Isleworth Blue School Educational Foundation

Quick Stats

• Registered Charity Number: 312546
• Annual Income: £174,289 (FY ending 31 March 2025)
• Annual Expenditure: £138,234 (FY ending 31 March 2025)
• Success Rate: Not publicly available
• Decision Time: Not publicly disclosed
• Grant Range: Not publicly specified
• Geographic Focus: Ancient parish of Isleworth, Middlesex

Contact Details

Foundation Address: 4 Church Street, Isleworth, TW7 6BH

Email: Fiona.strongman@btinternet.com

Phone: 07940 794083

The Blue School (associated institution):

• Address: North Street, Isleworth, Middlesex TW7 6RQ
• Phone: 020 8560 6721
• Email: office@theblueschool.com
• Admissions: admissions@theblueschool.com

Charity Commission: Register entry 312546

Overview

The Isleworth Blue School Educational Foundation is a historic charitable trust established under a Charity Commission Scheme dated 4 March 1955, with roots tracing back to 1630 when Dame Elizabeth Hill gave a house and lands at Langley, Buckinghamshire for educational purposes. The foundation exists primarily to support the Isleworth Church of England Blue School (now located on North Street, Isleworth) and to provide educational awards to young people connected to specific historic Isleworth schools or residing in the ancient parish of Isleworth.

With an annual income of approximately £174,289 and expenditure of £138,234 (FY 2024/25), the foundation is governed by 7 trustees appointed by the London Borough of Hounslow, the Vicar and Churchwardens of Isleworth, and the London Diocesan Board of Education. The foundation operates as a traditional educational charity with deep historical connections to the local community, focusing its resources on a specific geographic area and defined beneficiary group rather than accepting general applications from the wider charitable sector.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

The foundation operates two main streams of grant-making:

1. Institutional Support to The Blue School

• Grants for improvements to school facilities and infrastructure
• Funding for the provision of swimming lessons
• Funding for music lessons provision
• Contribution to school overheads
• Historical example: Construction of the New Hall in 1984

2. Individual Student Awards

• Educational grants to support students proceeding to further education
• Financial assistance for young people in need
• Awards for former pupils continuing their education beyond school

Priority Areas

Geographic Eligibility: The foundation prioritizes:

• Students or their parents resident in the ancient parish of Isleworth
• Current or former pupils of The Blue School (Isleworth Church of England Blue School)
• Former pupils of Isleworth Grammar School for Boys
• Former pupils of Isleworth Green School for Girls

Beneficiary Criteria:

• Boys and girls in need of financial assistance
• Students who have attended one of the named schools for at least two years
• Young people proceeding to further or higher education
• Pupils requiring support for educational activities at The Blue School

Funding Focus:

• Further education support
• School improvements and capital projects
• Specialized educational provision (swimming, music)
• Educational activities for financially disadvantaged young people

What They Don't Fund

The foundation's governing documents restrict funding to:

• Only students connected to the specified historic schools or geographic area
• Educational purposes only (no general charitable causes)
• No funding for organizations outside the Isleworth area
• No grants unrelated to the named beneficiary institutions or eligible individuals

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Governance and Leadership

Trustee Structure: The foundation is governed by 7 trustees who serve without remuneration or benefits.

Trustee Appointment: Trustees are appointed by:

• The London Borough of Hounslow
• The Vicar and Churchwardens of Isleworth
• The London Diocesan Board of Education

Governance Framework: The foundation operates under a Charity Commission Scheme dated 4 March 1955, ensuring continuity with its historic charitable purposes while adapting to modern educational needs.

Contact for Foundation Matters: Fiona Strongman (email: Fiona.strongman@btinternet.com, phone: 07940 794083)

The foundation maintains close working relationships with The Blue School and local educational institutions to identify beneficiaries and assess funding priorities.

Application Process and Timeline

How to Apply

The foundation does not maintain a public application process or published application guidelines. Grant-making appears to be managed through:

For Individual Student Awards:

• Contact the foundation directly via the email and phone number provided
• Applicants should be prepared to demonstrate:
• Connection to one of the eligible schools (The Blue School, Isleworth Grammar School, or Isleworth Green School)
• Residency in the ancient parish of Isleworth (if applicable)
• Financial need
• Details of further education plans

For Institutional Support:

• The Blue School maintains a direct relationship with the foundation
• School-initiated requests for specific projects or provisions
• Trustee discretion based on school needs and foundation resources

Getting on Their Radar

Given the foundation's specific geographic and institutional focus, prospective individual beneficiaries should:

• Contact The Blue School directly: The school maintains close ties with the foundation and can facilitate introductions or provide guidance on eligibility (office@theblueschool.com, 020 8560 6721)

• Establish geographic eligibility: Applicants should be prepared to demonstrate residency in the ancient parish of Isleworth or attendance at one of the specified schools for at least two years

• Direct approach to trustees: Contact Fiona Strongman directly with details of your circumstances, educational plans, and connection to the foundation's beneficiary criteria

• Alumni networks: Former pupils of Isleworth Grammar School or Isleworth Green School may wish to inquire through alumni associations or directly with the foundation about support for further education

Decision Timeline

No public information is available regarding:

• Application deadlines or decision cycles
• Time from initial contact to award decision
• Notification methods

Prospective applicants should inquire directly about current timelines when making initial contact.

Success Rates

The foundation does not publish information about:

• Number of applications received
• Number of awards made annually
• Success rates for individual student applications

Reapplication Policy

No public information is available regarding reapplication policies for unsuccessful applicants.

Application Success Factors

Given the foundation's limited public information, success factors are inferred from its stated charitable objects and historical activities:

For Individual Applicants:

• Clear eligibility: Demonstrate unmistakable connection to the ancient parish of Isleworth or minimum two years' attendance at an eligible school
• Genuine financial need: The foundation specifically targets those “in need of financial assistance”
• Further education focus: Awards are made to support progression to further or higher education, not general living expenses
• Local connections: Long-standing residence in Isleworth or extended attendance at the named schools likely strengthens applications

For Institutional Requests (The Blue School):

• Educational enhancement: Funding for swimming and music lessons suggests priority for enrichment activities beyond core curriculum
• Infrastructure improvements: Historical support for capital projects indicates openness to facility enhancements
• Demonstrated need: Clear articulation of how funding advances educational opportunities for pupils
• Alignment with foundation history: Projects honoring the foundation's historic mission of supporting education for disadvantaged young people

General Success Factors:

• Personal contact and relationship with trustees
• Detailed explanation of how support advances educational objectives
• Clear budget and specific use of funds
• Connection to the foundation's 400+ year heritage of supporting Isleworth education

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

• Highly specific eligibility: This foundation serves a very narrow beneficiary group - only consider if you or your organization has direct connection to The Blue School, Isleworth Grammar School, Isleworth Green School, or the ancient parish of Isleworth

• No public application process: Grant-making operates through trustee discretion and direct relationships; approach requires personal contact via email or phone

• Dual focus: The foundation supports both institutional needs of The Blue School and individual students meeting specific criteria

• Financial need emphasis: Individual awards target those “in need of financial assistance,” not merit-based scholarships

• Further education timing: Individual applicants should approach the foundation when planning transition to further or higher education

• Local governance: Trustees appointed by local authorities and religious institutions suggest strong community accountability and local knowledge

• Historic continuity: Nearly 400 years of educational philanthropy in Isleworth means the foundation values its heritage and long-term impact on the local community

Similar Funders

These funders have a similar focus and geographic reach:

• Educational Foundation of Robert Oldfield
• The Aldgate and Allhallows Foundation
• William Palmer College Educational Trust
• The William Price Charitable Trust
• The Connolly Foundation (UK) Limited
• Dame Alice Owen's Foundation
• THE CITY AND DIOCESE OF LONDON VOLUNTARY SCHOOLS FUND
• The Oliver Whitby Educational Foundation
• Needham's Foundation
• Merchant Taylors' Educational Trust

References

• Charity Commission Register of Charities: Isleworth Blue School Educational Foundation (312546). Available at: https://register-of-charities.charitycommission.gov.uk/charity-details/?regid=312546&subid=0 []

• British History Online: Victoria County History - Heston and Isleworth: Schools. Available at: https://www.british-history.ac.uk/vch/middx/vol3/pp133-137 []

• Isleworth.life: Dame Elizabeth Hill and The Blue School – Isleworth. Available at: https://isleworth.life/pages/dame-elizabeth-hill-and-the-blue-school []

• The Blue School website: https://www.theblueschool.com/ []

• Charity Commission financial data for FY ending 31 March 2025 (latest available data