Bramston Bursary Foundation

The Bramston Bursary Foundation’s mission is to offer life changing opportunities for girls in care, or on the edge of care, by providing fully funded boarding places at St Swithun’s. We work in partnership with three organisations who have networks across the UK and who can help identify girls who would benefit tremendously from the safety and stability of a boarding education at St Swithun’s.

Finding girls who really need our help

Hampshire and Isle of Wight Virtual School and College for Children in Care

exist to improve the educational outcomes of all children and young people who are in care of the local authority. They monitor the educational progress and attainment of children as if they attended a single school and work in partnership with schools, social workers, carers, and professionals to act as an ambitious and aspirational ‘corporate parent’. Their mission statement states:

Vulnerable young people will enter adulthood not as vulnerable adults but as confident citizens with the tools, self-confidence, and resilience to lead worthwhile and fulfilling lives.

Nicola Blake, Executive Head Teacher for Hampshire and Isle of Wight Virtual School and College came to meet with key members of St Swithun’s staff and for a tour of the school.

She said, “It is clear from my visit to

St Swithun’s that they have a strong ethos and nurturing approach that works alongside the routine, structure and high-quality teaching that an independent boarding school provides. This and the wide opportunities for academic enrichment and personal development would make it an excellent option for some children and young people in or on the edge of care. The St Swithun’s team are committed to developing a relationship with the Virtual School and we look forward to strengthening this in the year ahead.”

We work with Royal National Children’s SpringBoard Foundation (RNCSF) and Buttle UK, two national charities that are focused on ensuring vulnerable young people are able to secure places at boarding schools as part of their care arrangements.

In 2020 RNCSF were announced as the main partner in a significant new initiative launched by the Department for Education - “the Broadening Educational Pathways for Looked-After Children” scheme - to expand the number of children in, and on the edge of, care able to access an independent education.

“There is a large body of evidence that we have collated over the years to demonstrate the transformative power that boarding school bursary places can offer for children and young people facing some of the most challenging circumstances. We are delighted that this Government has recognised this in awarding us a contract to encourage more Local Authorities to refer young people for these opportunities. We are working in partnership with Authorities across the UK to identify the young people who most deserve and desire the opportunities that a boarding place offers, and then carefully prepare both the young person and the school for how to ensure the highest levels of care before they arrive, as they settle in, and throughout their school journeys. We know from our impact evidence to date that with this careful scaffolding, a boarding education can unlock a world of opportunities and hope for hundreds of vulnerable young people

facing vulnerabilities.” Ali Henderson, CEO of RNCSF

“Buttle UK has long believed that the use of boarding to support vulnerable children and young people is something that should be utilised more widely by statutory services. We have seen over many years how effectively boarding can support a child’s developmental needs, and result in consistently impressive outcomes. We are delighted to be working in partnership with RNCSF on the Broadening Educational Pathways scheme. Together we have an important opportunity to build the case for more Local Authorities to use the practice in the future, while offering this transformational experience to more children.”

Joseph Howes, CEO of Buttle UK

“I’m so proud of everything we are doing at St Swithun’s through the Bramston Bursary Foundation to first find, and to support girls who, through no fault of their own, have had a very challenging home life. I fully recognise that a boarding school place for a child in, or on the edge of care, can be simply life changing.”

Alison McClure, Chair of St Swithun’s School Council

“Our aim is to provide two fully funded boarding places for girls in, or on the edge of care, each academic year - so that by 2027/28 we will be supporting two girls in each year of the senior school. I sometimes pause to think of the girls who as yet, we don’t know, and who as yet, don’t know us. They may be having a really tough time right now and have no idea that the whole St Swithun’s community is coming together to help them.

If you want to do your bit to help, please join the 1884 CLUB. All members donate £18.84 (to commemorate the school’s founding year) every month, every quarter - or just once a year. To join, simply visit hub.stswithuns.com/pages/1884-club - thank you.”

Veryan Vere Hodge, Director of Development and Alumnae