The Three Hares Fundraising Initiative
We are excited to launch a brand new fundraising initiative, asking for support from parents, carers, local businesses and communities to provide the children of our schools with access to the best possible school learning experiences. This initiative is being undertaken collaboratively with the PTAs of the trio of schools that make up the Three Hares - Chagford CE Primary School, North Tawton and South Tawton.
We are excited to launch a brand new fundraising initiative, asking for support from parents, carers, local businesses and communities to provide the children of our schools with access to the best possible school learning experiences. This initiative is being undertaken collaboratively with the PTAs of the trio of schools that make up the Three Hares - Chagford CE Primary School, North Tawton and South Tawton.
Within the Three Hares, we focus on providing local children with the best possible start in life, both from an academic and lifestyle perspective, to ensure that they are all given the tools and resources they need to be prepared to move into further education and their future workplace as well-rounded, skilled, confident and unique individuals. Our hope is that, as a result, they will grow up and continue to contribute to their community as adults.
As you may already know, government funding for schools has been substantially reduced over the years, to the point that our schools are now spending up to 90% of their budget on staff alone. Historically, a school would have expected to spend up to 75% of its budget on staff. This is not bad budgeting on the part of the schools – it is the sad truth of the public purse, and the cuts that have been made in education.
As a result, it has become apparent that the schools are unable to provide the resources for enrichment, that all of us - parents, grandparents, community members or parishioners – might hope for. Specifically at Chagford, there is great potential for more outdoor learning possibilities, and a desire for improved IT-based learning (especially if the schools need to close again) and additional curriculum resources, all required to enhance our children’s overall learning experience as well as support their health and well-being in more elaborate and innovative ways, taking advantage of our incredible location. But of course, all of this costs money!
As you may already know, government funding for schools has been substantially reduced over the years, to the point that our schools are now spending up to 90% of their budget on staff alone. Historically, a school would have expected to spend up to 75% of its budget on staff. This is not bad budgeting on the part of the schools – it is the sad truth of the public purse, and the cuts that have been made in education.
As a result, it has become apparent that the schools are unable to provide the resources for enrichment, that all of us - parents, grandparents, community members or parishioners – might hope for. Specifically at Chagford, there is great potential for more outdoor learning possibilities, and a desire for improved IT-based learning (especially if the schools need to close again) and additional curriculum resources, all required to enhance our children’s overall learning experience as well as support their health and well-being in more elaborate and innovative ways, taking advantage of our incredible location. But of course, all of this costs money!
We have therefore had to think creatively about other ways of providing additional funding for the schools, and one of those ways is to ask you, the reader, to help if you can. If you are able and willing, we would ask you to consider making either a regular monthly donation or a one-off donation to the school.
The school’s wish list has been separated into several categories that you could choose to support, as well as one major legacy project, designed to be long-lasting for the school with a “Yours Today, Theirs Tomorrow” sentiment. Each category provides several examples of how your donation might be used, together with a target fundraising goal. The final decision in relation to how those funds will be spent (but strictly adhering to their specified category) would be made by Executive Headteacher, Elizabeth Underwood and Head of School, Tara Penny, in conjunction with the Local Academy Committee. You can investigate each category in more details by clicking on the relevant button. |
Amazon Wish List
In addition to our fundraising website and in collaboration with the PTFA, we have also created an Amazon Wish List, which has been populated by the staff of the school, with all sorts of items to support and enhance teaching and learning. This will be updated regularly and ranges from the smallest of items to much bigger aspirational items. Whilst we recognise the obvious convenience and vast range of Amazon, we also acknowledge the importance of supporting our local community. Therefore, if there are any items on the Wish List that you would like to source locally, please feel free to do so. We kindly ask that, if you do this, you let the school know, so that the items can be removed from the Wish List. Wherever feasible, please be assured that the school will endeavour to use monies raised to make purchases locally and use local businesses and trades. |
ANY improvements we are able to make enriches the children’s school experience, and adds value to the school environment, making them attractive to potential new pupils and families. In turn, this generates additional funding for the schools – the amount of funding the school receives from the government is directly dependent on the number of pupils on roll. So the more pupils that are attracted to the schools, the better funded the schools become.
The school's leadership and staff are also eager to forge stronger relationships between the school and local communities and would love to hear from you with any ideas you may have about ways we might do this together. Our wish is to create a school where the saying, “It takes a community to raise a child” really holds true.
Finally, it is really important that we stress that we appreciate that many families may not be in a position to offer anything, and we completely understand that. We would never ask or expect you to put yourselves under any kind of strain to contribute.
Many thanks for your time. If you have any queries, please contact:
Mel Holyoak: mholyoak@dartmoormat.org.uk or
Elizabeth Underwood: eunderwood@threehares.org.uk
The school's leadership and staff are also eager to forge stronger relationships between the school and local communities and would love to hear from you with any ideas you may have about ways we might do this together. Our wish is to create a school where the saying, “It takes a community to raise a child” really holds true.
Finally, it is really important that we stress that we appreciate that many families may not be in a position to offer anything, and we completely understand that. We would never ask or expect you to put yourselves under any kind of strain to contribute.
Many thanks for your time. If you have any queries, please contact:
Mel Holyoak: mholyoak@dartmoormat.org.uk or
Elizabeth Underwood: eunderwood@threehares.org.uk
This button will take you to the Dartmoor Multi Academy Trust fundraising page for Chagford CE Primary School.