ST DUNSTAN’S COLLEGE HELP US SHAPE YOUNG LIVES
2
ST DUNSTAN’S COLLEGE I FUNDING THE FUTURE
www.stdunstans.org.uk
CONTENTS ST DUNSTAN’S:
BE PART OF OUR FUTURE
PAGE 5
TRANSFORMING LIVES
THROUGH EDUCATION 7
REMAINING CONNECTED
AND CELEBRATING OUR DONORS
11
BUILDING A SCHOOL CAMPUS
FIT FOR THE FUTURE 13
ASSURING A BRIGHTER FUTURE
THROUGH LEGACIES 17
HOW TO
MAKE YOUR GIFT 19
3
“
ST DUNSTAN’S COLLEGE I FUNDING THE FUTURE
“
4
Diverse in every way academically, socially and intellectually The Good Schools Guide
www.stdunstans.org.uk
ST DUNSTAN’S COLLEGE BE PART OF OUR FUTURE
S
t Dunstan’s College was founded on benevolence and ambition. Benevolence that saw a group of parishioners from St Dunstan’s in the East, along with a number of other partners, see fit to fund a new school in the growing suburbs of London. Ambition to create a school that was ‘ahead of its current time’. A school that would enable students to ‘find out and do’ rather than simply sit and listen. A school that would introduce a radically different curriculum, containing Science, Technology and Engineering. A school that would relish a broad, liberal approach to education, introducing one of the first truly co-curricular programmes in the world. A school that would enlarge access by supporting children from a range of backgrounds and means. St Dunstan’s today is proud of this heritage and seeks to use it as a platform for its ongoing growth and development. Following a phase of significant improvement across all aspects of the school’s life, we now look to a new chapter. Our priority is to enable even further access to our education through a culture of giving to our ambitious bursary programme. This is one of the ways through which we will challenge and showcase the role independent schools can play in forging a dynamic, contemporary society. We will also continue to build facilities that support not just an excellent education but an ambitious approach to partnerships and community engagement. The ambitions laid out in these pages cannot be realised without significant philanthropic support and it is my great hope that you will feel moved to join us on our journey. We are excited by what the future holds for St Dunstan’s and our vibrant Lewisham community. I invite you to be a part of it. With sincere thanks
Mr N P Hewlett Headmaster
5
6
ST DUNSTAN’S COLLEGE I FUNDING THE FUTURE
www.stdunstans.org.uk
TRANSFORMING LIVES THROUGH EDUCATION
E
xpanding the funds we have for bursaries is a top priority for St Dunstan’s. Bursaries at the College give academically able children from lower income families the chance of an excellent, and often life-changing, education. Widening access through bursaries is an important vehicle for improving social mobility and a route towards a more inclusive society. If you are able to support our Bursary Fund, you will be giving an extraordinary opportunity to academically able children from our local area to benefit from education that would otherwise have been entirely inaccessible to them.
At St Dunstan’s, we believe in the power of diverse communities to shape a broad-minded and humane future. Schools like St Dunstan’s can, and must, play a fundamental role in forging that future: it will be more important than ever as we move into a post-pandemic Britain. Chairman of the Development Board and Chair at Octavia Group
“
“
Sandeep Katwala (‘78)
7
ST DUNSTAN’S COLLEGE I FUNDING THE FUTURE
Shalom
“
“
I will forever be grateful for my St Dunstan’s experience, where I have learnt to aim high and to keep exceeding with no limit to my aspirations.
Current Year 13 student Prefect, studying Biology, Chemistry and Latin
Ibrahim
“
The Bursary I have received at St Dunstan’s has helped me achieve success and inspiration for a successful future ahead, through excellent pastoral care and fantastic teaching.
“
8
Current Year 13 student Prefect, studying Computer Science, Mathematic and Physics
www.stdunstans.org.uk
CAN YOU HELP GIVE A TALENTED CHILD THE CHANCE OF A ST DUNSTAN’S EDUCATION?
W
e currently support over 50 bursary students throughout the College but every year we have to turn away at least 10 students.
If we raise £3m over the next five years, we will have been able to double the number of children from our local area to benefit from education that would otherwise have been entirely inaccessible to them.
It takes £20,000 to support a full bursary student in the senior school for a year. In this context, large gifts will be transformational but a collective effort can be just as meaningful. For example:
Number of donors
Monthly gift
270
£25
270 270
1 year + gift aid
5 years + gift aid
Outcome
£101,250
£506,250
5 bursary students
£50
£202,500
£1,012,500
10 bursary students
£100
£388,800
£1,944,000
20 bursary students
When added to others, your gift will make an enormous difference to the life of a promising student, and by giving regularly, you will be helping us plan for future academic years with confidence.
9
ST DUNSTAN’S COLLEGE I FUNDING THE FUTURE
David Edwards (‘83)
“
While the 1970s may not have been the most memorable of decades, I have only the fondest memories of St Dunstan’s during those years. The school provided an opportunity for children like me from less than affluent backgrounds to experience passionate teaching instilling in me a curiosity to learn, a willingness to work hard and a desire to do as well as you possibly could, attributes that have remained with me ever since and for which I am truly grateful.
Partner at Lewis Golden accountants
“
“
Graham Blackbourn (‘75) A Local Authority ‘free place’ (as they were called) allowed me to study at St Dunstan’s. I shall shortly semi-retire from having founded and run an international geological consultancy for more than 30 years, with some success I think, which would not have been possible without the broad and rounded education and the self-confidence gained while at the school.
“
10
Founder of Blackbourn Geoconsulting, an international consultancy firm.
www.stdunstans.org.uk
REMAINING CONNECTED
AND CELEBRATING OUR DONORS
I
t is very important to us to continue to build the strong sense of community at St Dunstan’s, by renewing relationships across our alumni network and remaining closely in touch with parents, past and present. We also want to foster new connections so that our donors can remain involved and see the impact of their support. We will keep you in touch in different ways:
•
Receptions and special events in the school, with other donors, our teachers and students
•
Invitations to Commemoration Day, Remembrance Day and other key moments during the College year
•
Our new Annual Impact Report
•
St Dunstan’s quarterly e-updates
•
Short videos by students to share their experience and the impact of donated support
Please donate online... In order to give another talented child the chance of a life-changing education, please donate. Every contribution is meaningful, whatever the value. Scan this QR code with a phone, to access our online form and our online payment facilities.
11
12
ST DUNSTAN’S COLLEGE I FUNDING THE FUTURE
www.stdunstans.org.uk
BUILDING A SCHOOL CAMPUS FIT FOR THE FUTURE
I
n recent years, within our own resources, we have fundamentally redeveloped our campus to help provide the infrastructure through which we can deliver a first-class education. Most recently, in 2021, we built a new Junior School, Sixth Form Centre, and STEM block, all of which have transformed the teaching and learning spaces within the Stanstead Road site. Our next areas of focus are the facilities for Sports and Leisure and the Performing Arts.
Sports & Leisure In the next two years, we plan to deliver a significant expansion in our existing Sport and Leisure Centre by doubling its size. This will allow us to introduce vastly improved changing facilities and classrooms for specialised teaching and training. This initiative reflects the value we place on sports for the physical health and wellbeing of our students as well as for enhancing leadership and teamwork skills. Also included will be four brand new Rugby Fives Courts close to their original 1888 footprint.
Upgrading sports at St Dunstan’s enables us to expand significantly what we offer for community use, and provide a hub for partnerships with clubs and sports bodies at both local and national level.
13
14
ST DUNSTAN’S COLLEGE I FUNDING THE FUTURE
www.stdunstans.org.uk
Performing Arts
S
t Dunstan’s has an impressive track record in staging inspiring and memorable live performances over its long history. The St Dunstan’s Festival, our annual celebration of arts and culture, is now firmly established as a fixture in our local area, bringing people across the community together through inspiring shared experiences. Our new Performing Arts Centre includes a theatre space to match the talent of our students, with surrounding studios and practice rooms.
“
As well as hosting school performances, this new 200-seat flexible space will be a resource for professional, amateur and community groups, and a hub for workshops, live streaming and inspiring live shows.
“
We want to continue to add to the facilities housed here and secure additional support needed to stage large-scale productions and build community partnerships. If you would like to support this, the new Sports & Leisure Centre, or the programmes that they will host, please get in touch.
15
16
ST DUNSTAN’S COLLEGE I FUNDING THE FUTURE
www.stdunstans.org.uk
ASSURING A BRIGHTER FUTURE THROUGH LEGACIES
F
or many, the years spent at school are some of the most significant and lifechanging of times. This is particularly true at St Dunstan’s College whose vibrant community of past students, parents and teachers remain connected to the school, and are passionate about its continued success.
By giving a legacy gift to St Dunstan’s in your Will, you will be helping us to continue to give the best education to future students, and you will continue to be part of the St Dunstan’s story. There are different types of gifts you can make in your Will, including giving a specified amount or the remaining part of your estate after providing for your family and other responsibilities. Gifts that are free from restrictions are particularly helpful, allowing the College to invest wherever our need is greatest. Or you may wish your gift to support our bursaries programme to give opportunities to those would otherwise be unable to benefit from a St Dunstan’s education. Whatever you choose, your Will is an important and personal document and we recommend you contact your solicitor, either to draft your will or a codicil to your existing Will.
17
18
ST DUNSTAN’S COLLEGE I FUNDING THE FUTURE
www.stdunstans.org.uk
HOW TO MAKE YOUR GIFT
A
ll donations, large or small, are precious and meaningful regardless of the amount. You can give in a number of ways:
•
By online payment using the QR code and the online single donation form on page 11
•
By filling out one of our donation forms and by returning it to the College by post or email with payment either:
-
by electronic bank transfer (sort code 40-11-60, account 00084026, Ref GIFT) or
-
by cheque made payable to St Dunstan’s Educational Foundation Gen Ac
•
By using our Legacy Pledge Form
All our forms can also be found at www.stdunstans.org.uk/dunstonians/development If you have any questions or would like to speak to us personally, please contact us:
Isabelle Blake-James Director of Development E: development@stdunstans.org.uk T: 020 8516 7308
19
20
ST DUNSTAN’S COLLEGE I FUNDING THE FUTURE
From all of us at St Dunstan’s Thank you for your support
21
Stanstead Road, London SE6 4TY A co-educational, independent College for ages 3 to 18 www.stdunstans.org.uk 020 8516 7200 Charity number: 312747