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As we approach our 500th anniversary in 2032, we encourage our BGS community to support bright and able children who deserve to be here at Bristol Grammar School.
Our aim is to enable one in four children to receive a means tested bursary of at least 50%. We plan to raise £12million by 2032.
The students who benefit, who we refer to as “Bursary Award Holders”, increase academic standards, inclusivity, and diversity, adding to the educational experience of every child, enriching Bristol Grammar School beyond measure.
Ruby Downer
Former Head Girl
'If you’re questioning whether you should give back, I’d say, just ask yourself about how you feel about your own experience at BGS and whether you can give that to someone else. Giving Back means that you’re doing something good, no matter how little or what you do to help it’s going to have an impact and you’ll feel great about it.'
Bursary Award Holder (pictured)
Parent of Bursary Award Holder (quote)
‘It’s really hard to put into words what it means to be offered a bursary. From my daughter’s perspective it really genuinely was a dream come true for her. The positive influence that it can have is quite literally life changing.'
Deborah Hubbard
Donor
'The BGS 500 Campaign is an excellent project nurturing future talent. The team are dedicated to finding the best students who would thrive at BGS. The impact for all the bursary award holder students is fundamentally life changing for them and their families.'
Can Pehlivanoglu
Bursary Award Holder
'Being on a bursary has mean the world to me and my family. A lot of opportunities have opened up for me'
Alice Towle
OB 2022
Law Undergraduate at Durham
'I think there’s something to be said about the ethos of BGS and the community that it creates. You’re supporting creating a school that’s accessible for everyone.'
Steve Banks
Parent of Bursary Award Holder
'As a parent you want your children to be happy, and you want to give them the best possible start in life. If you don’t have the financial means, you do everything that you can to make sure that that doesn’t close doors for them, that their opportunities remain open because of who they are.'
Steve Banks
Parent of Bursary Award Holder
'If you have the means it’s difficult to imagine something that you would be able to provide to a young person's life that would have more benefit.'
Dr Steve Kelsey, OB 1978
President of Research and Development at Revolution Medicines, California
'I was awarded a grant by the local authority to attend BGS which was revoked a year or two after I started. I was fortunate enough to be kept on by the bursary system. If you can afford to do so then I would strongly encourage you to help the bursary system and allow kids like myself to continue to attend Bristol Grammar School.'
Jaideep Barot
Headmaster
'Philanthropy is everything at BGS and throughout its history, philanthropy has been a huge part of what has made BGS the school it is. I can trace all my good fortune back right back to that moment when I was a 10 year old boy and I got a letter stating that I’d be able to go to my grammar school. We’re asking you to be part of someone’s story. Help us to change lives.'
Liz Opoku-Denkyi
Bursary Award Holder
'You don’t have to let your money situations define how far you can go. Just because you might not have the same funding at home, doesn’t mean that you don’t have the same heart and passion and charisma and energy as anyone else.'
Nadine Latte
Director of Development
'I'm immensely proud to be part of this community and the amazing students that enrich our community. Thank you to everyone who donates, big or small, in time or money. We appreciate you so much.'
Liz Opoku-Denkyi
Bursary Award Holder
'It’s a relief when you know that the school believe in you. To me, bursary means that you have the potential and that other people believe you have the potential.'
Marcus Cryer
OB 1993
'As OBs we should fully support the 500 campaign so that once again anyone living in Bristol with the potential, and capability, to attend our great school is able to, no matter their financial circumstances.'
Dan Watkins
Bursary Liaison Officer
'These students have achieved something fantastic and we want to celebrate it. They’ve earned this award, they’ve earned this bursary. In this country we have a habit of making financial matters taboo, but I think actually let’s talk about money. Let’s talk about our experiences and share our stories.'
Ruby Downer
Former Head Girl
'If you’re questioning whether you should give back, I’d say, just ask yourself about how you feel about your own experience at BGS and whether you can give that to someone else. Giving Back means that you’re doing something good, no matter how little or what you do to help it’s going to have an impact and you’ll feel great about it.'
Bursary Award Holder (pictured)
Parent of Bursary Award Holder (quote)
‘It’s really hard to put into words what it means to be offered a bursary. From my daughter’s perspective it really genuinely was a dream come true for her. The positive influence that it can have is quite literally life changing.'
Deborah Hubbard
Donor
'The BGS 500 Campaign is an excellent project nurturing future talent. The team are dedicated to finding the best students who would thrive at BGS. The impact for all the bursary award holder students is fundamentally life changing for them and their families.'
Can Pehlivanoglu
Bursary Award Holder
'Being on a bursary has mean the world to me and my family. A lot of opportunities have opened up for me'
Alice Towle
OB 2022
Law Undergraduate at Durham
'I think there’s something to be said about the ethos of BGS and the community that it creates. You’re supporting creating a school that’s accessible for everyone.'
Steve Banks
Parent of Bursary Award Holder
'As a parent you want your children to be happy, and you want to give them the best possible start in life. If you don’t have the financial means, you do everything that you can to make sure that that doesn’t close doors for them, that their opportunities remain open because of who they are.'
Steve Banks
Parent of Bursary Award Holder
'If you have the means it’s difficult to imagine something that you would be able to provide to a young person's life that would have more benefit.'
Dr Steve Kelsey, OB 1978
President of Research and Development at Revolution Medicines, California
'I was awarded a grant by the local authority to attend BGS which was revoked a year or two after I started. I was fortunate enough to be kept on by the bursary system. If you can afford to do so then I would strongly encourage you to help the bursary system and allow kids like myself to continue to attend Bristol Grammar School.'
Jaideep Barot
Headmaster
'Philanthropy is everything at BGS and throughout its history, philanthropy has been a huge part of what has made BGS the school it is. I can trace all my good fortune back right back to that moment when I was a 10 year old boy and I got a letter stating that I’d be able to go to my grammar school. We’re asking you to be part of someone’s story. Help us to change lives.'
Liz Opoku-Denkyi
Bursary Award Holder
'You don’t have to let your money situations define how far you can go. Just because you might not have the same funding at home, doesn’t mean that you don’t have the same heart and passion and charisma and energy as anyone else.'
Nadine Latte
Director of Development
'I'm immensely proud to be part of this community and the amazing students that enrich our community. Thank you to everyone who donates, big or small, in time or money. We appreciate you so much.'
Liz Opoku-Denkyi
Bursary Award Holder
'It’s a relief when you know that the school believe in you. To me, bursary means that you have the potential and that other people believe you have the potential.'
Marcus Cryer
OB 1993
'As OBs we should fully support the 500 campaign so that once again anyone living in Bristol with the potential, and capability, to attend our great school is able to, no matter their financial circumstances.'
Dan Watkins
Bursary Liaison Officer
'These students have achieved something fantastic and we want to celebrate it. They’ve earned this award, they’ve earned this bursary. In this country we have a habit of making financial matters taboo, but I think actually let’s talk about money. Let’s talk about our experiences and share our stories.'
Sponsor a student
100% bursaries are offered to those in genuine need of the full amount and are often given to those who demonstrate real promise and ability at Sixth Form level. Donors can choose to sponsor a student individually or as a collective group of friends. Additional sponsorship opportunities are available to support younger children.
Leaving a legacy to the school in your will is one of the most powerful and lasting gifts that you can give. Legacy gifts have tax advantages as they are free of Inheritance Tax and gifts of shares and property are exempt from Capital Gains Tax. Find out more and download the relevant forms on our dedicated Legacies page.
Regular giving
Regular contributions create a huge impact. A £500 donation would equate to just two years paying £15.32 a month (with Gift Aid). 60 donors, contributing this amount, over two years means a full bursary for a girl or boy at Sixth Form. All regular donations are used to support children of all ages throughout the school.
To view this photo gallery
To view this photo gallery
