Bourn Bourn School Association
What do we Do?
Bourn School Association (BSA) is the name of our Parent Teacher Association (PTA). The BSA is made up of parents, carers and teachers who meet regularly to plan the fundraising and social events that help to build and strengthen links between families, the school and the local community, as well as raising money to provide extra facilities and opportunities for the children.
PTAs are best known for their fundraising work, but they have a useful social function too. In the last few years we have held adult-only Quiz Nights, Bingo Nights, Gin Tasting event and a Race Night. These have been great opportunities for parents, staff and friends of the school to get together and have a fun evening out, while raising funds for the school. You can pay for events or products online using this link: www.pta-events.co.uk/bourn.
For the children we run events such as school discos, Easter egg hunts, Christmas and Mother’s Day giftshops, a Father’s day breakfast and a Santa’s Grotto at our fantastic Christmas Capers event on the first Saturday in December every year. There is of course also a summer fete with loads of fun activities for all of the family, held in July.
We also organise smaller events and initiatives such as second-hand uniform sales, Freeze-Pop Fridays and Krispy Kreme Sales. A separate volunteer committee organises Bourn to Run, an annual event with both a 10k and 3k option. Bourn to Run raises substantial funds for the BSA, as well as providing a popular event for runners and a fantastic family day out.
The BSA also likes to support the school by regularly serving refreshments at events such as the Orchestra performances, class plays and sports day.
Who Can Join?
All parents and carers of children at the school are automatically BSA members and are warmly invited to regular BSA Committee Meetings and to offer help and ideas whenever they can. Pre-school children and babies are always very welcome. Meeting dates will be announced by email and are usually held on Fridays at school or a weekday evening.
What Commitment is Required?
No formal commitment is required. Parents are encouraged to help as and when they can. Requests for help may be made in the newsletter, by email, or via the class WhatsApp groups, especially around the time of our fêtes (our major fundraising events). Some parents are able to come into school during the day to help with the set-up; others are able to take things home to fold, number, wrap up or prepare in the evenings; some are able to offer their expertise by producing banners or promoting events, for example. All offers of help are always gratefully received.
What Do We Spend our Funds On?
The BSA works with the Headteacher to provide finance for areas not covered by the school’s standard budget. The main criterion is that areas to be funded should benefit as many children as possible.
Some of the more recent and upcoming purchases and projects that have been supported or financed by the BSA include:
- A wildlife camera for the Nature Reserve;
- Furniture and fittings for the Acorn class makeover;
- Visits by all classes to the Life Bus, a PSHE mobile resource;
- A visit to the school by The Cambridge Science Centre;
- A charging trolley to enable us to use donated tablets;
- A smart new sports kit for sports events where the children represent the school.
Throughout the course of the academic year the BSA contributes funding to the following:
- maintenance of the swimming pool – the BSA committee feels that the children benefit so much from being able to swim regularly at school that we are keen to fund regular repairs and maintenance of the pool;
- Year 6 leavers’ gifts and barbecue – each child in Year 6 receives a gift at the end of the year and we run a Year 6 barbecue to celebrate their time at Bourn Primary;
- school trips and educational visitors – we give an annual allowance to each class every year for outings and trips that support children’s learning in class;
- gardening club equipment – children across the school participate weekly in various gardening projects thanks to the support of a team of BSA volunteers;
- maintenance of the nature reserve – this is a wonderful resource that the BSA is keen to keep accessible and safe for the children to use on a regular basis;
- School Council Budget – we have allocated a budget to the School Council, to be spent on new resources of its choice.
Class Representatives
Each class has two parent representatives who provide a communication channel between the BSA committee, the school and parents on the playground. Their role includes passing on information from the BSA to other parents in their child’s class and encouraging parents to support the BSA. They also help to recruit volunteers from their class to help in activities such as:
- running a stall at the Christmas and Summer fairs
- supporting the refreshments stall at Bourn to Run
If you are unable to speak to your class rep at pick-up or drop-off, please contact them via your class WhatsApp group.
How Can You Keep Updated About BSA Events?
BSA Newsletters are produced at regular intervals to keep everyone informed of forthcoming events and recent monies raised / expenditure. We also have a noticeboard at the school gates advertising all forthcoming events.
Please let us know about any ideas you may have to raise funds for our school, or if you would like to help in any other way. We can also be contacted via the school office or by email at bsa@bourn.cambs.sch.uk.
BSA Committee 2023-24
Voting Members: Catherine Byfield (Chair), Dee Sturdy (Vice Chair), Simone Glennen (Secretary), Mimi Wheeler (Treasurer), Louisa Harvey, Philip Canavan, Andy Johnson and Lucie Zubrik.
