Best Schools - St Swithun’s Headmistress Raises Money For Girls In Care By Running The 33-Mile St Swithun’s Way

Headmistress of St Swithun’s, Winchester, Jane Gandee is running 33 miles to raise money for the Bramston Bursary Foundation which provides life-changing opportunities for children in care or on the brink of care. She is spearheading the St Swithun’s Way Challenge in which the whole school community and the employees of local businesses are invited to run or walk 33, 18, nine or three mile courses along the long distance path between Winchester and Farnham in Hampshire. Jane Gandee hopes the event, on 22 September, will raise £20,000.

‘The Bramston Bursary Foundation was established in the name of Anna Bramston who founded St Swithun’s in 1884 with the vision to provide talented and hard-working girls, irrespective of background, with the opportunity to reach their full potential through education. The Foundation aims to provide two full life-changing transformational bursaries every year to girls in care, or on the brink of care but living at home, whom our partner charity and local authority experts believe would thrive emotionally and academically in the stability of a St Swithun’s boarding education’ said Jane Gandee. ‘The school match-funds all donations raised through the Bramston Bursary Foundation so if we reach the £20,000 target for the St Swithun’s Way Challenge, £40,000 will go into the Foundation.’ The annual fundraising target for the Bramston Bursary Foundation is £250,000.

Further information about the St Swithun’s Way Challenge and how to get involved are at https://www.stswithuns.com/about-us/st-swithun-s-way-challenge

Derby High welcomes boys into its senior school for first time in 127 years

Derby High School has introduced boys to its senior school for 11 to 18 year olds for the first time in its history.

Male students who joined the school's primary department can now stay on and join its senior school. The boys in the high school's sixth form are now acting as mentors for the boys in Year 7.

Head teacher Amy Chapman said the boys had settled in well to life at Derby High School and she is "excited to move into this new phase of Derby High history".

She said: “Building on the success of our co-educational Infant and Junior School, we believe the best preparation for a rewarding and fulfilling life is a first class education for boys and girls learning together as partners and equals – just as they will work together as adults to take on opportunities and tackle challenges.

Derby High School was founded 1892 and is an independent day school for boys and girls aged from 3 to 18.