Reading School Parents’ Association is led by a committee of willing and enthusiastic parents whose main aims are to create a network of parental support and to raise money for the school. We meet regularly and organise several events to fund extra projects across the school that directly benefit our children and enhance their education and environment at the school.
Our Activities
In order to fulfil our mission of enhancing the students’ education and supporting their parents and carers, we carry out the following:
-We ensure all new starters and their families are warmly welcomed into the Reading School Family. We aim to invite New Y7 starters to a picnic, fayre or our Pre-Loved Uniform Shop Day in the school grounds, depending on what capacity School have for us to host such events. We attend at or co-ordinate our own Y7 welcome evenings, create their own year Facebook page and are generally on hand to help with their transition to school;
-We provide and maintain a parental communication system - Classlist;
-We organise social functions, which have previously included quiz nights, the Christmas Market, the Summer Fayre and also Student Discos with a Parent/Carer Meet & Greet;
-We fundraise to help fill any requirements not met by the Government budget;
-We enhance the school environment by provision of e.g. a Multi-Use Games Area, a covered learning area Canopy, the installation of new benches, bathrooms and cricket nets;
-We support additional events e.g. House Music Competition, Sports Personality of the Year, Junior Prize Giving and the Y13 Leavers Drinks Party;
-We also provide a well-stocked Second Hand Uniform shop and a lost property service.
Research shows that parents have a major impact on a child's achievements. Parental involvement means that children are more likely to get better exam results, attend school regularly, have better social skills, show improved behaviour and go on to further education
Through various events and activities during the year to 31st March 2023, RSPA received over £34,782 of funds.
Over the last two years alone the RSPA has helped 24 different academic departments and many of the wider clubs available to the boys. From books to boxing stands, from chess sets to camera equipment, the RSPA has been involved in many of the day to day and also the larger initiatives that you may see around School. We are continually looking at ways to support every department within the school. One of our repeated successes has been the Teachers Wishlist, which in December 2023 alone co-ordinated gifts from parents and carers worth over £4,500 to School, providing additional learning resources and supportive items.
All proceeds go directly to extending our students learning and supporting their daily school life.
One very easy way that you can make a contribution (which is both free and from the comfort of your home) to the RSPA is by signing up to either or both of the following two sites - The Giving Machine - Easyfundraising
The RSPA is run completely by volunteer parents and carers from the school. We are a very diverse group of individuals bringing much enthusiasm and our own personal set of skills to the team. As you will see we are very active in a lot of areas from large scale events, careers advice to running a uniform shop. We will welcome any time you can spare to help.
We can only run our fantastic events with help from you! Please get in touch if you would like to know more about volunteering at our next events.
In one previous school year we raised over £10K via the use of Corporate Matching. If you work for a company who offers this scheme and you are keen to explore how this can help the RSPA, please contact us.
