The Royal School

ROYAL SCHOOL ASSOCIATION

The Royal School Association is not only our very successful parent teacher organisation but is also the Old Girls’ Association made up of three separate associations representing The Royal Naval School, The Grove School and, since 1995, The Royal School.

The Old Girls’ Associations are a vital part of a school, both as a way for leavers of all ages to stay in touch with their peers but also as a source of the most fascinating information which has enabled the school to create an archive room, a facility which brings the vast history and tradition of all schools to the current generation of girls.

To help Old Girls stay in contact the RSA holds several reunions a year, usually by school and sometimes by age group. The dates of these are sent via an annual mail-shot to all Old Girls on our database. The mail-shot also contains letters from Mrs Taylor Gooby (Headmistress), the current Chairman of the RSA and Kit Bithrey-George (Marketing & Development Director) with any news or information we feel may be of interest.

The RSA has two main obligations; one is the management of the Old Girls’ associations and the other is perhaps the more visible to all parents, staff and current pupils - the fundraising and social side to the association.

Any monies raised at events are issued to the School for projects either small or major, to enhance the girls’ time at The Royal. Over the recent years the RSA has been able to donate funds to pay for the following major projects:

• The refurbishment of the Royal Jubilee Theatre at the Senior School. This facility greatly benefits the whole school and is used constantly by our music and drama departments for performances.

• The installation of a media suite. This has given girls the opportunity to record in a state of the art media studio and has enabled the senior school to offer media based academic studies to A level.

Most recently we have been very proud to donate over half of the funds required to refurbish the top floor of Hindhead Court at our Junior School. This work in progress will open up more areas to be used by our youngest girls; the School will also open a dedicated creative arts studio in September 2009.

All these are wonderful additions to the already superb facilities available to girls in all parts of the School.

Throughout the year the RSA committee organises various events where the aim is to forge social links amongst parents and raise funds for projects. Parents are given notice of dates & times via our weekly newsletter.

Following is a taster of what events the RSA run:

Autumn Term: Annual General Meeting, Bonfire Night, Christmas Fayre
Spring Term: Parents shopping trip to London, Fashion Show
Summer Term: Summer Fete, RSA Revue, Charity Summer Ball