THE REPTON FOUNDATION

Sir 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 home country of Iran with his mother and one of his sisters for fear of persecution on religious grounds. They spent two difficult months in Turkey before arriving in the UK as legal migrants, and it took two years for Amir’s father to safely join them.

A chance meeting with Old Reptonian Sir Alexander Elphinston (M’68) at a church in Birmingham led to a conversation with Repton School, and Amir joined Repton that September on a fully supported place so he could complete his studies.

Amir, who lives in Derby, arrived at Repton just a term before the full force of the pandemic hit. He was given a warm welcome in Latham House and embarked on four A Levels and

one AS Level; whilst English is taught in Iran, mastering the technical nuances required for his academic studies was, he says, at first an enormous undertaking. Undeterred Amir went on to achieve A*s in Maths, Further Maths, The support I have been given by my teachers, tutors, Housemaster, matron and friends has played an important role in this moment and I am enormously grateful to Alex and Repton School for seeing the potential in me.”

For everything Amir has achieved, Iran remains his home and he hopes to be able to return to the country he describes with warmth and and affection: “It is a truly beautiful country,” he enthuses. “It has so much more to offer than the reports on the news would have you believe - a rich cultural heritage, incredible landscapes, delicious food. I hope to return when it is a safer, more stable place.”

What does the future hold for Amir? For now, a three-year course at Cambridge and beyond that, he hopes, a Master’s degree. But for now, Amir wants to live in the moment: “I am

absolutely committed to making a positive contribution, wherever I can, to this country I now call home.”

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.