Sixth Form Foundations

At the beginning of 2021, we were delighted to confirm a gift from the Black Heart Foundation to support three additional Sixth Form bursary places – one each at Sydenham, Sheffield and South Hampstead. These three students were all eligible for 100% bursary awards. The Black Heart Foundation was founded in 2000 and launched the Black Heart Foundation Scholarship programme in 2013. Their primary goal is to remove any and all barriers to the aspiration and achievement of young people in life and education. The Foundation in particular aims to support individuals from under-resourced and underrepresented backgrounds. To date, the Foundation has committed more than £7.5 million in grants, awards and scholarships and has endowed more than 350 scholarships. The three Black Heart Foundation Scholars have now completed their first year of Sixth Form study and are looking forward to joining Year 13 in September.

Ella at Sheffield Girls’ said: “I was delighted to be awarded the Black Heart Foundation Scholarship, which has enabled me to thrive in such an inspiring and supportive environment. Because of this, I really do look forward to coming to school each day, where I am surrounded by like-minded individuals, and have already grown so much in confidence.” And we have just learned that Ella has been selected to be Head Girl for the school from September 2021, which is a marvellous achievement given she only joined the school less than a year ago.

We have enjoyed a long-standing relationship with the Garfield Weston Foundation who have provided funding for bursaries and other projects across the GDST regularly since 1996. The Garfield Weston Foundation was established in 1958 by the Weston family and is one of the largest and most respected charitable institutions in the UK and has donated over £1 billion in grants in total.

In agreement with the Foundation, we have been able to make three additional bursary awards for new students due to join GDST Sixth Forms this coming September – again for talented girls who are assessed as eligible for a substantial bursary award.

These awards have been made to three girls, who will be joining Howell’s Llandaff, Northampton and Norwich this coming September.

Paris will be joining Norwich High School and shared with us how she felt when she heard the news about the award: “I am feeling excited, a bit overwhelmed, but above all very happy to be awarded this bursary award as with it, I can join the Sixth Form at Norwich High School. I am very grateful to the Garfield Weston Foundation for their support – it is really important to me and I value the opportunity very much…As I am deaf, the smaller class sizes are perfect since I find lots of background noise challenging when learning. Also, as the school is just a short walk from my house, I can be more independent in terms of travelling to and from school, plus I will have more energy to do things with my classmates outside the classroom.”