Step Forward Support every Stortfordian Journey
From first steps to lasting impact
Since 1868, the Stortfordian community has generously supported the College, ensuring future generations can benefit from the opportunities it provides. The impact can be seen across the campus, from the Ferguson Lecture Theatre and the Charles Mellows Swimming Pool to the Millennium Walkway, all made possible through this shared spirit of giving.
Together, we can build on this proud tradition by supporting bursaries and key projects that bring out the best in every pupil and continue to enhance our learning environment. Our long-term vision is to be a force for good beyond the College, fostering a spirit of altruism and social responsibility through a growing outreach programme with local schools.
Your support makes a difference
This year’s appeal will raise philanthropic support for carefully selected College projects that enhance pupils’ learning and help remove barriers for those who might not otherwise consider becoming Stortfordians.
When you make a donation, we will invite you to share three tips for success and an insight into your Stortfordian journey. This will wonderfully illustrate how, by stepping forward, you are giving back.
Why are we fundraising?
Our income is driven by school fees, which cover essential costs like staff salaries, maintenance, and student financial support. Fundraising helps the College mitigate the impact of external fiscal and political change and keeps our fees accessible to as many families
as possible, ensuring that more children can access our excellent education. Our increasing number of commercial and enterprise initiatives also help support this mission. By helping to reduce our reliance on fee income, your contributions to our fundraising efforts enable transformative projects, directly impacting every child’s learning experience at the College.
A bright future Memorial Hall
Designed by Clough Williams-Ellis and established in memory of Old Stortfordians who died in the Great War and subsequent conflicts, Memorial Hall has seen generations come together to learn and create lasting memories. From hosting weddings and milestone celebrations to serving as a venue for educational events and community gatherings, the hall has played a pivotal role in the lives of countless individuals.
We aim to restore the hall as a central hub for our community, where people of all ages can come together to connect, celebrate, and create new memories. Beyond physical changes, this is about creating a space that fosters growth, inspiration, and a sense of community.
Our new project will revitalise the hall, preserving this cherished landmark while introducing a series of thoughtful enhancements. Among the most significant will be the reinstatement of the window overlooking Master’s Green, restoring natural light to the space and reconnecting the hall to its surroundings. The
result will be a brighter, more welcoming setting that enhances the hall’s beauty and makes it better suited to a wide range of community activities.
Plans include a complete overhaul of the stage, improved professional lighting, and a new state-of-the-art sound system to optimise the quality of performances and provide an unforgettable audience experience.
Furniture will be carefully selected to support our vision, with flexible arrangements allowing the space to be easily adapted for different events and activities. Comfortable seating will ensure the hall can accommodate everything from quiet reflection to lively community meetings.
Advanced window treatments will complement the increased natural light, with options supporting both privacy and light control. These improvements will help create a serene environment ideal for learning and other reflective activities.
The project is an opportunity to honour the Memorial Hall’s historic significance while adapting it to meet the needs of our modern community. By supporting this initiative, you will preserve our shared heritage and help create a vibrant, welcoming space where new memories can be made.
If you would like to learn more about this project, please contact Stefanie Giblin, Director of Development, on 01279 952489 or stefanie.giblin@bishopsstortfordcollege.org
Transforming lives
Between 1945 and 1976, several Old Stortfordians benefited from the opportunity to attend the College thanks to the Direct Grant Scheme. This was a unique initiative for secondary schools in England and Wales, for which a quarter of the places were funded directly by the central government. The remaining places attracted fees that were either covered by the Local Education Authority or by pupils’ parents, with fee amounts set according to their ability to pay.
This scheme was phased out in 1975, making way for the Assisted Places Scheme, which was introduced following a change in government. From 1980 to 1998, the scheme enabled more than 75,000 academically able children from low-income families to attend independent schools through means-tested financial support. The College was among the participating schools, with the number of Assisted Place pupils increasing from 30 in 1987 to 50 by 1995, meaning that roughly one in 11 pupils at the school benefited from the scheme at the time.
Unfortunately, these schemes are no longer available but the need for financial support remains critical. It is essential that we explore and advocate for new ways to support deserving students who may not otherwise benefit from the exceptional education the College
offers. For some children, an independent school education can be truly life-changing, providing pastoral support and opportunities that may not otherwise be available at this stage of their development.
Every child deserves the chance to thrive, and we deeply value diverse perspectives, backgrounds, and cultures. When coupled with critical thinking, inclusive environments help form character and awareness of systemic biases, which are essential attributes as we prepare our pupils for future happiness and success.
Despite recent fiscal challenges, we aim to expand our means-tested bursary scheme for children from families facing financial barriers. Our goal is to raise funds to support two further Stortfordian bursaries each year: one for a Prep School pupil through to Sixth Form and one for a Sixth Form student. To achieve this, we need to raise £250,658, which will cover 100% of school fees, uniform, and ancillary costs.
By contributing to our bursary fund, you are not just supporting a child’s education; you are investing in their future and the future of our community. Together, we can make a profound difference to the lives of these children and their families.
Support the Stortfordian Bursary Fund
Every donation makes a difference
£10 a month could provide learning materials, books, or enrichment activities that help a student participate fully.
£25 a month could contribute towards transport, lunches, uniforms, or essential school costs that remove barriers to participation.
£50 a month could help fund extracurricular opportunities, trips, music tuition, or equipment that broadens a student’s experience.
£100 a month could make a significant contribution towards a bursary, helping a student access opportunities that may otherwise be out of reach.
Together we can change lives
£10 x 30 donors = £9,000 per month 2 years, including Gift Aid
(Net cost to higher rate taxpayer is £7.50 per month)
Make a Lasting Impact
Support deserving students while creating a lasting connection to the College.
Take a Seat
Purchase an engraved bench to be placed on our beautiful campus, creating a lasting tribute within the College’s historic grounds. Whether commemorating your time here, honouring a loved one, or celebrating your connection to the School, your gift will support future generations of Stortfordians.
£995 ( £1,243 with GiftAid)
Pave the Way
Purchase a walkway stone engraved with your name and dates, a loved one’s name, or your family’s surname, to be set within the Stortfordian Walkway outside School House. Your support will help open opportunities for bursary recipients and future students.
£995 ( £1,243 with GiftAid)
Open Doors
“I thought, why not continue to support others—it had been a great help to me. Even the smallest contribution, for instance one or two less cups of coffee in a week, or the equivalent financial amount, can create life-changing opportunities for a young person. The collective power of a large number of people giving a small amount can open up opportunities that would never exist otherwise.”
Jon Marsh (RPH,73–78)
Dedicate a classroom in your family’s name, or in honour of someone special, and create a lasting presence at the heart of the College. This annual gift helps open doors for talented students, supporting bursaries and access to a life-changing education.
£2,500 per year (£3,125 with Gift Aid)
For further details, contact the Development Office at development@bishopsstortfordcollege.org
The Doggart Pavilion
A century in the making
From the Doggart Pavilion, the eye is drawn across the historic market town of Bishop’s Stortford, a place of striking beauty, deep roots and lasting connection.
Gifted in 1933 to be ‘a real benefit and joy to Stortford’, this much-loved Pavilion has, for nearly a century, been the backdrop to sporting achievement, shared celebration and countless cherished memories. It holds a special place in the hearts of generations of pupils, staff, families and friends, and now offers us a powerful opportunity to honour that legacy while shaping something equally inspiring for those who will follow.
However, the passage of time and a five-fold increase in the number of pupils have left the facilities at the Doggart Pavilion outdated and inadequate. Our vision is to transform the pavilion into a contemporary space through a thoughtfully designed modern wing, with reconfigured changing rooms, improved storage, enhanced accessibility, and high-quality facilities. These enhancements will create a more practical and welcoming environment, better supporting the demands of sport and participation across the College today.
We are committed to using sustainable materials and energy-efficient practices to protect our green spaces.
Renovating existing buildings reduces embodied carbon compared to new builds, and by incorporating eco-friendly designs and materials, we will reduce the environmental footprint and costs.
Join
us on this transformative journey.
“Playing cricket at the Doggart made me feel confident and resilient, whether wearing the girls’ or boys’ 1st XI shirt. Today, every girl at the College has the opportunity to play cricket as their main sport—a testament to a culture of inclusivity and excellence”
Mabel Reid (TH,19–24)
In the unlikely scenario of insufficient funds being secured to move forward with this development, your generous contributions will be redirected to support the College’s most pressing sporting needs, as determined by the Governors of Bishop’s Stortford College. This ensures that every gift continues to make a meaningful impact on our community. All architectural concepts remain indicative until final approval is granted.
Transform the Doggart Pavilion
Be a part of the exciting redevelopment of the Doggart Pavilion and make a lasting impact on the future of Bishop’s Stortford College. With a generous gift of £995, you can secure your place pitch side by sponsoring a named bench on the Witherden Field. Imagine the pride of seeing your name, or that of a loved one, etched into the heart of our sporting community.
Alternatively, for a gift of £300, you can celebrate your family’s connection to the College by sponsoring an engraved terrace stone at the pavilion. Your contribution will leave a permanent mark while also supporting the next generation of sporting stars and ensuring they have the facilities they need to excel.
Step forward and join us on this transformative journey. Your support is crucial in helping us achieve our vision. Together, we can create a legacy that will inspire and benefit students for years to come.
“The home dressing room at the Doggart felt like a second home during my time in the College first XIs for cricket and hockey. During the cricket season, we practically lived there, playing our all-day fixtures after exams with great characters like Paul Bashford, Hareen Marceline, and the ‘spin twins’ Luke Fishpool and Simon Hartnell. We would survey the state of play from our vantage point on the balcony when we were batting.”
Duncan
Barber (MJH,HH,77–86)
We also have limited opportunities for naming rights for larger donations. For more information or to discuss this further, please contact Stefanie Giblin, Director of Development, at stefanie.giblin@bishopsstortfordcollege.org
How you can help
Gifts of all sizes will support our projects, and even a smaller donation, such as the price of a coffee or a gift of £18.68 to reflect our founding year, can help us achieve these goals. Regular contributions are particularly valuable as they provide a steady income stream, enabling the College to plan and allocate resources effectively.
If you are a UK taxpayer, your donation can go 25% further at no additional cost to you because the College is a registered charity and can claim Gift Aid, making your support even more impactful.
However you choose to give, your support will be a Step Forward for Stortfordians.
*once tax has been reclaimed
Recognising your generosity
Except in cases where a preference for anonymity is expressed, all donors will be listed in our donor magazine, The Wysteria
Data protection statement
Bishop’s Stortford College maintains a database of alumni, friends, supporters, and parents in order to stay in touch with our community and keep updated about news, events, careers, initiatives, and fundraising activities. This Policy sets out what information we collect about you and where and how we use (‘process’) it: www.bishopsstortfordcollege.org/about-us/policies-and-reports.
For the purposes of General Data Protection Regulations (GDPR), and any subsequent UK legislation covering data protection, the Data Controller is Bishop’s Stortford College.