What is the PPF?
The
Parent Promoters’ Foundation (PPF) is an educational charity made up of parents and carers from all walks of life who care about the education of children in Lambeth.
The PPF was set up in 2003 in response to community concern about the lack of secondary places in the borough. Lambeth Council had appealed for parents to come forward to work with the council to establish a new school in West Norwood. Together we lobbied and campaigned for permission to establish the school and the capital funding to make it happen. Over the years we have worked in partnership with the local authority and the school’s excellent professional staff to turn the dream into a reality. We are thrilled that the children in this area have the excellent local school they deserve.
What does the PPF do?
The Elmgreen School is unique in being the first and only maintained school in Britain to have Parent- promoters forming its Founding body. The PPF appoints 5 Foundation governors on the school’s governing body who work alongside staff, community, local authority and parent governors to set the strategic framework for the school.
The PPF works with school staff and the wider community to encourage parents to take an active interest in their children’s education and runs regular events for parents to meet and exchange creative ideas about education and to find positive to ensure children get the very best education. We also send out regular mailings to keep in touch.
Getting involved
The PPF is always keen to welcome new members - it's free to join.
Click here or phone Kate Scrase the PPF Project Manager Consultant on 07976 356268 or 020 8678 9181 or by e-mail
kscrase@the-elmgreen-school.org.uk
What’s on?
All too often when children move up to secondary school, parents feel they have lost some of the sense of community they felt when their children were younger. It’s no longer possible to chat in the playground and exchange ideas and advice. Some parents feel they start to lose touch with what’s going on.
The PPF organises events to bring parents and carers together. We have held Quiz nights, Design workshops looking at plans for the final site, a “Greening the school” workshop (families came together to plant up the external areas to create a lovely welcome for the students on their first day at school) and the creation of a Wildlife Garden - a peaceful place for students to relax in and learn more about gardening and the natural world.
We have also established two ways to reach a vibrant and dynamic parents’ community, keeping parents with children of different ages in touch with one-another.
The PPF Forum
The PPF Forum is a space for local families to exchange creative ideas and discussion in education and parenting . We hope that this opportunity to do some “blue-sky thinking” will give real impetus and excitement to the project.
The first Forum featured a special presentation on “Making the most of the Teenage years” by Dorit Braun OBE. It was extremely interesting and generated lots of discussion afterwards. Dorit is the Chief Executive of Parentlineplus –a well-respected charity which supports parents “because instructions aren’t included”. Parentlineplus provides a free helpline for parents 24 hours a day, 365 days a year on 0800 783 6783.
The second Forum was held on “Inspiring young people to succeed.” Trevor Sterling, a partner in a firm of solicitors and founder of a local Mentoring project gave a talk on his experiences growing up locally and what drove him to succeed in his chosen career. Once again a lively discussion followed, and members left with a determination to raise children’s aspirations and to be sure not to “clip their wings”.
The third Forum was on “How to keep children safe on-line” focusing on the huge opportunities created by the internet but highlighting the dangers too. The forum led by Catherine Carter of ChildNet International gave helpful advice and practical tips on how we as parents could feel more confident in guiding our children as they explore this new world.
Future events will feature other topics of interest to parents and carers such as focusing on creativity in learning, street sense, healthy living, etc. Check our own website for the latest events.
If you’d like to suggest a subject or would like more information do e-mail us at kscrase@the-elmgreen-school.org.uk (If you’d prefer to ‘phone 0208 678 9181 or 07976 356268)
The Friends of The Elmgreen School
The Friends of The Elmgreen School is open to all children
at the School as well as staff and friends of the School. It organises social events, fundraising and assists with the School’s strategy for Family learning.
There are loads of ideas for Friends activities. If you’d like more information on what’s on or to get more involved, do contact Assistant Headteacher, Paul Castle, via the school.
Click here for a description of the roles of the executive officers.
Minutes of Meetings
Minutes 08.03.25
Minutes 08.06.26
Minutes 08.09.15
Minutes 09 02 11
Getting more involved?
The directors of the PPF meet once a term and if you’d like to come along to a meeting you’re very welcome. If you’d like to get more involved we’d be delighted – we want the PPF to involve people from all walks of life so that we can build a real community which caters for all our members.
Any queries please call/email Kate Scrase, the PPF Project Manager on 020 8678 9181 or 07976 356268 or
kscrase@the-elmgreen-school.org.uk