ORIGINS OF THE BURSARY CAMPAIGN LOUIS TAYLOR

ORIGINS OF THE BURSARY CAMPAIGN

BY LOUIS TAYLOR (75-85)

Inthe late 90s, we were fast

approaching the end of the Assisted

Places scheme. Each year, the population of Assisted Places pupils diminished as more of these pupils left the school. All of us who cared deeply about the RGS, recognised that the school was founded on the basis of a rich social mix, which has always been integral to the education the school offers, as well as to our history, our culture and our strength as the leading academic school in the region. Governors were unanimous that we must protect the diversity of the school by proactively preserving the socia mix.

Very early, the Governors took the position that we would not fund bursaries through a levy on school fees, and nor would we fund school facilities through fundraising –principles that remain today. The justification was simple: while it seemed fair to expect current parents to pay for the facilities enjoyed by their children, it did not seem fair to require parents to subsidise the education of others’ children. I am proud that RGS fees remain some of the most accessible of the independent schools in the region, which also helps broaden our social mix. While a founding principle of RGS fundraising was that giving should be voluntary, many of our donors will attest to the rewards of philanthropic giving for such a worthwhile cause.

And so the Bursary Campaign was formed, with the strapline of ‘Giving the Gift of Education’. There were some early significant donors, and their generosity not only enabled a meaningful number of bursaries, but also showed great leadership.

But while we are indebted to these early major donors - many of which are now Fellows of the RGS, Legators or In Memorial donors - similarly hundreds of donors continue to come forward with more modest gifts which have collectively made a real difference to individuals’ lives.

I remember a bursary student who became a pilot, another who is now a barrister, not to mention the doctors, the teachers, the engineers and more. All of the 375 people supported with RGS bursaries have gone on to impact the world positively in some way, and I hope that all donors share immense pride in the role they have played in these young peoples’ achievements.

The Bursary Campaign has raised £7.3 million to date, some of which has been spent in year, some of which is held in investments, with the yield spent on bursaries. While this is a phenomenal achievement, we owe it to future sons and daughters of the North East to continue our efforts, and continue to support the most brilliant students from across the region, helping them overcome the financial barriers to realising their academic potential. Onwards!

Legacies and In Memorial Donations predating the Bursary Campaign

Anthony Watson James Howarth John MacDonald Kenneth Imison Christopher Smith Austin Stokoe Stuart Graham George Hood David Barclay Laurence Shurman Anila Graham John Fleming Keith Ekford Hulse Gordon Pringle Ian Stemson Agnes Bremner Sir Derek Wanless David Farthing Graham Steed Tim Douglas Peter Taylor Peter Fenwick-Smith Arthur Taylor Joseph Petty Bryan Jeffrey David Houseman Clive Hogben Ronald Cooper Ray Eden William Poulton

Fellows of the RGS

Susan and David Ratliff The Reece Foundation Sir James Knott Trust Catherine Cookson

Charitable Trust Benfield Motors

Charitable Trust Brian Ritchie Philip Snowden Adam Applegarth Louis Taylor Christine and Brian

Daglish Guy Readman Garfield Weston

The Advani Family Crispian Strachan The Northern Rock

Foundation Peter and Wuliang

Walker Richard Metcalfe Bernard Trafford Paul Walker James Miller

Early major donors,

Foundation

Tom Gutteridge Sir James Knott Trust The Ogden Trust The Wolfson Foundation