Debbie Kay, of Prestwich, was responding to publicity over non-payment of the voluntary levy by sections of the parent body and the subsequent letter from Brenda Freedland about the work of the parents' guild.

Mrs Freedland wrote: "The school governors should have met with the parents' guild and set up a committee, whose sole function is to raise money for the school to provide those amenities as well as the voluntary levy."

In response, Mrs Kay said that the parents' guild is constantly looking for new ways to raise money to spend on the school.

She explained: "As chairman of the parents' guild, I want to encourage parents to support both the guild and the school where possible through subscription to the guild, attendance at events and through payment of voluntary contributions."

She added that the guild has a long history of providing the services and funding for activities that the school has no budget for.

Mrs Kay highlighted a Space Explorer climbing frame - a new addition to the primary school playground - as an example of the provisions offered by the parents' guild.

She said: "The Space Explorer was donated by the parents' guild using funds that have been raised over the last few years through our events and from subscriptions to the guild.

"And £1,000 raised from the recent upper primary disco has gone towards the purchase of a new inflatable for the swimming pool."

Further purchases for the school made by the parents' guild include new floats for the pool and equipment for the physical education department, a contribution to the new printing presses in the art department, and contributions to the business studies trip to Paris in February.

Mrs Kay, who has two children in the high school, is also a primary school governor.

She continued: "We rely on support from friends and family coming to events. That is our main income.

"We work independently from the school and we work for the extras that are provided.

"The letter made me realise that there isn't a wider awareness of the fantastic work of the parents' guild.

"I work full-time, as do the other committee members, and it would stop if we didn't give our time."

She added that this week the parents' guild has paid for repairs to a minibus, amounting to £1,000.

"That letter was an eye- opener," she said.

"None of us needs a pat on the back but we do ask people for money and I want to shout about where that money goes.

"It's extremely hard work and it sometimes costs more to put events on than we make back."

And she urged more people to come forward to offer a helping hand.

"We're always looking for more people and help at events," she said.

"The parents' guild fulfils a separate need.

"Aside from the academic side, the kids need everything else as well."