Sept 2024 – Aug 2025
A Message from the Development Director:
Last year, as we marked Sedbergh School’s 500th year, we celebrated not just our history, but the enduring spirit that continues to define us – generosity, friendship and shared purpose. I feel immense pride and gratitude for everyone who makes us our remarkable community.
From the Rally Roger adventure through the Highlands and the unforgettable May Gala Dinner, to the Headmaster’s 90-mile run retracing the journey of our founder, every event embodied the Sedberghian spirit – resilient, generous, and forward-looking. Together, we raised over £155,000 for the Roger Lupton Scholarship and Bursary Scheme, ensuring that opportunity remains at the heart of all we do.
I am especially grateful to our 1525 Society members, whose legacy gifts –totalling £1.6 million this year – continue to secure the future of our School and its mission, changing lives for generations to come.
2025 was a milestone year filled with pride, generosity, and hope for the future. To every Old Sedberghian, parent, pupil, staff member and friend who contributed – thank you. Together we are ensuring that Sedbergh School’s next 500 years will be as inspiring as its first.
Ben Collins
January 2026
Roger Lupton Scholarship and Bursary Scheme:
By the end of 2025, a total of £2,575,000 had been raised for the Scheme. £400,000 was granted to the School for Roger Lupton Scholars. Such was the support for this appeal that during the year the Foundation was able to fund up to 100% of fees for 12 scholars who would otherwise not have had the opportunity of a Sedbergh education.
In 2025, following the introduction of VAT, the Foundation extended the scope of the Fund and renamed it the Roger Lupton Scholarship and Bursary Fund. This change addressed concerns that VATrelated costs could force some parents to withdraw their child from the School, disrupting education at a critical stage. To prevent this, the Fund now offers restricted, means-tested grants to support affected families.
During the year, the Foundation awarded grants from the Roger Lupton Scholarship and Bursary Fund totalling £400,000 (2024: £375,204).
The annual Big Give Christmas Challenge Appeal in December 2024, match-funded by OS Pledgers and Charity Champions, raised £66,000 – an increase on the previous year’s total and a fantastic result.
The Roger Lupton Endowment Fund remained at £187,705 with earned interest of £5,639.71.
Review of activities:
In 2024-25, the Sedbergh community demonstrated extraordinary generosity and commitment through a series of landmark fundraising events, raising £164,000 for the Roger Lupton Scholarship and Bursary Scheme.
Gala Dinner
The May Gala Dinner fundraising auction brought together OS, friends, parents and supporters in a spirit of generosity and shared commitment to the School. The auction on the night featured a diverse range of items and experiences, a number of which were generously donated by OS and parents and £60,000 was raised.
The Rally Roger 500
Rally Roger 2025 was a triumph of Sedberghian spirit –combining adventure, generosity, and purpose. Over six days, OS and parents journeyed through Scotland’s most stunning landscapes united not just by camaraderie but by a shared commitment to Sedbergh’s future and the rally raised £84,000
Summer Solstice Stride
Over three days June 2025 the Headmaster, Dan Harrison, and a cohort of staff runners from the School ran an astonishing 90 miles from York to Sedbergh, retracing the steps of the School’s founder Roger Lupton who walked the route 500 years ago.
Along the way, the Headmaster carried a scroll bearing a message from King Charles III congratulating the School on its 500th anniversary, as well as a prayer from the Archbishop of York. The finale was a celebratory gala dinner on Buskholme – a fitting close to the endurance challenge and its fundraising efforts. The initiative raised £20,000
Every mile, every bid, every rally stop was part of our anniversary celebrations. Together, we celebrated our 500th year not just with events, but with a lasting legacy of opportunity for the future.
It reminded us that Sedbergh is not about privilege, but opportunity—and that the Old Sedberghian community continues to be a driving force behind that mission.
500 for 500 Appeal
In March 2025, in celebration of our 500 years, the Foundation launched a new appeal, 500 for 500, to give people in our community the opportunity to contribute £500 (one pound for each of our 500 years) by giving £8.33 a month per person (£16.66 per couple) for 5 years. This will allow one boy and one girl to come to Sedbergh on a Roger Lupton Scholarship.
By the end of August 2025, 102 supporters had signed up to the Appeal and the amount raised was over £50,000 with more pledged over the next five years from the direct debits.
Join the appeal:
https://association.sedberghschool.org/foundation/ appeals/500-for-500/
Investments
During the year the Foundation invested free cash into fixed rate UK treasury deposits to ensure the returns and security of investments are maximised.
As of 31st August 2025, there were two active treasury deposits holding differing amounts with a range of maturity dates. All deposits are due to mature within the next 12 months. The UK treasury deposits hold the endowed fund for scholarships and bursaries where income generated is used to support pupils who would not otherwise be able to afford the fees, the endowed fund for Sedgwick Conservation, £1,263,588 of unrestricted funds and £3,805,413 of restricted funds.
Trustees serving during the period ending August 2025 were:
Ian Durrans (Chairman)
Dan Harrison
Marcus Baker
Richard Gledhill
Projects and Grants:
Green Investment Fund
In 2024, there was a boarding house window conversion to energy efficient windows with double glazing and insulation so less heat is lost in winter/less heat gained in summer.
Robert Napier CBE (SH 60-65) continued in his second year as 1525 Society President. There are currently 200 members who have pledged to leave a gift to the Foundation in their wills. During the course of 2024-25, 12 members sadly passed away.
The 1525 Society has become one of the largest legacy societies of any independent school in the country. However, by its nature such income is unpredictable, in
Tony Smith
Duncan Berry
Andrew Stott
Hockey and Netball Cameras
State of the art Spiideo camera systems have been installed at both the hockey pitches and the netball courts. One of the pitches at Newfield Hockey Centre has been equipped with four surrounding cameras which can both stream match play and be used for live analysis by coaches on the field. The netball court has one camera and the team have conducted 121s and team meetings using the insightful analysis and it has had a significant impact on the development of the players in a short period of time. Director of Sport, Jennifer Malings, has expressed her delight with the installation, highlighting the cameras as a significant step forward in the School’s commitment to excellence in sports performance and coaching.
the current year legacy income amounted to £170,602 (£79,974 was unrestricted and £90,628 was restricted to bursaries and scholarships) compared to the prior year of £805,855 (£555,548 was unrestricted and £250,307 was restricted).
We have exciting plans for the 1525 Society woodland and avenue to share in 2026 and there are lunches planned for members in London and Sedbergh.
If you would like further information about the Society or details on how to join please look at our website here https://association.sedberghschool.org/1525-society
Summary of Foundation Income and Expenditure for the Year 2024-25:
Financial
Income for the year amounted to £998,973 (2024: £1,429,746). The decrease is primarily due to significant legacies recognised by the Foundation in the previous year.
£146,795
£467,544
£467,544 Scholarships & Bursaries
£9,848
£9,848 House Fund
£75,537
£75,537 Individual Funds / Sport / Other
£5,803
£5,803
£64,598
£64,598
£228,848
Foundation Donation Form
Your Details
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Gift Choices
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■ Roger Lupton Scholarship and Bursary Scheme
■ Where the Foundation needs it most
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Sedbergh
Sedbergh,