Support Us

We are committed to providing the best possible education to girls with promise from any background. Your support helps us to achieve that aim, and is invaluable to the continued success and growth of our school.

The Putney Fund 2021/22

I am always extremely proud, and often humbled, by the tremendous sense of community here at Putney High School. The extent to which everyone works together, and supports each other, is one of the defining characteristics of the school – be they students, staff, parents, governors or alumnae.

It is with this community spirit in mind that I feel able to launch our annual appeal even, and indeed especially, at this time.

We are committed to delivering the best possible education to bright and ambitious girls from any background. To help us provide the unique experiences and facilities that make a Putney education even more exceptional, the Putney Fund not only brings everyone together, but gives every member of the school community the opportunity to support projects that will directly impact pupils both now and in the future.

This year, gifts to the Putney Fund will support two key areas;
Bursaries and Financial Assistance and an Ecologist in Residence.

I remain extremely grateful to each of you for your continued support of the school, irrespective of whether or not you feel able to support this appeal at this time.

Thank you,

Suzie Longstaff

Headmistress

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Bursaries and Financial Assistance

50% of the Putney Fund 2021/2022 will go to Bursaries and Financial Assistance.

Ecologist in Residence

50% of the Putney Fund 2021/2022 will go to funding an Ecologist in Residence.

Look what your support has already helped us to achieve…

Inside the Build

Last year your donations went towards our Athena Centre, a new space for Science, Music, Drama and Debating. The centre is now open and being used by students.

Emerging Technologies

With your valued support in 2019/2020, we continued to provide pupils with the toolkit to thrive in a world of emerging technology.

Senior pupils developed and enhanced their coding skills with Crumble Buggies and entered the More Than Robots competition – where technology meets sport, further encouraging students to embrace STEM.

The Junior School is looked at transforming the way pupils learn, create, and invent by combining coding and Science, this included encouraging pupils to explore the environment around them using outdoor robots and data loggers.

Since 2019, things have been full STEAM ahead and students have continued to embrace Coding and Robotics. We have partnered with First Tech UK, and created a bespoke Design Thinking course focusing on robotics and the link between design and programming. The aim of the First Tech collaboration is to give students the opportunity to work with others in the West London area to reduce the gender gap in STEM subject study.

We have also created our new Innovation Centre, a hub for all things Design Thinking and Robotics. The future looks bright for STEM at Putney.

Entrepreneur in Residence

Thanks to donations throughout 2018 and 2019, Putney was able to appoint entrepreneur Julian Hall.

Julian inspired an entrepreneurial spirit amongst our pupils and staff. Through assemblies, involvement in lessons and workshops, he encouraged us to see solutions instead of problems, and to embrace opportunities with creativity and confidence.

This entrepreneurial spirit is still very much present at Putney. Since 2018/2019 students have gone on to design a sustainable clothing brand with Amazon, start and international non-profit tutoring organisation and made and sold their own clothing designs.

Orator in Residence

As a result of the generosity from the Putney community in 2017-18, we welcomed Orator in Residence, Miranda Kiek.

The impact of this residency was widespread. Keen debaters benefited from coaching whilst the weekly Senior School ‘Eloquence’ club provided a space for less seasoned orators to find their voice. Pupils from Reception to Year 13 became well versed in ‘power poses’ and the art of speaking and listening.

Such was the success of our Orator in Residence that Miranda Kiek is now a permanent member of staff, teaching English and continuing to help our students to use their voice through debating.

Debating has remained at the heart of Putney and our new Debating Forum, inside our Athena Centre (funded by the 2020/2021 Putney Fund), is now open.

Biodiversity Project

Thanks to donations throughout 2016 and 2017, Putney was able to increase the biodiversity of the school site.

As part of this project, Junior School pupils built bug hotels whilst Senior School pupils set up a gardening and conservation club, introducing a new ecosystem with a newly acquired bumble bee colony.

Since 2017, pupils and staff have continued to work on new initiatives to increase and monitor the biodiversity across the school site.

We have eco-committees across the Junior and Senior School and many green-fingered students take part in gardening club.

In the Junior School, the Science Garden is much loved and a well-used facility. It has had successful crops of peas, radishes, carrots and tomatoes to name just a few.

This year, our Sixth Form Biophilic Classroom, and our student-led studies into the effects of plants in classrooms on cognitive and mental wellbeing, was taken to the RHS Chelsea Flower Show, where it was awarded a Gold Medal. The classroom made it back to Putney and is once again being used and enjoyed by students. The principles of biophilic design are now spreading across the school site.

Bursaries

It is important to use that no one should be excluded from a Putney education.

What is a bursary?

We are academically selective, but 'means blind'.

A bursary is the financial support, awarded by the GDST, to families who are not in a position to cover the full fees of a Putney GDST education. Although we are academically selective, we do everything we can to ensure that a family’s ability to afford fees is never a barrier to education or opportunity.

Putney is part of the Girls’ Day School Trust (GDST), in which almost one in five pupils receives a bursary or scholarship to help towards her fees.

What difference does a bursary make?

There is no doubt that the benefits can be life changing.

Now working as a Senior Legal Counsel at Globeleq, alumna Isoken (Soké) Alli-Usman, reflects on how a bursary at Putney impacted her career;

“All of this was only possible because a bursary allowed me to go to Putney where I was given the belief I could achieve my goals. I was taught to develop resilience and be pro-active. My school gave me the tools to achieve. Putney shaped my life. It has a special place in my heart.”

There are also many advantages seen within the school community as a whole due to its commitment in offering bursaries. Bursaries help to shape the culture of the school, fostering a more diverse and vibrant ethos.

Bursary FAQs

How many pupils at Putney receive a bursary?

Currently at Putney High School, over 30 pupils receive a bursary. However, one in five pupils at Putney is supported financially by the school and the GDST.

What other financial support do you offer?

Putney offers a range of scholarships to senior school pupils, based on talent and ability rather than a family’s financial means.

We also offer support through the Financial Assistance Fund, for families who unexpectedly need immediate help to meet the fees. This enables Putney to ensure continuity for a student at a difficult time and particularly for those who are nearing GCSEs or A Levels.

What is the difference between a bursary and a scholarship?

A bursary is means-tested whereas a scholarship is not. A bursary takes into account academic ability but its value is directly related to the income and financial resources of the pupil’s family.

Scholarships are awarded purely on academic (or sporting/musical) merit, as measured in an entrance assessment. They take no account of family income/resources.

What is Putney’s eligibility criteria for a bursary?

In conjunction with the GDST criteria, families in London with an annual income of £42,500 or less and who have no capital assets other than their home, are eligible to apply for full bursary funding.

Parents complete an online application and a robust assessment is undertaken to ensure fairness and consistency. Bursary awards are reviewed annually to check continued financial need.

When are you awarded a bursary?

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.

How much is a bursary worth?

Bursaries typically range from 30% to 100% of fees. Pupils who get a full bursary will also get help to meet the cost of their uniforms, lunches and travel.

How can I help? We recognise that there are many levels of giving, but every donation really does make a difference. If…

… they would cover a pupil's school fees for a year.

How to support a student Give online

The Nick Maughan Foundation

We would like to thank the Nick Maughan Foundation for providing a number of students with full bursaries, enabling them to experience an education at Putney High School.

“

We decided to pre-fund full bursaries for girls from low income families to attend Putney High having experienced first hand the immensely positive impact that the school has on girls’ lives. Such a high standard of education and extra curricular activities should not only be available to those able to pass the entrance exams and pay the fees, but also to those with the requisite ability without the financial means. I hope this helps provide a significant, positive long term impact for those families. We are proud to include Putney High in our portfolio of educational grant-giving initiatives and look forward to doing more with the school in future.

Nick Maughan
The Nick Maughan Foundation

Legacies

Leaving a gift to Putney in your will is a wonderful way to show support for your old school, and a significant way to impact girls’ education for generations to come. It’s easy to make a bequest, and whether large or small, your generosity can make a world of difference.

If you intend to make provisions in your will, or have already done so, please get in touch and let us know you are thinking of us. Details shared are entirely at your discretion but we would love the opportunity to thank you, and to update you on all that is happening at school.

Find out more about legacy giving

FOPHS and PHSRSA

There are many ways that you can volunteer your time to support the school.

FOPHS

Friends of Putney High School

FOPHS is a parent led charity with three main objectives: Friendship, Fundraising and Fun. FOPHS raise money for the school and organise events such as the Christmas fair, cake sales and quiz nights. They help to keep the communication links between parents and the school open.

Click here to find out more about FOPHS.

PHSRSA

Putney's Rowing Supporters' Association

The RSA is a parent led charity with an active social calendar. They host a number of events that are not only great opportunities to socialise, but also enable supporters to contribute to Putney’s ever expanding and high achieving boat club.

Click here to find out more about PHSRSA.

Capital Projects

Your donations have helped towards enhancing the infrastructure of the school.

Athena Centre

Our new Athena Centre for Science, Music, Drama and Debating is now open and being enjoyed by students.

Performing Arts Centre

Thanks to the generous support of the Putney High School community, the £250,000 target for the Performing Arts Centre (PAC) was reached and the new space opened in 2015. It further enhances the drama and performance facilities available for Putney pupils.

Sixth Form Centre

The Girls’ Day School Trust alongside Putney High School was delighted to open the Sixth Form Centre in 2012. The Centre has fantastic University style facilities, including seminar rooms, a rooftop terrace, fitness suite, futures hub, diner and lounge.

Contact Us

If you would like to know more about Putney's plans for the future or find out how you can support us, please don't hesitate to get in contact with The Development Department

Suzanne Fearon (Director of Admissions, Communications and Development)

Alex Swift (Development Officer)

Email: development@put.gdst.net

Tel: 0208 788 48886

Junior School (4-11)

Senior School (11-16)

Sixth Form (16-18)