Click to read this year’s report on our community events and fundraising initiatives, as well as funding priorities and plans for 2025/2026
Horniman Primary
Parent Teacher
Association (PTA)
The PTA is an organisation formed by active, creative and engaged group of parents, carers and teacher volunteers. Our mission is to enrich the experience of all children at the school and foster greater links across the community of Horniman families.
We volunteer together to put on events for children, families and friends of the school, to organise fundraising initiatives and link up with local businesses, enabling us to fund equipment and activities for the school.
For schools in Lewisham, and across the country, sadly huge reductions in funding from the government have had a massive impact on school budgets. This funding deficit has a knock-on effect for school resources - such as books, musical instruments, class equipment, and playground maintenance. In the face of such acute financial challenges, our collective fundraising efforts are increasingly vital in order to support what is essential, as well as enriching, for our children.
Horniman Primary School PTA is a registered charity (Charity Number 1114812).
How can I get
involved?
All teachers, parents, and carers of children at the school are members of the PTA and whether it’s time, skills, or funds, everyone has something to give.
We are always keen to hear from parents and carers who would like to contribute. If you have a skill or expertise you can offer; an idea for a new event, workshop, or fundraising initiative (especially if you have the energy, experience, and time to help us deliver it); or would like to join our volunteer team who lead on a wide range of different projects - please drop us a line via hornimanprimarypta@gmail.com, speak to your Class Rep, or come and find one of the PTA team for a chat at the school gates.
Ad hoc volunteer support is also essential for the successful running of our school events and making other special projects happen, so do keep an eye out for help requested via your Class Rep!
News and activities are shared through the school’s weekly newsletter as well as our PTA termly newsletter in bookbags. You will find all PTA events in the school calendar. Parents and carers can also opt in to our PTA News & Events WhatsApp group, within the PTA-led Horniman Primary School WhatsApp community - this is the first place where all updates on PTA events, community activities and fundraising initiatives are posted, so you can find the information you need in a single place. Please ask your Class Rep for the invite link, if you’d like to join.
How can I donate?
Consider setting up a direct debit on JustGiving.
Regular donations are the most impactful way you can support PTA-funded projects at the school - even if you donate only the cost of a coffee once a month via www.justgiving.com, having a reliable, regular income allows us to plan further ahead. If you are a UK taxpayer, please tick the Gift Aid box and we will receive a bonus 25% on top of your donation!
Do your online shopping through Easyfundraising.
Sign up and select ‘Horniman Primary School PTA - Lewisham’ as the cause you’d like to support. It’s easy and free: over 8,000 brands will donate to Horniman Primary PTA when you use www.easyfundraising.org.uk to do your everyday online shopping, at no extra cost to you.
What does this fund?
Money raised by parents, carers, teachers and children goes towards PTA annual funding commitments, including:
Coaches to provide essential transport for school trips and residentials
Shakespeare for Schools workshops (Year 5)
Philosophy lessons (Years 2-6) to to sharpen reasoning skills and encourage children to think critically
Duckling hatching kit (Reception)
Musical instruments and equipment
Tree and grounds maintenance
We also raise additional funds each year for priority projects according to needs highlighted by the school. Funds raised by the PTA have paid for:
Restoring the pond, installing a viewing platform and new planting
Forest school equipment including new nature guides, nets, trays
Developing a sensory garden
African Drumming Day with musicians leading school assembly & workshops
Upgrading classroom furniture
New iPads
Physical phonics books for Key Stage 1 children
New books and bookshelves for each class
New girls’ football kit
Upgrading the school’s Cloud Room
Outdoor play resources including a sandpit, improvements to outdoor areas and enhanced gardening support, to link with the school’s participation in the Outdoor Play and Learning Primary Programme www.outdoorplayandlearning.org.uk
If you’re interested in finding out more, do take a look at the latest annual report.
Who can volunteer?
We are always looking for volunteers to enable our busy, varied programme of activities and initiatives to continue. All levels of involvement are welcome. Volunteer support is also hugely appreciated from extended family including grandparents.
As a registered charity, Horniman Primary PTA has an elected committee of trustees responsible for governance, liaising with the school’s senior leadership team and the parent/carer community. The committee is currently:
Chair - Catherine Wood (Sycamore, Oak)
Secretary - Marie Broadfoot (Ash, Holly)
Treasurer - Jake Bond (Ash, Holly)
Comms - Emily Ford (Ash, Pear)
An active group of parent and carer volunteers work together with the trustee team, generously giving their time and expertise to make everything happen - organising fundraising and community events, lending marketing and design skills, creating merchandise, seeking sponsorship, coordinating gardening efforts, and more. These currently include Pauline Dowdall (Ash) on marketing strategy and comms; Elisabeth Knights (Oak) as an ad-hoc project lead; TJ Triplett (Oak) and Matt Watkins (Oak, Holly) on design and graphics; Bex Butel (Oak) on special projects including raffle and merchandise.
The role of SEN rep is currently open. We are keen to find a parent/carer volunteer with capacity to act as SEN rep in 2026/27, working with trustees, event leads and the SEN community to consider how events and activities can be designed to meet the needs of everyone in the school. If you’re interested, please email hornimanprimarypta@gmail.com or talk to one of the trustees.
Class Reps volunteer on an annual basis within each year group. They play a crucial role in encouraging engagement and inclusion, and regularly share fundraising and funding updates with parents and carers.
If you’re interested in contributing, do get in touch at hornimanprimarypta@gmail.com. We’d love to hear from you.