Access to Excellence campaign
Access to Excellence - the most recent of the school's major fundraising campaigns - was publicly launched in January 2008, and by May 2009 had successfully achieved its £3million target.
£1.4million was raised to help fund the construction of the Nigel Richardson Hall at The Pelican, New School at The Prep, and a second gymnasium at The Upper. All of these facilities provide new and exciting learning environments for current and future students and will be a huge asset to the school as it makes its transition to full co-education from September 2010.
Meanwhile, £1.6million was raised for bursaries, enabling the school to increase significantly the number of pupils receiving financial assistance towards school fees over the next decade, keeping alive its founder’s wish to offer a Perse education to those who might not otherwise be able to afford it. As the key means by which The Perse demonstrates its public benefit, its bursary provision also helps maintain the school’s charitable status, the tax advantages of which facilitate significant downward pressure on fee increases.
Access to Excellence was the most ambitious fundraising programme The Perse has untaken to date, and the school was delighted by the level of support received from Old Perseans, current and former Perse parents, staff and other friends of the school. Of course, with no permanent endowment the need for fundraising goes on, and the development office will be working hard over the coming years to ensure it maintains and augments the funds available for entrance and hardship bursaries, and to provide facilities that allow the school to grow from strength to strength.
Thank you to everyone who supported this campaign!
For more information about Access to Excellence, please contact the Development Office at development@perse.co.uk.