Supporting your school
“ The isolation has been replaced by a sense of connection ”
Chetham ' s School Of Music PTA
Based in : Manchester Winners of : Changing the Life of the School Award
Nikki Higgins is a committee member on Chetham ’ s School of Music PTA . She says :
“ As a specialist music school , Chetham ’ s draws talented young musicians aged 8-18 from across the UK and beyond . Most of the students are boarders and access to the school is limited to pick-up or drop off at the beginning or end of term which means parents rarely meet each other .
The PTA was set up just before Covid struck . My son joined the school just as things were opening back up - and as I had experience of being on a PTA - I joined the committee . The members were a group of local parents , so I offered my perspective on what it felt like to be a parent from afar and how isolating it can feel . They had already set up a buddy system where new parents were matched up with an existing parent which was great , so we decided to think of other ways we could build the school community .
The first step was to join Parentkind . I had experience of being a member through my previous PTA and had found the support and resources invaluable . Next we set up a Facebook group . This hadn ’ t been done previously due to various concerns but , when we explained it would be strictly moderated with every post preapproved , the Headteacher – who was very supportive of our plans – and agreed . The group proved to be instrumental to our communications as a PTA . We put up a post with a map inviting people from the various regions to get together and form a group . As it stood many parents were driving very long distances to collect
their children on free weekends or at the end of term , while other children were having to take public transport alone .
The idea was that they could connect as a local group , arrange activities together and share lifts . It really took off and before long we had several regional groups up and running .
We also wanted to organise something that would bring everyone together and decided on a walk in the Peak District which was easy to get to from the school . Working with the school ' s Fit to Perform team , in October 2022,42 of us – staff , parents , children from year 9 upward , plus six family dogs – met in Edale and walked up Kinder Scout – the highest point in the Peak District .
26 PARENTKIND . ORG AUTUMN 2023