TRANSFORMING LIVES THROUGH EDUCATION
THE POWER TO TRANSFORM A LIFE BEGINS WITH YOU
The bursary I received from King Edward’s School changed the path of my life and I will be forever grateful.
DR ROSE HALL
OE 2014 and Past Bursary Award Holder “
HONOURING OUR HERITAGE. FUNDING THEIR FUTURE.
AT KING EDWARD’S SCHOOL, OUR PURPOSE HAS REMAINED CLEAR SINCE 1552: TO GIVE YOUNG PEOPLE THE CHANCE TO REALISE THEIR FULL POTENTIAL.
Today, through our Bursary Programme, we are more determined than ever to make sure that opportunity is open to every child who would flourish at KES, regardless of their financial circumstances.
One of the most rewarding parts of my role as Headmaster is seeing the difference our Bursary Programme makes. It has transformed the lives of hundreds of pupils - helping them grow in confidence, develop their talents and achieve remarkable things - whilst also leaving a lasting impact on their families and the wider KES community. I know how powerful that support can be, because I experienced it myself through the Assisted Places Scheme during my time at school. I am personally aware of the life-changing effect that such an education can have; it shaped my life and my future.
As we look ahead to our 475th Anniversary in 2027,
our ambitions have never been greater. We aim to increase the number of life-changing bursaries we can provide so that no child who would have the potential to flourish at KES is turned away because of financial barriers. Our Transforming Lives Through Education campaign is fundamental to these ambitions.
We are incredibly grateful to everyone who has supported our Bursary Programme so far - Old Edwardians, parents and friends of the School. With your help, we can give every child the chance to thrive - through excellent teaching, caring support and the opportunities that make a KES education truly special.
I invite you to join us in this endeavour.
MARTIN BODEN Headmaster
“
Bursaries
are at the heart of the school’s ethos, with about £1.3 million of financial support available.
Good Schools Guide, 2025
INTRODUCING THE 1552 FOUNDATION
Since its founding in 1552, King Edward’s School has been dedicated to giving young people the knowledge, skills and confidence to thrive.
Gaining Direct Grant status in 1920 opened the doors to pupils from less affluent homes, supported through government grants. This commitment to widening access continued
with the Assisted Places Scheme in 1981 and later through the School’s own Bursary Fund, introduced in 1998.
Launched in 2025, The 1552 Foundation honours our heritage and builds on the School’s legacy of ambition and accessibility. It embodies the School’s values of always looking out for and supporting others, whilst ensuring that KES remains a place where excellence is achievable for all our pupils, irrespective of their financial means.
KES BATH | 1552 FOUNDATION
TRANSFORMING LIVES THROUGH EDUCATION
We are proud to support at the Senior School 100 pupils over
At the heart of our School’s purpose is a commitment to widening access and transforming lives through education. Today, we are proud to support over 100 pupils through our means-tested Bursary Programme, providing more than £1.3 million in bursary support each year. But the need is growing.
Providing over in bursary support £1.3 Million
Every year, we face a painful reality: a number of children are unable to take up their places at the School - not because they lack potential, but because we lack the funds to support them. It is a moment that underscores why we must do more.
The KES Bursary Programme provides amazing opportunities to students who otherwise would never have had them. As a result, young people like me who want to make the most of their talents and passions are able to do so.
AMBER TILEY
OE 2024 and Past Bursary Award Holder
OUR VISION
Our goal is clear: to offer more impactful bursaries to those who need them most, and to ensure that no deserving child is ever turned away due to financial barriers.
That is why we have set an ambitious target to grow our Bursary Programme by:
Raising an additional £0.5 Million
annually by 2030
Supporting an additional 25 pupils each year
This is a bold but vital investment in the future of our School and the lives of the young people we support.
With your help, we can ensure that opportunity is never out of reach.
KES gave me the confidence to think that I could do anything. Not only the confidence, but also the opportunity.
DR ROSE HALL
OE 2014 and Past Bursary Award Holder “
OE 2014 AND PAST BURSARY AWARD HOLDER
52 DR ROSE HALL
For Old Edwardian, Rose, applying to King Edward’s School was never part of the plan, because it simply did not feel possible.
With the encouragement of her mum and the support of the Head of Admissions at KES, who believed Rose belonged there, they applied for a bursary and it changed everything.
The day Rose and her mum received the call, offering her a place through the Bursary Programme, was unforgettable.
“My mum and I cried,” she recalls. “We were overwhelmed. It felt too good to be true.”
What followed was not just an excellent education, it was confidence, friendships and possibility. From playing competitive chess to finding peace in the Art room at lunchtimes, Rose discovered not only what she was good at but what she loved.
Her teachers encouraged her and gave her the tools to believe that a career in Medicine was possible.
Today, Rose is an oncologist, working to support others through some of the hardest moments of their lives. She speaks with wonder and gratitude about the path that brought her there. KES not only gave her the confidence she still carries with her, but also her passions, still competing in chess as an adult.
Now, she’s giving back in her own way, mentoring students from less fortunate areas who want to study Medicine and offering guidance to those navigating the same barriers she once faced.
WROUGHTON
BURSARY FUND
Dr John Wroughton was a greatly admired and inspirational teacher at King Edward’s and was Headmaster from 1982 to 1993.
He dedicated his working career to the pupils at KES and was passionate about providing young people with life-changing opportunities. He was a huge supporter of the KES Bursary Programme and was often involved in fundraising activities at the School so that more transformational bursaries could be awarded to local young people. When Dr Wroughton passed away in 2023, the School wanted to commemorate the impact John had on school life and named the Bursary Fund in his memory.
Through the Transforming Lives Through Education campaign, we are proud to continue raising funds in Dr Wroughton’s name - a lasting tribute to the profound impact he has had on generations of KES pupils.
I gave to the Wroughton Bursary Fund because the School gave me so much that I wanted to give something back. I really valued what I got at King Edward’s and as a result I’ve been connected with the School ever since I left.
JOHN ISHERWOOD OE 1973, Direct Grant Scheme, Governor and Current Donor “
OE 1992 AND CURRENT DONOR
JOHN GLEN
“I want to ensure that as many children as possible have the opportunity of a KES education and that is why I have supported the School since I left, recently establishing the Glen Bursary Fund. The Bursary Programme is the best way of enabling all those with potential to be able to attend King Edward’s and benefit from the broad range of educational experiences that shaped my adult life.”
John Glen was Head Boy at King Edward’s School, which he attended from I982-1992. He has served as the Member of Parliament for Salisbury since 2010 and as a Cabinet Minister before the 2024 General Election. He Is now the Parliamentary Private Secretary to the Leader of the Opposition; a post held since July 2025. John’s support plays a vital role in enabling pupils from state schools in Wiltshire to attend the Sixth Form at KES, ensuring that young people with potential can benefit from the education that helped shape his own path.
My time at King Edward’s School provided me with the best start in life. The School gave me a superb education but as importantly it gave me the confidence to go out into the world and pursue my chosen career in public service. “
OE 2023 AND PAST BURSARY AWARD HOLDER
MARTIN MORA PANCORBO
When asked to sum up the meaning of the bursary to him, Martin said it was “life-changing”.
Martin joined King Edward’s after being inspired by his cousin who attended KES before going on to study at the University of Oxford. Martin wanted to follow the same path and he and his mother were delighted that he was awarded a place with a bursary to attend the Senior School.
“It really is difficult to put into words how much the bursary has helped me. The award has allowed me to not be held back by finances and be able to access a high-level education. A bursary is something that can really change people’s lives.”
Whilst in the Sixth Form, Martin was a Senior Prefect. He also represented the School in rugby, and was a talented pianist, performing at the prestigious Holburne Soloists’ Concert. He has since gone on to study Medicine at the University of Bristol.
Martin is grateful for all the support his teachers gave him whilst he was at school, particularly in helping him with his application to study Medicine. He believes that he would not be where he is today had it not been for the bursary and his time at KES.
If it wasn’t for the bursary, I can’t imagine what my life would be like.
MARTIN MORA PANCORBO OE 2023 and Past Bursary Award Holder “
CURRENT PUPIL AND BURSARY AWARD HOLDER
MOLLY GAULT
Molly, a current Sixth Form pupil and Bursary Award Holder at KES, aspires to pursue a career in Interior Design following university.
Since joining the School, she has made a strong impact both academically and creatively. Molly plays for the 1st XI Cricket team and showcases her musical talents as a saxophonist and singer in ensembles including KES Soul and KES 24.
LEGACIES
THE GIFT OF A LIFETIME
By leaving a gift for the School in your Will, you can help shape the lives of future generations.
Once you have looked after your loved ones, even a small legacy can open doors for bright and talented pupils - giving them the chance to thrive at KES, regardless of their financial background.
Your legacy gift will help preserve the values and excellence of a KES education, ensuring it remains accessible and transformative for years to come.
Paul Smith attended KES between 1977 and 1988 and has chosen to leave a gift in his Will to King Edward’s. Paul deeply valued the exceptional education he received at KES and takes great pride in giving back to the School that shaped him.
Legacy gifts have the power to change lives, and we are deeply grateful for every gift we receive.
If I could sum up what the bursary has meant for me in one word, it would be mind-opening.
MOLLY GAULT Current Pupil and Bursary Award Holder “
Looking back at my magical days at KES, the two things that stand out were the School’s amazing traditions and the adventurous thinking it encouraged. To this day KES makes me very proud and has given me a wonderful foundation for my career.
PAUL SMITH OE 1988 and Legator “
CREATING OPPORTUNITIES:
TOGETHER, WE CAN TRANSFORM LIVES
Through an outstanding all-round education, King Edward’s School seeks to ensure that all our pupils acquire the tools and the confidence to flourish and be ready for whatever the future may hold.
With every bursary awarded and every new opportunity created, we are building a school where pupils are encouraged to find their voice, strive to do their best and to carry a sense of responsibility for others and the world around them.
WAYS IN WHICH YOU CAN HELP:
You can help open doors for young people with potential by supporting our Transforming Lives through Education campaign. Your generosity ensures that financial circumstances never stand in the way of a KES education.
Support an Individual Pupil
By supporting an individual pupil, you can make a life-changing difference - covering up to 100% of their journey at KES.
Your support will enable a young person to thrive throughout their time at KES, knowing their education is made possible by someone who believes in them.
Recognising Your Support
We are proud to acknowledge our supporters through three giving groups:
• The Tudor Rose Club – for regular donors of any amount.
• The 1552 Circle – for those giving over £1,552 annually, either through regular gifts or a one-off equivalent.
• The Blake Odgers Society – for supporters who leave a gift in their Will.
Donate to the Wroughton Bursary Fund
If you prefer to give collectively, a gift of any size to the Wroughton Bursary Fund helps remove financial barriers and widens access.
A one-off donation or a regular monthly, quarterly or annual gift creates life-changing opportunities for young people to thrive. Inspired by our founding year, suggested regular amounts include £15.52, £155.20, or £1,552 - but every level of support matters.
By joining one of these groups, you become part of a tradition of philanthropy that strengthens the KES community.
Leave a Legacy
Leaving a gift in your Will is a powerful way to honour your connection to KES and ensure the School continues to inspire, challenge and support future generations. Legacies have shaped KES for centuries, and we are deeply grateful to those who have chosen this lasting impact. It is one of the most personal and significant gifts you can make, helping to transform lives for years to come.
If you want to help children realise their potential and contribute meaningfully to society, supporting a bursary can give a young person access to opportunities and an environment that helps them thrive.
NAOMI DEFROAND OE 2007 and Past Bursary Award Holder
From my personal experience, a bursary really can change someone’s life. Without the access to the teaching I received at KES, both inside and outside the classroom, I would not be where I am today.
ALEX SALAH OE 2022 and Past Bursary Award Holder
HONOURING OUR HERITAGE. FUNDING THEIR FUTURE.
TRANSFORMING LIVES THROUGH EDUCATION