Parents Association
Welcome to the Parents’ Association
Lawrence Sheriff School has the oldest Parents’ Association in the UK and it has been supporting the school since 1908.
It is a registered charity and has its own Constitution -constitution. The aim of the Parents’ Association is to plan events & activities to raise extra funds for the school, however our Association is about much more than simply fundraising. It exists to provide closer links between home and school and it is an excellent way to bring parents together socially in support of the school, working towards a common goal. It’s fun too - just ask any of the Committee members or volunteers.
Who we are
The Parents Association has a small Committee comprising of Chair, Treasurer, Secretary and 1 Ordinary Member. The Committee meets on a regular basis and the members manage & control the funds that the Association raises.
Meet the Committee:
CHAIR - Jane Fallon
I’m Jane Fallon, Chair of the Parents’ Association. I am a Sales Manager for an Aerospace company and mum to two children. Like you I was a new year 7 parent in 2021 and decided to go along to the first PA meeting in September out of curiosity. I had been part of the PTA at my kids’ primary school and enjoyed getting involved. Fast forward 4 years and I’ve spent most of the time as Chair, a role I didn’t ask for but the position needed to be filled so I stepped up. It has been really rewarding and I’m proud of what we have achieved. At times it hasn’t been easy, as getting people interested & involved is difficult, but the school needs every penny that we raise so it makes it all worthwhile. I’ve met some really great people, both parents and staff, and we’ve had some fun and laughs along the way. If you are curious about what we do then consider coming to a meeting, drop us an email or come over & see us at an event. Everyone is welcome, all you need is enthusiasm & a good sense of humour!
TREASURER - Mani Raja
Hi I’m Mani Raja, PA Treasurer from 2021 onwards, and I’m proud to be part of the oldest Parents’ Association in the country, which even holds the Guiness World Record for its remarkable history. As an IT Programme Manager by profession, I bring my expertise to the PA, supporting and managing our activities. Being part of this vibrant community has been an incredibly rewarding experience, and I’m thrilled to contribute to the continued growth and success of the Association. Through various fundraising events, we raise money that directly supports the school’s projects, resources, and initiatives, ultimately helping to enrich the educational experience for all students.
SECRETARY - Pooja Panday
I’m Pooja Pandey, Secretary of the PA Committee for the past 3 years. I’m a Finance Professional by day and a seasoned juggler of work, home, and school emails by night. I joined the PA when my son (now in year 9) started at Lawrence Sheriff, thinking I’d just dip my toe in…. And somehow ended up knee-deep in raffles, planning meetings, and surprisingly enjoyable conversations. It’s been a genuinely rewarding experience - we’ve come up with creative ways to raise funds, had a few laughs along the way, and most importantly, contributed to making the school an even better place for our kids. If you are on the fence about joining, just know that no special skills are required. We always welcome new faces, fresh ideas, and a good sense of humour!
ORDINARY MEMBER - Gurpeet Parmar
Hello I’m Gurpreet Parmar. I moved to Leicestershire 20 years ago after spending my childhood in Ireland and Wales. I’ve been a PA Committee member for the past 3 years. I initially joined out of curiosity, a wish to support the school, and nostalgia for my school days. It has been a rewarding journey; I’ve met other parents and witnessed firsthand how the PA contributes to enhancing student facilities. We’ve brainstormed ideas to increase funding and welcomed new members, hoping that as our children graduate, new parents will carry the torch forward. Plus, we enjoy a nice view and free samosas at every concert! Supporting the PA means supporting the students. The money we raise directly impacts our children through various school-led endeavours, such as the merit ties that are awarded to select students each year. Besides being a mum, I’ve worked for 23 years in the NHS. I love the outdoors, writing projects, and assisting the Leicester Council of Faiths, and I always have my nose in a good novel.
The Committee also relies on a group of wonderful PA volunteers. The Committee is small so without the help of additional volunteers we would be unable to support the school and raise money at events.
How you can actively support the Parents’ Association
The Committee holds regular general meetings. All parents become Parents’ Association members when their child joins the school and any member can come along to a meeting, find out what the Association is planning, share ideas and get involved.
We welcome any help from parents, and have a list of casual volunteers who commit varying amounts of their time to helping the Parents’ Association. If you would like more information about getting involved you can email us –
The AGM is held in October and provides an excellent opportunity for all parents to hear in more detail about our work, the events we have run, the funds we have raised and how the money has been spent. It is also when we elect our new committee members for the coming year. Please click here for the AGM minutes
Other ways to support us
If you are unable to commit any time to the Parents’ Association there are many other ways you can help support us: Please click here
YourSchoolLottery
Sign up to be in with a chance to win cash & prizes. Other Ways to Support the PA
EasyFundraising
Sign up and raise funds while you shop online Other Ways to Support the PA
Stikins
Quote the Parents’ Association code when you buy these handy sticky name labels Other Ways to Support the PA
GoHenry
Sign up using our unique referral code Other Ways to Support the PA
Donations - You can make a one off or regular donation to the Parents’ Association using the Donation & Gift Aid forms. Please click here
Match Funding - if you work for a company that provides charity match funding please do get in touch @
Money we have raised 2023/2024
This year we have raised money through a series of school events, EasyFundraising, YourSchoolLottery, Stikins, a clothing collection & regular donations.
Click HERE for a full breakdown of money that the Parents’ Association has raised during the 2023/2024 academic year.
What we have funded 2023/2024
The Committee is responsible for deciding how our funds are spent. The School provides us with funding requests that they would like us to consider. We also invite input from parents too, so if you have an idea of something that would benefit all the students in the school, please do share it with the Committee.
Funds are typically spent on the ‘extras’ that are not provided for by the school’s budget, thus making our children’s learning experiences so much more fulfilling and exciting. Funds are not generally spent on improving the fabric of the school building, as this is the responsibility of the school. Our Constitution commits the Association to spending money on things that will benefit the children directly.
Click HERE for a full breakdown of what the Parents’ Association has funded during the 2023/20234 academic year.
Meeting minutes
You can view the last general meeting minutes HERE
Calendar dates
LSS PA food event at Summer Soiree 9th July 2025
LSS PA clothing collection - next collection end September 2025. Date TBC and Information to follow.
LSS PA refreshments at Year 7 event at Hartfield - Saturday 13th September
Next PA general meeting - provisionally planned for Tuesday 23rd September
PA year 7 families “get to know each other” event - date in October TBC.
Contact us/How we keep in touch
You can complete the Contact Sheet HERE and email it to us @
We have a Parents’ Association WhatsApp Group where we share information. If you would like to join our Whats App group you can contact us @
The Parents’ Association sends out a termly newsletter. The newsletter includes information on upcoming events, important dates and keeps you informed of what we are up to.
Parents Association Useful Information click here
Contact:
Thank you for your interest – if you would like to find out more, please contact us.
LSS PA Chair
PA Charity Number 1101219