Kettering Old Grammar School Foundation

Charity Number: 309903

Annual Expenditure: £0.5M

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Quick Stats

  • Annual Giving: £475,123 (charitable activities expenditure, year ending April 2024)
  • Success Rate: Not publicly disclosed
  • Decision Time: 6-8 weeks (straightforward cases), up to 3 months (complex applications)
  • Grant Range: Not specified - assessed case by case
  • Geographic Focus: Borough of Kettering, Northamptonshire

Contact Details

  • Website: www.kogsf.org.uk
  • Email: admin@kogsf.org.uk
  • Phone: 01536 526404
  • Registered Charity Number: 309903

Overview

Kettering Old Grammar School Foundation traces its origins to Queen Elizabeth I's royal charter of June 15, 1577, which granted lands and properties for the establishment of a school in Kettering. The Foundation was formally established on May 4, 1911, and achieved its current structure on July 2, 1996. With total income of £516,381 and charitable expenditure of £475,123 in the year ending April 2024, the Foundation operates as one of the region's oldest educational charities. It provides educational grants and bursaries to individuals and organizations in the Borough of Kettering, with a particular focus on talented young people in areas where state system support is limited—notably the performing arts and sport. The Foundation also owns and operates the Govilon Activity Centre in South Wales, serving over 1,000 pupils from Kettering schools annually through outdoor learning and personal development activities.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

Individual Grants

  • One-off payments for specific educational purposes (e.g., college or university funding, equipment, books, tools, instruments, clothing, travel, professional preparation)
  • Application method: Downloadable forms from website, rolling basis with quarterly decision meetings
  • Requires letter of recommendation from school or tutor
  • Cannot be awarded retrospectively

Individual Bursaries

  • Multi-year awards for young people showing exceptional talent in arts or sports
  • Paid in termly installments throughout the academic year
  • Requires interview with Directors and annual progress reviews
  • Assessment includes family financial circumstances

Organizational Grants

  • Support for schools and organizations serving young Kettering residents
  • Particular consideration given to schools without PTA support
  • Covers educational and play equipment, school trips, educational programs

Priority Areas

The Foundation prioritizes:

  • Talented young people, especially where the state system does not provide support (performing arts and sport)
  • Special educational needs
  • School trips for families under financial pressure
  • Specialist coaching and equipment for young people developing skills and confidence
  • Gifted and talented students
  • Educational and play equipment for schools
  • Development of academic and other talents through excellence-focused projects

What They Don't Fund

  • Retrospective grants - cannot fund expenses already incurred
  • Applications must be submitted at least one term ahead
  • Applicants who do not meet residency requirements (must live in and have attended school in Borough of Kettering for at least two years)
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Governance and Leadership

The Foundation is governed by a Board of Directors consisting of up to 13 co-opted members appointed for their relevant skills and experience. Directors serve five-year terms and are eligible for reappointment.

Current Board of Directors:

  • Mr David Watson – Chairman
  • Mr Stuart Welch – Deputy Chairman
  • Mr Mark Alderman
  • Mr Martin Althorpe
  • Mr Ghite Bhavra
  • Mrs Liz Harlow
  • Mrs Maggie Mitchell
  • Mr Nicolas Moodie
  • Mr Bill Parker
  • Ms Katie Reynolds
  • Mrs Pat Scouse
  • Mr Anthony Shemilt
  • Mrs Sue Walters
  • Mr Christopher Groome – Patron

The Board meets quarterly in June (Annual General Meeting), September, December, and March to oversee operations and make final grant determinations.

Committee Structure:

  • Benefits Committee - Reviews applications 2-4 weeks before quarterly Directors' meetings
  • Govilon Management Committee - Chaired by Maggie Mitchell

The Foundation employs 9 staff members. No trustees receive remuneration or benefits.

Application Process and Timeline

How to Apply

  1. Download application forms from www.kogsf.org.uk
  2. Secure a letter of recommendation from your school or tutor (mandatory)
  3. Submit application at least one term ahead - retrospective applications are not accepted
  4. For bursaries: Be prepared for an interview with Directors, parents/guardians, and tutor/coach

Decision Timeline

Quarterly Decision Cycle:

  • June (Annual General Meeting)
  • September
  • December
  • March

Notification Timeline:

  • 6-8 weeks for straightforward cases
  • Approximately 3 months for complex/expensive applications
  • Decisions based on alignment with Foundation's five criteria (see Application Success Factors)

Success Rates

Success rate statistics are not publicly disclosed. The Foundation reviews each application individually against its criteria and available funds.

Reapplication Policy

There is no formal appeal process for unsuccessful applications. However, applicants may submit a new application if circumstances change. The Foundation's FAQs state: “If an application for support is turned down, there is no appeal, but applicants could submit a new application if their circumstances changed.”

Application Success Factors

The Foundation evaluates all applications against five key criteria:

  1. Difference - The project wouldn't proceed without Foundation funding
  2. Leverage - Foundation support attracts additional resources from other sources
  3. Sustainability - Activities continue beyond the Foundation's financial involvement
  4. Need - Students face financial barriers preventing them from pursuing valuable educational or training opportunities
  5. Excellence - The Foundation's contribution develops academic and other talents

Specific Advice from the Funder

The Foundation emphasizes that “decisions are always based on the information you provide on your application form and on a letter of recommendation from your teacher or coach.” Strong applications should:

  • Demonstrate genuine financial need: Priority given to families receiving working family tax credit, income support, invalidity benefit, or jobseeker's allowance, or young people who are "completely on their own financially and could not complete their course without the Foundation's help"
  • Show you've explored other funding sources: Evidence that Foundation support will leverage additional resources
  • Explain long-term sustainability: How will activities continue after Foundation funding ends?
  • Document excellence and talent: Particularly for bursaries in arts or sports
  • Provide strong recommendations: The letter from your school/tutor carries significant weight

Language and Terminology

The Foundation uses specific language that applicants should reflect:

  • “Promote the education (including social and physical training)”
  • “Development of a particular talent”
  • “Special family circumstances”
  • Focus on “talented young people” and “exceptional talent”

Projects Recently Funded

  • Northamptonshire Cricket Club programme: 6-week cricket programme for Years 5 and 6 students delivered in Kettering schools
  • Govilon Activity Centre: Outdoor learning activities (caving, canoeing, hiking, climbing) for 1,000+ pupils annually
  • Wide-ranging support for special educational needs, school trips, specialist coaching and equipment

Common Success Factors

  • Applications submitted well in advance (at least one term)
  • Strong letter of recommendation from school or tutor
  • Clear demonstration of financial need
  • Evidence of how funding aligns with all five criteria
  • For bursaries: Willingness to participate in interview process and provide annual progress reports

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

  • Geographic restriction is absolute: Applicants must live in and have attended school in the Borough of Kettering for at least two years
  • Plan ahead: Submit applications at least one term in advance; no retrospective funding
  • The five criteria are non-negotiable: Structure your application to explicitly address Difference, Leverage, Sustainability, Need, and Excellence
  • Recommendation letters are critical: Decisions rely heavily on information from your teacher/coach, not just the application form
  • Financial need matters: Priority given to families in special circumstances or receiving benefits; be transparent about financial situation
  • Be prepared for scrutiny on bursaries: Directors will interview you and assess family finances; ongoing funding depends on annual progress reviews
  • Schools without PTAs get priority: If applying on behalf of an organization, highlight lack of alternative funding sources
  • No appeals, but you can reapply: If unsuccessful, focus on what changed before resubmitting

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