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COMMUNITY 19
Parents’ Association News
Sally Fisher, PA Secretary
As the summer approaches and the
end of the academic year draws in,
Bancroft’s PA wants to say a huge
“thank you” to you - the parents
- for attending our events and
contributing towards one of our
most successful and busy years yet.
This year we welcomed a number of
new faces to the PA Committee, all
of whom have brought a wonderful
new energy and several excellent
ideas with them.
Some of the new events that were introduced
this year include the Prep School Magic-Show
and also a Prep Movie Night, along with the
return of Comedy & Curry Night, which was
incredibly successful and had our 250-strong
audience laughing out loud. The punchy wit of
three-acts and a highly entertaining compere
ensured the laughs flowed loudly throughout;
this event managed to raise over £3,000 profit!
In addition to the events mentioned above, we
also held a Quiz Night in October, Christmas
Fayre in December and our largest event of
the year, the Hollywood Glitz Summer Ball, on
June 1.
The purpose of the Parents’
Association is to enhance the
already outstanding environment
of Bancroft’s. We do this by
organising events to provide
funds which are used for
equipment, social activities
and additional provisions, to
complement the academic
aspects of the School. So far this
year, the Parent’s Association
has raised approximately
£15,000, of which some will
be donated towards the
various sustainability and
outdoor projects, in support of
Bancroft’s aim of becoming an eco-school.
Dates for your diary from September 2019,
include: our Quiz Night on Saturday 12 October
and the Christmas Fayre on Saturday 30
November. We’re also excited to announce
that Bollywood will be back in early 2020!
As we approach the end of this busy academic
year, our Chair, Simmi Tohani, sadly, comes
to the end of her term; this means we’ll be
welcoming in a new Chair and hopefully more
new faces at the AGM in October. In the
meantime, everyone on the PA would like to
say a huge “Thank You” to Simmi for her hard
work and dedication to the PA over the years.
We wish all of you, a very wonderful summer
and look forward to seeing you in September.
University Fair
Ms Michelle Dean, Head of Careers,
Innovation and Entrepreneurship
On Wednesday 27 March,
Bancroft’s hosted its annual
University Fair. This year was bigger
than the previous year, with twenty
nine universities exhibiting.
This event gives students the opportunity to
meet university representatives and discuss
their degree programmes, university life, and
pick up some resources to take home with
them. Over 250, Fifth and L6th Bancroft’s
pupils attended as well as approximately 150
pupils from five local schools, including, St
Paul’s Way Trust School, Roding Valley High
School, The Drapers’ Academy, Woodbridge
High School, and Sir George Monoux College,.
Feedback from exhibitors and students alike
was been extremely positive. Exhibitors
were impressed with the level of preparation
and interest the students showed. Typical
comments from exhibitors were: “Students
asked very insightful questions, on entry
requirements, student life, course modules.
They were sufficiently briefed beforehand.”
and “Really lovely students, all very
respectful and asked genuinely interested
and pertinent questions.”
Next year we hope to build on our
current success and make the event even
bigger and more useful for our students.
Congratulations to all who worked so hard to
make this event a success.
Haven House
Sparkle Walk
Mrs Lynne Hague
On Friday 10May, twenty-four of
Bancroft’s female staff and a few
of their friends, aka The Belles
of Bancroft’s, embarked on a
sponsored walk in aid of Haven
House Children’s Hospice. This
is located just a mile away from
Bancroft’s and is amazing in its
work caring for young people who
have life-limiting or life-threatening
conditions, in addition to helping to
support their families.
The Belles of Bancroft’s joined other walkers
at Christchurch Green and set off on a
circular route of 10k around the forest areas
and streets of Wanstead andWoodford,
ending at the Cuckfield pub for a well-earned
glass of prosecco! Everyone who took part
had a great evening and are keen to repeat
this annual event, some so enthusiastic
that they are planning to sign up for the
Moonwalk next year (26.2 miles). Earlier in
the day staff also had a bake sale in the staff
room to help with the fundraising. They
have raised more than £2000 and, at the
time of writing, donations are still coming in
for this very worthy cause.