What is The Rossall Foundation?The Rossall Foundation is a company limited by guarantee, registered as a charity, whose aim is to build a network of support for the development programme of Rossall School and to raise funds for projects beyond the reach of fee income surpluses.
The School is especially seeking, in co-operation with The Foundation, to increase its corpus of capital funds, on which the interest earned, will with careful investment provide financial security for the longer term future of the School.
I am delighted to have been asked to write a short appreciation on behalf of the School for the Foundation website. So much of what is good about independent education has come to us from the past as a result of the generous gifts by people who recognise the importance of learning and the provision of opportunities for our young people. The current and future work of the Rossall Foundation will continue to advance the present school and benefit each individual within its community. Monies distributed to academic, sporting and cultural projects give that extra dimension to the lives of students and staff providing them with opportunities to stretch their ambition a little beyond what may have seemed possible. As education seems to be changing at an alarming speed with new technologies, new examinations and the changing aspirations of the youngsters themselves, all schools need the support of their former alumni, current parents, friends and others to cherish their core principles and look to the future with confidence.
Rossall School has changed markedly from the 1970s. No longer is it a predominantly boarding school for British boys but includes large numbers of day pupils. It has broadened its pupil base to include girls, opened an International Study Centre for foreign pupils and educates from the age of 2 to 18.
Most independent schools today are unable to balance their books from simply fee income, nor increase the number of scholarships and bursaries available, nor carry out the necessary refurbishments to the 'plant'. Rossall is particularly sensitive in this respect because of its geographical and economic location.
It was for these reasons that, on my recommendation as Chairman of Council at the time, it was decided to set up The Rossall Foundation, to raise funds to support the school in a variety of different ways. These projects include maintenance and development of the 'plant'; bursaries and scholarships for deserving or needy pupils and to help build a secure financial future for the school.