The West Buckland School Foundation

West Buckland School Foundation exists to support and promote West Buckland School through the funding of bursaries, capital projects and general projects awarded at the discretion of the Trustees.

About Us

WBS Foundation Logo

The West Buckland School Foundation was founded in 2003 by a visionary group who understood the financial challenge facing some parents wanting to give their children the opportunity of an excellent education.

In the past 10 years through the generosity of alumni, parents and friends, the Foundation has been fortunate to be able to support the School in the building and equipping of four major facilities on campus: the Jonathan Edwards Sports Centre in 2008, the 150 Art and Design Studio and Theatre in 2010 and most recently, Parker’s Sixth Form Boarding Centre and the Michael Morpurgo Library in 2015.

Our fully-funded bursaries give children, who otherwise would not have been able to attend West Buckland, a truly life-changing opportunity.

Foundation Bursaries

Our bursary programme offers fully-funded bursaries.

One of the principal objectives of the Foundation is to raise funds in support of fully-funded bursaries to enable talented children from local schools to benefit from a West Buckland education, where financial considerations would otherwise have not made this possible.

The Foundation awards a small number of means-tested fully-funded bursaries each year. Traditionally these run from Year 7 through to and including Year 13.  These life-changing bursaries  are for children from local state funded schools within West Buckland School’s catchment area. The Foundation funds these awards jointly with the School and applications are also considered for entry into other year groups in the senior school on a case-by-case basis. Families must show a demonstrable financial need and all Foundation bursaries are subject to means-testing and availability of funds.

Please contact the Foundation office in the first instance:

Email:   [email protected]

Phone: 01598 760188

The closing date for applications for Year 7 entry in September 2024 is Friday 13th October 2023.

 

Support Us

Whether you are able to give your time, your expertise or make a financial contribution – all are equally valued and are part of what makes the wider West Buckland community special.

A donation, big or small, to the Foundation will…

Allow children to receive an outstanding education that their parents could not otherwise afford through our Bursary programme.

Support the development of a range of facilities such as the Parkers and the Michael Morpurgo Library that will keep West Buckland School at the forefront of Independent Schools in the south west.

Provide equipment for the arts, music and the classroom to enrich teaching and learning.

Be your legacy to West Buckland’s future.

The opportunity to give is very flexible and if you are a UK taxpayer giving with Gift Aid enables us to increase the value of your gift by 25%, at no additional cost to you. If you are a higher rate tax payer, the cost is further reduced.

The Bursary Fund Brochure

Legacies

Leaving a legacy to the West Buckland School is one of the most meaningful and enduring gifts you can make.

If and when the time is right for you to put a charity in your will, please remember your time with us. All legacies, whatever their size, will directly benefit the school and its pupils.

The Brereton Society honours those who have helped in the past, and in recognition of those in the present who have pledged money to West Buckland. Individuals who inform the Foundation of their intention to make a bequest to the school will automatically become members of the Society.  In order that they are recognised and thanked, an annual lunch takes place for those who wish to attend.

As a registered charity, all gifts are completely free of Inheritance Tax and can include money, land, building or chattels. Your legacy may even reduce the amount of inheritance tax due on your estate.

Trustees

The Foundation’s activities are governed by a Board of Trustees which meets three times a year.

Patron: Jonathan Edwards (OWB)

Board of Trustees:

Lucy Wakefield (Chair of Trustees, current WBS parent)

The Countess of Arran (President of WBS)

Dr Tom Bigge

Jeremy Cooper (former WBS parent)

Brenda Daly (current WBS parent)

Bill Geen  (Vice President of WBS, OWBA Patron, former Chair of Foundation, former Chair of Governors, former WBS parent, OWB)

Mike Hannaford (OWB)

Alex Jenkins (current WBS parent)

Hugo Orchard-Lisle (Vice-Chair of Trustees)

Stuart Smith  (former WBS parent, OWB, former OWBA President)

Angela Webb

Sam Wightman (OWB)