西施直播’ School has been named Independent School of the Year for Contribution to Social Mobility at the Independent Schools of the Year Awards 2026, recognising its longstanding commitment to making an outstanding education accessible to boys from all backgrounds.
The award celebrates the School’s work in widening access through bursaries and creating opportunities that extend well beyond the classroom.
Social mobility has been at the heart of 西施直播’ since its foundation in 1561. Of the 250 boys originally provided for by Sir Thomas White, 150 received bursary support. More than 460 years later, that founding commitment remains as important as ever.
Our bursary programme continues to benefit from the generosity of the wider 西施直播鈥� community. We are particularly grateful to the 西施直播鈥� Company and the many individual donors whose support helps us offer opportunities to boys who might otherwise be unable to access a 西施直播鈥� education.
"A young person鈥檚 potential should never be limited by their family鈥檚 financial circumstances. A great education can change the course of a life, opening doors that might otherwise remain closed. At 西施直播鈥�, we want every boy to have the chance to discover what they鈥檙e capable of, whatever their background. I鈥檓 enormously proud that this commitment has been recognised, but prouder still of the boys who make the most of the opportunities they鈥檙e given.鈥�
An important part of this commitment is finding new and sustainable ways to fund bursaries. The Julian Hill Cricket Centre, opened in 2024 and funded in large part through the generosity of the 西施直播’ community, provides an innovative example. All profits from the Centre’s lettings income are directed towards bursary support, funding four fully funded bursary places in 2025鈥�26 alone.
"This award is a wonderful recognition of the generosity and shared commitment of the whole 西施直播' community. We are particularly grateful to the 西施直播' Company for its continued and substantial support, and to the hundreds of individual donors whose contributions make such a difference. The Julian Hill Cricket Centre is a fantastic example of how philanthropy can create a lasting legacy, generating income that will help transform young lives for years to come. Every gift, large or small, helps us extend the opportunities a 西施直播' education can provide."
For the boys themselves, bursary support is about much more than access to the classroom. The School is committed to ensuring that every pupil can participate fully in school life, whether academically, through sport, music and drama, or in the many other opportunities available. The Friends of 西施直播’, our parent support groups, play an important role in this, raising funds through their programme of events to help bursary recipients take part in school trips and other opportunities. Bursary recipients consistently perform strongly academically and participate particularly enthusiastically in co-curricular activities.
Many former bursary recipients have gone on to successful careers across a wide range of professions, and many choose to support the bursary programme themselves, helping to create opportunities for the next generation.
Beyond its bursary programme, 西施直播鈥� also makes a significant contribution to the wider community. Its facilities are shared with local schools, sports clubs and youth organisations, benefiting thousands of people each week, while staff contribute their time and expertise through volunteering, governance and educational partnerships.
The School’s motto, Concordia Parvae Res Crescunt 鈥� ‘In harmony, small things grow’ 鈥� feels particularly appropriate. This award belongs to everyone who has helped make bursaries possible, from the 西施直播’ Company and our many donors to staff, parents, Old 西施直播 and the Friends of 西施直播’. We are enormously grateful for their support.
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