A: The School aims to be the leading co-educational preparatory school in the area, but with the ever increasing pace of educational change it is not possible to meet all the development needs at the highest level with school fees alone. The Hawthorns Foundation seeks to establish an endowment or a core of funding to provide a sustainable way of enhancing opportunities for the School balancing short term project needs with an eye to the long term.

A: The school fees are focused on funding the running of the School, and maintaining and improving the quality of teaching staff and existing facilities. It is true, with excellent budgeting and management the School is financially sound and has been able to maintain the fees at a competitive level. However, if we sought to raise the funds necessary to maintain the development of the School by increasing the fees, this would exclude some parents.

A: Today's Hawthorns' children are benefiting from the generosity of those who helped fund the Ark, Bull (ICT and Science) and Sports Centres. Similarly by investing now you can continue that momentum and leave a legacy for future generations of Hawthorns' pupils. This is a 'pay it forward' principle - each generation is contributing for the benefit of the next. The Foundation is a sustainable and efficient way to enhance the School both through bursaries and new facilities.

Some of the Foundation's projects will have an immediate impact on the School. For example the target build date for the AstroTurf is Autumn 2007 and bursaries can bring in deserving children at the beginning of the new school year. Other Foundation projects will be medium or longer term (e.g. Performing Arts Centre).

You are helping to provide The Hawthorns with an element of security, to enable the School to continue to improve and develop, benefiting current pupils and future children needing the right start on the educational ladder of life.

A: FROTH has two main aims; the first is to foster a feeling of community in the School through social events like the Summer Ball and the second to raise funds for the direct benefit of the School, items such as play equipment. This FROTH does extremely well with an enthusiastic and dedicated committee. FROTH generates a sizeable contribution of around £;10k per annum, but this is still small in comparison to the overall funding required for capital projects. FROTH, however, is happy to take on the challenge of supporting aspects of the Foundation projects, for example by funding the lights for the planned AstroTurf through their events.

A: An ongoing fund is an efficient and sustainable means of collecting donations. It allows money to be raised for more than one project at once and gives contributors the opportunity to either choose a specific project to support, or make a general contribution. An ongoing fund also opens up the opportunity for people to contribute regular amounts over time, and even to bequests. It also demonstrates the long term commitment to constantly improving learning opportunities and experiences for the children at The Hawthorns.

A: The Foundation will exist within The Hawthorns Educational Charitable Trust.  It will be governed by and answerable to the Board of Governors and Trustees of The Hawthorns Educational Trust. The Foundation funds will exist as a separate fund within The Hawthorns Educational Charity and the Foundation activities will be overseen by the Headmaster and Board of Governors, supported by a Foundation Management Team will be chaired by a Governor, comprising representatives of the staff, current and past parents and a Foundation Manager.

Decisions on the allocation of the Foundation funds will be taken by the whole School Governing Body, with reference to the wishes of the specific donors.  All projects are/will be carefully selected and approved by the Governors, in line with the School's key objectives and on the agreed principles by which the School is operated. For more information on the School's long term objectives, see the leaflet entitled 'Towards 2020 - Perfect Vision.' For more information on the governance of the Foundation, see the “Terms of Reference”.

A: The aim of the Foundation is to support the School in the funding of the projects.  To this end we may not need to raise the full cost of a project to be able to go ahead...some funding can be provided from school surplus.  In the case of the Performing Arts Centre, this will depend largely upon Foundation funds.

A: Yes.

If you are a UK taxpayer then every £100 you give under Gift Aid is currently worth £128.20 (28.2% extra) to the Foundation and higher rate taxpayers receive an additional £23.08 tax relief making the net cost of the donation only £76.92. We strongly urge you therefore to give under the Gift Aid scheme.
Please see the 'Ways of Giving’ which sets out all the advantages and methods available for donations.

A: Yes.

The Foundation team are happy to answer any further questions. These may be sent to the Foundation Office at the School or emailed to Shona Prosser, Foundation Manager at foundation@hawthorns.com who will either answer your questions immediately or arrange for one of the Team to get in touch.

Regular updates on progress will be produced and wherever possible, to save costs to the Foundation and the environment, be circulated by email and displayed on the Foundation website. To ensure you receive updates, please send your preferred email address to foundation@hawthorns.com.