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Every year the parents of the pupils who are leaving Rugby School or Bilton Grange take the opportunity to reflect on the life-long impact and extraordinary opportunities their children have experienced at school. Many of them feel strongly that they would like to offer those opportunities to more children who would benefit most from a boarding education and whose families would otherwise never afford it.
In response to this, we establish a Leavers’ Fund for every year group so that their contributions to the Earle Fund or the Arnold Foundation will be passed on to a new generation of students who join us in September.
Some choose to donate their deposit, others a different amount or an additional gift. Every gift, of any size, will go directly to fund boarding bursaries and open the doors to an unforgettable education.
At a time when some families are facing great stresses and difficult choices, we would like to thank all members of our community who contribute their own gifts of time or money or support to safeguard the future of the Earle Fund at Bilton Grange and the Arnold Foundation at Rugby School.
Grant Cumming
"The level of academic support was impressive, especially as teachers were on hand during evenings and at weekends and were always ready to help. I knew early on that chemistry was my subject, closely followed by computing. The Rugby labs were amazing both in terms of space and equipment. I went to Edinburgh University to read Chemistry and stayed on to do a five-year Masters, which included a four-week exchange programme with Tianjin University in China. What I learned as an Arnold Foundation student at Rugby was to seize opportunities. There were so many on offer."
Tshanda
"Even if you are confident about the school, as a parent you feel you are handing over your child. The Arnold Foundation and Rugby have always made me feel that my place in my child’s life is respected; they have supported us from the start, and I am grateful, too, for their standards of privacy and confidentiality in all our dealings."
Read more ➜
Mark Tovey
Assistant Head of Boarding, Bilton Grange
"A boarding school is strange environment for any new pupil, sometimes overwhelming, but our Earle Fund students have adjusted quickly, gaining confidence, making friends, and being up for all the opportunities and activities we offer. It’s wonderful to see they thrive here at Bilton Grange."
Francesca Oroma Odongkara
“I was born in Uganda and came to the UK when I was seven and I was one of the first students on the Arnold Foundation programme via IntoUniversity. My family were asylum seekers but had the benefits of family already here. Rugby taught me to be fearless, go against the grain, work hard, push yourself, and expand your outlook. There is nothing to lose. You’ll always learn along the way.”
Grant Cumming
"The level of academic support was impressive, especially as teachers were on hand during evenings and at weekends and were always ready to help. I knew early on that chemistry was my subject, closely followed by computing. The Rugby labs were amazing both in terms of space and equipment. I went to Edinburgh University to read Chemistry and stayed on to do a five-year Masters, which included a four-week exchange programme with Tianjin University in China. What I learned as an Arnold Foundation student at Rugby was to seize opportunities. There were so many on offer."
Tshanda
"Even if you are confident about the school, as a parent you feel you are handing over your child. The Arnold Foundation and Rugby have always made me feel that my place in my child’s life is respected; they have supported us from the start, and I am grateful, too, for their standards of privacy and confidentiality in all our dealings."
Read more ➜
Mark Tovey
Assistant Head of Boarding, Bilton Grange
"A boarding school is strange environment for any new pupil, sometimes overwhelming, but our Earle Fund students have adjusted quickly, gaining confidence, making friends, and being up for all the opportunities and activities we offer. It’s wonderful to see they thrive here at Bilton Grange."
Francesca Oroma Odongkara
“I was born in Uganda and came to the UK when I was seven and I was one of the first students on the Arnold Foundation programme via IntoUniversity. My family were asylum seekers but had the benefits of family already here. Rugby taught me to be fearless, go against the grain, work hard, push yourself, and expand your outlook. There is nothing to lose. You’ll always learn along the way.”
