RGS BURSARIES –LOOKING AHEAD JULIE DRUMMOND

RGS BURSARIES LOOKING AHEAD

BY JULIE DRUMMOND CHAIR OF GOVERNORS

I do hope that ONs enjoy reading this special edition of the ONA Magazine, which is dedicated to the success of RGS bursaries. There is so much to celebrate, so many lives have been transformed by the scheme. My personal mission is for us to do more for the region and give more gifted children the opportunity to have an exceptional education here at RGS.

Every day I see with my own eyes the positive difference that bursaries make; not only the profound impact on the individual bursary holders, but the ‘multiplier effect’ of the cultural benefit of a broad social mix of students.

I see our bursary students succeeding across the school each and every day. Their identity is completely confidential, known by very few of us –yet each time I see an achievement my chest swells with pride.

I wish I could bottle that pride and pass it on to the many ONs who personally support these students’ education. The magazine rightly focusses on success, but I can’t end without reflecting on those who weren’t accepted, who, in a slidingdoor moment of fate, missed out on one of our too few, highly coveted bursary places. The odds are fairly bleak for our applicants; this year we had 225 bursary applicants for 21 new places in the school.

Yes, I wholeheartedly know that we’ll change the lives of the 21, but I can’t help but feel the enormous frustration of those turned away. How might the trajectory of their lives be completely altered by a place? Too many of these young people outperform their fee-paying peers’ performance, yet are denied a place due to their families’ household income.

“We are careful guardians of every precious donation, each and every gift makes a transformational difference.”

The alternative options for a highly academic education in the North East are limited, until this is addressed then RGS retains a critical niche role in nurturing the most talented young people from our region, irrespective of their background.

My closing message is one of thanks, to those who play their part in changing lives, and a plea to continue this support. We are careful guardians of every precious donation, each and every gift makes a transformational difference.

It’s not just the eye wateringly large donations which count, our regular donors fund over three bursaries a year. I was recently reminded of the power of every single gift when one of our domestic staff committed £1 a month from her salary. If they can do that then please, so can you.

Please continue this support, and I encourage you to get in touch with Susan Beck, Director of Development at s.beck@rgs.newcastle.sch.uk if you’d like to add your name to those who support the next generation through the Bursary Campaign.