A life-long connection, a lasting legacy
What does King’s mean to you? Since joining the school, it has been a joy to meet so many of our community and to hear their memories of studying and living here. Through the different decades, headmasters and houses, two themes have stood out: the overwhelming affection our community feels for the school, and the skills and solid foundation it has given to our OKS for life.
As we look to the future, these are strengths I want to build upon. King’s is, and always should be, a home from home, where pupils aspire to the highest standards, immersed in an inclusive community and surrounded by opportunity; from sport to music to the arts and beyond. It is a school culture that has been shaped by the many generations of OKS, staff, parents and friends who have gone before, and I feel privileged to be continuing their legacy.
The support of those who remember King’s in their will is today more impactful and vital than ever before. When you leave a gift in your will, your generosity lives on, sustaining our school, shaping the next generation and securing their futures. Every gift, regardless of its size, has a lasting impact and the potential to transform a child’s life.
Thank you for considering supporting King’s in this way. I am continually humbled by the strength of friendship this community feels towards our school and I hope to welcome you to the Robert Rose Society very soon.
Jude Lowson Head
An age-old tradition: Jude and the leaving class of 6a on the Norman Staircase on Commemoration Day
All the people who are a part of the King’s history have very different backgrounds, families and lives in general; we all do different things, have different paths and aspirations, but what every single person who sticks around has in common, is that we all sincerely love the school in a way that is hard to put into words; this has been true for many years and is still very true today. I am eternally grateful to this school.
Liza Former Captain of School
How your gift makes a difference
Today, we welcome over 1,250 young people from all backgrounds to our three distinctive sites. Whilst fees remain our largest source of revenue, they are no longer sufficient to achieve all our objectives in this challenging environment. Bursarial support is also increasingly vital. This is why our wider community, who continue the tradition of contributing a significant amount to support our highest priorities, play such a critical role in shaping King’s for the future. For this, we are enormously grateful to them.
From capital infrastructure to extra-curricular activity and bursaries, there is not a part of King’s that hasn’t been shaped by gifts in wills. Whatever the size, a gift in your will could help support a bursary place, upgrade a classroom or enrich our music offering. In doing so, your generosity broadens minds, unlocks potential and build brilliant futures.
King’s is one of those places that is just magic. A Bursary gave me a chance to be a part of it. I’m so grateful for the donations that enabled me to come here and for the life that it has given me.
Annabel Steadman (MR 2005-10), Bursary Recipient
DISCOVER WHAT OUR SUPPORTERS MAKE POSSIBLE IN ONE YEAR ALONE, GIFTS IN WILLS:
Founded the life-changing Charter Awards Bursary Fund. This endowed fund will support 50 free places at our school forever for those talented and motivated young people who would never be able to come to King’s without full financial support.
Inspired future scientists by supporting the state-of-the-art Rausing Science Centre, with the flagship auditorium being named in recognition of generous legators, Tony and Joan Venner.
Enhanced our world-class teaching and learning environment –one that is rich in social, sporting and cultural activity – through generous gifts to Music, Fencing and our historic Collections.
Encouraged and developed the interests and talents of our pupils by creating and endowing Prizes, Exhibitions and Scholarships. This year, through gifts in wills, we welcomed the Barbara Fielding Art Prizes and Lock Travel Scholarship.
Sustain our traditions, inspire their futures
HOW TO LEAVE A LEGACY TO KING’S
We are enormously grateful to all of you who decide to leave a gift to King’s in your will; thank you. We will always respect your wishes as outlined in your will and make sure your special gift is spent wisely and effectively.
As the latest in a long tradition of benefaction, your generosity won’t be forgotten. You don’t have to tell us your decision, but if you are comfortable sharing your intentions, we would love to welcome you to the Robert Rose Society and thank you for your support.
The following pages contain some further information you may wish to consider. Although we are unable to offer legal or financial advice, please do not hesitate to get in touch if you have any questions.
Development Office development@kings-school.co.uk 01227 595613
An extended family: Members of the Robert Rose Society and the school gather for a special lunch on a sunny Green Court
I was fortunate to be at King’s for most of my time when Canon ‘Fred’ Shirley was the Headmaster. He was such a charismatic character who somehow managed to instil so many of life’s essential traits that have remained with me until today, 60 years later. I have such happy memories of my time at the school. King’s is an extended family which I still belong to and value greatly.
Colonel
James Hardy (LX 58-63)
Robert Rose Society Member
Types of legacy gifts
RESIDUARY GIFT
A share of whatever is left after all other gifts, expenses and debts have been paid. As a percentage of your estate, a residuary gift increases as the value of your estate increases, which means that even a small percentage of residue can greatly benefit the school.
PECUNIARY GIFT
A gift of a fixed sum of money, e.g. £10,000. When making a pecuniary legacy, it is possible for you to index-link the gift to ensure its intended value over time.
REVERSIONARY GIFT
Effectively a postponed gift. It allows a specifically name person(s) to benefit from your estate (or a part of it) during their lifetime and on their death, your estate (or a part of it) then passes to King’s.
SPECIFIC GIFT
A gift in the form of shares, property, land, valuables and/ or works of art. These may be kept by the school, although usually they are given with the intention that they are sold in support of our priority areas.
Pupils make their way through the Dark Entry
King’s is a very important place for me. It helped me to believe in myself with its sense of history and inspired me to achieve what l have. I am a member of the Robert Rose Society to support the school that gave me so much.
Dr John C Eaton (SH 60-64) Robert
Rose Society Member
Deciding where your legacy will go
DIRECT YOUR SUPPORT WHERE THE NEED IS GREATEST
Most of the gifts we receive are designated for general purposes. This is helpful because it enables us to direct the gift to the current area of greatest need and plays a critical role in sustaining the school for future generations.
SUPPORTING AN AREA THAT IS SPECIAL TO YOU
Gifts in wills often reflect a life-long connection to the school and as such, some donors choose to support a specific part of King’s that is full of special memories for them, e.g. their House or favourite subject. If it is a bespoke project, please do contact us to discuss this further. Wherever possible, we ask you to consider expressing this purpose as a wish rather than as a condition. As plans develop and despite every effort, we might not be able to comply with a condition.
SUPPORTING OUR PUPILS THROUGH TRANSFORMATIONAL BURSARIES –THE CHARTER AWARDS
Every year we welcome a number of pupils to King’s on life-changing bursaries, all demonstrating unique talent and promise. The Charter Awards campaign is our mission to support more pupils than ever before by permanently funding an additional 50 full bursary places through our endowment. With your help, by 2041, 5% of our senior school pupil body will be receiving a free education, with many more receiving partial support.
The next generation: a gathering of JKS pupils prepare for their next lesson
My Uncle Barry won a scholarship to King’s and always appreciated the continuing benefits. These included, as well as a legal career, a grounding in languages, arts and culture which added so much to his long and happy life. He was always a man to ‘give something back’ and his legacy will support girls and boys with similar curiosity and passion.
Dr Georgina Lock, niece of Barry Lock (GR 1948-53) who left a gift to shape the next generation of pupils by supporting bursaries and prizes
Suggested wording for your gift
Gifts to the school can be made either when making your will for the first time or as a later addition to an existing will (codicil). Your Solicitor will be able to advise you regarding specific wording to ensure that your wishes are followed. They will also be able to advise you regarding potentially favourable inheritance tax consequences of making gifts to a charity. The important information they will need is:
Charity Name: The King’s School of the Cathedral Church of Canterbury Charity Number: 307942
The wording below may also help you when thinking about what type of gift you wish to make. Please note that although we have used the wording “for their general purposes”, it is possible to express a wish that your gift be used towards a particular project. This is something you could also discuss with your Solicitor.
WHERE LEAVING A SPECIFIC SUM OF MONEY:
I give the sum of £XXXX ([amount in word form] Pounds) to The King’s School of the Cathedral Church of Canterbury in the City of Canterbury (Registered Charity Number 307942), 25 The Precincts, Canterbury CT1 2ES for their general purposes absolutely.
WHERE LEAVING A SPECIFIC ITEM:
I give my [a clear description of the item(s)] to The King’s School of the Cathedral Church of Canterbury in the City of Canterbury (Registered Charity Number 307942), 25 The Precincts, Canterbury CT1 2ES with the full power to realise such assets and to apply the proceeds for their general purposes absolutely.
WHERE LEAVING ALL OR A SHARE OF YOUR RESIDUARY ESTATE:
Your Solicitor will be able to advise you concerning the precise wording which may be similar to the following wording:
I give my Residuary Estate to The King’s School of the Cathedral Church of Canterbury in the City of Canterbury (Registered Charity Number 307942), 25 The Precincts, Canterbury CT1 2ES for their general purposes absolutely.
or where you are giving a share of your estate:
I give my Residuary Estate to my Executors to divide it into (Number) shares and to distribute it as follows:
i. (Number) share(s) to The King’s School of the Cathedral Church of Canterbury in the City of Canterbury (Registered Charity Number 307942), 25 The Precincts, Canterbury CT1 2ES for their general purposes absolutely.
ii. Any other shares to other persons/charities and so on.
In all circumstances, it may be useful to insert the following wording:
The receipt of the Headmaster, the Bursar or the Chairman of Governors of the School for the time being shall be a full and sufficient discharge to my Executors for the payment to the Charity.
Frequently asked questions
CAN I MINIMISE INHERITANCE TAX WITH A GIFT TO KING’S?
Yes, you can as King’s is a registered charity. These schemes are subject to change so please ask your adviser or visit gov.uk/inheritance-tax for more information.
CAN I CHOOSE WHAT MY GIFT IS SPENT ON?
Yes. We welcome unrestricted gifts which we can direct towards the areas of the school that need it the most but we are also very happy to accept gifts for a particular area or use.
HOW CAN I MAKE SURE MY GIFT MAINTAINS ITS VALUE OVER TIME?
You can leave a percentage of your estate (a residuary gift) which will hold its value better than a cash sum, or you can leave a fixed cash sum which can be linked to the index of retail prices, allowing your gift to keep it value in line with inflation.
DO I NEED TO TELL YOU THAT I’VE LEFT A GIFT IN MY WILL TO KING’S?
No, you don’t need to tell us. However, if you feel comfortable sharing your intentions, we’d love the chance to thank you. You can let us know by filling in our confidential Pledge Form via the QR code below, visiting our website or getting in touch directly.
kings-school.co.uk/support-us/legacies
Scan me to go to our pledge form
Welcome to the Robert Rose Society
To anyone whose life has been touched by King’s, the Robert Rose Society is here for you. The Robert Rose Society recognises those individuals who sustain the school well beyond their lifetime by leaving a gift in their will to King’s. Through a small number of exclusive events and bespoke updates throughout the year, we thank our members and their families, and honour their generous support of the school.
As Chair of the Society, I extend my heartfelt thanks and admiration to the many members who have already answered the call. Through their remarkable generosity and altruism, they are truly transforming people’s lives and safeguarding this special place which is full of so many memories for them.
We are a loyal group of individuals who are united by our shared belief that the education that the school provides is powerful and important. By working together, we ensure that those opportunities that so enriched our lives are extended to future generations of talented young people from every background. That is a very special thing to do. Please join us.
Richard Ashworth (SH 1960-64)
Thank you for your support of King’s and for continuing a tradition of generosity that goes back 1400 years. As a registered Charity, we rely on the philanthropic support of our parents, OKS and friends to further our charitable objectives and sustain and support King’s into the future.
Development Office, The King’s School, 25 The Precincts, Canterbury, Kent CT1 2ES
Telephone: 01227 595 623
Email: development@kings-school.co.uk
kings-school.co.uk
Registered Charity No. 307942