DIFFICULT DECISIONS JOHN FERN

DIFFICULT DECISIONS

BY JOHN FERN HEADMASTER

Iam very aware of just how much the

issue of bursaries means to so many people; and I count myself in that number. I am therefore delighted to see the focus of this special edition of the magazine and to read such inspiring stories and personal accounts. I would like to add my own thanks to all of those who have contributed to the magazine and especially to those who, over the years, have contributed in so many ways to the Bursary Campaign. It makes a real difference to lives and at this time of year I am more aware of this than ever.

We have just completed the latest round of admissions to the school and I am pleased to report that application numbers for September 2019 are up at all levels and the standards have been as high as ever. I am also pleased to say that the number of students from a range of backgrounds, and a wide variety of locations across the City and the North East have applied, including those asking for bursary support. As several contributors here point out, one of the great strengths of the school has been its rich social mix and seeing the opportunity to continue that is so very encouraging. But this is also a difficult time as a Headmaster.

A total of 225 applicants applied for bursaries this year, 130 of these were for 11+ places, the vast majority of them eligible for 100% support. Of the top 50 performances in the entrance exam, 20 were bursary students.

For the past two years I have made sure that I have interviewed all of the potential bursary candidates, and have thoroughly enjoyed it. The youngsters who were in front of me are brilliant in such diverse ways. It was so obvious that many of them would really thrive and flourish here at RGS, given all of the wonderful opportunities available. They are bright and quirky and interesting and interested; indeed all a Teacher and Headmaster could hope for.

However, there then comes the moment of having to make the decision. Last year I had enough money for six 11+ bursaries. Sitting with those files on my desk and knowing that I was making life-changing decisions was the hardest thing to do. And this year felt the same.

However, I would once again like to thank everyone who has contributed to the Bursary Campaign because thanks to their generosity, I have been able to offer an additional five 11+ places for September 2019. This really is a big step in the right direction, although I still had to disappoint so many good and deserving young boys and girls. I have in front of me right now a card which arrived in school today from an 11+ candidate: ‘I just want to thank you for changing my life. After visiting on Open Day, RGS was the only school I wanted to be in and I promise to work so hard and do so many things and make everyone proud. I know how lucky I am and I won’t let you down’. It really does change lives.

But having to make fewer tough decisions is certainly not the reason why this is close to my heart. I have a very personal reason. I would not be writing to you as the Head of RGS had someone not backed me, aged 11, in the same way. I was brought up in Coalville, Leicestershire, and as the name suggests it was a mining town. As the son of a coal miner, I had no awareness of, let alone ambitions of going to, an independent school. Nobody from my family had been to university. And so it was thanks to a last-minute suggestion from another boy’s parents that I applied to Loughborough Grammar School.

Looking back I was completely underprepared but at the time we did not know that. Thanks to someone taking the time to give me an interview I had a second chance, and not only a second chance but a route to a bursary when that was the only way I could have attended the school. It still meant a huge sacrifice from the family and to this day I am not sure how my parents managed it. It changed my life and I will be forever grateful. And so I am happy to interview as many youngsters as I can as I really do know how big a moment it is, and I am happy to campaign to give bright and able boys and girls a transformational opportunity. We can and do make a difference and every little bit of support contributes to changing lives. I strongly believe in the power of education to effect social mobility and I strongly believe that the whole North East community benefits from RGS’s programme.

On behalf of all of us who have benefitted from a bursary, and those who will continue to benefit in the future, thank you.