Maintain a Fund for Pressing Needs
Inevitably, with around 1500 pupils, the school has many pupils from financially poor backgrounds. Some attract Pupil Premium Income or funds to support their healthcare needs. These often do not cover all essential costs. Pupils may require extra support: perhaps health-related or because of a relatively poor start in life due to adverse home circumstances. Government funding received per pupil is often not enough to provide vital support. The Foundation may be asked to help.
Due to the generosity of its supporters, the Foundation holds uncommitted funds to meet needs as they arise.
This fund receives donations and bequests which are not specified as being for a particular purpose. This gives Trustees the flexibility to act quickly to meet a "pressing need". Once funds are committed, they are ring-fenced and can only be spent for that purpose.
If they were allocated to provide a pupil with, say, one or two terms of Boarding, we ear-mark those funds and keep them separate from any uncommitted funds to ensure we have the cash available for that pupil when termly payment is required.
Three donations were made (total £14,000) for 3 Sixth Form pupils whose family circumstances meant they URGENTLY needed the stability and support provided by boarding at the School. They funded boarding for the 2 terms up to their A Level exams. This made a real difference to their life chances - they all did well in their exams.