[Education is my second passion in life. It has become so not only because I did not have a very satisfactory experience myself in the schools during the Cultural Revaluation, but also the comparisons I have been able to make while our children grow up in the UK. ]

Further to my previous piece, what I like to mention next about the schooling here in Oxford is the effort that the majority of parents put into towards the school activities. Ever since our eldest daughter started her first day in the school here, I have witnessed endless activities organised by the School Parents’ Committee. In this Committee, there are Chair (Co-Chair), Secretary, Treasurer and Class Representatives of every class in the year and every year in the school (it starts from Reception Year, Year 1, 2…, and up to Year 13). All the members of the Committee are Mums and Dads (most are Mums actually) who have their daughter(s) in the school. The major tasks of the Committee include raising money for the school and various charities. In the summer, there is always the School Summer Fete, which is always attended by flocks of children as well as family members, and hundreds of pounds are collected each year. In the winter, there is the routine Christmas Party to keep the children happy, and raise more money for the school and other good courses. In general, nearly all parents make as much effort as possible to support these activities and that has made a huge difference to what it would be like otherwise. All the Committee works are voluntary with no pay, and the parents are taking turns to fill in the posts if possible.

From my experience, I feel that some of the parents are from very wealthy families with their huge mansion like properties and heated swimming pools in the gardens. Yet there are many parents like us who have to work full time to pay for their children’s education. It is hard for parents to work and raise a young family simultaneously. And this has made me even more impressed by the commitment shown from the members of the Committee. They do it with such an enthusiasm for the children and school.

Being a full time working mum myself, I am always inspired by other Committee members and trying my best to do my duty as a Class Representative. There is always so much to learn which I appreciate and enjoy. So far this year, we have raised hundreds of pounds and the figure is still mounting. Every single child in the school will benefit from what we have achieved and that makes me feel really happy.

(to be continued)

Other related reading:

Kids and Education (I) - Questions