Giving and Impact Review 2022-2023
As we reflect on St Peter’s School’s remarkable journey of nearly 1400 years, we are deeply grateful for your unwavering support, which has been instrumental in our ability to evolve and thrive in the ever-changing world we live in. Our long and successful history is a testament to our strength, adaptability, and commitment to excellence in all aspects of education. At present, we stand on the threshold of an exciting chapter in our school’s story. Our Senior Leadership Team has undergone a restructure, allowing talented staff members to assume new roles as we continue to enhance our pursuit of educational excellence. In September of this year, we proudly opened our first international school, Yingya St Peter’s School, located on the picturesque island of Hainan in China. This 30-acre campus will provide education to both Chinese and international students, enriching our global reach and impact. Looking ahead, from September 2025, St Peter’s School will operate as one unified institution with two distinct sections: St Peter’s Junior School, educating children from Nursery to Year 6, and St Peter’s Senior School, for pupils from Year 7 to Sixth Form. These changes will allow us to better serve our pupils and ensure a smooth educational journey. In the coming years, we have two significant milestones to celebrate. In 2026, we will mark 50 years of co-education, a testament to our commitment to inclusivity and equal opportunities. And in 2027, we will joyously commemorate our 1400th anniversary, a truly momentous occasion in our storied history. As part of these celebrations, we have planned the Keys for Life Campaign, a vital initiative aimed at further expanding our bursary
provision. By highlighting the transformative impact of bursaries, we strive to ensure that a St Peter’s education remains accessible to all, irrespective of their financial circumstances. Our dedicated team is currently hard at work, reviewing the school’s potential for these upcoming celebrations. We view this as an opportunity not only to rejoice in our vision of education and rich heritage but also to underscore the importance of bursaries. Through your generous support, we have already made significant progress, increasing the number of awarded bursaries from 36 last year to 42 this year, and we remain committed to further expansion. Your generosity serves as the bedrock of this vision, and we cannot thank you enough for your enduring support.
“Keeping St Peter’s demographically diverse is very important and the Keys for Life Bursary campaign will certainly help protect that ethos...” It is important to note that our fundraising efforts encompass more than just bursaries. Many generous gifts have been donated in various ways, enhancing the facilities available to our pupils and providing invaluable educational opportunities. These contributions have a profound impact on the overall St Peter’s experience, and receiving this support is greatly appreciated by staff and pupils alike. To each and every person who has thoughtfully and generously made a gift to St Peter’s, we extend our deepest gratitude. Your donation is a powerful testament to our shared partnership and your unwavering belief in our vision. Please know that your support is directly shaping the lives of countless young people, empowering them to reach their full potential. Thank you for your unwavering support, encouragement, kindness, and generosity. It is because of individuals like you that St Peter’s School continues to be a beacon of educational excellence and opportunity.
Jeremy Walker, Head Master 1
Our Generous Community
What does giving look like at St Peter’s… At St Peter’s we have a long-standing tradition of giving generously to support the education of our young people and charities.
2
627 192 42
The year in numbers giving
1458
Society members and others
regular gifts
Total number of donors
Average amount of gift £264
bursaries awarded in 23/24 3
Keys for Life Bursaries
St Peter’s history and traditions are characterised by providing opportunities for young people from all backgrounds to discover their talents and enhance them. Our vision, in keeping with our traditions – and the great needs of today’s social and educational landscape – is to continue to provide opportunities to talented pupils from all backgrounds. The benefits of an education at St Peter’s are clear but over time the cost of attending has risen, putting the opportunity to attend out of the reach of more and more families each year. It is for this reason that we are embarking on our Keys for Life Bursary Campaign. We want to sustain our modern, dynamic community where we walk, as our motto says, ‘over ancient ways’ and ensure that more children from each generation are equipped with the keys for life and the confidence to turn them. We aim to raise funds to support pupils who will gain the most from an education at St Peter’s and contribute successfully to the life of the school. In the academic year 20232024 we are supporting 42 pupils with bursaries, made possible by the generous donations from our 627 society members, our Keys for Life donors and from gifts left in wills.
4
85
We plan to increase our bursary recipients to
pupils, offering
50 to to
1400 as we go towards our
100%
fee remission
th
anniversary Can you help us?
Please see page 12 for information about how you can make a donation 5
Impact of bursaries Bursaries: • •
•
Open doors for bright young minds and shatter financial barriers, creating a level playing field for pupils with remarkable potential. Cover the costs of tuition, provide access to essential resources, extracurricular activities, and a supportive network that helps pupils thrive both academically and personally. Bring diversity to the St Peter’s community so that it reflects the wider world.
Pupils on Bursaries: • • •
Bring great talents to St Peter’s which benefit not just them but also their peers and the whole school. Gain a profound sense of belief in their abilities. They dream bigger and strive for excellence in all aspects of their lives. Become a catalyst for positive change within their families and communities as they become role models, inspire their peers and in due course, give back to society themselves.
“I urge everyone to give generously to the Keys for Life fundraising campaign so a new generation of young people can benefit from the first-class education and all-round experience that St Peter’s offers” Alan Mak MP who attended St Peter’s between 1997 and 2002 on a Government Assisted Place.
6
Thanks to the generosity of our school and wider community we have been able to award scholarships, and prizes for the following: • • • • •
The Mission Discovery Award for science The Language Immersion Award The Ginetta Sixth Form Scholarship Two long-standing music scholarships and one music award Prizes for annual school prizegiving
The Friends of St Peter’s and our pupil-led social action team raised thousands for local, national and international charities as well as for school funds. Thank you!
A state of the art, fibreglass rowing boat generously gifted to the school
7
Why I give
“Giving to St Peter’s Keys for Life campaign is my way of saying thank you. My time at St Peter’s gave me the tools to navigate university and beyond. I donate knowing that even my modest contribution will be pooled by the school and will make a real difference to a young person who might otherwise not have access to the education and opportunities that a St Peter’s education affords.” Victoria Inness, (Queens ‘90) “I thoroughly enjoyed my time at St Peter’s School. It’s a truly wonderful place and I want to give other young people the chance to attend and make the most of the opportunities that the school gave to me.” Anonymous Old Peterite
“Giving, no matter how large or small, to support children less fortunate, can make a huge impact on their lives and gives you satisfaction in the knowledge that the money will be used wisely at St Peter’s.” Edmund (Temple ‘62) and Elizabeth Richman
8
Donor Garden Party 2023
Our garden party for donors and volunteers held in June 2023 was a special occasion to gather together for a celebration of thanks and to commemorate what we have been able to accomplish with gifts generously given to the school. In the academic year 2022-23 we awarded 36 bursaries to children and young people. Looking ahead to the upcoming year, we can expand these opportunities even further, with an increase to 42 bursaries.
Thank you!
9
Celebrating the Generosity of the 627 Society
At the heart of our school community lies a group of dedicated individuals who go above and beyond in their commitment to making a difference. We are honoured to have the 627 Society, a deeply valued group of individuals whose generosity and constant support have profoundly impacted the lives of young people. Their remarkable donations, totalling over £37,400 this year, have enabled us to provide life-changing opportunities through bursaries to 2 pupils. The 627 Society is an invaluable partner in our mission to transform lives through education, and their contributions will continue to shape futures for generations to come.
“We give to the 627 society because we have seen the enormous benefits of an education at St Peter’s. Our children both received a bursary and we like to feel that our regular donation gives other children the same first class education...” Gill and John Ward (parents)
To coincide with our Keys for Life Bursary campaign we are delighted to announce we are re-launching our 627 society with different levels of giving available to include our 1400 anniversary celebration. Small gifts really do make a difference. Over a year, 100 people donating £14 per month would pay for one full bursary place.
10
Did you know your £100 gift to us increases to £125 when we claim gift aid. And... if you are a higher rate tax payer you can claim an additional £25
Monthly donation
Donation with Gift aid*
What your gift could buy in a month for a bursary pupil
Over a year this monthly gift could buy
£14
£17.50
Notebooks and stationery
Hockey uniform and equipment
£62.70
£78.38
New trainers for indoor and athletic sports
Complete school and sports uniform with equipment
£140
£175
5 private music lessons
10% fee remission for a pupil in St Peter’s 13-18
£627
£783.75
50% contribution to an overseas visit
50% fee remission for a pupil in St Peter’s 8-13
Benefits...
By making a regular gift you will be giving a Keys for Life education to a child and become a member of our 627 Society. All members receive a bespoke 627 pin and invitation to an annual celebratory garden party. *claimed by school
Other monthly donations are welcomed to the 627 club. See page 12 for information about how you can donate. 11
Ways to Give Regular donation—627 society
The best way to support our school is to join our 627 society. Regular monthly gifts from generous members of the society enable us to budget and plan our bursary provision effectively. See our website or contact us.
One off donation
Some of our donors make a one-off donation for specific projects. You can donate gifts of less than £500 through our website. To make larger gifts or to discuss how your gift could be used please get in touch.
Cross Keys Legacy Society
Gifts in wills are transformative to the scale of our bursary provision. You can leave a gift in your will at no cost to you now and in doing so, leave a lasting legacy for St Peter’s pupils far into the future. Most legators simply express their wishes to leave a gift when drawing up their will, however if you need further information, we can send you our ‘gifts in wills’ pack.
Corporate support
Let us know if your company or employer would like to give a donation to the school or even match fund other donations.
Find out more by visiting our giving page:
www.stpetersyork.org.uk/our-community/support-us
You can donate using the QR code, here:
12
From the Chaplain
The Bible tells us that, in the early church, St Peter led a small community of people who not only shared common beliefs, they also supported one another financially. For communities like ours, tracing their history back to St Peter, generosity is woven into the very character of who we are. I have always considered it a great privilege, as Chaplain, to be part of a community that is committed to the nurture of young lives. To do that well requires the support of a huge number of people. It’s easy to see the handiwork of everyone on site, working in our classrooms, kitchens and the laundry or those who tend the grounds and maintain the fabric of the buildings. What’s sometimes less easily seen is the vital role of the wide network of Governors, parents, former pupils, supporters and Friends of St Peters. We are grateful to so many people who lend an encouraging word or listening ear to support our pupils and to those who give so generously of their time or money to enable the amazing work our Schools do. My prayer is that, in whatever way each of us may support the work of St Peter’s, by doing so we will be laying the foundations from which others might go on to live happy, fulfilled lives.
“...we can look in hope to the future, knowing that the benefit of our generosity in the here and now might still be felt long after we are gone...” The Keys for Life Campaign seeks to continue that principle of generosity which is so vital to our community. By supporting the work of the School with a financial gift, you will be helping us to offer a St Peter’s education to an ever widening number of children.
In doing so, we can look in hope to the future, knowing that the benefit of our generosity in the here and now might still be felt long after we are gone. So, on behalf of the Peterites of today, and of the generations of Peterites still to come, thank you for supporting us with your gift. May you too be blessed in your giving and in your receiving. Daniel Jones (Chaplain) 13
Contact Us 14
The Development and Alumni Team, St Peter’s School York, YO30 6AB tel. 01904 527363 development@stpetersyork.org.uk
