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Supporter Update

Exam Success and Lives Transformed

This year’s A level results at LWC were once again record-breaking, with 80 per cent of A levels graded A*-B, and 97 per cent A*-C. There was much to celebrate as this is the College’s best-ever performance within these grade boundaries.

Our Upper Sixth Foundationers shared in these record-breaking A level exam results and went on to secure places at some of the UK’s leading universities including Leeds, Newcastle, Royal Holloway, and King’s College London. Furthermore, their average grade and points were higher than it was for the nonFoundationers in that cohort, with them achieving 92 per cent A*-B grades.

And in even better news… for the first time, we are using ALPS (Analysis and Performance System), which is a national benchmarking tool that measures how much progress students make in the Sixth Form at Lord Wandsworth College compared to similar students across the country.

We are delighted that LWC’s Class of 2025 achieved an overall ALPS score of 1, meaning our A level pupils’ progress places us in the top 1% of schools and colleges across the whole of the UK education system. This is truly remarkable and means that our pupils aren’t just doing well; they’re soaring beyond expectations. Congratulations to the Class of 2025 and to the staff for their amazing achievements.

Your Support in Action: Jensen’s Story

For most pupils, exams are stressful enough. For our Foundationers, they come on top of the trauma of losing a parent or losing parental support through bereavement, illness, or abandonment.

The A level grades of our Foundationers are remarkable not only for the results themselves, but for the journey behind them. Each one is a story of resilience – of young people who, despite early trauma, have been able to grow in confidence, thrive academically, and step into the future with ambition. And every one of those stories has been made possible by our donors.

One such inspiring journey is that of Jensen. After losing his father unexpectedly, he joined LWC as a Foundationer in the First Form. Seven years later, he left not only with outstanding A level results, but also as Head of College.

Reflecting on his experience, Jensen shared:

“In my early years, I was inspired by other Foundationers who had gone on to become Head of College. It showed me that despite setbacks in life, people like me could step forward, make a difference, and lead. During my time as Head of College I wanted to leave that same impression on younger Foundationers – that their start in life doesn’t have to define their finish.”

“I never would have had the opportunity to do this and experience the things I have in the last seven years without The Foundation. Thank you to all those who donate, big or small – it really does change lives.”

Jensen achieved an incredible clean sweep of A* grades in Economics, Maths and Physics A level.

Jensen is on a gap year in Australia, playing for Elsternwick Cricket Club. He plans to spend some time travelling across South East Asia before beginning his studies in Economics at either Oxford, Durham, Bath, or Edinburgh in September 2026.

Your support makes stories like Jensen’s possible. Every gift, no matter the size, helps a child facing hardship step into their future with resilience, ambition, and hope. Thank you, too, to the Trusts who have supported Jensen throughout his LWC journey.

Building Futures & Widening Worlds: Foundationers at LWC

Our current generation of Foundationers are the most recent joiners in a long line of some 2,500 individuals whose lives have been transformed through a Foundation place at Lord Wandsworth College.

We welcomed 11 new Foundationers to the College this year. In addition, we have welcomed 3 existing pupils into The Foundation due to a change in their own family circumstances. Each and every Foundationer will not only benefit greatly from the well-rounded, inspirational education LWC has to offer, but will also have access to additional emotional and wellbeing support to help them along their journey. Thank you to all our donors who make their being here possible.

Yorkshire 3 Peaks Fundraising Challenge

An unforgettable adventure beckons!

Over the past few years, our incredible parents and Sternians have trekked across the Sahara Desert and the glaciers of Iceland, raising more than £125,000 for the Lord Wandsworth Foundation.

Now, for the first time, we’re bringing the challenge closer to home. In April 2026, we will head off to take on the Yorkshire 3 Peaks for an exhilarating adventure through the rugged, windswept beauty of the Yorkshire Dales National Park.

Set against a backdrop of ancient limestone, cascading waterfalls, and vast moorlands, this bespoke trek will include in the route a hike along the spectacular Ingleton Waterfalls Trail. With two intense trekking days and plenty of camaraderie, it promises to be as breathtaking as it is rewarding.

These challenges embody the LWC spirit of adventure, giving parents and Sternians the chance to push limits, connect, and raise vital funds for The Foundation. So why not join us?

Places are limited and filling up quickly!

Scan the QR code to read more and to sign up to the Challenge, or contact Fran Reid for further information.

The Foundation is proud to be supporting 55 Foundationers this year across all year groups:

60% have lost a parent to bereavement

16% have experienced parental abandonment

FOUNDATIONER CIRCUMSTANCES

7% have lost a parent to incarceration

6% as a result of domestic violence

5% due to parental long-term ill-health

4% to mental health

2% to addiction

This summer, we proudly launched the LWC Adventurers Society - an exclusive community of parents, Sternians, and staff who have risen to the challenge in support of the Lord Wandsworth Foundation.

The Society celebrates courage, connection, and the LWC spirit of exploration - uniting all who’ve joined an LWC adventure, at home or abroad, to champion life-changing opportunities for Foundationers.

Members enjoy:

• Priority access and early booking for future LWC Challenges

• A say in shaping upcoming adventures - from destinations to challenge types

• Exclusive updates, events, and opportunities to stay connected.

Becoming an Adventurer isn’t just joining a club - it’s an invitation to keep exploring, inspiring, and making a difference.

The Yorkshire 3 Peaks Challenge is your gateway to membership!

In the last 20 years, LWC has received over £4.4M in legacy gifts.

These generous donations, of all sizes and from supporters of all eras, have enabled us to support generations of Foundationers, as well as complete several capital projects including the Errington Block (English).

The 1912 Society is for those who have kindly decided to leave a gift in their Will to The Foundation or Lord Wandsworth College.

In the last 20 years, LWC has received over £4.4M in legacy gifts.

The Enduring Power of Legacies Change Starts With a Will From Loss to Lifelong Giving: Cliff’s Story

Making a Will is one of the simplest but most powerful things you can do to protect your loved ones and ensure your wishes are respected.

Once you have provided for your loved ones, a charitable gift of just 1% of your estate could be one of the most meaningful donations you can make and have a lasting impact beyond your lifetime.

We have partnered with expert estate planners, Octopus Legacy, so you can write or update your will for free.*

There are over 50 members of all ages and from across the globe who are invited to join the Headmaster at an exclusive annual outing. We’re excited to announce our next get-together will be a champagne river cruise on the Thames at Royal Windsor on Wednesday 20th May 2026.

If you have left a gift in your Will to LWC, or are thinking of doing so, please contact Fran Reid who would love to welcome you into the Society.

Cliff Hilditch was born in London on 24th September 1934, the only child of Herbert and Lilian. His early years were filled with the warmth of a loving family, but by the time he was nine, his world had been shattered by war.

First came the news that his father had died of typhoid while serving in Libya. Only months later, tragedy struck again when an incendiary bomb fell on his home in Islington during an air raid. Cliff miraculously survived, but his mother Lilian did not. He was suddenly an orphan.

Taken in by his aunt and uncle, with three cousins who became like sisters, Cliff grew up surrounded by love but also carried grief he found hard to express. It was in this moment of need that Lord Wandsworth College stepped in. In 1947, Cliff was awarded a Foundation place - and it proved life-changing.

In his own words:

“The austerity of post-war London was all pervasive, so my acceptance by LWC was a godsend for all concerned. With hand on heart, I can say that my school days were happy. Despite my orphan status I never felt a victim, because all my fellow students had suffered similar losses.”

This can be done either:

• Online (scan the QR code)

• Over the phone/video call

• In person (at home or in-branch)

To access this service, call Octopus Legacy directly on 020 4525 3605 and quote ‘Lord Wandsworth College’

*LWC will cover up to £150 of the cost so you can write or update a simple Will for free, or get a Will with trust at a discounted rate. Alternative Will writing services are available and you can find a local solicitor via the Law Society. solicitors.lawsociety.org.uk

of adults in the UK do not have a Will.+ Of those who do make a Will, 39% include at least one charitable legacy gift, and 22% of Wills name at least two charities.++ +National Wills Report 2024, National Wills Register ++Legacy

At LWC, Cliff flourished. He joined the RAF cadet section, passed his exams, and in the Sixth Form was awarded a civilian flying scholarship, taking his first solo flight in 1953. That moment set the course of his life.

The resilience, belonging, and opportunity he found at the College shaped everything that followed - from his years in the RAF, where he flew 17 types of aircraft and travelled the world, to his life as a husband, father, and grandfather.

Looking back, Cliff said:

“I am a donor because I feel the opportunities that I was given by my time at LWC were life-changing. The only way I can repay that debt is by helping others with similar family circumstances to reach their own potential.”

Cliff’s story is one of loss transformed into hope, of opportunity embraced, and of gratitude carried throughout a long and full life.

Cliff passed away in December 2023 and remembered the Lord Wandsworth Foundation with a gift in his Will and was a longterm member of The 1912 Society. We are very grateful to Cliff and his family, with whom we remain in regular contact.

Navigating VAT Changes

Grants received from charitable trusts and foundations are now subject to 20% VAT charge.

At Lord Wandsworth College, our supporters do more than fund places - they change lives. Through The Foundation, young people who have faced profound loss discover confidence, friendship, and the chance to flourish. Recently, however, a change in tax guidance has affected the way charitable grants from trusts and foundations supporting our Foundation pupils are treated. HMRC has clarified that VAT now applies to grants for school fees. Our previous understanding - based on expert advice - was that such donations would not attract VAT. While this change does not alter the spirit or purpose of The Foundation, it does mean that the real value of each contribution received from a charitable trust or foundation is reduced.

As we receive grants from a number of trusts and charitable foundations, this 20% difference represents a tangible loss of funding that would otherwise go directly towards transforming a young person’s life.

So, in this new tax landscape, your support is as important as ever. You continue to make an extraordinary difference. Each donation still opens doors, enables participation, and gives Foundationers the tools to thrive.

We are immensely grateful to every trust, donor, and supporter whose generosity allows us to sustain and develop these opportunities. To all those who have supported and continue to support our Foundationthank you.

Cliff and his wife, Lynn (front left), at the 1912 Society trip to Denbeigh Wines in 2023

Going the Extra Mile for The Foundation

We are deeply grateful to the pupils, Sternians, and parents who take on personal sponsored challenges to support the Lord Wandsworth Foundation.

This summer, 5th Former Luca and his father Geoff undertook an extraordinary cycling journey - travelling from their home in Farnham to Luca’s grandparents’ home in Northern Italy. In under three weeks, they cycled an astonishing 1,500km, raising £2,905 for The Foundation. Thank you, Luca and Geoff, for your inspiring commitment!

Luca explained where his inspiration came from:

“Not everyone is as fortunate as me. The Foundation works hard to make a real difference by providing an education to children my age who have faced much greater challenges than I have.”

Looking ahead to 2026, two more fundraising champions will take on incredible challenges. Upper Sixth Former Phoebe aims to become the youngest woman to run the length of Britain, from John O’Groats to Land’s End. Chemistry teacher Pippa Abbott is training for the gruelling London T100 Triathlon event in July. Both are kindly raising funds for The Foundation through their extraordinary efforts - thank you and good luck!

If you’re planning your own sponsored challenge in support of The Foundation, we would love to hear about it and offer our support so please do get in touch.

Deposit Donations

At Lord Wandsworth College, parents pay an initial deposit - refundable in two equal instalments: in their child’s first term and in their final term before leaving.

Each year, we invite parents of new pupils and leavers to consider leaving all or part of their deposit to the Lord Wandsworth Foundation. This year, we were delighted to receive an incredible £14,687 for The Foundation and the Foundationer Extras Fund.

Thank you to those parents who kindly chose to donate - your generosity is hugely appreciated.

Supporting All Corners of College Life

While The Foundation sits at the heart of much of our fundraising, we are always delighted to see the incredible generosity that reaches other parts of College life too. It’s a wonderful reminder that there are so many ways to make a difference at LWC –and every gift, wherever it’s directed, helps our pupils thrive.

Thanks to your support, here are just a few of the projects that have benefitted recently:

• Paddle Power – a fantastic £10,000 has helped to buy new kit and equipment for canoeing, keeping our paddlers safe, confident, and ready for adventure.

The Beckwith

The Beckwith has become a highlight of the School calendar - a day full of fun, community spirit, and healthy competition.

Parents, pupils, staff, Sternians, and their families, either run or walk 5k or 10k through the beautiful 1,200 acres of the College grounds and woodlands.

An amazing 73 participants chose to add a donation to The Foundation when booking their entries, raising an impressive £1,854 in total. A huge well done to everyone who took part and a heartfelt thank you to those who donated.

• Stepping into the Spotlight – £30,000 is supporting this year’s main College production of The Wizard of Oz at the Haymarket Theatre in January. What an experience it will be for our young performers!

• Home Sweet Home – donations to Boarding Houses have helped to add those special touches that make each House feel even more welcoming, enriching and fun.

• Teamwork in Action – support for our CCF Field Gun and obstacle equipment means cadets have a new and exciting way to continue building teamwork, discipline and leadership skills.

Headmaster’s Garden Party

We were delighted to welcome over 100 supporters to the Headmaster’s Garden Party in June. This is the second time Adam Williams, Headmaster, has hosted this event in the beautiful surroundings of his arts and crafts garden and it was once again blessed with beautiful weather.

Amongst the guests were donor club members, trekkers, volunteers and corporate supporters. The guests have all

contributed greatly to LWC; whether with a donation to The Foundation, having donated time and enthusiasm to mentoring pupils, attending our Futures events, or as a Governor or committee member of the Sternian Advisor Group or Sternian Trust Fund. The catering team excelled themselves with delicious canapes and summer cocktails which were thoroughly enjoyed by all. This event provided the school with an opportunity to thank everyone for all that they have done to support LWC throughout the year.

A Heartfelt Thank You to Our Supporters

In the 2024/25 academic year, nearly 150 Sternians and parents generously volunteered their time through our Futures (careers) programme, and over 1,300 donors made gifts to LWC – an incredible record of support! We extend our heartfelt thanks to everyone who has contributed their time, expertise, and resources to enrich the lives of our pupils and strengthen the work of The Foundation.

Please do spread the word beyond the Acorn gates. Philanthropy has always been at the heart of LWC, and your ongoing generosity ensures that spirit continues to thrive. Together, we are widening worlds: enhancing facilities, expanding careers advice, and increasing the number of Foundation places available to deserving pupils.

Your support helps Lord Wandsworth College continue to provide life-changing opportunities for generations to come. We couldn’t do it without you. Thank you for your continued support.