A celebration of your support 2023 – 2024
Leave a lasting gift.
Hundreds of members of the GDST community have chosen to leave a gift in their Will to help provide an accessible and forward-thinking education for GDST girls of the future.
As a GDST supporter, you can write your Will for free using leading Will writing service, Farewill. Get started by visiting www.farewill.com/gdstgiving-2025.
The last academic year has given us much to celebrate. We have supported more brilliant girls than ever before with transformative bursaries and our students continue to thrive in environments tailored to meet the needs of girls. Our incredible GDST alumnae make us proud by leading change and breaking barriers across every industry, every day.
Our formidable family of 25 schools became 26 when we welcomed Redmaids’ High School Bristol to the GDST this February. It demonstrates our determination to ensure girls’ education thrives in the UK. We continue to drive real change by aspiring to reach as many girls as possible with an excellent education that prepares them for the future.
As an organisation founded on the radical belief that girls were as worthy of an education as boys from as early as 1872, the GDST continues to find new ways to elevate our world-class educational offering for the students in our schools and beyond. In a world that is still far from equal, gender imbalances and stereotypes find their way into the classroom too often, limiting the life opportunities of girls. It has never been more challenging, nor more important, that we ensure girls can learn without limits and go on to become the future leaders and changemakers the world so badly needs.
In November 2024, we launched ‘Designing the Future of Girls’ Education’, the latest in our series of innovative research, to help schools everywhere address the specific needs of girls in all learning environments. We are proud to be sharing over 150 years of expertise with schools to inspire them to reflect on their existing approach to educating girls in any environment and to encourage them to review the structural and behavioural mindsets that may shortchange female pupils, in the classroom and beyond. We are confident that
this work will become as influential as our landmark 2022 ‘Girls’ Futures Report’.
We want to transform the life chances of girls around the UK, who due to their financial disadvantage, would not otherwise be able to access our education. We see bursaries at a GDST school as the most powerful catalyst a girl can receive at age 11. We want to improve the education and futures of as many girls and young women as possible and enable girls from all walks of life to benefit from the incredible, life-transforming gift of a GDST education.
We believe that an education tailored to the specific needs of girls, supporting them to be the leaders and changemakers of the future, will deliver a more equitable world which we can all be proud of. Thank you to each and every one of you who has so generously supported our programme of transformational bursaries. Together, we will continue to make a remarkable difference on the world. As you read this year’s publication, please remember that we could not do any of this vital work without you.
Cheryl Giovannoni Chief Executive, Girls’ Day School Trust
Philanthropic income and impact 2023-24
158 new bursaries awarded 1,420 gifts received from generous donors
£2.5 million raised for bursaries and financial assistance
447 students benefited from a 100%+ bursary
Nearly £900,000 left to the GDST in legacy gifts
984 students benefited from a GDST bursary
“The GDST really does pride itself in putting girls first.
The school really focusses on the individual, every single person is special, and they want every one of us to succeed. That’s what gives me confidence in my abilities and reassures me that, I can do this.
When I joined Blackheath, I was lucky enough to be awarded the 100% bursary and scholarship. The opportunities that have opened up for me as a result have been immense.
Without bursaries, people like me wouldn’t be able to join the school. The bursary is evidence that you definitely belong and deserve to be there. It really helped me get to where I am – a degree apprenticeship at a Russell Group University – which is a huge achievement and couldn’t have been done without the support of the bursary.
The kind of impact I want to have on the world is to leave a legacy of helping people. I want whatever work I end up doing to matter, and to better someone else’s life. The world needs more people who aren’t scared to speak their minds and just be their true selves.”
Sharmalyne is one of thousands of women who have benefited from the life-changing opportunity of a GDST education thanks to the bursary programme, which has been in place for over 25 years. GDST bursaries are not just about providing financial assistance: students are given the chance to flourish, to learn and to discover on the same terms as their peers. Bursaries benefit not only the recipient but also their family and networks, along with the entire school community, by ensuring that our learning environments reflect the diversity of the world beyond the school gates.
In 2023-2024, nearly £900,000 was left to the GDST in legacy gifts. We are hugely grateful to our alumnae for their generosity in leaving a gift to us in their Wills. Their advocacy for girls’ education will make a significant impact on future generations of GDST girls, as it did for them.
Gillian Featonby (1944-2022) was a remarkable woman who touched many lives through her dedication, generosity, and love for her community. Growing up, Gill displayed a love for adventure and discovery, developing a passion for horse-riding which eventually led her to study at Newcastle University, earning a degree in Agriculture.
In the 1960s, Gill married David Featonby, and together they built a life in Longhirst, Northumberland where they raised animals and embraced the countryside. Gill’s involvement in her local community was immense; she became Life President of the Longhirst Parish Association, ensuring the well-being of the village and its people. Her love for horses continued as she competed in equestrian events and judged dressage competitions across the Northeast.
In later years, Gill faced personal challenges, including the loss of her beloved husband in 2012. Despite hardships, she remained resilient, finding joy in her peaceful life and cherishing her friendships. Inspired by the strong
foundation she received from her education at Central Newcastle High School, Gill chose to leave a generous legacy to the school, ensuring that future generations could benefit from the opportunities that shaped her own life. Thanks to this generosity, Newcastle High School for Girls has established six transformational bursaries in her name. The ‘Featonby’ awards will enable a new generation of girls to experience a life-changing education at NHSG, over 70 years later. Her life and legacy is one of community, resilience and kindness.
If you have included a gift to the GDST or an individual school in your Will, or would like more information on how to do so, please get in touch by emailing giving@wes.gdst.net or visiting www.gdst.net/support/giving-in-your-will
Everyone who has made this commitment will be invited to join The Minerva Circle to recognise this significant gesture. This will connect you with like-minded advocates and keep you updated on our mission.
Our supporters are the backbone in enabling us to reach as many girls as possible, supporting and empowering young women to achieve their full potential with a life-changing GDST education. Each gift, great and small, is valuable and appreciated.
Widening access to education has been at the forefront of the GDST purpose since our inception over 150 years ago by our courageous female founders. We are delighted that one of our own alumnae families have made a generous commitment to bursaries with the establishment of the Sir Naim Dangoor Awards at South Hampstead High School. Named in honour of the businessman and philanthropist who was a passionate advocate of education, the awards will support new bursary students joining South Hampstead over the next ten years.
These awards will reach far beyond the children themselves, into the lives of their families and community, creating a legacy and inspiration to help girls learn without limits.
At Notting Hill & Ealing High School (NHEHS), parents have joined together to raise £180,000, establishing a full, senior school bursary.
‘The Parents’ 150th Anniversary Bursary’ was launched to celebrate NHEHS’ 150th anniversary in September 2023, and successfully reached its target, enabling a talented student to benefit from a GDST education which would otherwise have been out of reach.
“We have been moved by the heartfelt accounts shared by the students who have benefited from the NHEHS bursary programme. Their stories have inspired us to join in this important cause. Our motivation to contribute stems from a deep belief in providing an excellent educational opportunity to girls who face challenges. Witnessing the positive impact of a well-rounded curriculum and diverse extracurricular activities, such as music, drama, art and sports, we strongly believe in extending these benefits to more students.”
Notting Hill & Ealing High School Reception parents
When the opportunity arose to consider charitable giving, Sue’s thoughts immediately turned to her school.
“I remember it as a time full of giggles and laughter, with teachers who were kind and supportive.” The confidence she developed during those years built a strong foundation for her life and career. “I’m so grateful for the friendships I made there, many of which I still cherish today. We meet regularly and reminisce about great memories in the Wirral.”
Sue now offers support to the music provision at Birkenhead. “Music was a great passion of mine growing up and being able to contribute and grow the Arts offering at Birkenhead for current and future students is a source of great joy to me.”
“I was so pleased to be able to give back to the Birkenhead community and lift others up. I would encourage others to assess their situation and give back where they can, be this through giving time and expertise or financial gifts. We all have something of value to offer, it doesn’t matter how big or smallit all makes a difference.”
Thank you for enabling us to change the lives of girls across the UK.
Ensuring girls can learn without limits and become leaders and changemakers of the future is more crucial than ever if we are to design a more equitable world that we can all be proud of. If you would like to give to support our transformational work of GDST bursaries, you can do so by completing the donation form accompanying this booklet or by visiting www.gdst.net/donate.
A heartfelt thank you from all of us at the GDST.
