Donate
The Highfield School Centenary Bursaries Fund was set up to celebrate Highfield’s centenary in 2007. It has been running successfully for more than 12 years thanks to the generosity of current and former parents, alumni and institutional grants. The aim of the fund is to raise enough money to support children who would not otherwise have the opportunity to come to a school like Highfield and Brookham.
In the current climate, access to private education is becoming more and more of a privilege. We recognise our responsibility to ensure we bridge this advantage gap. We know there are many children who would greatly benefit from attending a private school and there is a need to bring this opportunity to as many as possible – to those who might not otherwise consider it an option due to difficult financial or family circumstances.
Our Aim
The purpose of the Centenary Bursaries Fund is to make a real difference in a child’s life, not just academically but also physically, emotionally and socially. The bursaries are awarded to children we believe will gain the most benefit from attending Highfield and Brookham Schools – ensuring they reach their full potential, build life-long skills and develop long-lasting, positive experiences and relationships.
It’s incredibly rare for prep schools to offer 100% bursaries, especially at the rate that we do. We want to lead the way, in good faith, so that other prep schools will follow and allow this amazing opportunity to be given to even more children.
Changing Lives
We have awarded 17 bursaries to date and they have proved to be an enormous success. The Centenary Bursaries Fund also provides additional support for music lessons, sports equipment, school trips and uniform. In some circumstances, it has also funded travel to and from the school for the children and their parents.
Past bursary children have gone on to secure bursaries and scholarships at exceptional senior schools such as Charterhouse, Marlborough College and Seaford College. Nine children are currently still with us and because of our excellent relationships with senior schools and the outstanding support we offer, the hope is our current children will follow in their footsteps.
Selection Process
We have a very thorough selection process to identify children whose circumstances merit this life-changing gift. Throughout the year we build awareness of this opportunity outside of our socio-demographic to ensure relevant candidates are put forward. This involves forging links with relevant schools and their headteachers, charitable organisations, and promoting the opportunity online.
A typical candidate could be a child who is experiencing social or educational difficulties such as bullying, a challenging home life, special educational needs or someone who just needs a break, or children who have the ability to succeed academically if given the right support. We also have gifted children being put forward, where Highfield and Brookham can offer them a higher level of individual attention and can access our well-developed programme for the most talented children.
Make A Donation
The bursaries are funded on a 50-50 basis by the fund and the school. The school’s share is covered by ancillary income streams such as property rentals, Summer School and Swim School. Parents do not subsidise the bursaries through their fees.
We have an extremely robust fundraising plan which involves a combination of donations, fundraising events, investments and grants. Our donors are a mix of former pupils, grandparents, former parents, current parents, institutes and former staff. The Centenary Bursaries Fund is a registered charity, so Gift Aid increases donations to the fund from UK income tax payers by 25%. Donors just need to complete the Gift Aid form when making their donation.
We have partnered with Amazon Smile and Easy Fundraising to make it even easier to support the Highfield School Centenary Bursaries Fund. Both of these schemes turn your everyday online shopping into a free donation at no extra cost to you. If our aims resonate with you, just follow the simple steps to support this great cause every time you shop online.
Charity Information
The Highfield School Centenary Bursaries Fund is a trust that was set up as a separate legal entity in 2007 with its own trust deed and trustees. It was granted charitable Status by the Charity Commissioners in 2007. (Registered Charity No. 1114845)
The Trustees
- Jonathan Carey – former Highfield parent and grandson of Canon Mills, Highfield’s founder
- Peter Greenwood – Old Highfieldian and former Highfield parent
- Nick Denton – a parent of three Old Highfieldians
- Simon Mason – former Highfield member of staff
- Katie Naylor – former Highfield parent
What we’re up to…
Commemorative plaques in honour of Highfield Centenary Bursaries Fund donors and beautifully hand-crafted by our skilled maintenance team will soon accompany the maple trees which line Chapel Field and Macs Field. Since its inception in 2007, more than 20 children for whom a private education may otherwise have been out of reach have benefited from the fund. #TogetherWeGrow #TogetherWeInspire #TogetherWeOpenDoors #CentenaryBursariesFund #PrivateSchool #IndependentSchoolsInHampshire #CountrySchoolEducation
Are you looking for a new school? One which offers a progressive, skills-based curriculum and first-class teaching? Where the children’s health and wellbeing are paramount? We are hosting our first open morning of spring on Saturday 10th May, from 10.30am-12.30pm. We’d love for you to meet our Head, Suzannah Cryer, members of our friendly and professional teaching team and take a tour of the school and its exceptional facilities in the company of our engaging Year 8 children. To book a place, simply click here: bit.ly/3G2Hhl1 #TogetherWeGrow #IndependentSchool #PrivateSchool #BoardingSchool #PrepSchool #PrePrepSchool #Nursery #Liphook #Hampshire #Surrey #WestSussex
As Highfield and Brookham blooms in the sunshine, we would like to say a huge thank you to our incredible gardeners and grounds team who keep the school looking so beautiful year in, year out. A special place to learn and grow, we’re looking forward to showing prospective parents exactly what we have to offer during our next open morning on Saturday 10th May. To book a place, simply click the link in our bio! #TogetherWeGrow #TogetherWeLearn #TogetherWePlay #PrivateSchoolEducation #CountryBoardingSchools #OpenMorning
What a busy day we’ve had in the woods. As part of a hands-on exploration into the brilliant world of bushcraft, the children have been finding and identifying minibeasts, arranging by colour the myriad flora and fauna found on the forest floor, learnt how to build and maintain a fire using a flint and steel tool and, of course, toasted marshmallows and made popcorn over the campfire! #TogetherWeGrow #TogetherWeExplore #TogetherWeBuild #EssentialSkills #ForestSchool #OutdoorLearning #IndependentSchoolsInHampshire #Liphook #Hampshire #Surrey #WestSussex
Anxious parents will tomorrow discover if their children have secured places at their first-choice primary schools. While most will, some may not. If not, help is at hand, including the possibility of an independent school education. #TogetherWeGrow #TogetherWeLearn #IndependentSchool #ReceptionClass #BoardingSchoolsInHampshire #Liphook #Hampshire #Surrey #WestSussex #NationalOfferDay
One of the things that makes our holiday activities so popular is the amazing range of courses on offer. Whether you’re sporty or artistic, a stage performer or a woodland firelighter, a tech whizz or a touch typist, we really do have something for everyone. At the end of our courses, children leave with a much better understanding of their chosen subject, greater confidence, and armed with invaluable skills and techniques that they can use in and out of the classroom. #TogetherWeGrow #TogetherWeLearn #SchoolHolidayActivities #IndependentSchoolsInHampshire #Liphook #Hampshire #Surrey #WestSussex
We have an exceptional track record when it comes to the creative arts during term time, so there’s little wonder the children thrive during the holidays too. Today, Mrs Wilson, with her wealth of West End stage experience, put her young charges through their paces on the first of a two-day Easter holiday performing arts course; helping the children learn song lyrics and add accompanying choreography ahead of a special performance to parents tomorrow. And without wishing to give the game away, it really could be the greatest show… #TogetherWeGrow #TogetherWePerform #TogetherWeInspire #PerformingArts #CreativeArts #BoardingSchoolsInHampshire #EasterHolidayClubs #IndependentSchoolsInHampshire
The amount raised for the Highfield Centenary Bursaries Fund by the fab five runners who tackled last week’s London Landmarks Half-Marathon – school owner Bill Mills, Head Suzannah Cryer, Head of Pre-Prep Georgie Hunter and parents Sarah Bagshaw and Claire Kenwright – has now topped the £9,000 mark. Since its inception in 2007, more than 20 children for whom a private education may otherwise have been out of reach have benefited from the fund. #TogetherWeGrow #TogetherWeThrive #TogetherWeLearn #Bursaries #HighfieldCentenaryBursariesFund #PrivateSchoolEducation #Liphook #Hampshire #Surrey #WestSussex
Today has been a day full of woodland adventure, thanks to the team from @coryluscollective and our new Nature Days course. Specifically designed for younger explorers, from wild treasure hunts to chilled-out woodland crafts and story-time under the trees, it’s the perfect mix of adventure and calm. With the sun shining and our beautiful grounds bursting with life, the children were swinging on rope swings, hunting for creepy-crawlies on bug safaris, building epic dens and toasting tasty treats over a crackling campfire. #WoodlandWonder #OutdoorAdventures #NaturePlay #TogetherWeGrow #TogetherWeCreate #TheGreatOutdoors #SchoolHolidayActivities #PrepSchool #PrePrepSchool
Are you looking for a new school? One which offers a progressive, skills-based curriculum and first-class teaching? Where the children’s health and wellbeing are paramount? We are hosting our first open morning of spring on Saturday 10th May, from 10.30am-12.30pm. We’d love for you to meet our Head, Suzannah Cryer, members of our friendly and professional teaching team and take a tour of the school and its exceptional facilities in the company of our engaging Year 8 children. To book a place, simply click here: bit.ly/3G2Hhl1 #TogetherWeGrow #IndependentSchool #PrivateSchool #BoardingSchool #PrepSchool #PrePrepSchool #Nursery #Liphook #Hampshire #Surrey #WestSussex
We are excited to welcome the Assure Coaching team to lead the way with a jam-packed course full of exciting sports for an energetic and fun-filled holiday club. The team, made up of experienced coaches, have been teaching the children essential skills and techniques across sports, including football, cricket, basketball and hockey to name a few, along with fun games such as bench-ball and dodgeball. A great day has been had by all, building skills, making friends and growing in confidence. #TogetherWeGrow #IndependentSchool #PrepSchool #PrePrepSchool #Liphook #OutdoorLearning #SportForAll #TogetherWePlay
We had an incredible Senior Cookery course today. The group put their cooking skills to the test and got stuck in making delicious hot cross buns, Mexican molletes and carrot cake cookies. The amazing cookery teacher, Sophie Neish, shared her passion, knowledge and expertise, whilst passing on her tips to these future super cooks. All the children left with plenty of new skills and filled with cooking confidence. #TogetherWeGrow #TogetherWeCook #TogetherWeCreate #Cookery #SchoolHolidayCourses #LifeSkills #Liphook #PrepSchool
We are so lucky to have our very own golf course right here on our grounds, providing the perfect setting for another amazing holiday golf course with the talented coach, Harry Jafkins, Assistant Professional from Liphook Golf Club. It was such a pleasure to see the children, both beginners and more experienced players, diving into a variety of drills designed to enhance their game, along with one-to-one coaching. Every child left with a better understanding of the sport and improved technique. It’s clear that learning golf can be both enjoyable and rewarding, and we can’t wait to do it all again in the summer holidays! #TogetherWeGrow #TogetherWePlay #HolidayActivtyClubs #SchoolHolidayActivities #Liphook #Hampshire #WestSussex #Surrey #IndependentSchool
Five runners from the Highfield and Brookham community have raised almost £8,000 between them for the school’s Centenary Bursaries Fund, which can pave the way to a private education. The runners raised the cash during Sunday’s London Landmarks Half-Marathon. #TogetherWeGrow #TogetherWeInspire #TogetherWeAchieve #BoardingSchoolsInHampshire #Liphook #Hampshire #Surrey #WestSussex
Things were definitely cooking in our kitchen today, with Italian Easter bread, Italian pizza pie and ‘Easter crazy’ chocolate bark all on a tantalisingly tasty menu. Our holiday cookery courses, run by the brilliant Sophie Neish, are always incredibly popular and, today, the children mixed, grated, rolled, sliced and diced to their hearts’ content to produce yet more amazing dishes. #TogetherWeGrow #TogetherWeCook #TogetherWeCreate #Cookery #SchoolHolidayCourses #LifeSkills #Liphook #BoardingSchoolsInHampshire
With expert tuition from the brilliant MJ and @sophie_billy_ of @assurecoaching our children have today danced up a real storm on the second day of our exciting new Dance holiday club. They worked really hard on the choreography of two high-energy routines featuring locking street dance and lyrical theatre dance before putting on a dazzling show for their appreciative parents. #TogetherWeGrow #TogetherWePerform #TogetherWeCreate #Dance #SchoolHolidayActivities #Liphook #Hampshire #Surrey #WestSussex
Inspired by the onset of spring, we’ve had a brilliant start to our new Nature Crafting course. Under the expert eye of nature lover Hannah, from Corylus Collective, the children have tapped into their creativity and artistry to produce some amazing hand-crafted creations using natural materials, including beautiful Easter wreaths, botanically-dyed bags, clay birds and willow bird feeders, all of which the children can take home. #TogetherWeGrow #TogetherWeCreate #GettingBackToNature #NatureCrafting #ArtsAndCrafts #TheGreatOutdoors #SchoolHolidayActivities
Never missing an opportunity to take their learning outside, imaginative Year 3 saw the immense possibilities of turning our amazing woodland into their very own outdoor gym, which proved perfect for an impromptu gymnastics session to help keep their bodies and minds fit and healthy! #TogetherWeGrow #TogetherWeStayHealthy #TogetherWeInspire #OutdoorLearning #SchoolsInHampshire #BoardingSchoolsInHampshire #Liphook #Hampshire #Surrey #WestSussex
The perfect end to a fun-filled week at our Multi-Activities Club, an Easter egg hunt! The Easter Bunny came early and organised a fun hunt in our Forest School for the children to enjoy. There are places still available for next week – book now by clicking the link in our bio. #TogetherWeGrow #OutdoorLearning #ForestSchool #WondersOfWood #HolidayActivityClubs #PrepSchool #PrePrepSchool #Liphook #Hampshire #Surrey #WestSussex
This week’s Multi-Activities Club took full advantage of our 175 acres and the amazing weather. Perfect for building dens and bug hotels, using imaginative play and teamwork. What a magical and memorable week it has been for all the children in the club. There are places still available for next week – book here: bit.ly/4i1W6Sf #TogetherWeGrow #OutdoorLearning #ForestSchool #WondersOfWood #SparkingImaginations #HolidayActivityClubs
We’re thrilled to share the incredible news about our 11+ and 13+ scholarships to date. A huge congratulations to those who have received scholarships so far. But we also want to celebrate every pupil who participated, it takes hard work, determination and courage. These awards reflect not only individual achievement but the unwavering support of our teachers and parents as it is a true team effort. The scholarships cover academics, sport, art, drama, and design technology and are to top senior schools including @brightoncollegeuk, @charterhousesch @canfordschool, @rugbyschool1567, @cranleighschool, @seafordcollege , @bryanstonschool, @sherborneboys, @lordwandsworth, @stedwardsoxford @qas_caversham and Repton School. We’re so proud of our scholars and all who have been part of this journey. #TogetherWeGrow #IndependentSchool #PrivateSchool #BoardingSchool #PrepSchool #PrePrepSchool #Nursery #Liphook #Hampshire #Surrey #WestSussex @goodschoolsguide @talkeducation
Our intrepid quintet of charity runners have topped their £6,000 fundraising target ahead of Sunday’s London Landmarks Half-Marathon – but it’s not too late to swell the coffers of the Centenary Bursaries Fund further. Highfield and Brookham owner Bill Mills, Head Suzannah Cryer and Head of Pre-Prep Georgie Hunter will be joined by parents Sarah Bagshaw and Claire Kenwright for the 13.1-mile run around the streets of our nation’s capital, raising money to support our amazing bursaries programme, which offers a private education to children for whom it might otherwise be out of reach. To sponsor any of our valiant runners, simply click the relevant links: bit.ly/4cgF956 (Bill Mills), bit.ly/42gJnW2 (Suzannah Cryer), bit.ly/4cbPDTm (Georgie Hunter), bit.ly/42ptoWR (Sarah Bagshaw), bit.ly/4iU2LiN (Claire Kenwright). #TogetherWeGrow #TogetherWeRun #TogetherWeSupport #CharityRun #CentenaryBursariesFund #LondonLandmarksHalfMarathon #BoardingSchoolsInHampshire
Are you looking for a new school? One which offers a progressive, skills-based curriculum and first-class teaching? Where the children’s health and wellbeing are paramount? We are hosting our first open morning of spring on Saturday 10th May, from 10.30am-12.30pm. We’d love for you to meet our Head, Suzannah Cryer, members of our friendly and professional teaching team and take a tour of the school and its exceptional facilities in the company of our engaging Year 8 children. To book a place, simply click the link in our bio! #TogetherWeGrow #IndependentSchool #PrivateSchool #BoardingSchool #PrepSchool #PrePrepSchool #Nursery #Liphook #Hampshire #Surrey #WestSussex
Whether they are in the classroom, the science lab, the music room, the DT block or on the sports pitches, our children are always learning – and that includes being outside in the playground. Our Pre-Prep children are blessed with a brilliant combination of green space and benefit-laden play equipment right outside their classrooms that they make full use of all year round, come rain or shine. There they can develop their gross motor skills and improve their balance, coordination and spatial awareness as they climb, swing, run and jump to their heart’s content, work on their teamwork, leadership and problem-solving skills to negotiate tricky obstacles, and interact with their peers, brush up on their social skills and form new friendships. Who says learning can’t be fun! #TogetherWeGrow #TogetherWeLearn #TogetherWePlay #OutdoorLearning #LearningThroughPlay #IndependentSchoolsInHampshire #CountrySchoolsInHampshire #Liphook #Hampshire #Surrey #WestSussex
Underscoring the immense value of school trips, inquisitive Year 4 ‘evacuees’ took a step back in time with a fascinating visit to wartime railway The Watercress Line to add a new dimension to their spring-term studies on the Second World War. #TogetherWeGrow #TogetherWeLearn #SchoolTrips #LearningOutsideTheClassroom #VoyageOfDiscovery #BoardingSchoolsInHampshire #CoeducationalSchoolsInHamsphire #CountrySchools #Liphook #Hampshire #Surrey #WestSussex
