<p> Caterham School Parents’ Association Committee Meeting Wednesday 13th January 2016 Refectory</p><p>Present Sophie Locket(SL) Chair, Janna Kellaway(JK) Secretary, Ceri Jones(CJ) Headmaster, Matthew Godfrey(MG) Deputy Head External Relations, Hannah Graydon(HG) Head of Marketing and Communications, Howard Tuckett(HT) Prep Head, Jane Bainbridge(JB), Viara Challier(VC), David Day(DD), Alison Ellis(AE), John Hill(JH), Omar Ibrahim(OI), Zoe Jackson(ZJ), Liz Mason(LM), Karuna Patel(KP), Monica Quijano-Evans(MQE), Giovanna Sessi-Knott(GSK), Payal Shah(PS), Helen Simmans(HS), Tracy Wyner(TW)</p><p>Apologies Daniel Gabriele, Tim Allison, Chantal Baker, Tracy Baker, Angela Chauhan, Orla Flatley, Maureen Gibbins, Erika James, Uliana Mishina, Amy Norman, Sam Ogden, Belinda Russell, Sam Wright</p><p>Welcome</p><p>SL wished everyone a happy New Year and introduced HG to the Committee. It was agreed that decisions on proposals would be by majority vote of the members in attendance.</p><p>Head Masters’ reports </p><p>Prep School - HT The Prep School has started up again successfully since returning from the Christmas break. Our traditional end-of-term Christmas activities all went off very well. We are particularly grateful to the parent body for their generous support of the ‘Bloodwise’ collection. Donations at the various Pre-Prep nativity performances and the Prep Carol Service amounted to £2,196.40. Through the Gift-Aid process that benefit will be even further enhanced. A letter of thanks received by our school accountant, Lucie Funnell, from the ‘Bloodwise’ charity is being circulated to the Prep community in Prep News this week. The Christmas Fair was a wonderful event and was enjoyed by many members of the school community. Many thanks to Jane Bainbridge and her team for all their hard work in this regard.</p><p>We welcome Lauren Du Plooy to the school who has joined us as our new Nursery teacher and Mr Cleary who is with us for a term to assist with Boys’ Games.</p><p>Year 6 entry examinations were completed on Saturday 9th January. The day went very well. Some of our Y6 pupils also enjoyed the opening of the all-weather playing surface on the evening of Friday 8th January. It was good to see Alex Danson back at the school. Many of our pupils stayed on to enjoy the exhibition hockey and lacrosse matches. On Monday 25th January, our Year 6 choir members will be joining other choristers from our senior school to rehearse and perform at the Lyceum theatre in London that same evening. The event is a massed schools choral and musical event spread across all schools in the United Learning group. I would like to thank the PA for their generous provision of the five wooden planters, agreed at the last PA meeting. The planters are now in place, filled with soil and are planted up with winter pansies, dwarf conifers and masses of bulbs which will be emerging soon. The new planters have enhanced the outside of the Shirley Goss building no end. The provision of spectator benches alongside our newly resurfaced netball courts is the second phase of this provision and planning is underway. Looking forward I would throw my support behind the Headmaster and Mr Webster’s appeal for support with the development of the ‘Innovation Centre’ proposed for the ground floor of the Hillside building. This proposal would be of significant value to both the Prep and Senior schools. My thanks to the PA for your ongoing support and efforts in supporting all we do. Senior School CJ would like to pass on his thanks to those who came to Carol Service and noted that the Prep Christmas Fair was a fantastic occasion where he enjoyed being Father Christmas. </p><p>Academic: CJ welcomed back Charlotte Bell who has returned after maternity leave. The 5th and U6th years are currently taking mock exams. It’s the first time mocks have been undertaken for U6 and feedback so far has been positive. Oxbridge candidates have received 13 offers so far, which is a pleasing result. The London Academy of Excellence, the school in Newham that we support, has had 10 successful candidates for Oxbridge. The 11+ entrance examination was last Saturday, 9th January, and was a really busy and, hopefully, positive experience for the children. CJ offered thanks to MG who has changed the layout of the day to make it more relaxed and enjoyable for the candidates. </p><p>Capital projects: last Friday, 8th January saw the opening of the new astro. It was a very successful evening and the games played were good showcases. Lots of people attended and it was a fun, social occasion. The Performing Arts Centre is on schedule and is due to be handed back in June and available for use in September. The new drama studio and recording studio will transform the drama and music departments. There will be a meeting with Tandridge Council on Thursday night (14th January) where, hopefully, planning permission for the new Pavilion at Hillfields will be granted. (This has now been granted). There are also now better provisions for food and drink up there during matches.</p><p>Sporting achievements: Rugby: the 1st XV are through to the next round of the Daily Mail Schools Vase. Hockey: had a tough start against Whitgift. Netball: the new surface on the netball courts has been successful but there have been few matches due to rain. Sam Talbot in L6 had a very successful weekend and won the U20 year olds indoor heptathlon athletics.</p><p>Music/Art/Drama: we have been invited to perform in the International Shakespeare Competition at [City/Guild] Hall at Easter, alongside schools from Jamaica, Hong Kong and China. Some pupils from those schools will be staying at Caterham School and we shall perform together in London. The Drama Department is putting on a performance of Arabian Nights before half term and the Chamber Choir performed on BBC Radio Surrey before Christmas. The Symphony Orchestra performed for the first time in the Autumn Concert. </p><p>Other: The first camping weekend is being held in the woods this weekend, under Ben Wilkinson’s supervision. There are more bag racks around school now. HG is looking at providing a new school website over the next term. </p><p>Requests for funds and Report on Past Funding</p><p>Composting toilet – Mr Ben Wilkinson(BW) BW gave an update on the outdoor learning and woodlands situation: over next few months logging company Sparrowhatch will create a clearing to improve the wildlife and diversity of the area. Sixth form volunteers will help sort out footpaths and he will arrange a parent volunteer session soon, which will probably be on a Monday morning. There are plans to build a forest school area opposite Preprep for them to use and further up the hill, a bushcraft and teaching area will be created. Both will be fenced in to keep them free of dogs and the public. </p><p>BW would like to ask for funding for 2 composting toilets for the woods. He has had a quote from a company based in S Wales who makes them out of timber. They would be inside the fenced off area and would not be for public use and would be disguised so as not to be obvious. Total cost would be £3,125 including VAT. Outdoor Technical Equipment – Mr Tom Richards(TR) As the English weather is rather wet and unpredictable, and can therefore negatively affect outdoor events (such as the recent Fireworks), TR put forward his proposal for a weather proof sound system to include cables, speakers and a cabinet to be used for any outdoor event. The total cost of this would be £2,709.09 including VAT and would be of benefit to the whole school. </p><p>Innovation Centre – Mr Adam Webster(AW) CJ informed the PA that, from September, Caterham School is going to offer a GCSE in Computer Science and, alongside this, staff are keen to expand pupils’ knowledge of how computers work. The plan is for the ground floor of Hillside to be converted into an Innovation Centre where pupils can go to put into practice the skills they have learnt in these computer science lessons. It will encourage collaboration between science, maths and engineering and CJ and AW would like to equip the centre with several computers and gadgets to enable this. Some of the suggested items are iMacs, PCs, Raspberry Pi’s, 3D printer and many more, at a suggested cost of £20,000. CJ said that School would be going ahead with the project and it would be ready for September but thought it might be the kind of project the PA would be happy to invest in.</p><p>Swimming Score Board – Mr Rob Clarke CJ said that the Sports Centre Manager, Rob Clarke and the Deputy Head had had a discussion about this that morning. Protocol is in place where problems will be overcome and there is an organised system in place to ensure the score board is used effectively and frequently. </p><p>Treasurer’s Report & Vote on Funding Requests</p><p>SL read a report from Maureen Gibbins (Treasurer) saying the PA account has £46,000 of available funds. The Ice Ball made a profit of £10,273.00, Fireworks - £4,398.99, Christmas Dinner Dance - £1,855.20 and Prep Christmas Fair - £4,173.56. </p><p>The cheque for our donation to The Breck Foundation should be handed over soon and the accounts for the 2 years 2014 and 2015 will be signed off shortly.</p><p>Vote on Funding requests The Committee liked BW’s proposal in principle but several issues were raised. Those in attendance voted 9/15 in favour, subject to further investigation and those issues addressed.</p><p>The Committee voted unanimously in favour to fund the Outdoor Technical Equipment.</p><p>The Committee voted unanimously in favour to fund the Innovation Centre, up to a total spend of £20,000 on the proviso that the PA would get recognition for doing so.</p><p>Minutes of AGM on 4 th November 2015 and matters arising</p><p>Minutes were taken as read and accepted.</p><p>Chairman’s Correspondence </p><p>SL and JB have been discussing the PA Sixth Form Prize but have not yet finalised a proposal. </p><p>TW feels we should be moving forward and have access to online ticketing and payments for events. LM said Event Brite is an easy site to use and TW and LM will research this and Izettle and report back at the next meeting. </p><p>GS-K updated us on the situation with CATad and Classlist advertising: the relaunch of CATad discussed in previous meetings can be done but the features need to be changed. This is because Classlist already features listings including 1) local business advertising and 2) personal listings such as babysitting, lift shares, items for sale etc. The local business advertising is Classlist’s source of funding so we cannot start competing with this and therefore cannot include local business advertising on CATad. However, personal listings are currently free of charge on Classlist. If we were to relaunch CATad, we could come up with a price list to advertise personal listings from our community within our Classlist directory. These listings could be either advertised on Classlist and/or circulated as PDF on email to everybody on the Classlist directory. </p><p>GS-K negotiated with the founder/CEO of Classlist that all proceeds from personal listings could go to the benefit of the PA. Classlist would maintain the rights to advertise local businesses and keep the proceeds as this is the way Classlist is funded. </p><p>GS-K agreed to put together a proposal of execution of the above for the next meeting.</p><p>With reference to events in association with Caterham Society, the aim is to unite the different elements of Caterham School, notably the PA, Old Cats Association (OCA) and others, whilst ensuring each body continues to retain its own identity and focus. The concept of the Caterham Society is that we are all part of the same community and can be mutually beneficial to each other. </p><p>In the past, the summer term has seen two separate events – the PA Summer Fair and Old Cats Day. HG suggested bringing the two ideas together under the umbrella of a Family Day, which would garner increased attendance for each element and reach further into the School community. An additional benefit would be reduced pressure and volunteer workload for the PA. The idea is to include the matches of an OC day and the elements of a summer fair, plus additional family fun activities including age specific sports competitions for all ages, and visiting attractions. Specifics are yet to be determined but it is hoped that this would also entice new families to the school, as well as bringing younger alumni and their families back to the school. </p><p>OCA is keen for the idea to go ahead and HG said there would be clear demarcation for the PA, OCA and the School but, essentially, the External Marketing team would organise and oversee the logistics and the PA and OCA would provide support.</p><p>A proposal form for the next PA charity is attached. </p><p>SL raised the subject of insurance as we are not insured under School insurance for events and need our own cover.</p><p>SL has contacted PTA UK who has a team of advisers who offer guidance on licences and legalities on PA- related issues and insurance to cover events. Membership, including the insurance, costs £107 per annum, payable by direct debit. The main concerns our PA members have had of cash in transit and held at events, public liability and loss or damage to hired-in goods is covered under the insurance. An outline is attached. Please read and bring any questions to the next PA meeting where we shall vote on whether to become a member of this association. </p><p>Event Debrief</p><p>Fireworks Night – 7th November 2015 SL thanked OI for organising the event. OI flagged up the date for next year’s event as we will be on half term. OI and MG to liaise. </p><p>Christmas Dinner Dance – 28th November 2015 MBG was not present to report to the Committee but SL thanked her for her organisation of the event and said the evening was well attended and there was very positive feedback.</p><p>Prep Christmas Fair – 5th December 2015 JB said the morning was a great success and it had a good atmosphere. The enthusiasm of the Yr 6 puils added to the whole atmosphere. The profit made is approximately £4,200. JB also thanked the senior pupils who came over after matches and bought out the BBQ stall. Forthcoming Events</p><p>Burns Night – 23rd January 2016 SL said bookings are low and a decision will be made at the end of this week whether or not to go ahead. </p><p>Summer Ball – 2nd July 2016 TW said the Sixth Form had chosen the theme “Casino Nights” and plans are in hand.</p><p>The Breck Foundation Silent Disco – 12th March 2016 LM mentioned that The Breck Foundation has organised a silent disco which is being held in the Rudd Hall on 12th March. The hall will be blacked out and have neon lighting. There will be 2 DJs in the middle of the hall and everyone will be given a set of headphones through which they can listen to 3 different music channels playing pop, 80s or cheesy style music. Tickets are available from The Breck Foundation website and Eventbrite.com or contact LM for more information ([email protected]).</p><p>Dates of Future Meetings</p><p>PA Reps’ Meeting 20th January 2016 PA Committee Meeting 24th February 2016 PA Reps’ Meeting 2nd March 2016 </p><p>NNU Sale 16th January 2016 27th February 2016 12th March 2016</p><p>Meeting closed at 9.40pm</p>