We are clear at Oundle that the end point of our educational vision is not the eighteen-year-old but rather the eighty-eight year-old. The development of a discerning mind is central to our aims, but this takes its place alongside the emergence of the whole person.
Funding Futures is a celebration of the possibilities made real for so many children by our bursaries programme and partnerships work. The sheer range of what pupils encounter beyond the classroom while at Oundle gives them opportunities through which they develop a secure sense of themselves. The depth of the pastoral care which nurtures them gives confidence and groundedness. The mixture of young people with whom they grow up, from different countries and different backgrounds, gives them an invaluable understanding of worlds beyond their own. The inspiration is mutual. We are, in short, in the business of educating our pupils for their future.
I hope very much that you will feel able to support us in doing more to enrich the educational experience of all our pupils through the power of inclusion made possible by financial support for our families.”
Sarah Kerr-Dineen Head
Oundle School was constituted as a charity in 1556 by a grateful former pupil for one purpose – to educate more children. Times and contexts have changed over the last four centuries, but we remain true to that founding ideal. Generations of staff and governors have dedicated themselves to offering the very best possible start in life to the children under their care.
With your help, we can offer such a start to more children, from a complete cross-section of society. Please do read carefully the stories that follow, and we hope that you will kindly consider supporting us in this endeavour.”
Governor and Chairman-designate of the Development Committee; OO Club President 2015
THE BURSARY THAT I WAS GIVEN CHANGED MY LIFE AND INFLUENCED ME TO KEEP WORKING HARD.” SAM IGE (G 14)
Ian Hodgson (Sc 78)
MORE OPPORTUNITIES, FOR MORE CHILDREN, WITH YOUR HELP
My experience as a recipient of a bursary at Oundle was truly life-changing. My time at the School was transformative in building my confidence as a young adult, with access to an environment and facilities that I never would have had otherwise. I look back on my Oundle education with enormous gratitude for the many doors opened in my personal development and for the lessons I learned both in and out the classroom. I have wonderfully fond memories of my time there.”
Former beneficiary and member of the Bursaries Working Group
For over twenty years, The Oundle School Foundation has enabled our School to pursue both the excellence which is its constitutional mandate, and the accessibility which we proudly recognise as our social duty. Our ability to do both depends on the generosity of those who have chosen to share the benefits that they have received. It will continue to do so in future.
By contributing to the Bursaries Endowment, to the Annual Fund for immediate use, or to our new Social Impact Fund in support of our partnerships with other local schools, you can help to make a great difference to people’s lives.”
Francesca Coates (Sn 16)
Matthew Dear Director of Development BURSARIES ENABLE CHILDREN WHO OTHERWISE WOULD NOT BE ABLE TO CONSIDER OUNDLE TO DO SO AND TO OBTAIN THE SKILLS THEY NEED TO REALISE THEIR AMBITIONS.” WILL EAST (S n 02)
I am thrilled to be able to play an active part in supporting the bursaries programme, because I understand just how important such a framework is in helping to bridge the gap between ambition and resources. At Oundle, that framework not only extends support to pupils who might not otherwise be able to attend the School, but also supports existing parents should their financial circumstances change over the course of their child’s time here.
I am passionate about the unique opportunity we all have to support a scheme which provides for existing families as well as funding futures for those who otherwise wouldn’t have considered attending Oundle an option.”
Jonathan Ratcliffe Parent and member of the Bursaries Working Group
As a former pupil, I know from first-hand experience the benefits and advantages that an education at Oundle offers to its pupils. However, I do not believe that access to such experiences and opportunities should be limited only to those who can afford it.
The challenge for such schools is to instil in their pupils a sense of confidence without arrogance; of self-belief without a sense of entitlement; and of pride tempered with humility. Oundle is well aware of those challenges and works hard to meet them.
Oundle’s bursaries programme ensures that the opportunities offered by the School are available to an ever wider and more diverse group of pupils. However, it does more than that. It enriches the experience of all pupils and staff, expands their perspective, and helps the School nurture its pupils into the confident, kind, smart and empathetic adults that we hope they will be.”
Jonathan Zimmern (B 95) OO and member of the Bursaries Working Group
