The James Surtees Phillpotts' Bursaries Programme

The James Surtees Phillpotts’ Bursaries Programme

Throughout its long history, Bedford School and its pupils have benefitted from generous philanthropists and gifts from donors. Indeed, the school would not have come into being without the foresight of Sir William Harpur and his original act of benefaction in 1556. Our ambition to ensure that boys with talent and promise can reach their full potential is stronger now than ever. Today, The James Surtees Phillpotts’ Bursaries Programme enables us to offer the best possible education to boys from families who would not ordinarily be able to attend Bedford School and deliver on this ambition.

Widening Access for All

We recognise that a Bedford School education is a significant financial investment, and one that not all families can afford. By awarding lifechanging bursaries, boys are able to benefit from a world-class education, regardless of their family’s financial circumstances, and we are proud to say that recipients are some of our most determined and impressive pupils, who have typically had to work incredibly hard to break down the societal barriers that can prevent access to an independent education. The Phillpotts’ Bursaries Programme helps ensure that a Bedford School education is within reach of every family.

Creating Equality of Opportunity

The Need

Nationally, 37% of disadvantaged children from lower socioeconomic backgrounds leave school without five ‘strong’ GCSEs (graded A*- C/9-5). Only 16% achieve the equivalent of two A-levels and only 5% gain places at Russell Group universities. On average, five years after leaving university, graduates from disadvantaged families earn 11.5% less than their more advantaged peers (source: Royal National Children’s Springboard Foundation impact report).

How do Bursaries Help

Research by Springboard, an organisation that matches bursary candidates with independent schools, suggests that bursary recipients, matched against similar disadvantaged pupils in the community, achieve more and higher A-level results. There is also evidence that bursary recipients from low socio-economic backgrounds do better at university as they have increased cultural capital. 61% 60%

Russell Group graduates are 14% more employable than non-Russell Group peers, earning c£200,000 more over their lifetime than graduates from lower ranked institutions. 14% of Bedford School’s bursary students took degrees in STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Maths) subjects.

of Bedford School’s 80%+ (of fee costs) bursary recipients went on to attend Russell Group universities, compared with 9% of all Bedford state pupils (2017-21).

Universities that specialise in STEM, or other technical fields, tend to perform better in terms of graduate employability.

Enabling social mobility and creating equitable access to educational opportunities sit among the UK’s most important societal challenges. Families from less advantaged backgrounds are often unable to consider an independent education for their children, which can prevent those young people from fulfilling their potential. The pandemic has led to the widening of the income gap between the richest and poorest in society, which has only led to further disparity, where birth, rather than worth, often dictates the aspirations of future generations. page 3

“Thanks to a bursary, I was able to attend Bedford School. I believe this education provided me with three main benefits: First, the inspiring, down to earth and supportive ethos of the school, which filters down to the individual teachers. Secondly, access to amazing sporting facilities, highly qualified coaching staff and opportunities for consistent participation and leadership in a variety of sports. Lastly, and most importantly, the house system and tutor system at Bedford gave me lifelong friends. I would definitely encourage anyone considering supporting Bedford’s bursaries programme. Without this being available at Bedford, there would be many capable and talented boys who would not be able to access all that Bedford has to offer.”

Leroy Knowles (92-97)

Who was James Surtees Phillpotts?

When James Surtees Phillpotts took over as Head Master of Bedford Grammar School (as it then was) in 1875, it had an indifferent record as an educational institution. There were about 250 boys on roll, most of them day students. Phillpotts set about reforming the school in every way. One of his first acts was to introduce the Natural Sciences into the curriculum. He saw to the establishment of chemistry and physics laboratories and went on to add carpentry and engineering workshops, a gymnasium and fives courts. Under his leadership, sports were properly organised and used as a tool to foster team spirit. In all the changes he introduced, Phillpotts’ underlying aim was to produce upright, public-spirited citizens well equipped for the challenges of the rapidly changing world in which they lived, something that has not changed in the intervening period.

As a result of the various developments initiated by him, the school ran out of space in its original town centre location. Foreseeing the need to move to more spacious premises, Phillpotts secured suitable land on his own initiative. In due course, the school trustees backed his plan for new buildings and arranged the necessary finance. In 1891, the official opening of the new school took place, with a ceremonial procession from the old premises to the new. The roll of pupils was then around 600 and, by 1903, when Phillpotts retired, it had risen to nearly 900.

The development of Bedford School from an obscure provincial institution to one of England’s leading independent schools was in many ways due to the vision and foresight of this remarkable man. Many of the core principles laid down by Phillpotts are still as relevant today as they were in the early 1900s.

James Surtees Phillpotts

Giving

Making your gift

“Attending Bedford School on a bursary allowed me to find my love for learning. The school’s all-encompassing curriculum and plethora of academic societies made it extremely easy for me to figure out what I was interested in and challenge myself. I look forward to using the skills I gained as a student in my pursuit of a career in education, where I hope to inspire students as I was inspired during my time at Bedford School.”

Rahul Sheemar (12-19) Philosophy Graduate, Durham University, Teacher

Regular Gifts

You can support a boy for a year, through Sixth Form or throughout his full five years in the Upper School with a regular gift given on a monthly, termly or annual basis.

For example, if 30 donors gave £61 per month...

...they would generate £43,920 in two years enabling a boy to complete his Sixth Form.

In five years, the gift would total £109,800 which would support a boy throughout the Upper School. *based on current day fees.

£ £ £

Start of giving

After two years

One-off Donations

You can make a one-off gift of any value by either sending a cheque made payable to the Bedford School Foundation Trust, or by scanning the QR code opposite. If you would like any guidance when considering what to donate towards, or how to make your gift, the BSA team is always happy to help. Please contact Vincent Gaten, Development Director, at vgaten@bedfordschool.org.uk.

After five years

There are many ways in which you can donate to the Phillpotts’ Bursaries Programme.

Tax Efficient Giving

Your gift can not only help to make a real difference to a boy’s education and life prospects, but also offers personal tax breaks.

Giving with Gift Aid

Gift Aid enables Bedford School to claim an extra 25p for every £1 you give, at no extra cost to you. If you are a higher rate UK taxpayer, you can also claim tax relief on your donations via Gift Aid.

Leaving a Legacy

Leaving a legacy gift is an incredible gesture that demonstrates absolute faith in an institution beyond a lifetime. At Bedford, legacy donations help us to consistently evolve the school experience that our boys receive, enabling us to nurture their ability and character and prepare them to become tomorrow’s leaders. A legacy left in support of the Phillpotts’ Bursaries Programme opens opportunities for boys to join a school that will work tirelessly to help them achieve their potential.

We appreciate that the decision to leave a legacy can often be very personal and complex. If you are considering remembering Bedford School, you can always call on the BSA team for guidance and support. We cannot give financial advice, but we can help to maximise the impact of donations in line with any aspirations you have.

As little as one per cent of an estate will help us continue to offer an exceptional education to young Bedfordians. If you would like to discuss leaving a legacy of any size, please do feel free to get in touch with Vincent Gaten, Development Director, directly at vgaten@ bedfordschool.org.uk or 01234 362263. page 8

Payroll Giving

Many employers offer payroll giving or Give As You Earn (GAYE), which means that you can give to the Bedford School Foundation Trust and get immediate tax relief at your highest rate of tax. Please contact your HR department for more information.

Employer Matched Giving

In addition, some companies are prepared to ‘match’, and in some cases, even double, the gifts made by their employees under the GAYE scheme. Please check with your employer to see if such a scheme is available to you, and let us know if you decide to give in this way.

Gifts of Shares

Donating shares is a simple way to help us support boys. It is also one of the most tax-effective ways you can give. Individuals who gift full value or under-valued shares to charity are entitled to claim back full tax relief against the value of those shares at their usual tax rate, whether that be 20%, 40% or 45%. No capital gains tax will apply, and this relief is available to any UK taxpayer donating shares and securities listed on the UK Stock Market, the Alternative Investment Market, and recognised stock exchanges overseas.

The BSA team is not legally permitted to provide financial advice, although your financial advisor will be able to help you maximise the tax efficiency of your philanthropy.

Please do contact us at foundation@bedfordschool.org.uk to find out more.

Recognising Your Gift

We value each and every gift and recognise, either publicly or privately, those who contribute to the scheme through our Foundation Trust membership.

Membership Levels

Benefactor

£250,000+ donated

Patron

£100,000 - £249,999 donated

Vice President

£50,000 - £99,999 donated

Fellow

£25,000 - £49,999 donated

Member

£5,000 - £24,999 donated

Associate Member

£1,000 - £4,999 donated

See Your Gift Working

Where possible and appropriate, individuals and families who support The James Surtees Phillpotts’ Bursary Programme receive an anonymised annual report on the boys benefitting from their generosity. If you choose to support a boy for two or five years, you also have the opportunity to have your name attached to the gift, should you so wish.

However you choose to support the scheme, we are hugely grateful to you for helping to provide life-changing opportunities for more boys.

To find out more or to discuss in greater detail ways of giving to The James Surtees Phillpotts’ Bursaries Programme, please contact:

Vincent Gaten, Director of Development

vgaten@bedfordschoolorg.uk ,

or visit: www.bedfordschool.org.uk/foundation .

Change a life forever.