Bowdon Church School is one of the lowest recipients of state funding within schools in Trafford and is in the bottom 10% nationally! Therefore the money raised by the PTA is hugely important in providing additional facilities for our children. Here are some of the more significant achievements over the last few years:-
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Pictures speak a thousand words!
Just look at what your fundraising has achieved, transforming the school library.
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Following our Autumn Walk for the Infants in October all the money raised went directly to supporting the infants. We were able to purchase High Visibility Vests which will be used for school trips etc.
The children are delighted with them, so a huge thank you goes to everyone who supported this event. It was a wonderful day, so lets look forward to this year's event when all profits will again go directly to the infants.
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Many thanks for your ongoing support and watch out for how the money is being put to good use!
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The Community Classroom came about because the old library (in the same site) was rotten and had been condemned; it had never been correctly laid and damp was seeping in. At this time other factors came into play; the school wished to become more involved in the community and the breakfast club was occupying a room that needed renovation and was not used effectively. Everything came together as we resolved upon providing a community classroom and re siting the library in the old Breakfast Club room.
We were informed that we were unable to use the school's building allocation to put towards the classroom, as the diocese will not support the construction of de-mountable classrooms. After a lot of form filling, we successfully applied for an extended schools grant and were awarded ₤35,000. We managed to obtain a reasonably priced mobile classroom and paid to have it renovated and installed - which is much more expensive than you would imagine. The PTA committed ₤20,000 to the project and have promised a further ₤2,000.
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What an amazing resource this has provided for the school. |
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Not only do we now have a very useful school space - available for Breakfast Club and School's Out, instrumental lessons, drama, Pop Connection recordings, use by groups visiting the school, school photographs etc. but it gives us the space to serve the community more.
The Community Classroom has been set up as a totally independent building, with its own alarm and water supply. This will enable us to rent it out for meetings, training and classes when it is not in use by the school and we can use it to accommodate a Children's Centre Outreach and to run organisations useful to the school and the community - for example a toddler group. Of course all of this will take time to set up and organise but at last we have a room for all of these necessary commitments.
As a valuable offshoot from this project, we are in the process of refurbishing a new library in the old Breakfast Club room.
This project could not have gone ahead without the PTA's fundraising, which has been used exactly as it should; to improve and enhance the learning experience of every child in the school. The need for a fantastic library was highlighted by the School Council several years ago and it is gratifying for them to see that action has been taken, supported by staff, parents and Governors, to make their suggestion a reality. |
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An enormous Thank You must go out to all the parents, teachers and sponsors who have helped us in renovating the school pond supported by some generous grants and conservation charities. Fantastic improvements have been achieved including repairing the dipping platforms, gate and fencing, plus the addition of an insect log pile and several bird boxes. Various nature signs have been installed around the pond and playgrounds, and a new outdoor classroom area created. Pupils from both our and neighbouring schools will now be able to enjoy the large variety of invertebrates, bird life and wild plants at first hand.
Click here to read about the official pond opening day. |
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Using the money raised at last year's Grand Auction the PTA have bought a fantastic new modular stage which was used for the first time at Christmas for the Infant nativity plays. What a difference it made as we can now see all the children! The stage is light and easily assembled (even the children can do it!). It comes complete with a safety rail and back drop, and will really enhance all the performances.
The PTA have also purchased a trolley to hold all the PE mats so they no longer have to be stored in the hall and some very smart audio/visual kit which again will assist hugely with the performances. We will shortly be adding a new CD player to avoid the technical problems with the sound!
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Following a request from the reception teachers, the PTA have also bought a new cooker and stand and, as the photos show, the results speak for themselves! |
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Our expenditure plans for this year include new "Bowdon Church" tracksuits and PE kit for all the school teams - watch this space! |
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To celebrate the longstanding teaching careers of David & Stella Bolton a beautiful round patio area has been created in the infant playground enclosed by wooden benches and lavender plants. David taught at the school for 27 years before retiring as deputy head teacher last year, whilst Stella taught for 26 years retiring this summer. |
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Following on from the fantastic improvements to the Junior playground last year, the money raised from the PTA Auction in 2007 has now been put to good use converting the Infant playground from this........ |
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| to these superb new play areas. A huge Thank You goes out to everyone involved in the project. |
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To encourage musical learning within the school the PTA purchased several mini cellos to loan out to parents. They have proved a huge success with a large number of pupils now learning an instrument. |
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The money raised from the PTA Grand Auction in 2006 was used to create a fabulous new Junior Playground, consisting of some exciting and challenging play equipment as well as a quieter Friendship Area. See the results for yourself in the Before and After photographs below.
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