The Downsend Parents’ Association (DPA) organises social events to encourage the involvement of families in the life of the school. Fundraising goes towards equipment and activities for the pupils of Downsend School. We support the school’s events by helping at concerts, drama productions, sporting events, Open Mornings and seasonal celebrations.

Family Fun Day

We hope you can join us for some good old-fashioned fun and games next weekend. This year we have Seaworld and Aztec themed inflatables, along with a huge dragon slide and activity centre for toddlers!

Once you’ve worked up an appetite, hot and cold drinks, home made cakes and other delights await in the pavilion.

Optional fancy dress if you’re in the mood, with prizes for participants!

We’d like to reassure parents that Best Bounce are a highly experienced, reputable company whose service we’ve been delighted with in the past. Please click here for important customer information, released after a tragic event reported in the press during the summer.

DPA Annual General Meeting

The DPA Annual General Meeting will take place on Thursday 27^th September at 7.30pm in the pavilion. Any Downsend parent is welcome to attend.

Macmillan World’s Biggest Coffee Morning

Coffee Morning is the perfect chance to catch up over a cuppa and a slice of something delicious for a great cause.

One in two of us will face cancer, and the money we raise at our Coffee Morning will help make sure no one has to face it alone.

Alex Dale, DPA Secretary

Don’t get caught out in the rain.  Make sure you get a Downsend Umbrella to keep you dry!

easyfundraising is doing really well but we need more supporters so please keep using easyfundraising for all your shopping.  If you tend to forget to use the website when  you shop at Amazon, John Lewis, M & S, Waitrose, ASOS and many more outlets.  Please download the donation reminder to your computer and this way the DPA will never miss on the donation.  Please go to www.easyfundraising.org.uk and sign up for free and get shopping at all major retailers and no extra cost to you.

Donations made to Downsend School were:

• Anniversary Pavilion
• Fort for Sandpit Playground
• Music Department
• Sports department
• Arts department
• STEAM DAY
• Christmas presents and Easter Eggs for the pupils
• Contribution to the Year 8 Leavers Book & Hoodies
• Contribution to the Leaver’s Disco
• School Sports Days
• Family Fun Day

Resources for the School included:

• Library Furniture
• Science Technology
• Netball Kit
• Telescope
• Video and still cameras
• History Project Resources
• Gardening Resources
• Curriculum Collapse & STEAM day

In addition to the committee, the “Friends of the DPA” account for those who are willing to be called upon for help, but prefer not to be obliged to attend meetings.  If you are interested in receiving periodic emails and perhaps helping out on one event a year, please contact Alex Dale. 

Most classes have Class Reps who are a point of contact for their class to promote parent interaction and organise small social events so that the parents of the class can keep in touch.  A current list of Class Reps can be downloaded here. They help the DPA promote events and recruit a class team of helpers for the Christmas Fair.  If you are interested in being a rep, please contact Charlotte Staplehurst. 

Each class in the Lower School has a volunteer Class Rep, and the Upper School has Year Reps who are a point of contact for their class to promote parent interaction and organise small events such as coffee mornings and evening social events.

If you are new to the school, or would like help in anyway, please contact us via the school; we have a pigeonhole in the school office or a post box under the stairs in the hall behind the Turret.

You can email admin@dpaschool.org.uk and we will reply as soon as possible.

If you are a new parent then you should have seen/received a donation form asking for a one-off £30 donation to the DPA. This goes towards special items and equipment that are outside the budget (but we still want them!) and also towards enhancing the educational and social aspects for pupils at school. Please click here for the DPA Donation Form. Please return the form together with a cheque of £30 payable to “DPA” to the School Office clearly marked to Laura Spanswick, DPA Treasurer.

Payment to DPA Bank Account:  Account 81479040   Sort Code: 40-20-24

If you need any help please email us at admin@dpaschool.org.uk