The ‘Defined by Vision, United by Ambition’ campaign is one we feel passionately about and we know that many of our community will too. Whether you came to the School yourself or your children have enjoyed everything a Blue Coat education has to offer, what better way is there to ensure more young people from diverse social and economic backgrounds get to have these same opportunities than to support the provision of a new bursary.
Blue Coat was created with opportunities at it’s heart and now, you too can be part of someone’s life-changing journey. Whether through a one off gift, a regular donation or even by including the School in your Will, we would love to talk to you about how you can help.
We are delighted to introduce ‘Stories of Ambition’ as part of our ‘Defined by Vision, United by Ambition’ fundraising campaign.
What is clear to see is that, whilst our individual stories might be different, we are united by the same ambition: To build the best possible future for the School we love and to make a Blue Coat education a reality for more young people.
Education, Apprenticeship and Charity were central to Aldworth’s final wishes, and he clearly felt a civic duty to improve the lives of boys in the area. Thus, Aldworth’s Hospital was born, and in 1660 the first students walked through the doors. The School still embodies Aldworth’s legacy: To educate young people and to make that education as accessible as possible.
Whilst we now inhabit a different site and use a different name, the School and Aldworth’s founding principles still ring true, 362 years later. He wished for ‘good citizens’, and so we continue to encourage pupils to live a life of consequence. We hope that they will leave us ready for the wider world, and give back to it where possible.
Introducing fees in 1919 has meant that for some, a Blue Coat education feels out of reach. As such, we are proud to offer some funded places with a +75% reduction in fees. We also offer 2 Foundation Scholarships a year that cover the fees entirely.
These scholarships also cover costs such as lunches, uniform and trips. All our bursary recipients and Foundation scholars are means-tested, so that we give help to those who need it most. With many families affected by Covid, and the rise in living costs, there has never been a better time to increase our bursary provision. To continue to offer a life changing education to young people.
We want to give our diverse, committed and generous community the chance to give back to the School and pass on a life-changing education that would otherwise not be an option for some. Through this generosity, we will continue to build on Aldworth’s legacy for many years to come.
After two World Wars, financial uncertainty and a global pandemic, we want to continue to future-proof ourselves for the generations to come. Not only through the physical site but through accessibility. The introduction of more girls and our aim of being fully co-ed by 2027 goes some way to achieving this, but we need to protect Aldworth’s ambition. Through our fundraising campaign: ‘Defined by Vision, United by Ambition’, we want to increase the number of Foundation Scholars from 2 to 4 per year, for a School-wide total of 26 at any one time. With a Foundation Scholarship costing around £140,000 over the course of 7 years, we know this is no small task. But through the benevolence of our community, we can reach our goal of raising £4,000,000 by 2032.
Founded by the Governors four years ago, the Foundation Office team are the honoured custodians of this initiative. It is our privilege to engage with our community and offer opportunities to give back and financially support the School.
Whether considering a gift in your Will, offering the use of a venue for events, a regular gift to the School or simply wanting to know more, we would be delighted to hear from you and very much look forward to engaging with our donors as part of our stewardship plan.
There are three ways in which you can make a financial gift to support the continued Bursary provision at Reading Blue Coat School.
By filling out the Direct Debit Mandate on our Schools Gift form you can make a regular financial commitment to a fantastic cause.
Making a single gift donation is easy and you can call the Foundation Office who will assist you with this. The Gift form details options for electronic bank transfer, cheque, donation by credit card or share transfer.
Just like Richard Aldworth himself, leave us something in your will so that young people may gain from your generosity.
On behalf of future generations at Reading Blue Coat School thank you for your support.
Sarah Bunnell-Pyper / Louise Smith
foundation@rbcs.org.uk
0118 933 5889
