FSG Voluntary Fund
A message from Mr Lester....
The School Voluntary Fund is a small but increasingly important part of the financial well-being of the School. Many parents will know from presentations I have delivered how I like to compare the school and all the opportunities on offer to the very best private schools. I genuinely believe that we give those schools a very good run for their money! However, we simply do not enjoy their wealth! Government funding provides us with just over £6000 to do everything we do - per student; Fees for day students at Kings School, Canterbury, for example, are around £38k. Quite a difference!
It’s a challenge then to offer all that we offer. I think the schools are honestly comparable – but our budgets clearly not! So, we really do need parental support to continue to offer all that we offer!
Just as the school faces financial challenges, that’s equally true for many families. We want all our girls to have the same opportunity to explore and excel, to learn and to grow and to develop - not only in the classroom but beyond it. Sadly, for some of our students, and families, there are financial barriers to overcome and whilst we do all we can to keep costs to families as low as possible, and to support those families who need help most, it’s still the case that barriers remain.
In recent years we have supported families with uniform costs, stationery or revision guides, subsidised school trips, provided red letter days to inspire or engage, supported university visits, funded Duke of Edinburgh, CCF costs etc……
Our voluntary fund helps to make that support a reality – as much as possible, as often as possible, for as many as possible!
We politely ask for a voluntary contribution of £25.00 per student or £40.00 per family if you have more than one child at the school.
We appreciate this year that times are tight for many and so the contributions above are only a suggestion.
- If you can afford more, we will spend it wisely.
- If you can’t quite afford that much, then any donation will be put to good use.
- If this year any donation is just beyond your circumstances altogether, then of course we’ll continue to do our best anyway!