p r o v i d i n g f r e e p l a c e s at h a m p t o n s c h o o l
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Kevin Knibbs
Barry Martin
John Perry
The Fitzwygram Foundation Our new dedicated charity, The Fitzwygram Foundation, will provide funds to offer completely free places at Hampton School to boys from all backgrounds. Hampton has a long and cherished tradition of providing an exceptional academic and all-round education, with financial support available to boys whose families could not otherwise afford an education here. We are whole-heartedly committed to ensuring that we remain an inclusive, leading independent day school with a strong ethos of social responsibility. This commitment is shared by all Fitzwygram Foundation Trustees, all Hampton School Trust Governors, The Headmaster and our staff, pupils and parents.
Our ambition: to provide an additional 50 free places, called Fitzwygram Foundation Scholarships, at Hampton School by 2025. We hope that many of you will share our vision and will support The Fitzwygram Foundation to give many more boys the opportunity to become Hamptonians. Please help us to help boys like them now and long into the future of our School. Yours sincerely
The Fitzwygram Foundation has a single simple and transformative aim: to increase the number of completely free places available at Hampton School for boys whose families cannot afford school fees.
Kevin Knibbs Headmaster
Barry Martin Chairman of The Fitzwygram Foundation
John Perry Chairman of Governors
with your help, more boys can experience the golden opportunity of a hampton school education
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A Hampton Tradition Golden educational opportunities at Hampton School. Help more boys from every family background experience our exceptional academic and all-round education. Hampton has long provided free places to boys whose families could not otherwise afford a Hampton education. Our School’s early benefactors, Robert Hammond, and Nicholas and Edmund Pigeon, were local philanthropists who used their wealth to support the education of children of poor families. Local Victorian social reformer, the Reverend Fitzroy Fitzwygram, personally funded new schools for underprivileged children in Hampton. In the 1930s and 1940s, the much-loved Hampton Headmaster, Arthur Mason, awarded free places to boys whose families needed help. Following national education reforms in 1944, all places at Hampton Grammar School were free until the School became independent in 1975.
Later, the government’s Assisted Places Scheme provided means-tested places for boys joining at 11+ or in the Sixth Form and some of them enjoyed completely free places. Since this scheme ended in 1998, Hampton has continued to provide reduced-fee and free places, and will continue to do so. In a typical year now, the School provides means-tested free places to over 50 boys, with a further 40 or so places offered at reduced fees, benefiting over 90 boys in all throughout the School. The Hampton School Trust is determined to welcome many more boys who would thrive at Hampton and beyond but who could only attend if given a completely free place. The Fitzwygram Foundation will fund exclusively, additional free places.
Unlike many schools Hampton has no historic endowment. This currently limits the number of boys we can support with free places, although several boys have recently benefited from a Hampton education thanks to the generosity of individual donors who have funded their places. There are still many able boys, however, who miss out on a Hampton education due to the limited funds available. These are the boys whom The Fitzwygram Foundation aims to help. We believe that Hamptonians, past and current Hampton parents, and other supporters of Hampton School will share our vision and support the new Foundation and its aims.
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Our Vision Hampton is not a typical independent school. How is Hampton different? The School’s longstanding reputation for openness, tolerance, straightforwardness and respect for individuals, attracts families of all backgrounds. Moreover, it has close links to the state system given its grammar school heritage, its large 11+ intake from maintained primary schools, and a vibrant programme of partnerships with schools in the area which are state maintained or supported. These make it a very special and distinctive London day school. Our pupils value the outward-looking approach towards neighbours and community as an integral part of a Hampton education – just as important as their many academic, sports and cultural achievements. The Governors, the Headmaster and the Hampton Common Room are fully committed to furthering Hampton as an inclusive, leading independent day school with a strong ethos of social responsibility. We aspire to enable boys not only to make sense of the world but also to want to go out and improve it. Our aim is for those leaving Hampton to be open-minded, tolerant and full of conviction, to have a clear sense of right and wrong, and to aim for personal success while supporting those around them.
The Fitzwygram Foundation is the fulcrum supporting the School’s aspirations over the next 50 years. Through the Foundation we seek to enhance the hopes and potential of an increasing number of ‘Fitzwygram Scholars’, who will, in turn, ensure the continuation of the Hampton ethos. The Foundation will nurture Hamptonians who are contributing positively to society, having been endowed with the insight and sensitivity of a socially inclusive educational experience. Our ultimate vision is to achieve needs-blind admissions. This would represent a paradigm shift: from a paid-for alternative to state education for those who can afford it, to an independent, meritocratic educational option and engine of social mobility for all. We realise one school cannot educate everyone: our state school partnerships and outreach will continue unabated. Hampton School will serve society in both ways. We wish to enhance Hampton’s reputation as a beacon and exemplar for the independent education sector of the future by educating boys to be compassionate and well-rounded global citizens who are helping to build an open and tolerant society. The Fitzwygram Foundation is the key to realising this challenging but achievable aim. We hope many people will wish to be a part of our aspirations and join us on this exciting journey.
The Challenge Our aim: An additional 50 Free Places, called Fitzwygram Scholarships, at Hampton School by 2025. Why 2025? It is the 50th anniversary of Hampton becoming an independent school. Why 50? One for each year of independence, 50 years on. What difference will 50 Free Places make? Hampton School today provides over 40 Free Places, with a similar number of boys on reduced-fee places, benefiting over 80 boys in all. Details are published in the School’s Annual Report and Accounts. 50 additional Free Places will more than double what we can currently offer to boys who would benefit from a Hampton education. We are looking forward to ensuring that additional talented boys of academic and all-round potential are given the opportunity to benefit from a Hampton education. But just as when Hampton was founded over 450 years ago, we need donations from benefactors, to help to continue the School’s historic mission. To see more about how you can give to support a Fitzwygram Scholarship, please see the enclosed leaflet ‘Ways to give’.
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FAQs Why “Fitzwygram”?
The Reverend Fitzroy Fitzwygram was a local vicar in Hampton Hill in the 19th Century, who devoted his life to serving the needs of the poor and needy. He used his own money to establish schools to educate poor local children. Fitzwygram devoted much of his life to serving the Hampton community, and Hampton School held a particular place in his affections. The most prestigious prize at Hampton’s annual Prizegiving is named in his honour. How many deserving pupils does the School have to disappoint each year due to a lack of Free Place funding? One boy of talent and aspiration turned away is one too many. Currently, around 15 boys per year are unable to take up places at the School on financial grounds. New places offered by The Fitzwygram Foundation will raise awareness and this is likely to increase demand further. What are The Fitzwygram Foundation’s financial eligibility criteria for Fitzwygram Scholarships? The Fitzwygram Foundation’s criteria will be that the boy’s parents are genuinely unable to fund the costs of a place. This will be subject to rigorous, third-party expert and specialist means-testing of income and capital. As an example, a primary school boy receiving free school meals and pupil premium funding is likely to qualify. Financial assistance will extend to help with uniform, transport, lunches, and the co-curricular activities and trips offered at Hampton.
How will Fitzwygram Foundation Scholarship recipients be assessed? The School has extensive experience in identifying primary school boys who would flourish at Hampton. The School has time-honoured expertise and experience in identifying potential. Likely successful candidates will not have been coached excessively for the entrance examinations, but will have genuine raw talent and aspiration. How will Fitzwygram Scholars settle and thrive at Hampton? These boys will often already be familiar with Hampton thanks to our partnership activities with local primary schools, including our popular ‘Serious Fun on Saturdays’ programme. This will help them feel at home as soon as they arrive. Do current bursary pupils do as well at Hampton as those whose parents are paying fees? Yes. There is no discernible difference between the achievements of pupils receiving financial assistance and those of their classmates.
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How to make a difference We hope that people will view The Fitzwygram Foundation as an important part of their charitable giving and give according to their means. Our challenge is significant but we believe it is one that will inspire Hamptonians and the School’s friends and supporters. We welcome support from all and are relying on the generosity of smaller regular-giving, as well as major donations, as we aim to increase the number of Free Places at Hampton School. The Trustees of The Fitzwygram Foundation will invest your generous and valued donation into a dedicated capital fund, which can only be used for the purposes of supporting the talented boys who will benefit from your backing. Hampton School will provide all the administrative and management support at no cost to The Fitzwygram Foundation, allowing donations to be wholly used for Scholarships. The generosity of supporters like you will enable the Foundation to fund Free Places at the School for both the immediate and long-term future.
With your support, Hampton will be able to give more life-changing opportunities to boys now and forever.
What it means Patrick Aryee OH (2004)
“My brother, sister and I were all raised by mum; as a single-parent finances were understandably tight to say the least. With this in mind, the only way I was able to attend Hampton was through a bursary programme. I still had to pay the attendance fee but thankfully the total cost was reduced by just enough. Without that bursary, without that charitable donation, I wouldn’t be standing here as the person I am today. Hampton was undoubtedly instrumental in seeing me through my formative years and it’s where I met some of my lifelong friends. What makes Hampton special is that it supports you whatever your interest may be - for me this was not only my interest in science but also my love for drama and sport. The teachers are passionate about the subjects they teach, and they inspired me.” At School, Patrick was keen on Athletics, Rugby and Drama. After leaving Hampton with three A Levels, Patrick studied at Bristol University for a degree in Cancer Biology followed by a master’s in Science Communication before deciding on a career in wildlife film-making. His recent shows include Yellowstone and Super Senses for the BBC, as well as the Amazing Animal Family series and the sensational Big Beasts: The Last of the Giants for Sky1 (TX summer 2018).
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Luke Dent
Luca Cericola
“Hampton provided me with incredible opportunities and I am very grateful for the generosity of the benefactor who supported my place at the School. Hampton is far from a typical school; its nurturing atmosphere allows boys to work towards their ambitions, encouraging all-round development as people as well as pupils.”
“I was given a free place at Hampton and I knew that I had to make the most of my time at the School. Throughout my time I wanted to repay the School for giving me such an incredible opportunity. It was an absolute pleasure to get involved with as many sporting, social and academic opportunities as I could and I continuously pushed myself to my limits to ensure that I achieved my goals. Hampton gave me the chance to explore and express my potential in all aspects of life and this is something I simply could not have even dreamed of until I was awarded a free place at Hampton.”
OH (2013)
Luke graduated from Oxford in 2017 with a First in Materials Science and a nomination for a national award. While at Oxford, he spent one summer on placement at Tsinghua University in Beijing, and another researching synthetic diamond materials. He continued playing rugby after Hampton, representing his college as well as the Oxford Colleges XV in their Varsity Match against Cambridge. Luke is now pursuing a career in patent law.
OH (2016)
After Hampton Luca studied at Bath University for a degree in Biochemistry and played rugby for the University. At Hampton, Luca was an integral part of the Rugby 1st XV and was a School Vice-Captain.
Why I am Supporting The Fitzwygram Foundation
Graham Able Headmaster 1988-1996
“The eventual aim to provide needs blind entry to Hampton is, in my view, definitely the ultimate goal. It is an aspiration which I strongly support. Hampton has a strong tradition of free places and that must be maintained and improved to achieve greater social inclusion.”
Barry Martin
Chairman of The Fitzwygram Foundation Headmaster 1997-2013 “I know from personal experience what a huge difference a free place Scholarship makes. I am extremely proud of the many Hamptonians in my time as Headmaster who were on free and assisted places and of their contribution to School life and subsequently to society in general. The Fitzwygram Foundation will help many more boys like them grow to their full potential. Hampton will be able to continue welcoming boys from all backgrounds. I support wholeheartedly the Governors, Headmaster and all at the School who have placed the Fitzwygram Foundation at the centre of the School’s vision and ambition.”
Foundation Details The Fitzwygram Foundation Trustees Barry Martin (Chair) Peter Baker Stuart Bull Mona Choueiri Laurence Llewellyn John Perry OH Graham Skinner OH Nigel Spooner
Thank you for your interest in our plans The Chairman of Governors, The Headmaster, The Chairman of The Fitzwygram Foundation and the Director of Alumni Relations and The Fitzwygram Foundation are more than happy to visit potential donors in or out of normal office hours.
With your support, Hampton will be able to give more life-changing opportunities to boys now and forever.
The Fitzwygram Foundation Office, Hampton School, Freepost SEA0924, Hanworth Road, Hampton, Middlesex TW12 3HD T 020 8783 4406 E fitzwygram@hamptonschool.org.uk
www.fitzwygram.org