Friends 2023 and Beyond Survey - Feedback

2023 and Beyond

I’m really grateful to every parent who took the time to complete our survey – we read every response carefully, and you gave some really detailed feedback. We said we would share the results with the parent body, so you can find them below.

As promised, I have aggregated and anonymized the free-text answers to preserve your privacy. As part of that I have tried to group responses together where appropriate, however many responses were unique and I have included them below for full transparency – I want to make sure everyone’s views are heard.

This is not the end of the conversation, however: we continue to seek your views, ideas, and involvement across the full spectrum of our activities, and I hope we all continue to work together to deliver the best for our girls.

Paul Hudson Chair

Survey Results

Based on the 65 responses received up to August 18th

I would attend a term-time Friends event that was informal / inexpensive

Very Unlikely Unlikely Neither Likely Very Likely

I would attend a special term-time Friends event that was more formal, up to a cost of £100 a ticket

11

Very Unlikely Unlikely Neither Likely Very Likely

Would it make you more or less inclined to be involved with the Friends if a percentage of our proceeds were donated to the school's chosen charity?

Very Disinclined Disinclined Neither Inclined Very Inclined

The one area I think is most in need of funds from the Friends is…

• Science and technology: 11

• Senior School swimming pool: 9

• Girls toilets/changing rooms: 8

• Arts activities: 5

• More play/communal areas: 4

• Supporting local community/charities: 3

• Better facilities: 2

• Environmental focus: 2

• More prep school funding: 1

• Better clubs: 1

• Listening to and getting requirements from staff: 1

• More events: 1

• Outdoor activities: 1

• A new therapy dog: 1

Responses from the school

•

Science and technology: Curriculum-related matters are for School to determine. Welcome parent speakers/expertise for Women in STEM, Festival of Ideas, Aspire talks. Staff and parents can submit funding proposals to Friends via the publicised process.

• Swimming pool: GDST has ring-fenced funds for the possible development of the swimming pool. Various necessary permissions, both planning and otherwise, are being sought - this is a medium to long term project.

• Girls toilets/changing rooms: Forms part of School’s rolling planned maintenance. Sixth Form Centre most recent completion.

• More play/communal areas: All year groups have access to common rooms, Y7 has exclusive use of RBR at break times, Sixth Form have their own café.

• Arts activities: Staff and parents can submit funding proposals to Friends via the publicised process.

• Better facilities: Since 2017 GDST has invested in the region of £13M on the new roof, £2.5M on boarding accommodation and £1.5M on the Music School.

• More prep school funding: PS staff regularly make funding proposals via the usual channels. Prep has £200 p/yr. ring-fenced legacy funding from Friends - girls decide what it is spent on.

• A new therapy dog: Staff with dogs have been invited to register their interest.

What would you like the Friends of the Royal High School Bath to do for you?

•

Make school listen to parents / improved communication: 10

• More class representatives: 4

• More general events: 4

• Increase the school’s community spirit: 3

• More whole family events: 3

• More inexpensive events: 3

• More parent meetups/coffee mornings: 3

• Get more parents involved with the Friends: 2

• Events for specific year groups: 1

• Welcome new parents better: 1

• “It has always been cliquey”: 1

• Organize fewer events: 1

• Refurbish the senior school swimming pool: 1

• More IT: 1

• Be plastic free: 1

• Supplement school trips: 1

• More Friends communications: 1

• Educational activities aimed at parents: 1

• Ask school to release their survey results in full: 1

Responses from the school

• Make school listen to parents / improved communication: Purpose served through Class reps.

• More class representatives: Senior School Class Reps to be introduced this year to ensure through school representation. Chaired by Head.

• Increase the school’s community spirit: Friends’ remit includes running varied social events through the year. They do not all need to be fundraisers for the school e.g. a Senior School Macmillan Coffee morning.

• More parent meetups/coffee mornings: Encourage regular Friends Coffee mornings in Prep and Senior School. First one scheduled for 12 September. Macmillan fundraiser organised by Friends could be in second half of term?

• Get more parents involved with the Friends: Prep Class Reps and Friends link has been strengthened and they are now considered part of the Friends. Chaired by Claire Lilley.

• Events for specific year groups: Classlist used to good effect for this e.g. Y7 picnic weekend prior to start of term. Friends may want to work with Class Reps to organise some of the above suggestions.

• Refurbish the senior school swimming pool: GDST has ring-fenced funds for the possible development of the swimming pool. Various necessary permissions, both planning and otherwise, are being sought - this is a medium to long term project.

• Supplement school trips: Trips for bursary students on bursaries of 95% and more have all curriculum trips paid for. The Opportunities Fund is also used to fund, in full or in part, trips for other students in need of help.

• More Friends communications: Friends’ remit to report back to parents.

• Educational activities aimed at parents: Your Daughter talks in Calendar. Sponsorship of Bath Children’s Lit Fest. Afghanaid Author Talk: Saul David. Parents invited to evening events e.g. Natalie Haynes talk and Aspire lectures.

Additional comments

• More events for parents to meet: 2

• More pastoral support for students: 1

• Students do not need Friends support: 1

• Sell more school-branded products: 1

• Friends need more helpers: 1

• Run more inexpensive events: 1

• Run more family events: 1

• "Do something other than spend money": 1