GDST Giving Impact Report

Blackheath High School

The Lucy Forrest Scholarship is a Sixth Form scholarship scheme set up in honour of Lucy Forrest by her mother Teresa to support talented students at Blackheath High School. Lucy was an aspiring artist and mathematician who was due to start at University in the autumn of 1985 when her bright future was tragically cut short. Her mother Teresa generously began a donation programme, raising money with the sale of her own artworks, embroidery pieces and books to create a lasting legacy for her daughter. More than 75 students have since benefitted from a scholarship that allows them to discover their passions and find their future paths.

Teresa has dedicated her life to ensuring that Lucy is never forgotten. Now 90, in February 2024, she published a book entitled The Art of Embroidery, to tell her story and to showcase the skill she threw herself into in the aftermath of Lucy’s untimely death, a skill which allowed her to take her first steps on the road to healing. The book is a beautiful eulogy to her daughter and a wonderfully bright, dynamic artwork. 

Always an inspiration, Teresa included donation slips in the book to drive donations to Blackheath High’s bursary scheme, raising more than £1,000 within just a few weeks. She has also sent copies to each GDST school to include in their art rooms and libraries, keeping the art of needlepoint and Lucy’s memory alive for another generation.

Croydon High School
In memory of Susan-Ann Dowle, Class of 1956.

On Friday 28 April 2023, Croydon High School were able to formally recognise a generous legacy from a former pupil, Susan-Ann Dowle. This wonderful act of philanthropy was marked with an event to officially opened the Susan-Ann Dowle Cricket Wicket, as well as announcing plans to establish a two year Sixth Form Bursary (the Susan-Ann Dowle Sixth Form Bursary) and create an opportunities fund, which will enable the school to help pupils access specific opportunities when these arise.

A number of VIP guests, including family and friends of Susan-Ann and former Croydon High Head, Debbie Leonard, who played such an important role in nurturing the relationship with Susan-Ann during her time at the school, gathered together in the Holt Hall to remember her. It was also an opportunity to recognise the important legacies of former members of the PE Department going back to 1963 and their roles in supporting the school. An address from one  of Croydon’s former Sixth Form Bursary Scholars also made the transformative power of a bursary extremely clear.

It was a very special occasion and such an important opportunity to be able to honour the memory of a former pupil and all she has given to the school.

Royal High School Bath
Esmé Robbins Legacy

Royal High School Bath was honoured to receive a legacy donation from the estate of Esmé Muriel Annie Robbins née Murray (BHS 1935-1949) to their Bursaries and Assistance Fund. We are always incredibly humbled and extremely grateful to receive support such as this, enabling us to provide even more bright, ambitious and deserving girls with an excellent GDST education.

Bath High School was instrumental in supporting Esmé to become a member of Girton College, Cambridge’s first female cohort, and it is wonderful to be able to honour Esmé’s memory thanks to her generosity.

Sheffield Girls’
A legacy of impact: Honouring Di Skilbeck & Norma Smith

Last year, the Sheffield Girls’ community mourned the passing of two remarkable women: Di Skilbeck, Headmistress from 1983-1989, and Norma Smith, a devoted member of the Sheffield High School Old Students Association (SHOSA) for 37 years.

Di, an inspiring leader, dedicated herself to the education and wellbeing of our students, expanding the Junior School and introducing new facilities. Her dedication earned her an MBE in 2012 in recognition of her services to education and heritage, and her legacy lives on in the countless lives she touched.

Norma, the heart of SHOSA, selflessly contributed her time and knowledge, keeping the organisation vibrant for decades. Her enthusiasm for the school and its history remains an inspiration.

Their spirit of generosity extended beyond their lifetimes, as both Di and Norma chose to invest in our future through legacy gifts to our Bursary Fund. These incredible gifts ensure bright, talented and dedicated girls from all walks of life can access a transformative Sheffield Girls’ education, regardless of financial background.

We are deeply grateful for the compassion shown by Di and Norma, enabling us to award critical bursaries that open doors and unlock potential. Indeed, as we approach the school’s 150th birthday in 2028, our aim is to honour the pioneering equitable vision of our School’s founders and grow our endowment so that we can secure in perpetuity a new fully-funded Bursary Award place each year. 

Legacies such as these are vitally important to us achieving this ambition. Our heartfelt thanks is extended to all those in our community who support us and thereby give the gift of opportunity, changing young people’s lives for the better. 

Newcastle High School for Girls

Two Newcastle High School for Girls students in Year 12, Ecko and Barakah were awarded a highly prestigious Arkwright Engineering Scholarship in 2023. 

Ecko and Barakah both joined Newcastle in Year 7, benefiting from a GDST bursary. The Arkwright Scholarship programme is the most esteemed scholarship of its type in the UK, designed to inspire pupils to pursue their dreams and change the world as an outstanding engineer of the future. All applicants undertake a rigorous application process, consisting of an application form, evidence of a problem-solving project, a written aptitude exam and an interview with a panel of judges from areas of engineering.

As a result of the Arkwright Scholarship, Ecko and Barakah will each be awarded £600 per year to be spent on their studies at school and at university. They will also receive mentoring and guidance from a sponsor with links to professional engineering to help them reach their aspirations of becoming an engineer.

Ecko’s sponsor is the ‘Harper Adams University’ and Barakah’s sponsor is the ‘Maurice Hatter Foundation’. Arkwright Scholars also have access to a wide variety of support including valuable hands-on work experience and support for curriculum projects.

They have both done extremely well in achieving the Arkwright scholarships in a highly competitive field and we are very proud of their success. We look forward to seeing them progress and develop through the mentorship and can’t wait to see the contributions they make as successful engineers in the future.

We asked them about their school experience so far:

When did you join NHSG?

Ecko: I joined in Year 7.

Barakah: I joined NHSG in Year 7 and I’m currently in Year 12. I’ve been at this school for the entirety of my Senior School life and I have absolutely loved it.

What do you enjoy most about school? 

Ecko: I really enjoy all the opportunities I’ve had to volunteer and help out, it’s really fun. 

Barakah: I enjoy all of the opportunities provided to me, whether it is academic, social or volunteering based. There are so many co-curricular activities which enable me to broaden my knowledge and gain new perspectives. Also, the pastoral support here is great: whenever anyone has a problem all members of the NHSG community are ready to step in and help. I think the addition of The Pastoral Hub was a great decision and it helps provide support when pupils require it and destigmatises mental health which is a staple in NHSG. Another thing I enjoy is how diverse and inclusive NHSG is: we celebrate festivals from a lot of cultures such as Diwali and Eid. As a Muslim, it is so nice to see the representation of my faith presented to the whole school so everyone can enjoy it.

What do you think you have done differently because you are at school at NHSG rather than anywhere else?

Ecko: I feel like I wouldn’t be active in many school activities if I went anywhere else. There’s just something about the way they present options here that makes you want to get involved. I’m always looking for something to do.

Barakah: I think this school has given me so much confidence as the year groups are so much smaller than other schools, so I was able to get to know everyone: each year group forms a community. If I was in another school, I think I would have felt quite disconnected to other people as I’m quite a quiet and shy person, but this school allows me to come out of my shell.

I think I have been able to reach my academic potential in this school because of the quality of teaching here and the support of the staff. I have been challenged and pushed to do better every time and I’m really thankful for that as it has allowed me to grow my knowledge and solve things from a different perspective.

What opportunities are you offered here that you wouldn’t have had elsewhere?

Barakah: This school offers so much: clubs, volunteering, competitions and more and I have thankfully been able to take part in quite a few things. For example, I was able to go to NASA Space Camp in October 2021 where I met a lot of really interesting people. It was a very select event, so if I wasn’t in this school, I doubt I would have had the opportunity to go.

What has been your greatest achievement at school so far?

Ecko: The Arkwright Scholarship for sure, I wouldn’t have even known about such an amazing opportunity if it wasn’t for the School’s connections.

Barakah: Due to the multitude of opportunities this school provides, I have been able to achieve so much. I was awarded the NHSG Scholar Award in Year 7 and then in Year 12 which I am really proud of. I was also awarded the Arkwright Engineering Scholarship after a rigorous process: it consisted of a seven part application, an aptitude exam and a high-pressure interview, but luckily I was able to get the scholarship.

Do you play any sports or instruments or have any hobbies? 

Ecko: I play badminton and I really enjoy playing the drums. I absolutely love it. I also love music in general.

Barakah: I love to draw, paint and create, so I took Art GCSE which enabled me to express myself freely. Even after my GCSE was finished I was still able to show the Art teachers my creations and receive feedback and recognition from them. For example I showed my crocheted cardigan to my teacher and she loved it.

What are your fellow pupils like? Are they competitive, supportive, do they inspire you to do better?

Ecko: They are very supportive, kind, and all-round great individuals; they make me want to be a better person.

Barakah: Since each year is relatively small, I am able to get to know all of my peers personally and create different friendships with each. I’d say everyone is supportive, kind and caring towards one another and we all have a natural chemistry with everyone else which makes my year feel almost familial. I feel like I am pushed to do better and reach my potential by my peers.

What would you say to potential donors who might be willing to fund bursaries for other girls?

Ecko: If it weren’t for those who funded mine, I wouldn’t have been able to do half the things I’ve managed to do here and it’s been surreal. I think girls on bursaries really benefit from them, they get to do great things here and go on to do the incredible in the future.

Barakah: I would say that you are making a direct difference to someone’s life. Without a bursary I would be a completely different person living a completely different life, most likely for the worse. Thanks to generous donors, I am able to live up to my potential and potentially in the future make a difference to the world. I really don’t know what I would be doing if I wasn’t in this school and that was only made possible due to my bursary. I am genuinely so grateful for these opportunities as they come around once in a lifetime and I am so thankful as my bursary has made me who I am today.

What do you want to study when you leave NHSG and what career path would you like to take?

Ecko: I would love a career in Robotics and Artificial Intelligence, anything in that field would be awesome.

Barakah: I am taking Physics, Maths and Psychology for A Level so that opens quite a lot of doors for me, so I’m unsure of what exactly I want to do in the future. I am leaning towards engineering as I was awarded the Arkwright Engineering Scholarship and I will receive mentoring and work experience which I am excited for. Another path I could go down is Psychology which could lead into Forensic Psychology. I am really interested in the criminal justice system and criminal behaviour, and I think the job is so varied and interesting. I’m doing my EPQ on criminal investigations and what tactics they use and the psychology behind it.

How has the School impacted your education? Has your experience here at NHSG changed the way you view the world or what you want to study?

Ecko: It has definitely made me see that there’s always something to learn, whether that’s learning from your mistakes or achievements. It’s made me have a more positive outlook on things in general too. And it’s increased my already big passion for STEM.

Norwich High School

Antonia Rogers, Class of 2023, was awarded a bursary to attend Norwich High School for Girls Sixth Form. Here she tells her story.

When did you join Norwich High School?

I joined Norwich High School in 2021 for the Sixth Form after previously being state and home educated.

How did it feel to be awarded a bursary to attend Norwich High?

Having visited a number of schools, I remember getting to the car after touring Norwich High and feeling like I’d found the one. On the day that the letter arrived saying that I had been awarded a space in the Sixth Form with a scholarship and bursary, I felt immensely grateful and excited that going to Norwich High was now a possibility rather than just a hope.

What subjects did you go on to take at A Level? What interests did you develop through your time at school?

I took English Literature, History, and Classical Civilisation for A Level. I chose Classics as my third option because I was obsessed with History and enjoyed analysing texts in English, so I thought that Classics would be a combination of the two. I did not realise then that I would completely fall in love with the subject and decide to explore it further at university. Without taking Classics at Norwich High, I would have never realised it was my passion, and thus the trajectory of my future would be different.

What was it like attending a girls-only school?

I have had experience of every type of education – private, state, home education, and I have even lived in a boarding school (my parents were teachers). This meant that I started Norwich High feeling prepared for anything. However, I was surprised when the girls were immediately welcoming, and it very quickly felt that I had always been there. One of the things I most appreciated was that the girls were supportive rather than competitive. We weren’t pitted against each other in order to motivate, but rather all encouraged to achieve our own personal goals. This fostered a friendly atmosphere and working environment  – Norwich High really did feel like one big family. I also immediately noticed the difference from my last school, as even though it is non-uniform at Sixth Form, the girls were more interested in showing who they were as individuals than dressing to impress. I especially loved that I could wear whatever I wanted, regardless of ‘trends’, and I would be met with compliments rather than criticism. Whilst there were ups and downs, as expected with any friendship groups, I will be forever grateful for the friendships formed and the fun we all had together.

What opportunities stand out as being transformative for you?

Apart from having the opportunity to take Classical Civilisation A Level, a subject usually not available in state schools, Norwich High and the wider GDST network opened up a plethora of new opportunities for me. Through gaining funding through the GDST Pearson and Silver Prize I was able to attend the JACT Greek Summer School where I tried beginner Ancient Greek and met many like minded classists, motivating me to apply for the subject at university. I was also able to attend the GDST Oxbridge Conference free of charge, where I stayed at a college in Oxford and received invaluable guidance and support on my application. Opportunities such as these would not have been available to me without Norwich High and the wider GDST community.

What has your education with us taught you?

Having taught myself my GCSE’s, with help from tutors in certain subjects, I arrived already self motivated and aware of my learning style. However, at Norwich High I found that inspirational and passionate teachers can make all the difference, even in subject areas I wouldn’t have naturally been drawn to. I was encouraged to see beyond just the exams into the wider world, which made my educational experience so much richer and more exciting.

What are you taking away with you?

Norwich High made me realise the importance of a welcoming and positive learning environment, where each individual is valued. As a naturally competitive person, I’ve realised that it’s important to not compare myself to others, but rather set my own goals and encourage others with theirs. As this is the first time that I’m sad to be leaving a school, I will continue to carry with me all the fond memories of my time here.

What are your next steps and what are your long term ambitions?

Depending on my A Level results, I will either be attending Oxford University to study Classical Archaeology and Ancient History, or St Andrew’s for Classical Studies, in September/October 2023. After completing my degree, I would love to continue researching the classical world with a Masters and PhD, or take my enthusiasm for classics and writing into journalism and radio broadcasting.

Why do you think bursary awards are important?

Bursary awards are so important because it gives people like me, who would struggle to have the means to attend Norwich High, the opportunity to be in an environment where I’m supported by other like minded students who are equally passionate and keen to take advantage of what’s on offer – which makes all the difference. The smaller classes, care for each student, and personalised support is largely unique to private schools, which means that you have the best chance for getting you where you’re hoping to go. There is no question that receiving a bursary place at Norwich High changed the course of my life in such a positive and exciting way.

What advice would you give to future bursary recipients?

Be proud of yourself, make the most of the opportunities available to you, and never take anything for granted. Your time at Norwich High will fly by, so enjoy every moment! 

Nottingham Girls’ High School
Aya’s story, Class of 2022

“My ambition is to work for the United Nations”

Aya Targoni, was the first recipient of the Peggy Mason Sixth Form Bursary. Peggy, a donor and alumna of the school left a bequest to Nottingham Girls’ High School which has created an extraordinary future for Aya.

“Receiving the call to let me know that the bursary was mine left me feeling grateful and excited for everything NGHS could help me achieve. I was nervous to start at a new school, but everyone made me feel welcome; from the first day my teachers made me feel at ease.

I’ve had the opportunity to grow, academically and as a person, and build resilience. I took part in a debate club and was a member of the Law Society. I’m now thrilled to be in my second year studying Law with International Relations at the University of Plymouth. Every contribution to the NGHS Bursary Fund is a contribution to the future. To those considering giving to the Fund, I ask that you do. It’s more than money, it’s an investment into what our future looks like; more women in the workforce, more women from diverse backgrounds and more women breaking the glass ceiling.”

Peggy was a true NGHS girl, a passionate believer in fairness. Confident and fearless, she was much respected in her community and amongst her many friends. 

Putney High School

Two Putney High School bursary award holders used their own experiences to encourage other local children to aim high in STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Maths).

Miami and Ikram – who joined Putney High in the Sixth Form – designed the “Access to Success” workshops for local children in Years 5 and 6 to help ‘share’ the opportunities that had been made available to them by their own bursaries. They also hope their initiative will continue to drive diversity by encouraging families to consider applying to schools such as Putney High School.

Miami, now studying International Relations at university in London, explained: “The idea was to plant seeds in their heads and give them confidence… It might help them develop an interest in science that they hadn’t had before.”

Ikram, Putney’s former Head Student who is now studying Medicine, added: “At my previous school I took part in a STEM outreach project at Imperial College. There were lessons in Maths, Chemistry and Physics, covering topics outside of the curriculum. It inspired me to apply to Putney.”

With the support of teachers and other Putney students, the workshops aimed to be fun and engaging, with activities from science experiments to relay games for Maths.