Wisbech Educational Foundation

Quick Stats

• Charity Number: 1087799
• Annual Income: £324,053 (year ending 31 January 2025)
• Annual Expenditure: £181,919
• Grant Range: 5% - 100% of school fees (bursaries typically 5-85%, exceptional cases 100%)
• Geographic Focus: Wisbech and surrounding area, Cambridgeshire
• Operating Method: Grant making to support students in financial need

Contact Details

Address: 9-10 The Crescent, Wisbech, Cambridgeshire, PE13 1EH

Phone: 01945 463383

Website: wisbech-ef.co.uk (note: website has limited public accessibility)

For bursary applications: Contact via Wisbech Grammar School Admissions Team - 01945 586750 or admissions@wisbechgrammar.com

Overview

The Wisbech Educational Foundation is a registered charity established on 26 June 2002 (previously known as Wisbech Grammar School) with strong historic roots in the Wisbech area. The foundation operates as a charitable company (Company Number: 04234021) with the object of advancing education for the public benefit in or near Wisbech. The foundation specifically promotes the education of children attending independent schools in the area through the provision of grants to those in financial need, scholarships, and prizes. With an annual income of £324,053 and expenditure of £181,919, the foundation plays a significant role in making independent education accessible to families who would otherwise be unable to afford it. The foundation is closely linked to Wisbech Grammar School, a co-educational independent school founded in 1379, and has a linked charity, the Wisbech Educational Endowment Trust. The Chair of the Wisbech Educational Foundation retains a nominated seat on the Advisory Committee at Wisbech Grammar School.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

Means-Tested Bursaries: Awards ranging from 5% to 85% of school fees, with exceptional cases receiving up to 100% support. Bursaries are available for students from Year 7 (1st Form) through to Year 13 (Upper 6th Form).

Scholarships and Prizes: The foundation also provides scholarships (£1,000 fee reduction) and academic prizes to recognize and support exceptional students. Scholarships are offered alongside bursaries to families with financial need.

Application Method: Applications are processed through Wisbech Grammar School's admissions process. Bursary applications must be submitted after registering a child for school entry. Applications are reviewed by an Awards Panel after the entrance assessment process is completed.

Priority Areas

• Supporting children from families with genuine financial need who wish to attend independent schools in or near Wisbech
• Enabling access to quality independent education regardless of family financial circumstances
• Promoting educational excellence through scholarships and prizes
• Particularly focused on students attending or seeking to attend Wisbech Grammar School

What They Don't Fund

The foundation's specific charitable object limits support to:

• Students attending independent schools (not state schools)
• Education in or near the Wisbech area (geographical restriction to Cambridgeshire locality)
• School fee assistance only (not other educational expenses unrelated to school attendance)

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Governance and Leadership

The Wisbech Educational Foundation is governed by a board of 9 trustees who receive no remuneration, payments, or benefits from the charity. The foundation operates under a memorandum and articles of association, with the scheme dated 29 August 2001, as amended by resolution dated 3 February 2020, and further amended by scheme dated 13 March 2020.

Notable Trustees (as identified from Charity Commission records):

• Paul Robin O'Connor
• Edward Stuart Blundy
• Timothy David Chapman
• Judy Bodger (also trustee of The Arts Society Norwich)

The foundation maintains comprehensive governance policies including complaints handling, risk management, and safeguarding procedures. It owns and leases land and property, reflecting its substantial asset base and long-term commitment to educational provision in the Wisbech area.

Application Process and Timeline

How to Apply

Applications for bursaries are made through Wisbech Grammar School rather than directly to the foundation. The process is as follows:

1. Register for School Entry: First, register your child for entry to Wisbech Grammar School through the school's standard admissions process
2. Request Bursary Application: Contact the Admissions Team (01945 586750 or admissions@wisbechgrammar.com) to request a bursary application form
3. Complete Application: Complete and return the bursary application form with detailed and verifiable information about family income and assets
4. Entrance Assessment: Your child will be invited to sit the entrance assessment and meet with the Headmaster
5. Awards Panel Review: Applications are presented to the Awards Panel only after the entrance assessment process has been completed
6. Offer Letter: If you have applied for a bursary, your offer letter will be a reservation of place pending bursary outcomes

Financial Assessment: Bursaries are strictly means-tested and require parents to provide a detailed and verifiable statement of their income and assets. The assessment is thorough and examines the family's overall financial situation.

Direct Foundation Contact: For general enquiries about the foundation itself (not bursary applications), contact 01945 463383 or write to 9-10 The Crescent, Wisbech, Cambridgeshire, PE13 1EH.

Decision Timeline

Specific decision timelines are not publicly documented, but applications are processed in conjunction with the school's admissions cycle for each entry year (Year 7, Year 9, or Year 12). Families should apply early in the academic year preceding their child's intended entry year.

Awards Panel meetings are scheduled after entrance assessments are completed, suggesting decisions are made within the admissions cycle timeframe.

Success Rates

Specific success rates are not publicly available. However, the foundation's substantial expenditure of £181,919 against an income of £324,053 indicates significant grant-making activity supporting students with financial need.

Reapplication Policy

The foundation expects ongoing standards from bursary recipients: “Pupils awarded bursaries will be expected to maintain high standards of achievement and engagement in their academic work whilst demonstrating a commitment to activities that enrich School life including Art, Drama, Music and Sport.”

This suggests that bursaries are reviewed annually and continued support is contingent on the student maintaining academic standards and actively contributing to school life. Specific reapplication procedures for unsuccessful applicants are not publicly documented - contact the Admissions Team for guidance.

Application Success Factors

Demonstrate Genuine Financial Need

The foundation's primary criterion is genuine financial need. Applications require detailed and verifiable statements of family income and assets. Be prepared to provide comprehensive financial documentation including:

• Income statements and tax returns
• Bank statements
• Asset valuations
• Evidence of outgoings and financial commitments

Transparency and honesty in financial disclosure is critical.

Academic Potential and Engagement

While bursaries are means-tested, the foundation expects recipients to “maintain high standards of achievement and engagement in their academic work.” During the entrance assessment, demonstrate:

• Academic capability appropriate to the year of entry
• Genuine enthusiasm for learning
• Potential to thrive in an independent school environment

Commitment to School Life

The foundation explicitly expects bursary recipients to demonstrate “commitment to activities that enrich School life including Art, Drama, Music and Sport.” In your application and interview:

• Highlight your child's interests and willingness to participate in extracurricular activities
• Show how your child will contribute to the school community
• Emphasize character qualities such as leadership, teamwork, and initiative

Apply Early and Through Proper Channels

• Register for school entry before requesting a bursary application
• Complete all application components fully and by required deadlines
• Ensure entrance assessment is completed before Awards Panel review

Geographic Connection

The foundation serves students in or near Wisbech. Strong local connections to the Wisbech area and Cambridgeshire may strengthen your application.

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

• This is a student-focused foundation: Applications are made by families on behalf of students, not by organizations. This funder is relevant for families seeking independent school education support, not for organizational grant seeking.

• Financial need is paramount: The foundation's core mission is enabling access to independent education for families with genuine financial need. Comprehensive, verifiable financial documentation is essential.

• Process through Wisbech Grammar School: All bursary applications are handled through the school's admissions process, not directly with the foundation. Contact the school's Admissions Team to begin the process.

• Bursaries can be substantial: Awards range from 5% to 100% of fees, meaning significant support is available for families with the greatest need.

• Academic and extracurricular commitment required: Recipients must maintain high academic standards and actively contribute to school life through arts, drama, music, and sport.

• Local focus: The foundation serves the Wisbech area and surrounding Cambridgeshire region specifically.

• Linked to historic educational institution: The foundation's connection to Wisbech Grammar School, founded in 1379, reflects a long-standing commitment to educational excellence in the region.

Similar Funders

These funders have a similar focus and geographic reach:

• The Hinchingbrooke Foundation
• The Ewelme Exhibition Foundation
• Educational Foundation of Robert Oldfield
• Thornton-Smith and Plevins Trust
• The Record Charitable Trust
• WISPERS TRUST LIMITED
• Thetford Educational Foundation Trust
• James Marshall Foundation CIO
• The Connolly Foundation (UK) Limited
• The Wrexham (Parochial) Educational Foundation

References

• UK Charity Commission Register of Charities: Wisbech Educational Foundation (Charity Number 1087799). Accessed via https://register-of-charities.charitycommission.gov.uk/en/charity-search/-/charity-details/3983682/full-print..

• Companies House: Wisbech Educational Foundation (Company Number 04234021). Filing history accessed via https://find-and-update.company-information.service.gov.uk/company/04234021/filing-history

• Wisbech Grammar School website: Bursaries section. https://www.wisbechgrammar.com/admissions/bursaries/..

• Wisbech Grammar School website: Scholarships section. https://www.wisbechgrammar.com/admissions/scholarships/..

• Wisbech Grammar School website: Ownership and Management section. https://www.wisbechgrammar.com/ownership-and-management/..