The Tottenham Grammar School Foundation
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Quick Stats
- Annual Giving: £1,408,282 (year ending August 2024)
- Success Rate: Not publicly available
- Decision Time: Variable - trustees meet 10 times per year
- Grant Range: Not publicly specified
- Geographic Focus: London Borough of Haringey only
Contact Details
- Website: www.tgsf.info / www.gc-solutions.org.uk
- Email: info@tgsf.info / trustees@tgsf.org.uk
- Phone: 020 8882 2999 (part-time manning - email preferred)
- Address: PO Box 34098, London, N13 5XU
- Special Applications: chairman@tgsf.org.uk (for Somerset Special Awards)
Note: Phones are generally only manned part-time, so email is the best method of contact.
Overview
The Tottenham Grammar School Foundation was established following the closure of Tottenham Grammar School, with proceeds of £9.1 million from the school's sale used to create this charitable foundation. The charity promotes the education of persons under the age of 25 years who are resident in the London Borough of Haringey, specifically targeting those in need of financial assistance. The Foundation also provides benefits at borough-maintained schools and colleges which are not normally provided by the Local Education Authority or governing body. For the financial year ending August 2024, the Foundation had a total income of £457,009 and total expenditure of £1,408,282. The Foundation is governed by a board of trustees who hold 10 meetings per annum, currently held in the evening at Capital City College, Tottenham centre. No trustees receive any remuneration, payments, or benefits from the charity.
Funding Priorities
Grant Programs
Somerset Award
- For students taking full-time vocational courses at further education colleges, school sixth forms, or other recognised providers
- NOT available for A levels, AS levels, GCSEs, apprenticeships, or part-time courses
- Awards paid annually and can continue for up to 3 years for multi-year courses
- Application Method: Online application via Foundation website or downloadable form
- Deadline: 28th February annually
- Application forms published on 1st May prior to the academic year
Somerset Undergraduate Award (SUA)
- For students taking full-time degree or other full-time higher education courses of two years or more duration
- Awards paid annually up to a maximum of three years
- Application Method: Online application via Foundation website or downloadable form
- Deadline: 28th February annually
- Application forms published on 1st May prior to the academic year
Somerset Special Awards (SAW)
- Covers a wide range of grants for various educational purposes
- Available for:
- Postgraduate students
- Young sportsmen/women at county standard or higher
- Musicians at conservatoire standard
- Students or children with special needs
- Typically equivalent to one year of the Somerset Undergraduate Award
- Application Method: Generally by letter to the Chairman of the Foundation (special needs applicants use specific application form)
- Rolling basis: No fixed deadline stated
Priority Areas
- Full-time further education (vocational courses)
- Higher education and undergraduate degrees
- Postgraduate education
- Elite sports training (county standard or above)
- Conservatoire-level music training
- Special educational needs support
- Educational equipment and resources not provided by schools or LEA
What They Don't Fund
- Students NOT resident in London Borough of Haringey
- Students who did not attend maintained secondary schools in Haringey (with limited exceptions)
- Applicants over 25 years of age on September 1st of the study year
- A level, AS level, or GCSE students (for Somerset Award)
- Part-time courses (for Somerset Award and SUA)
- Apprenticeships
- Retrospective applications for years where the deadline has passed

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Governance and Leadership
The Foundation is governed by a Board of Trustees who meet 10 times per annum, currently in the evening at Capital City College, Tottenham centre. In 2024, Mark Grosskopf was appointed as a trustee. The chairman can be contacted at chairman@tgsf.org.uk, particularly for Somerset Special Award applications. No trustees receive any remuneration, payments, or benefits from the charity, demonstrating the Foundation's commitment to directing all resources toward educational support for young people in Haringey.
Application Process and Timeline
How to Apply
Somerset Award and Somerset Undergraduate Award:
- Application forms are published on 1st May prior to the academic year
- Apply online via the Foundation's website (www.cognitoforms.com links) or download PDF application form
- Do NOT use application forms from previous academic years as eligibility criteria may have changed
- Deadline: 28th February annually
- Continuation students typically receive a “Continuation Letter” by mid-August
- If no continuation letter received by mid-August, contact Foundation with Award Reference Number
Somerset Special Awards:
- Special needs applicants use a specific application form
- Be prepared to submit documentary evidence if requested
- No fixed deadline - appears to be rolling
Decision Timeline
The Foundation's trustees meet 10 times per year. Specific decision timelines from submission to notification are not publicly disclosed. Grants are paid "in a timely manner in accordance with the Trustees' decisions." Continuation students for multi-year awards typically receive notification by mid-August.
Success Rates
Success rates and application statistics are not publicly available.
Reapplication Policy
- Somerset Award and SUA: Applicants can reapply annually for continuation of multi-year courses if they indicated at initial application that the course would run for multiple years
- Retrospective applications: NOT possible - once the deadline for a particular academic year has passed, it is not possible to receive any funding for that year
- Missed deadlines: If you miss the deadline for the current academic year, you may apply for the next academic year
- One-time awards per academic level: Awards are generally one-time per academic level/qualification
Application Success Factors
Eligibility is Paramount
The Foundation has strict eligibility criteria focused on geographic residence and school attendance history. To be eligible, applicants must:
- Be resident in the London Borough of Haringey
- Have attended a state-maintained secondary school in Haringey for the majority of their secondary education
- Be under 25 years of age on September 1st of the study year
Key Insight: If you moved house during secondary education, provide your original in-Borough address in applications. Moving away from Haringey after secondary school may impact eligibility for continuation awards.
Application Timing
- Applications cannot be submitted retrospectively - the 28th February deadline is firm
- Apply as early as possible after forms are published on 1st May
- For continuation awards, watch for correspondence by mid-August and follow up if not received
Supporting Documentation
For Somerset Special Awards, strong supporting documentation is critical:
- Athletes should provide verification from coaches and evidence of achievements
- Musicians should include letters of support from music tutors
- All applicants should be prepared to provide documentary evidence if requested
Course Selection
The Foundation carefully defines eligible courses:
- Somerset Award specifically excludes A levels, AS levels, and GCSEs - focus is on vocational courses
- Courses must be full-time
- For SUA, courses must be two years or more in duration
Specific Maintained Secondary Schools
The Foundation works with twelve specific maintained secondary schools in Haringey. Attendance at one of these schools during your secondary education is typically required for eligibility.
Key Takeaways for Grant Writers
- Geographic restriction is absolute: You must be Haringey resident AND have attended maintained secondary school in the borough - this is non-negotiable
- Deadline adherence is critical: The 28th February deadline is firm with no exceptions for retrospective funding
- Email is preferred contact method: The Foundation's phones are only manned part-time, so use info@tgsf.info for fastest response
- Plan ahead for multi-year awards: If your course runs multiple years, indicate this in your initial application to enable continuation funding
- Age restrictions matter: You must be under 25 on September 1st of the study year - plan applications accordingly
- Different processes for different awards: Somerset Special Awards require letter applications to the Chairman, while Somerset Award and SUA use online forms published annually
- Course type eligibility varies: Read eligibility criteria carefully - vocational courses for Somerset Award, degrees for SUA, and special circumstances for SAW
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References
- Charity Commission Register of Charities: https://register-of-charities.charitycommission.gov.uk/en/charity-search/-/charity-details/312634 (Accessed: 2025-10-13)
- The Tottenham Grammar School Foundation official website: http://www.tgsf.info/ (Accessed: 2025-10-13)
- The Tottenham Grammar School Foundation information pages: https://www.gc-solutions.org.uk/ (Accessed: 2025-10-13)
- Somerset Award FAQ: https://www.gc-solutions.org.uk/page17.html (Accessed: 2025-10-13)
- Somerset Undergraduate Award FAQ: https://www.gc-solutions.org.uk/page16a.html (Accessed: 2025-10-13)
- Somerset Special Awards information: https://www.gc-solutions.org.uk/page12.html (Accessed: 2025-10-13)
- Help for people page: https://www.gc-solutions.org.uk/page2.html (Accessed: 2025-10-13)
- Contact information: https://www.gc-solutions.org.uk/page8.html (Accessed: 2025-10-13)
- Giving is Great Charity Factsheet: https://www.givingisgreat.org.uk/charity-factsheet/?regNo=312634 (Accessed: 2025-10-13)
- Turn2us Grants Search: https://grants-search.turn2us.org.uk/grant/tottenham-grammar-school-foundation-16179 (Accessed: 2025-10-13)
- Haringey Council - Outside bodies information: https://www.minutes.haringey.gov.uk/mgOutsideBodyDetails.aspx?ID=343 (Accessed: 2025-10-13)
- Greig City Academy grants information: https://www.greigcityacademy.co.uk/2106/grants-for-further-and-higher-education (Accessed: 2025-10-13)