Overview
Ark Priory Primary Academy Association (APPAA – Friends of Ark Priory) is run by the school's parents and carers and aims to advance the education of all Ark Priory children by fostering community and raising funds to support the school. As a parent/carer of a child at Ark Priory (including the nursery classes), you are automatically a member of the association, and we look forward to getting to know you over the coming years.
We want to give all Ark Priory children the kind of education, rich in music, arts, sports, and external visits, which a state budget does not always allow for. Over the last few years, even during the COVID pandemic during 2020 and 2021, we have managed to raise several thousands (£20,847 in 2019; £10,742 in 2020; £8,465 in 2021; £16,395 in 2022, £16,296 in 2023).
These additional funds have allowed our children to have experiences they would not otherwise have had. We have, over the last years, contributed towards science equipment, PE and games equipment, iPads, wet weather suits for EYFS, musical instruments, Art Week, educational Lego and robotics, and the complete astroturfing of the MUGA (multi-use games area), as well as the crucial ongoing supplementation costs of trips and educational visits. Over the last few years, we used some of the funds to offer every child the opportunity to go to a West End theatre show free of charge.
We hold several events each year, big and small, for the children and for our parents/carers. For example, annual Christmas and Summer fairs, Easter and Eid bake sales, socials, a new parents’ ‘meet and greet’ event, pre-loved school uniform sales, and year group bake sales, to name but a few. Not only do we aim to raise much-needed funds for our school, to enrich our children’s education further, but also to foster community. To that end, some events are simply social, intended wholly for parents, governors, and staff to mingle in an informal setting.
How we operate
In May 2023, we became a registered charity (charity number 1203320). The charity’s governing body is a committee of trustees who make decisions about APPAA’s activities and how funds raised are spent. We currently have five trustees including two Co-Chairs, a Secretary, a Treasurer, and an Ordinary Committee Member who were elected at our last Annual General Meeting (AGM) in October 2023.
The committee members/trustees are supported by a wider group of year-group representatives and volunteers. Working together, they oversee the organising of fundraising and social events, encourage greater communication between parents/carers and the school and support other parents by sharing helping information about school life, or passing on experiences. As a new parent, the experience can be quite daunting, and it can be helpful to have someone ‘on the ground’ to talk to.
We also facilitate communication amongst parents in each year group by maintaining a WhatsApp group per year group that all parents are invited to join. And we issue a newsletter alongside the school weekly newsletter with our latest news and events.
We have open committee meetings at least once a term, and our AGM is held in October. Please click here to see the minutes of our last AGM which includes a review of our 2022/23 activities and finances.
Our constitution, or governing document, is here.
How can you get involved?
There are lots of ways to be involved with APPAA, small or large! From simply attending the community and social events, to baking a cake for our regular bake sales, volunteering to help organise or run an event, fundraising, or becoming a year-group representative or committee member/trustee. Hopefully you’ll want to be an active part of our community!
You can fundraise for APPAA while you shop online – at no cost to you:
Easyfundraising partners with over 7,500 brands who will donate part of what you spend to APPAA. Register here.
Order stick on name labels for school uniform from Stikins and APPAA will receive 30% commission if you use reference number 35676 at the checkout.
Order name stamps, inkpads and fabric pens for school uniform from Stamptastic and APPAA will receive 15% commission if you use reference W38NR at the checkout.
We would love to hear from you if your employer offers the opportunity to boost your fundraising efforts through match funding. This could be matching an amount you have either raised or donated or offering time to enable you to volunteer with us.
You can make a donation to APPAA at any time here at easyfundraising (please remember to tick Gift Aid if you are eligible).
Get in touch!
Please email us directly at appaacommittee@gmail.com or follow us on Instagram @arkprioryparentsassociation or X (formerly Twitter) @APPAA_ArkPriory