Leaving a Legacy

Leaving a Legacy – Practical Details

We are so grateful that you are considering leaving a donation to Putney High School in your will. Legacies make an immeasurable difference to the lives of girls who would not otherwise be able to benefit from a Putney education. Thank you!

When leaving a legacy, it is important to be clear about both the intended recipient and the intended use.

Intended recipient

In our case, this is the Girls Day School Trust, Charity Number: 306983. All gifts that are kindly left to us in wills are administered through the GDST centrally as it is the Trust that has the charitable status (as opposed to an individual school). Funds are then passed on as appropriate to individual schools. Therefore, should you wish to make a legacy gift to us, your will should include The Girls’ Day School Trust (charity number: 306983) with an indication that the legacy should go towards Putney High School specifically.

Intended use

When making a gift in a will, you should also indicate how you wish the gift to be spent. One option is for gift to be used by the recipient for any purpose (we refer to this as ‘wherever the need is greatest’). Alternatively, you could state a specific purpose, for example, to create/support a bursary.

What will you spend my gift on?

It is, of course, your decision as to where the funds from your legacy are directed. If you are a keen musician or sportsperson for example, you may want to direct the funds into the music or sport departments, or perhaps you would prefer the school to make the decision as to where the funds are needed most. You can specify this as part of the indication of the gift’s intended use (as detailed above).

We find that many legators wish to fund bursaries. Currently there are more than 40 pupils who receive a bursary at Putney High School. Bursaries are available to any student aged 11 and over at a GDST fee-paying senior school. Most awards are allocated on entry either to Year 7 or to the Sixth Form and all are awarded based on academic performance and financial need. Pupils who get a full bursary will also get help to ensure they can take full advantage of all that we offer, from the cost of their uniform to lunches to the chance to learn a musical instrument.

If you would like to fund a full or partial bursary the costs are as follows:

A seven-year senior school bursary costs £195,408

A two-year Sixth Form bursary costs £49,200

Where bursaries are fully funded (or at least 50% of the costs are provided) by donors, we are happy to discuss naming options – for example naming the bursary after you or a family member.

If you are thinking of providing a sum that would fund an award over a period of years (or in perpetuity), please do let us know so that we can support you with any information that you might find helpful.

How can I find out more?

Please do get in touch at development@put.gdst.net, or give us a call on 020 8788 4886.

We would also be delighted to welcome you to Putney High School. Please do let us know when would work for you.

Learn more about legacy giving to the GDST here.