How many of you are aware of Birkenhead School Foundation Trust?Do you know how it supports the whole School? You might have read about the School’s vision to fund transformational bursaries but did you realize that the Foundation Trust is a key element in the strategy to achieve this?

I was asked, many years ago, whether I would join as a Governor, although my experience of public schools, especially those for boys only, was distinctly limited! This was seen as an advantage as I could ask the ‘stupid questions’ as a newcomer (supported by my OB Prep husband) and my work in investment management might come in useful. The rest, as they say, is history and what changes I have seen over the intervening years.

There have been so many improvements with the physical development and refurbishment of the School campus and sports facilities. Important though these are, the emphasis on the ethos of the whole School, Seniors and Prep, has created a welcoming and supportive environment in which every student can aspire to achieve their potential to the best of their abilities and talents.

Becoming a co-educational School was transformational and, quite rightly, is now taken for granted. Our School has grown significantly in student numbers together with its reach into the local communities but more needs to be done.

The main objective of the Foundation Trust, a charity created in 1998, is to support the activities of the School mainly but not exclusively to provide bursary funding out of income. I know how important it can be to a family to get that extra help with fees through a bursary and there will be a number of you, as an OB, who remember the impact of the direct grant and assisted places schemes whether for you personally or one of your school friends.

Looking ahead, our aspiration is to provide increased bursary support in a way which is truly transformational, including acting as a catalyst for social mobility in our local communities. 

Investment in the School’s staff and its facilities remains so important in delivering a positive educational and co-curricular experience for all our students, now and in the future.

Please support us by making any donation you can. It will make such a practical difference to the level of transformational bursaries we can provide in a sustainable way in the years ahead.

Lorraine Dodd
Governor and Chair of Birkenhead School Foundation Trust