In the British Monarchy, a Platinum Jubilee marks the 70-year anniversary of ascension to the throne and on 6 February 2022, Her Majesty The Queen celebrated this incredible service. She is the first British Monarch to do so.
In recognition of this momentous occasion, the great British public has been rewarded with a four-day bank holiday weekend from Thursday 2 to Sunday 5 June! The four days of celebrations will include public events and community activities. We’re sure it is an occasion that school parent associations will want to mark with parties and events to bring everyone together.
We would like to invite you to stage your own Platinum Afternoon Tea, with the help of Classlist’s PTA events management and messaging app. We’re calling on schools all over the country to join this fun event on Friday 27 May at 3pm. Enjoy the feeling of knowing you are part of something bigger as schools all over the country celebrate at the same time.
What is it?
Invite your whole school community to celebrate the Platinum Jubilee with an Afternoon Tea that’s fit for royalty. Encourage children and adults to dress up in royal or smart clothes with a red, white and blue theme. You could invite children and local musicians to perform hits from every decade since the 1950s to accompany the feast. If the school has good links with a social club or nursing home, invite elders to celebrate with you!
You could simplify this event by giving children cardboard Union Jack picnic boxes to take home and fill with their packed lunches. Then give them each a scone, crown, flag and Union Jack napkins on the day.
Encourage parents to buy tickets for the event on Classlist. You can recruit volunteer helpers via the app, by adding a suggested task and time slot as they purchase their tickets.
2. Corgi trailNaughty corgis have hidden the Queen’s belongings in secret spots all over your village, town or playground! At each location, children find a picture of a corgi plus the lost items - a handbag, hat or pair of court shoes! Children who find all 12 items will be rewarded with a small prize (yes, that’s going to be everyone - can’t leave anyone out!). Ask for donations from parents.
3. Sponsored bounce
Hire a bouncy castle on the same day as your Afternoon Tea and set up a sponsored bounce! Simplify this by charging an entry fee.
4. Doggie MBE
Invite families to bring in their dogs for a best in show competition. This could be a show with a difference, with dogs nominated for MBE or OBE level contributions to society! The school reading dog (if you are lucky enough to have one) might have to be knighted for services to literacy!
5. Platinum Raffle
Set up a Rainbow raffle in the Platinum Jubilee colours of red, white, blue and purple. You could ask each year group to bring in prizes of a chosen colour, fill crates with these and announce the prize winners on the day.
6. Royal pageant
Assemble your royal entourage and parade through your town or village, collecting donations along the route. Ask all the children to dress in their finest royal-themed clothing. At least one child will be delighted to take on the role of Town Crier, while another rings the bell and others shake donation buckets along the route!
7. Butterfly release
If you buy butterfly habitats now they could be ready in time to be released at the Afternoon Tea celebration as a symbol of hope for the future. Ask parents to ‘sponsor’ a butterfly by selling tickets for this Event on Classlist.
Start planning now and your school children could have grown some beautiful plants, flowers and vegetable seedlings by June. Try to find flowers with a royal connection, such as the Queen’s favourite, lily of the valley, or Prince Charles’ choice, delphiniums.
9. Fairy door trail
Set up a fairy door trail to celebrate every decade or year of the Jubilee. You can buy packs of 16 fairy doors for the children to paint. Ask your PTA volunteers to set them up around the town or village. Create a tick sheet and ask for a donation in return for a copy.
10. Bake Off
A whole school Bake Off brings out the competitive spirit in everyone! To enter, children have to pay an entry fee and commit to a three-stage process, with Platinum-themed Tray Bakes in week one, Cupcakes in week 2 and a Jubilee Showstopper in week 3. Children bring in money to buy the cakes and vote on their favourite. The top ten entrants go through to the next round. Delicious fun for everyone.
11. Platinum Jubilee gifts for schools
Everyone loves a bit of branded merchandise! Here are some ideas and suppliers that could personalise your Jubilee goodies. (NB: These have not been tested by Classlist.)
Pin badge - Trophies Plus Medals, 69p
Personalised coins - Queen’s Platinum Jubilee
Platinum Jubilee mug - Running Imp
Tea towels - Bidibi
Teddy bears - School Bears