The Parents’ Association

The PA is undoubtedly a key part of Bolton School life, organising memorable events such as the Fireworks Display and Burns’ Night. However, Nissa Smyth, Chair of the PA, believes in finding new ways of engaging parents with School and pupils with the PA: “Just last year we introduced a new Parents’ Association Future Entrepreneurs’ (PAFE) event – a kind of Dragons’ Den competition for all of the Year 9 girls. The teams were challenged to create a new business idea based on a set brief and were judged by an external panel of entrepreneurs made up of parents, relatives and supportive local companies operating in a variety of business disciplines. The winners received a gift voucher, a Young Enterprise Golden Ticket and a new PAFE trophy. The event demonstrated to girls different careers paths and encouraged interaction, focusing on the world of work between parents and daughters. We also involved Year 6 girls in our focus groups and this gave them an early insight into life in the Senior School.” Another new venture this year for the PA is an evening lecture series entitled “An Audience With”. The first event featured fitness guru Ken Heathcote, who was interviewed by local journalist Angela Kelly. This fascinating event explored Ken’s amazing life in the fitness industry, during which he pioneered the first commercial gyms, laid the foundations for UK Active, helped set body-building standards and, as an octogenarian, still performs endurance fitness feats!

“An Audience With” will join annual events like the Firework Display in helping to raise funds. Throughout the year the sale of Bolton School branded Christmas puddings and wine, plant and bulb sales, and light refreshments at School shows also put money in the PA’s coffers. The Girls’ Division has recently benefitted from PA funding with the purchase of a new Year 11 Common Room, classroom signage, sports kit, wooden benches and Great Hall blinds. Money is currently being saved to help fund the refurbishment of the Theatre. Miss Hincks said:

“Parental engagement is vital in ensuring pupil development and success and we are delighted that our Parents’ Association is so actively engaged with School. It can sometimes be the case that, as their children get older and parents no longer stand at the school gate at the end of the school day, they engage less with other parents; a strong PA helps counteract this. I am very grateful for all the support which our Parents’ Association lends us.”

This year’s PAFE winners Flash and Co. with the panel of judges An Audience with Ken Heathcote