Pupils and parents at the Bilingual Primary School brought a Hispanic flavour to Hove Park for the school’s annual summer fiesta.
The school – where children learn in English and Spanish – raised £6,600 towards play equipment for its new premises next to the park.
The event was organised by the school’s Parent Teacher Association (PTA) and was held in Hove Park for the first time just months after the school moved from Falmer.
The fiesta showcased the school’s unique culture and identity. It included a flamenco show, samba dancing, three shows from Circus PaZaz, children’s capoeira, yoga, music and craft workshops as well as a paella and barbecue.
These were combined with some of the features of a traditional school summer fair, including cake stalls and teachers in the stocks.
The event was also used as a way for the bilingual school to reach out to its new neighbours in the community around Hove Park.
Head teacher Wendy King said: “Our summer fiesta was colourful, vibrant and fun and a real reflection of the multicultural ethos of our school.
“We were delighted to hold the event in Hove Park and to be able to raise such a large sum for our new playground. The amount achieved really surpassed all our expectations.”
When the school moved into its new building in February, the PTA set an ambitious target of raising £20,000 for the first phase of new playground equipment, including a large climbing structure. The £6,600 raised at the fiesta is a big boost to the playground fund.
Olivia Wall, who co-chairs the PTA and has two children at the school, said: “The event was very well attended by BPS parents and teachers and members of the general public with the 660 tickets for the circus selling out one week early.
“We were blessed with good weather on the day which obviously boosted sales and meant that many people stayed for the whole day.”
Pupils from the school also took part in the Race for Life, raising almost £1,500 for Cancer Research UK.
Any chance this quasi-private school will cough up a contribution to the repair of lawn and upkeep of the Hove Park area used? Did they pay a users fee, as any other group would have had to? If so, how much was it?
I would say that was between B&H council and the school PTA.
To Save Hove, on your website you state that you are a “cyber group” meaning more than one person. You incorrectly state again that the school is quasi, (the definition of which is “apparently but not really; seemingly”) private. This, as you are more than well aware is completely wrong and has never been the case, the school is open to anyone and has always been so. It is also unlikely that this is the comment of a “group” and more likely yourself, meaning that the quote should legally come from Valerie Paynter and not Save Hove, unless of course it is the groups collective opinion. Again, with most of your “Groups” articles, I am astonished that you print questions whose answers you are more than well aware of. Hove Park is in Zone Two of Public places and doesn’t normally carry a fee, unless it it a large commercial public event. FYI, the council were informed of the event and conditions were set and met. If I had the time in my life, I would request that you make a formal public apology for your continual incorrect, unprofessional and misleading statements regarding this school. Come on Valerie, leave the school alone, give it up, stop clutching at straws, it makes you look really bad. You’ve done some good things in Brighton and Hove move on to those
Actually yes the parents have joined the friends of hove park (which Valerie isn’t a part of) and have done a couple of days litter picking and gardening. The parents of the school are very keen to help maintain the upkeep of the park we all love and it would be lovely to see you at one of the volunteer sessions Valerie sine you are so protective of the park.
I am unsure who you are or what exactly you are saving Hove from, but as a Hove Park resident, you do not speak for me nor many other local families. The school serves the children of both the local community and wider Brighton & Hove; it can in no sense be accurately described as ‘quasi-private’. Any family in the city can apply for a free place for their child, and entry is not linked to ability or language status. Parents and staff are trying hard to play a positive part in the local community, and many local residents enjoyed the circus and fiesta, which was organised independently of the school. Parents work with park staff and volunteer their time freely, for example, being involved in regular ‘litter picks’. I know that parents took care to fill the holes left by the circus tent poles, but was unaware of any additional damage to the park over and above the general wear and tear of Brighton & Hove council tax payers enjoying a joyous celebratory event in a local park. If you have a specific complaint, perhaps you could be so kind as to direct it to the school so that they can respond? It is very difficult to satisfactorily respond to anonymous website postings. Thank you for your interest in the school.
Do you pay a users fee? As far as I was aware it was a public space. Stop moaning about kids using a park, that’s what it’s there for
There is nothing at all ‘private’ about this school. It is open to any child in Brighton and Hove and is not selective, nor is it fee-paying. It is funded by public monies from the Department for Education. The PTA was very careful to remove all rubbish during and after the event and one of our parents meticulously filled in holes in the ground from the circus tent being erected. Parents at the school and siblings of children at the school also regularly participate in week-day litter picks with the Friends of Hove Park Association to contribute towards the park being kept spick and span.
Oh dear, someone should have come and joined in the fun in our wonderful public space, might have put a little smile on your face and a little light in your life saveHove! Also, you could have asked some questions and got your facts straight before posting quasi-fictional comments.
what has been done to improve on the terrible OFSTED report the school received?
Hi Dave, yeah, it was a terrible report, but for a first inspection, not unexpected. From what I know as a parent there, a huge effort has been made over the last year towards the schools next Ofsted. There were inspections this year by the Dept of Education who were very pleased with the progress if that helps. If you would like more information then feel free to contact the school directly.
Valerie/Save Hove.
I am the parent that has been organising the School volunteer session in Hove Park with Friends of Hove Park Group. I would be happy to let you know the next date we will be helping in the park if you would like to join us and contribute your time in doing something POSITIVE towards our well loved local park that you are so concerned about.