FOUNDATION
The Repton Foundation
S
ir John Port opened the School’s doors to our community in 1557 to provide local people with a good education
irrespective of wealth or status. Our founder’s ethos continues today through The Repton Foundation where generous donations from parents, friends and Old Reptonians provide an equal footing from which to begin a lifechanging education. Everything we do at Repton – learning to think, to play, to create, to compete, to win, to lose, to appreciate what is around us – is built on the bedrock of a healthy and conscious balance in all things. Whilst we are a school with intellectual ambition, world-leading sports coaches and facilities, where artistic endeavour forms an integral part of everyday life, the emotional and physical wellbeing of our pupils remain our imperative. The Repton Foundation allows young people, regardless of background, to experience a fullyfunded education at Repton. There are currently a number of pupils at both the Prep and Senior school who benefit from donations made to The Repton Foundation, allowing them to receive transformational bursaries. These donatations are gratefully received and critical to the success of our fundraising strategy. If you would like to discuss making a donation to our transformational bursary programme, please contact Andrew Cook, acook@repton.org.uk
Amir Kadkhodaei (L’19) At just 16 years old Amir Kadkhodaei fled his
The support I have been given by my teachers,
home country of Iran with his mother and one
tutors, Housemaster, matron and friends has
of his sisters for fear of persecution on religious
played an important role in this moment and
grounds. They spent two difficult months in
I am enormously grateful to Alex and Repton
Turkey before arriving in the UK as legal
School for seeing the potential in me.”
migrants, and it took two years for Amir’s father to safely join them.
his home and he hopes to be able to return to A chance meeting with Old Reptonian Sir
the country he describes with warmth and and
Alexander Elphinston (M’68) at a church in
affection: “It is a truly beautiful country,” he
Birmingham led to a conversation with Repton
enthuses. “It has so much more to offer than the
School, and Amir joined Repton that September
reports on the news would have you believe - a
on a fully supported place so he could complete
rich cultural heritage, incredible landscapes,
his studies.
delicious food. I hope to return when it is a safer, more stable place.”
Amir, who lives in Derby, arrived at Repton just a term before the full force of the pandemic
What does the future hold for Amir? For now,
hit. He was given a warm welcome in Latham
a three-year course at Cambridge and beyond
House and embarked on four A Levels and
that, he hopes, a Master’s degree. But for now,
one AS Level; whilst English is taught in Iran,
Amir wants to live in the moment: “I am
mastering the technical nuances required for
absolutely committed to making a positive
his academic studies was, he says, at first an
contribution, wherever I can, to this country I
enormous undertaking. Undeterred Amir went
now call home.”
on to achieve A*s in Maths, Further Maths, Physics and Persian and AS Level Computer Science to secure a place at St John’s College, Cambridge. Headmaster Mark Semmence says Amir’s attitude and approach truly sets him apart as a role model for our community and wider society: “Amir has shown exceptional character. Few of us can comprehend the challenges he has faced – leaving behind his home, his friends, his native language and all that is familiar to him at such an important time in his education. He has faced many complex challenges with a sensibility that enabled him to remain focussed on his academic ambitions and deserves our unreserved respect.” Amir remains modest about his achievements, saying: “Two and a half years ago if someone had told me that I would be awarded a place at Cambridge I wouldn’t have believed them.
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THE ARCH
For everything Amir has achieved, Iran remains
