The Pate's PA more than fulfilled its fundraising aspirations in 2022 and are thrilled to announce that it will donate a massive £30,000 to the school’s fundraising appeal Pate’s Giving and pledges to donate all monies raised in the remainder of this academic year to the appeal!

Their donation will be used to support many elements of school life enabling a broad spectrum of opportunities to enrich students' cultural capital, just some of which includes: funding provisions for the weekly TPM (Tuesday afternoon) sessions, providing enrichment activities for Activities Fortnight, welcoming in external speakers, supporting the school House System, Outdoor Educational activities hosted in-school, inclusivity workshops, author visits and supporting equal opportunities by funding purchases that benefit the personal development of students from across all subjects, genders and year groups. Our in-house fully funded TPM, Activities Fortnight and House Drama performances are events unique to Pate's, which play a key part in the fabulous educational experience enjoyed by all of our children. 

The school is hugely grateful for both this donation and the tireless efforts of the PPA to raise money to help advance the educational experience of Pate's pupils. The team led by Fiona Crouch, and its small army of parent volunteers, continues a close relationship between Pate's and its parents which has a long history stretching back to the previous incarnations of the school -  Pate's Grammar School for Girls (situated in Albert Road) and Cheltenham Grammar School (situated on the High Street before moving to our current site in 1965).

Pate's Grammar School for Girls' Parents' Association was formed in 1928 and ran very popular fundraiser events such as Whist and Bridge Drives, fetes, an annual garden party, games parties and regular lectures (such as 'The Inca's of Peru' and 'Tramping through Europe with a Fiddle' in 1938) throughout the 1930's, 40's and 50's.The earliest mention of their support of the school was in 1936 which included '£5 towards new books for the Library, book prizes for girls attaining honours averages in the Summer Examinations and brooches to members of the winning Gymnastics team'.

The 1974 edition of the Patesian tells us about the foundation of Cheltenham Grammar School's Parents' Association  in 1951/2 'When a group of parents joined together to try and save the playing fields' (then at St Marks) which the Council wanted for housing development. The newly formed Association was unsuccessful and the playing fields were taken in exchange for the site on which the present school stands. It was however decided that the Association should continue to help the School, Staff and Students to raise funds for additional amenities and to organise 'Educational Meetings'. Mentions of PA activities are scant but the primary fundraising event of the year was always the Autumn Fete and Bazaar. We note that they made significant purchases in the 1950's including an outboard motor for the canoes used for the Canoe Club (1957) and a cine-camera (1958) which was used for short films including a school trip to Rome and a rugby match against alumni.

Since the merger of the two schools in 1986, the Pate's Parents' Association has gone from strength to strength and is a hugely valuable asset to the school, one indeed that is the envy of schools in the county. Be it supporting at school events with a refreshment service, hosting their own events, running a Nearly New Uniform Shop and a 100 Club and building relations with the students through their support of the School Council, they selflessly give countless hours of time, effort and energy to their fundraising work. The school is truly grateful for all that they do to support our students!

If you would like to join the PPA in supporting Pate’s Giving and help the appeal reach this year’s goal of £160,000 by contributing either a regular gift or single donation, the school would be very grateful. Please visit the Support Us page of the school website for information on how to give here