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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…
With Wimbledon fortnight getting under way on Monday, how appropriate that our green-fingered Nursery children should harvest their very own succulent crop of tasty strawberries fresh from their garden. Now, I wonder where they left the cream… #TogetherWeGrow #TogetherWeEncourage #TogetherWeThrive #IndependentSchool #BoardingSchoolsInHampshire #Liphook #Hampshire #Surrey #WestSussex #FruitGrowers #InTheGarden
The handiwork of pupils on our extra-curricular Airfix Club has gone on show as part of an annual exhibition. Led by Mr Baker, the club enables boys and girls to get creative with model kits, improving coordination, dexterity, patience and the ability to remain calm while working with small, fiddly parts. The modellers had their work scrutinised by their peers before the model of Year 8 pupil Alex S was adjudged to be the best of an excellent bunch. #TogetherWeGrow #TogetherWeCreate #ScaleModelling #Creativity #EssentialSkills #CountryBoardingSchoolsInHampshire #IndependentSchool #Nursery #PrePrepSchool #PrepSchool #Liphook #Hampshire #Surrey #WestSussex
Kenneth Grahame’s children’s classic The Wind in the Willows has been brought to life in fabulous style today by our talented Year 3 children. The charming tale of Mole, Ratty, Toad, Badger and friends enchanted the watching parents as the children put on a real tour de force with their boundless energy and enthusiasm. Fittingly for Year 3, the tale celebrates nature, friendship, loyalty and adventure, and the children did director Mrs Statham truly proud with their whole-hearted performances. #TogetherWeGrow #TogetherWeEncourage #PerformingArts #SchoolPlay #IndependentSchool #PrepSchool #PrePrepSchool #Nursery #PrivateSchool
Despite the end of the school year looming large there is still so much to play for, not least on the cricket pitches where House matches have today been in full swing. Will Agincourt, Trafalgar or Waterloo prevail? We’ll find out next week when the results are unveiled… #TogetherWeGrow #TogetherWeSupport #TogetherWeCompete #HouseCricket #CoEdBoardingSchoolsInHampshire #Liphook #Hampshire #Surrey #WestSussex
Nearly 30 years after attending as a pupil, one of our proud alumni returns as a parent. He shares cherished memories from his time at the school and reflects on why he and his wife chose to entrust the same school with their children’s education. #TogetherWeGrow #Nursery #PrePrep #Prep #IndependentSchool #CoEdSchool #Liphook #Hampshire #Surrey #WestSussex
After Nursery took centre stage on Wednesday, today was the turn of our pre-prep children to battle it out for house bragging rights on the second of our three sports days. Competition was fierce but fair on a hot day and the children gave their all for the cause on the running track, in the long jump pit, over the hurdles and at the ball throw, culminating in some phenomenal (and very noisy) shuttle relays. Tomorrow, the prep school children will round off what has already been a week of amazing sporting action. #TogetherWeGrow #TogetherWeCompete #TogetherWeAspire #SchoolSportsDay #BoardingSchoolsInHampshire #Liphook #Surrey #WestSussex
Pioneering Reception children have had the fun task of being the first cohort to try out new trail equipment at forest school. The trail, which tests children’s balance, coordination and ability to problem solve in order to move from one obstacle to the next, enhances further the school’s already inspirational natural outdoor learning resource. And, on such a warm day, there was plenty of fresh water on tap to keep the young daredevils nicely hydrated. #TogetherWeGrow #TogetherWeLearn #TogetherWeTry #ForestSchool #OutdoorLearning #BoardingSchoolsInHampshire #Liphook #Surrey #WestSussex
Today, we had the first of our three scheduled sports days, with Nursery taking centre stage. And what a morning we had, with the eager youngsters showing amazing agility, speed, determination and dexterity to sprint, jump, twist and turn barefooted – a practice which is believed to improve children’s balance, coordination and sensory perception – and with beaming smiles. Next is the turn of Reception to Year 3 on Friday before the prep school pupils round off our sporting odyssey on Saturday. #TogetherWeGrow #TogetherWeCompete #TogetherWeAspire #SchoolSportsDay #BoardingSchoolsInHampshire #Liphook #Surrey #WestSussex
Huge congratulations to record breakers Milly and Jemima, who were not only part of Highfield and Brookham’s 1st XI who claimed third place in the @iapsuk U13 girls national cricket championships but also put on a batting masterclass. En route to a battling 28-run over Cottesmore in the third and fourth place play-off in Taunton, the openers carried their bats over the 20 overs, racking up an insurmountable 162-0. Jemima scored an unbeaten 43 while Milly smashed 92 not out, the highest score ever recorded by a female cricketer at Highfield and Brookham. #TogetherWeGrow #TogetherWeCompete #TogetherWeSoar #GrassrootsCricket #PrepSchoolSport #CountryBoardingSchoolsInHampshire #IndependentSchools
With their first performance just two weeks away, rehearsals for Year 8’s big end-of-year production have really begun in earnest. Sandy, Danny, Kenickie, Rizzo, Frenchy and co will take to the stage from July 1-2 to throw the spotlight once more on life at Rydell High and prove, beyond doubt, that Grease really is the word… #TogetherWeGrow #TogetherWePerform #PerformingArts #PrepSchoolStageShow #CoEdBoardingSchoolsInHampshire #IndependentSchool #Liphook #Hampshire #Surrey #WestSussex
No matter what our determined children are faced with, they always put their best foot forward and are well equipped to deal with any obstacles that come their way. #TogetherWeGrow #TogetherWeAccomplish #TogetherWeOvercome #EssentialSkills #Resilience #Determination #CoeducationalSchoolsInHampshire @sayerscroft
Highfield and Brookham has been celebrating a golden spell on the sports front, with pupils excelling in swimming, athletics and cricket. #TogetherWeGrow #TogetherWeCompete #PrepSchoolSport #GrassrootsSport #BoardingSchoolsInHampshire #IndependentSchool #PrivateSchool #Liphook #Hampshire #Surrey #WestSussex
Having spent the night under canvas, Year 5 headed into the woods bright and early today to brush up their bushcraft skills. Setting up camp is hungry work, so the children were tasked with gathering piles of twigs and sticks before using a flint and steel to make a series of fires on which to cook their own lunch. What an adventure! #TogetherWeGrow #TogetherWeExplore #TogetherWeDiscover #OutdoorLearning #IndependentSchool #Liphook #Hampshire #Surrey #WestSussex
Artists in Year 6 have been developing their multimedia techniques to produce artwork inspired by Buddha. Under the expert eye of Mrs Pearson, the children used pencils and pastels to recreate the distinctive form of the religious teacher whose teachings on enlightenment and the end of suffering became the basis of the world religion of Buddhism. #TogetherWeGrow #TogetherWeCreate #TogetherWeLearn #Art #CountrySchoolsInHampshire #Liphook #Hampshire #Surrey #WestSussex
Warmest congratulations to our U11 boys, who won the Plate competition at the annual cricket festival at @tonbridge.school yesterday. Having lost out to @lancing_college in the Cup competition, the boys stormed back with superb wins against @hazelwoodschooloxted, @thomasslondondayschools and @skippershillschool to secure the prized silverware. Well played, boys! #TogetherWeGrow #TogetherWeCompete #TogetherWeSucceed #GrassrootsCricket #PrepSchoolSport #BoardingSchoolsInHampshire
Whether it’s in the classroom, playing chess in the common room or taking on another school on the cricket pitch – as our boys and girls did today with a series of brilliant games under sunny skies against St. Edmund’s School, Surrey – it’s important that our pupils gain an understanding of healthy competition. Harnessed properly, competition can prepare children for adult life, help develop key skills such as perseverance and determination, encourage children to step out of their comfort zones, and allow them to learn about setbacks in a safe and encouraging space. #TogetherWeGrow #TogetherWeSupport #TogetherWeUnderstand #CoEdBoardingSchoolsInHampshire #Liphook #Hampshire #Surrey #WestSussex