Parents' Association
The Parents’ Association at Aston has been in continuous operation since 1938: it not the first, but as perhaps one of the oldest active Parents’ Associations in the country, we need your interest and support to maintain this fabulous tradition.
Parents’ Association meetings
The Parents’ Association or PA is organised by a small Committee of fifteen or so mums and dads. We meet on the first Monday of each month, starting at 7.30 pm at the Simpson Building at the King Edward Aston Sports Ground, 79 Trinity Road, Aston, B6 6LS where your boys have their games lessons.
The meetings usually only last an hour and you are most welcome to join us at any time in the school year, or at our AGM held usually in November.
PA Meetings and events calendar 2019 – 2020
The PA is basically a group of ordinary, parents of current and former pupils who have offered up a little of their time to work with Mr Parker and Mrs Lewsey to support the school in many different ways, but principally by raising money. This money provides a fund for the equipment that would not be possible to purchase from the normal funding and current tight budgets.
It is also a great way for you to actively support Aston, a school we all recognise gives our boys a first-class education which will launch them into a bright future.
Match day parking
We are extremely fortunate that the school is just a short walk from the Aston Villa Football Club ground. At each home game we open up the school playgrounds for the Villa Match Day Parking Scheme. This is how we raise more than £25,000 year for the boys.
Volunteering time to help on match day parking rotas
You may have seen our slide show asking for your support in manning the match day parking scheme at the induction day in July. Thank you if you have already given us your details: but if not please still consider giving up a little of your free time just a couple of times a year. To offer help with the parking scheme at any time contact pacarparking@keaston.bham.sch.uk
We ask for Parent Helpers from all school years to maintain the car parking rota throughout the year, but we have experienced a decline in parent support over past couple of years and with upwards of twenty-eight matches per season to cover we really need your help.
We are committed to providing parking for over one hundred parking permit holders who have pre paid for a season pass to park with us all season, from August to May. We then supplement these with up to one hundred additional 'pay on the gate' places for home and visiting supporters.
What do you expect me to do?
We have one experienced shift leader who organises the two or three parent helpers per opening and per closing shift match. You would take money on the gate, check permits and park cars according to a tried and tested pattern. We only ask you to help out a couple of times a year to help us raise much-needed funds for the school from which your child benefits.
Some of the Recent Contributions to School
From September 2017 to June 2018 the parent-volunteers raised an enormous £28,260 by providing parking for Villa home match supporters. The PA has then bought the following, or supported projects, for pupils' benefit:
2018 – 2019
- User subscription Nutrition Program Licences
- 30 Desktop Computers for an ICT Suite
- School posters
- Hockey playing kit
2017 – 2018
- Seven indoor table tennis tables
- Library book scanner
- Hockey goalie and training Equipment
- Hockey goals
- A new baritone saxophone
- Two giant exam hall digital clocks
2016 – 2017
- Physics A-Level equipment (A2)
- Laptops
- Gardening enrichment resources
- Computers for Sixth Form
- 3D printer for DT
- Contribution towards Yr 13 leavers trip
- Wellbeing workshops
- Lower School and Senior Speech Day prizes
- Autoclave for biology dept
- Outdoor table-tennis tables
- Outdoor basketball hoops
- Drama Production (Guys and Dolls)
- A new baby grand piano for the Music Department
2015 – 2016
- 32 laptops and mobile charging unit
- Two outdoor table tennis tables
- New basketball hoops for the courts
- Wellbeing training workshops for boys sitting external exams
- Donations towards the community sensory garden
- Autoclave for chemistry and biology departments.
Parent volunteers
We are very pleased to sign up a large number of year 7 dads and mums each year, however it may take a few months for your turn to come around as we can only use two new parents at each match. When you are asked please see if can help on that date and let me know if you can help or not as quickly as possible. We will send you a reminder you are helping out the week before the match.
If you are not on the list and could spare an occasional Saturday afternoon or weekday evening to help. please contact Mrs Rachel Hawtin Car Parking Coordinator by e-mail: pacarparking@keaston.bham.sch.uk