This is how a bursary place can make a difference....

A Bursary recipient's experience...

Laura Lee-Rodgers (pictured above 2nd from right) is an Old North Londoner from 2007 who was part of the Senior Committee and is now reading Medicine at Corpus Christi College, Oxford. She flew to Zambia recently to help at the Flying Angels School in Lusaka and has just made a donation to the new Sports Pavilion at North London Collegiate

"Visiting Canons left me with no doubt that it was where I wanted to spend my secondary school years; being offered a bursary gave me this choice.

The School's approach to financial assistance places each girl on a level footing and gave me a fresh confidence and determination. I felt encouraged to take advantage of everything that the School has to offer, and I have certainly reaped the benefits of this.

In addition to giving me a range of new, personal opportunities, I found that the large number of bursaries helps to create a unique, mixed and outward looking environment. Looking back on a fantastic seven years, I cannot appreciate it enough.... "

A bursary recipient writes...

 I was fortunate enough to receive a bursary whilst at North London and consequently was presented with an array of opportunities I may not otherwise have had access to. The academic rigour I experienced at North London undoubtedly set me on the path to achieving my English degree at Oxford. The school consistently encouraged me to nurture high aspirations, which has followed me throughout my academic career into my present course at LAMDA. In retrospect, I am truly grateful for the bursary system and all it has enabled me to achieve

A Bursary donor....giving back

Lucy Wray (pictured above far right) is an Old North Londoner from 1999 who now plays Lacrosse for Wales and has played at two World Cups. She works at Saracens rugby club in marketing. She gave a bursary place in gratitude for her time at North London Collegiate. She is the Hon Secretary of the Old North Londoner Association and made a donation to the new Sports Pavilion recently.

"I had a fantastic time at North London and I enjoyed every day of it. It gave me a great start in life and I felt it would be nice to be able to give something back and ensure that others have the same opportunity as I did...."

A parent who has funded a bursary place writes...

"We have been parents at North London Collegiate for many years and are looking forward to many more!

We are very fortunate in having our daughters attend this school. The opportunities open to them are immense and they have taken great pleasure and pain (they do lots of sport!) in taking advantage of as many as they possibly can. The path we have chosen for our children to take in their education is one of the most important and life changing experiences that each one of them will have. Like all parents, we feel a great responsibility towards all our children in helping them achieve a healthy life, both physically and mentally, in order for them to achieve their own future goals. We feel that North London Collegiate is giving them a great start in life by helping them towards this path.

I look at my daughters and sometimes almost envy them for what they have at hand. I, their mother, did not grow up in any such environment so I never knew what was missing in my life. Until now.

The decision to help the school by giving a bursary was not a difficult one. We, our children included, feel very strongly about helping others, especially those less fortunate than ourselves. Children are the future and what better way can we possibly help them than by helping other parents in giving their child the same opportunities that we are very fortunate in giving our own children?

The Bursary Fund holds a child's future in its hands and if we can help that child shape their future and take them into a more exciting and different world, a world full of opportunities and extraordinary experiences, then what can be more fulfilling than that?"

Background - a history of giving

North London Collegiate was a Direct Grant school until the Grant was phased out in 1976.

As a newly independent school, North London immediately began to raise funds for bursary places and, by 1978, had raised £1 million.

The Headmistress, Madeline McLauchlan, worked with colleagues at other schools to devise the Assisted Places Scheme which was unveiled at Canons. It was introduced nationally in 1981 but discontinued in 1998.

Further fundraising campaigns for bursaries were therefore conducted in 2000 (£2 million) and 2005 (£1.8 million)

How you can make a difference now:

Sponsoring a bursary place for a pupil at North London Collegiate is an extremely valuable and worthwhile venture. Hundreds of girls have benefited from the generosity of others.

Payment Options

1. To sponsor a full place for seven years costs: (2010-11 figures)

£4,841 per term

or

£14,523 per annum

or

£101,661 over seven years

This would entitle you to name the bursary after you or your family and to have your donation commemorated permanently on the grand donors' plaques in the Performing Arts Centre

2. To sponsor a Sixth Form place would cost £29,046 over two years

3. To contribute to the Bursary Fund: any amount is welcome and a donation of £1,000 or more will qualify for an etching in the Performing Arts Centre...a permanent commemoration of your gift.

We are very grateful for all donations to the School. Please contact the Marketing & Development Director, Mr Jeremy Wilson, for more information:

jwilson@nlcs.org.uk or 020 8951 6479