On Monday 24 June 2024, Highgate will hold its third Giving Day, to expand our bursary programme and support our partner school London Academy of Excellence, Tottenham (LAET), creating more opportunities for young people to achieve their dreams.
The event will launch on the evening before, with a 24-hour community relay ‘run’ around Senior Field. Staff and Highgate alumni will kick-off proceedings, some virtually from around the world, followed by the Head, Adam Pettitt who will be running 24 miles deep in the middle of the night. Pupils and staff will join the challenge on Monday 24 June to raise money for the two causes.
Bursaries are a fundamental part of the Highgate ethos and our awards are concentrated amongst children whose parents or carers are able to pay very little or none of the fees. 65% of our bursary pupils are on a full bursary, and the average bursary award is 93%. In 2023-24, 95 pupils received bursaries in the Senior School and 9 in the Junior School.
A bursary recipient from the class of 2022, said: “Highgate has allowed me to experience things I never would have dreamt of experiencing… and given me a positive outlook on a future that is both wide open and full of opportunity.”
Highgate is the lead educational sponsor and co-founder of London Academy of Excellence, Tottenham (LAET) which was opened in 2017 in response to an identified need for improved post-16 education in the borough. Last year, thanks to LAET, 24% of students from the Tottenham area won places at Russell Group universities, compared with 5% prior to LAET’s opening.
A former student from LAET reflected on her experience of the school, saying: “Students are pushed and encouraged to achieve their full potential. Not only are teachers knowledgeable and passionate about the subjects they teach, but you are also surrounded by peers who are aspiring for greatness.”
Last year’s Giving Day efforts contributed to the introduction of a new Music and Theatre Studies department at LAET, in response to pupil interest and addressing the shortage of provision in the Borough. There has been an enthusiastic take-up of the academic subjects this year, as well as the extracurricular offering, including individual instrument tuition, weekly jazz and vocal ensembles.
To get involved with the campaign, please visit: https://givingday.highgateschool.org.uk/