The Chronicle

We wanted to share this wonderful letter from the PTA, which lets you find out where the raised monies go to and the requests coming in from staff!

Thank you for supporting us throughout 2024.

As we approach the end of the year, I’d like to thank you for supporting us in whichever way you could

• Bringing your children to events such as the Summer and Christmas Fairs or the Colour Run
• Buying PTA produced goods such as the Christmas cards and gifts
• Sorting out and sending in donations for the fairs or the Macmillan coffee morning
• Volunteering your precious time to make the magic happen for the children

It’s always busy when you have children and we appreciate everything you do with and for us.

We have had a phenomenal 12 months I hope you would agree. We kicked off the year with a huge pre-loved book sale, followed up by the PTA sponsored God’s Planet Theatre Day. We introduced a first for Crackley with the whole school Quidditch Day in April, which the school enjoyed so much that we bought equipment and training to enable us to recreate the feelgood sports fun at will.

In between times we have supported ISA Football, Cross Country and Athletics Festivals, in addition to providing a welcome hot drink at every assembly and an ongoing service with pre-loved uniform ordering and in person sales. We provided Easter eggs for fun filled hunts. We match funded improvements to the Oratory and the Olympian visit as well as fully funding Rugby equipment, Nursery and Key Stage 1 play equipment, radio microphones and a portable PA system. We recently funded the Key Stage 2 Author Day with Jennifer Killick. Our biggest investment in the past 12 months was our £15k donation to the brand new adventure playground which was put in at Easter. 

We aim to provide both fun and funds and lots of happy faces are always surrounding us at the Summer and Christmas Fairs and the Colour Run, where we also achieved another first in a teacher gunging!  We thought we had achieved our best fund raising fair ever with the event in May raising over £4K but I’m absolutely delighted to announce that we have smashed this with a record breaking £5.2K raised at our Christmas Fair recently. Amazing!

Each time we put an event on it is really the culmination of weeks, if not months, of planning and organisation.  It truly takes a village and with more volunteers than ever for our Christmas Fair the results speak for themselves – more of everything for everyone. If you want to join in as much or as little as you want, reach out to any of the parents who post PTA messages or email hello@pta.crackleyhall.co.uk.  Our meetings are normally 1–2 hours in duration and held once every half term, normally the first Wednesday of the month in term time. We discuss ideas, ongoing effort and events and the funding requests raised by the school for our consideration.  We would welcome your input.  The next one is Wednesday 15 January 7:00 to 8:30 pm at school.

It strikes me at different times how much of what we teach the children is true in the values that we live too. Collaboration is key to unlocking real value and making every area of our PTA function well, as evidenced by the recent fair. We thank all members of staff, all school support staff and the generous parents and businesses who have gone above and beyond to collaborate with us throughout this year.

We are at a great point in time for our PTA. It can be daunting taking a leap of faith by contributing to your community outside of your comfort zone and I’m really glad I did this over the past two years. It has been enriching and rewarding. I offer my congratulations to our new officers elected, who are preparing to take the helm from January: Sara Higginbotham and Sandrine Farrow are Co-Chair, Leigh Dumighan and Jo Ward Co-Vice Chair, Anna Weekes as Treasurer and Sarah Brighton-Phillips Vice Treasurer, Jayne Lavelle continues as Secretary. The community will undoubtedly continue to grow with the benefit of fresh ideas, energy and impetus but governed by the same drive to make Crackley life serious fun.

We will have another book sale in January so please bear this in mind if you are having a post Christmas clear out. An author and illustrator visit for the whole school is scheduled to celebrate with World Book Day and we have Family Bingo on Saturday 1 March too.  

Requests are sent to the PTA, in conjunction with staff, led by Mr Duigan to decide and agree on these in a fair process and consideration given to benefit the whole school. 

Our focus is unwaveringly on the children and what we can do to enhance their experience.  We couldn’t do it without you. Thank you again and my warm wishes for a Happy Christmas and a fabulous 2025.

Maria Gordon
PTA Chair