AROPS Regional Forum Meeting
St Paul’s Girls’ School, London
Thursday 11th April 2024, 1030 to 1400

Summary Report

Present: Alan Cooper, Chairman;
and representatives from: Aldenham; Clare Court; Haileybury x3; King’s Rochester; St Paul’s (Boys);
St Paul’s Girls’ x2; St Swithun’s & Wycombe Abbey. This included 4 members of the AROPS Committee.

Registration and Tea/Coffee 10.00 to 10.30am

Welcome and Introduction 10.30 to 11.00am
Alan Cooper Chairman of AROPS welcomed all those present and gave a short introduction about Magdalen
College School, as a former teacher and Alumni contact there and an explanation of AROPS and its mission.
Tim Cunis then gave a short introduction about the foundation by Dean John Colet of St Paul’s (Boys) School in
1509 beside the Cathedral and its move to West Kensington in 1884 and then to Barnes in 1968. The Colet
Court Prep School was founded in 1890 and the St Paul’s Girls’ School in Hammersmith in 1904.

General Discussion Points: 11.00 to 1.00pm
• Introduction by each person present of their role in their Alumni Society and/or School.
• Discussion on girls’ empowerment in today’s schools and universities.
• Discussion on bursaries and other support.
• Discussion on Alumni newsletters and magazines.
• Databases discussion and management systems.
• Discussion on development officers and offices and school relationships.
• Discussion about the differences between Friend-raising and Fund-raising.
• Discussion on Leavers, Parents, Alumni Joiners Pros and Cons.
• Discussion of Websites and their Content.
• Individual School problems and challenges.
• Year Group Reunion aspects and examples.
• Discussion on VAT implications, as currently proposed by politicians.
• Charitable Status for alumni societies and the benefits of ‘Partnerships’ between Independent & State
schools.
• Mentors and mentoring of pupils, students, etc., by Alumni and its importance.
• Discussion about Sports & Clubs for Alumni Societies and recruitment and Safeguarding issues for pupils.
• Benefits and disadvantages of Zoom vs Face-to-Face Meetings.
• Annual Dinners -- the popularity of a formal sit-down dinner vs more mobile buffets.
• GDPR and use of the ICO’s two authorised parallel pathways either of full written consent or of
‘Legitimate interest Assessment’ (LIA) and ‘Mutual Benefit’. A Flowchart was circulated.

The AROPS Chairman thanked St Paul’s Girls’ School for all their excellent arrangements and most particularly
Sarah Harrison, its Alumnae Officer and Howard Bailes, its Archivist and former long-time teacher who would be
leading an optional tour of the premises, as well as all those present for attending.

It was widely agreed to have been a most successful, interesting and useful forum meeting with a very helpful
opportunity for networking and for informal discussion with its wide-ranging exchange of ideas, views,
experiences and best practices.

Light Buffet Lunch 1.00 to 1.30pm.

Guided Tour of School Premises 1.30 to 2.00pm.

The meeting ended at 2.00pm.