The Lilian Brake Legacy Society Brochure

THE LILIAN BRAKE LEGACY SOCIETY

“ I loved my time at Ashford under Miss Brake and made many friends who I still see.

I’m delighted that new generations of pupils are being given such a great start in life.

Thinking in centuries, rather than years, must be in our minds when we consider the future of the School. Small though our individual legacies may be their collective impact underpins the Ashford School of today. I’m leaving something to support our School’s future. How about you?”

VAL ARENDS (née Davies, Nightingale, 1954) Lilian Brake Legacy Society Ambassador Former NHS Hospital Governor Member Parliamentary Candidate Selection Board Businesswoman

At Ashford School, we are immensely proud of our diverse and close-knit community, full of ambitious, well-motivated and hardworking young people. The School is continuing to grow, and each day our staff are ‘inspiring minds’ as they support and challenge the pupils, and actively seek to get the best of each individual.

There have been many exciting developments at Ashford School over the past decade and we have ambitious plans over the coming years. Our vision is ‘to be recognised locally, nationally and internationally as a centre of excellence, empowering young people to make a difference in their changing world’.

Like many great schools without a permanent endowment, Ashford School owes much to past pupils, parents and former staff who have, with great generosity, helped it to become and remain one of the best schools in the UK. We are deeply grateful to all those who remember School in their will regardless of the size of their gift. Together these gifts make a real and lasting difference.

Your gift could help support Ashford School’s commitment to increase the number of bursaries available for the most able children in our local community, thus enabling them to join the School and benefit from a life-changing Ashford School education, irrespective of family circumstance. Educational opportunity is the very best engine of social mobility and we are determined to ensure that our school remains a diverse, balanced community.

Whilst bursary funding is a major priority, we must also ensure that our facilities are suited to the demands of a twenty-first century education. We hope that former pupils, staff and parents will continue to acknowledge that their help in funding future capital projects is essential.

MR MICHAEL HALL

Headmaster of Ashford School

‘TO BE RECOGNISED LOCALLY, NATIONALLY AND INTERNATIONALLY AS A CENTRE OF EXCELLENCE, EMPOWERING YOUNG PEOPLE TO MAKE A DIFFERENCE IN THEIR CHANGING WORLD’.

THE LILIAN BRAKE LEGACY SOCIETY Making a gift in your will to Ashford School is a very personal matter, but it would be helpful to the School to know if you have done so. This gives us the opportunity of showing our appreciation and thanking benefactors during their lifetime.

Those who inform us of their intention to make a gift in their wills will automatically become members of the Lilian Brake Legacy Society (or can remain completely anonymous if so wished).

As a member, you will be invited to attend an annual luncheon, hosted by our Headmaster, as well as other School events throughout the year; in this way, members who wish to do so will be

“ Working independently and hard; acting responsibly; managing my own time well. These are only some of the lessons that I learnt at Ashford school, along with when the Crusades took place, and who Plato was! Without doubt all those different lessons are of great significance and will continue to be of importance over the course of my whole life.

Ashford School encouraged me to be ambitious and believe in my own abilities, on both an academic and personal level. Studying at Ashford School was also an inspiring experience, with a welcoming community, where staff and students supported each other, motivating me to always give my best.

I often think back to my time at Ashford and recall how rewarding it felt – being a student was a huge privilege, and one which I will always remember.”

kept up to date with the School’s progress and future plans.

SEBASTIAN KAU (Dresden Scholar, Pilgrims, 2019)

“As I come to the end of Year 13, I can say that these last 2 years were the most wonderful chapter in my life, and this is all thanks to Ashford School.

From holding the archery bow in my hand for the first time to growing into a responsible prefect and individual, Ashford School has offered opportunities at every turn that would never have arisen elsewhere.

I have been able to learn what dedication is, and I have worked alongside the best staff and peers. I have been encouraged to step outside my comfort zone and I can see how this has enabled me to grow and thrive.

One of the most valuable lessons Ashford School has taught me is that positive actions and thinking result in success. I will be forever thankful to all my teachers for brightening up each school day and helping me to be the best version of myself.

I cannot give Ashford School enough credit for its immense effect on me personally, and for the countless joyful memories I will keep of my time studying here.”

GABY GORAŞOV (Head Girl & HMC Scholar, Knights, 2020)

TYPES OF LEGACY

“When I joined Ashford School in Year 7, I was quiet and with little drive to achieve my best. Through my seven years at Ashford School, I grew in confidence and ability.

I applied for Veterinary School, was accepted, and have now achieved my childhood dream of becoming a vet. The small year groups, forms, and classes meant my teachers really knew me, my interests, and needs, allowing them to support me and push me to achieve my potential. The staff were always willing to share their time, whether helping me to revise for exams or write my university application and they all sparked an interest in learning which stayed with me throughout university. Extra-curricular activities were an important part of life at Ashford. As a Music Scholar I spent a lot of time in the music department playing the flute, which gave me an escape from my academic work. Through regular concerts I grew in confidence and had the opportunity to develop new skills with activities to suit all interests. I have no doubt that without my Ashford School education, made possible with a bursary, I would not be where I am today.”

ROBBIE BOXALL (Franklins, 2014)

A legacy is one of the simplest and most flexible ways of making your gift, and may allow you to support the School in a way in which you may not be able to do during your lifetime. The tax benefits of a legacy gift to the Foundation are considerable – all such bequests can be made free from Inheritance Tax and Capital Gains Tax, so you could reduce the total tax burden levied on your estate to your family.

“ As I come to the end of my university years, I realise the indelible impression my Ashford School education has left on me. The School gave me a warm, yet intellectually challenging, environment in which to grow and impressed upon me the importance of striving to achieve all you can in every aspect of life.

I have tried to do just that during my years at St Andrews through my curricular learning, but also by volunteering as a tennis coach in Zambia and becoming the Chair of Scottish Student Tennis.

As I embark on my new career, I am very aware of the strong foundation for life attending Ashford School gave me, whilst also instilling the belief that with desire and passion anything is possible. I look back fondly on my memories of school and will always be grateful for the wonderful opportunity to have been an Ashford pupil.”

NICK SMELT (Deputy School Captain, Yeomen, 2015)

Pecuniary You can leave a set amount of money to Ashford School. You may wish to ask your solicitor about linking it to inflation so that it retains its value over the years.

Residuary This is the value remaining after all other bequests, fees and debts have been paid.

You can leave all or a portion of your residuary estate to Ashford. It will therefore not be affected by inflation.

Specific A specific bequest (or a bequest in kind) could be stocks and shares, land or other property or chattels.

Reversionary A reversionary bequest is one which allows named persons to benefit from assets during their lifetimes, after which the assets are transferred to the ultimate beneficiary.

Deed of Variation If you become a beneficiary of someone else’s will, you may wish to consider transferring the whole or part of that inheritance to Ashford School using a deed of variation. The value thus transferred would be exempt from the inheritance tax which would otherwise have been payable out of the estate in respect of that value.

In Memoriam Gift An immediate gift, this can be set up as a fund in remembrance of a loved one.

In many schools, individuals establish ‘In Memoriam’ funds for providing bursaries, prizes, a bench or a tree on the school campus.

WHAT NEXT? We hope that you will consider leaving a gift in your will to Ashford School.

The Ashford School Foundation is a registered charity. As such, your legacy to Ashford may reduce the amount of inheritance tax due on your estate. If you have not yet made a will please consider contacting your solicitor for advice.

If you have already made a gift naming Ashford School as a beneficiary and are happy to inform us of your intention to pledge, please let us know by email or using our online Legacy Pledge Form.

: ASHFORDALUMNI : ASHFORDALUMNI : GROUPS/8595031/ : ASHFORDSCHOOLASSOCIATION A MEMBER SCHOOL OF UNITED LEARNING REGISTERED CHARITY NUMBER 1016538

Ashford School • East Hill • Ashford • Kent • TN24 8PB Tel: +44 (0)1233 625171 | development@ashfordschool.co.uk | ashfordschool.co.uk