Supporting your school
Primary PTA of the Year Award
Winners: The Plascrug Primary School PTA
“ Six PTA members led the planning and secured over £ 40,000 in grant funding.” outdoor areas, which has increased opportunities for learning and play, even in poor weather. The polytunnel comfortably fits a whole class and supports foodgrowing projects, and there has been a noticeable shift in the school’ s culture towards outdoor engagement.”
- Words by Joanna Jordan, Member / Parent Governor
“ The school follows the Eco Schools Initiative( awarded platinum status in 2016), which encourages student engagement with sustainability. Both the Eco and School Councils regularly voiced frustration about the lack of year-round access to the woods, nature area and field due to a compacted, waterlogged connecting area. In summer 2024, Year 1 pupils were asked to design their ideal playground. Their ideas, alongside input from the Eco Council and teachers, inspired features such as a polytunnel, planters, trellis and benches.
Six PTA members led the planning and secured over £ 40,000 in grant funding with support from pupils, staff and parents.
Several biodiverse nature zones have been developed, including a boardwalk and bog garden that link established trees to the pond, doubling the green space in the Year 1 yard. We’ ve Improved year-round access to
Images: The Plascrug Primary School PTA, Paul Meyler
Secondary PTA of the Year Award
Winners: Egglescliffe School PTA
“ The PTA allows EGG SOUP to raise its own funds [...] any additional revenue will be utilised by the PTA to support further extracurricular activities.”
“ EGG SOUP is our student newspaper. It started life a few years ago as a small club run by one English teacher and has grown to become a printed tabloid newspaper with a distribution of 2,000 copies delivered to students, families, local residents and businesses.
The PTA has been instrumental in supporting the school to grow the newspaper club. Parent volunteers with experience in newspaper journalism advise the club with tips on article writing, as well as sub-editing and setting the pages. Parent volunteers also help to deliver and distribute the newspaper to the community.
Behind the scenes, one of the most crucial aspects to the growth and success of EGG SOUP has been the financial support given by the PTA, which is a registered charity with Trustees and a dedicated bank account. By keeping any revenue generated by sponsorship and advertising separate from the school, the PTA allows EGG SOUP to raise its own funds, giving supporters assurance that the project is not-for-profit and any additional revenue will be utilised by the PTA to support further extracurricular activities.
The project has great potential for further growth, with discussions underway to involve every department within the school, including art to create graphics and train photographers, IT to train students in using industry-standard software to typeset the newspaper, and business studies to build a team of students with strong customer relationship management and sales skills. This is all coordinated by a joint effort with school staff and PTA volunteers, many of whom have years of experience in these fields.
The response from the local community has been fantastic, and more students are getting involved each term, gaining valuable experience and portfolio evidence for their future careers.”
- Words by Andrew Hatton, Chair
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