The 1636 Foundation
Supporting our students to Believe, Grow and Succeed.
The 1636 Foundation is Bourne Grammar School’s permanent fund to support enrichment, facilities and co-curricular opportunities beyond the academic curriculum, reflecting our responsibility to protect and extend the experiences that shape students’ confidence, character and sense of belonging. It exists to serve our students now and in the years ahead.
The name reflects a defining moment in the School’s history. In 1636, a formal re-endowment by William Trollope helped to secure Bourne Grammar School’s future and established a principle of long-term care and stewardship for generations to come. The 1636 Foundation builds on that same principle today, connecting our foundations with our current and future students.
While the 1636 Foundation draws its name and values from the School’s history, the fund itself is a new initiative, established in 2026 to help protect and extend enrichment and opportunities at a time of sustained financial pressure across education. Bourne Grammar School operates carefully within tight funding constraints, and every contribution to the fund is used thoughtfully and responsibly to support opportunities beyond the curriculum.
The fund reflects our vision of inspiring and empowering our community to believe, grow and succeed together for a bright future, and supports the experiences that students remember long after they leave us.
Make a Donation
Monthly £5.00 |
Monthly £10.00 |
Monthly £15.00 |
Monthly £20.00 |
Monthly £50.00 |
If you would like to add Gift Aid to your donation, the links above will allow you to do so. Gift Aid allows us to increase your donation by 25% at no extra cost to you.
At a glance
What is it? A voluntary fund to support enrichment and facilities beyond core school funding.
Who benefits? Students across all year groups.
When was it established? 2026
How is it used? To support agreed priorities and development projects that enhance school life beyond the curriculum.
How can I help? Donate online (monthly or one-off), add Gift Aid if eligible, or support the School through sponsorship or volunteering with the PTFA.
Why the 1636 Foundation matters
We believe that education is about much more than the academic curriculum, and is enhanced by the many co-curricular opportunities available to students, including sport, music, drama, dance and the creative arts. At Bourne Grammar School, education is about more than examination results alone. These experiences play a vital role in shaping character and a sense of belonging. It is about providing opportunities that inspire and broaden horizons in a school environment where young people are encouraged to challenge themselves, develop confidence and thrive.
We are proud of the rich and rounded experience we already offer our students. The 1636 Foundation helps us to protect and extend these opportunities across all year groups.
As a state-funded school, funding from the Department for Education covers the essentials of delivering the curriculum and running the school day to day. It does not, however, stretch to many of the enrichment opportunities, facilities and experiences that sit beyond the curriculum.
In particular, core funding does not cover:
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Enhancements to facilities and shared spaces that support enrichment
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Co-curricular opportunities
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Clubs, societies, music, drama, sport and wider experiences
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Major improvement or development projects
These are the elements that bring school to life. These are the experiences students remember. And these are the opportunities we are committed to protecting and expanding.
As a single academy trust, Bourne Grammar School retains full responsibility for its finances and strategic decisions. While this independence allows us to direct resources where they make the greatest difference, it also means we do not benefit from the economies of scale or central reserves available to larger trusts. Funding is determined by national formulas and cohort characteristics, and in our context this results in the lowest level of per‑student funding available to secondary schools.
In a period of sustained financial pressure, the 1636 Foundation plays a vital role in supporting enrichment and opportunity beyond what core funding can provide.
Why We Are Asking for Support
Your support helps us to provide a first-class experience for every student at Bourne Grammar School, both now and in the years to come.
“We are proud of the education we provide, but we always aspire to do more for our students. With the support of our wider community, we can continue to create spaces that shape learners, performers, leaders, teammates and friends. Your generosity helps us to build the kind of school our young people deserve, now and for years to come.”
Mark Brunker, Headteacher
How Your Donation Will Help
Donations to the 1636 Foundation will support projects such as:
Learning, social and shared spaces
Enhancing shared spaces that support study, collaboration and wider school life. This includes both smaller‑scale improvements and longer‑term aspirations, such as the future development of Sixth Form facilities.
Sports and wellbeing facilities
Enhancing sports provision, including training, indoor and outdoor facilities, and wellbeing opportunities.
Music, drama and creative arts
Investing in rehearsal spaces, equipment and performance environments that support participation and excellence.
Clubs, societies and enrichment
Supporting the broad range of activities that make the school experience exceptional, including travel and participation in fixtures, competitions and events.
Updates and progress on supported projects will be shared as developments take place.
Regular Giving Makes a Lasting Difference
A monthly donation helps us to plan confidently and sustainably.
Regular giving provides:
- A reliable source of support we can depend on
- Enables careful investment in meaningful improvements
- Helps sustain opportunities that benefit students across the School
Regular gifts can make a significant difference when combined. For example, if many families were able to contribute £10 per month, this would generate in excess of £150,000 each year to reinvest directly into facilities, enrichment and student opportunities. This is not an expectation, but an illustration of the collective impact that regular giving can have. Every contribution, at whatever level, helps us grow.
One-Off Gifts Move Us Forward
One‑off donations contribute directly to the ongoing development of the School and help move forward new projects and improvements.
If you are considering a larger one‑off donation, we would be very happy to discuss how it could support specific projects.
Please contact us on [email protected] to arrange a conversation with the Headteacher.
Charitable Status
Bourne Grammar School is an exempt charity under Schedule 3 of the Charities Act 2011 and is recognised by HMRC for Gift Aid purposes. This means that every donation is used solely to advance the education and experience of students at Bourne Grammar School.
Thank you
We know that not everyone will be in a position to donate. Your support for the School, whether financial, practical or through encouragement, is genuinely valued.
If you are interested in supporting the PTFA through occasional volunteering, please contact [email protected]
Bank Transfer
If you prefer to make your donation by bank transfer, as opposed to the links at the top of this page, please use the details below:
Account Name: Bourne Grammar School - Fund Account
Sort Code: 30-98-02
Account Number: 00859822
Reference: Please include your name or “Donation” so we can identify your gift.
Once your transfer is complete, we kindly ask that you email us at [email protected] so we can confirm receipt and thank you properly.
If you would like to add Gift Aid to your donation when making a bank transfer, please complete the short form below. Gift Aid allows us to increase your donation by 25% at no extra cost to you.
Gift Aid Form to use when donating via bank transfer: link to the form