all students.

And finally, can you give us one fun fact about you?

I was born in France and have lived in several different countries. I speak four languages and I’m currently learning Japanese — simply because I love learning languages!

Tell us about little bit about you:

Hi, I’m Lou. I have two daughters who are both at or have been to Uffculme School: Hazel who left last year and is now in the lower sixth at Richard Huish College and Eowyn who is in year 10. I am a partner in a top 100 law firm and head up their 7 member Charity Property Team. You may know me from running the PTFA snack bar at school events. You may also know my husband, Doug also volunteers to support the school’s stage lighting and on the moorland team.

How long have you been on PTFA and what motivated you to join?

I first volunteered to help put together the raffle in November 2020 which, due to the Covid restrictions at that time, was run in place of the craft-fair and its tombola. I then went to my first AGM the following March. I was adamant that whilst I was happy to be on the committee, I would not take a specific role -  however, when I discovered that many of the previous committee were moving on and found out more about the amazing work which the PTFA do, I agreed to stand as chairperson. At Uffculme,  we are incredibly lucky to have a PTFA: It is actually not that common for secondary schools to have one. The PTFA makes a huge difference to the school, funding so many things which enrich the lives of students and which would simply not be available otherwise (speakers, badges, sports equipment, and equipment for robotics, gardening and war hammer club to name but a few, casting machines for metal, sewing and embroidery machines, video cameras and lights, equipment for DofE and Ten Tors, even a sensory room for when students needs space .. the list goes on and on).

Does the PTFA take up a lot of your time?

Not at much as you would think! We meet every 6 weeks for around 1.5 hours.  We made an active decision early on to make the Craft Fair our main fundraiser for the year and this raises around £12,000 currently (which you can imagine makes a massive difference to the school). Much of our time is spent planning this event  - however - it is now a well oiled machine! We allow stallholders to book at the end of the Craft Fair for the following year so the fair is now usually fully booked from as early as March. In addition to the Craft Fair, we also collect and sell pre-loved uniform and prom-wear and run snack bars at various events through the year.

What does your role of chair involve?

Well really just that, chairing the meetings so we are efficient and effective and also keeping oversight of all we do. I also take the lead in looking after stallholders at the craftfair.

What are you most proud of about the PTFA?

Well ultimately, of course, it is all those things which the PTFA have funded, because that is what we are here for.  In addition to that though and the sheer fact that we have such and active PTFA, I would say that I am most proud of the team work. For the craftfair everyone comes together, staff, parents, grandparents, ex parents and friends and of course the students. I have the privilege of reading the feedback forms each year from stallholders and that is what they really rate; how everyone pulls together to ensure the day runs like clockwork and how friendly and enthusiastic everyone is. There is always incredibly high praise for the student volunteers who are an absolute credit to the school. I would say I am also very proud that within my term, we founded the pre-loved prom wear - because no-one should feel they have to miss out on such an amazing celebration simply because they are concerned about the cost of what they will wear. Of course, all the pre-loved wear is also good for the environment!

What do you enjoy most about being on the PTFA?

Apart from giving back to and supporting the school, and loving the teamwork, I think it is the insight into my girls’ experiences at Uffculme, which is most valuable.

And finally can you give us one fun fact about you?

Hmm well, weird fact, my family and friends all call me by my middle name Lou, but at work I am known by my first name Anna! Odd I know!