The Prendergast Fund was established in 2024 to support inspiring creative opportunities for pupils at the Prendergast schools, made possible through regular donations from our community.
We’re now inviting our community of parents and carers to make a regular monthly donation so these opportunities can continue now and in the future.
Every donation funds opportunities for pupils. Donations are not used for administration.
How the Fund helps pupils
The Prendergast Fund helps pupils experience inspiring opportunities beyond the classroom, from theatre trips to Shakespeare’s Globe and Poetry Live! to debating programmes and creative workshops. These opportunities broaden horizons and build confidence, motivation and ambition.
Performances
Trips to Shakespeare’s Globe and visiting theatre performances bring GCSE texts to life.
Public speaking
Pupils develop confidence through programmes such as Debate Mate and the Jack Petchey Speak Out Challenge.
Inspiring talks and events
Pupils attend events like Poetry Live! where leading poets perform and discuss their work.
How the Fund works
The Prendergast Fund is a restricted fund. This means donations can only be used to support enrichment activities for pupils at the Prendergast schools.
Donations do not fund administration. The Prendergast Schools Trust covers banking, admin and payment processing costs from existing reserves.
We aim to spend donations in the academic year they are received, so that pupils benefit as quickly as possible.
Each year the schools receive grants from the fund based on the number of pupils at each school. In its pilot year we distributed the grants as follows:
- £18,850 – Prendergast Ladywell School
- £14,100 – Prendergast School
- £12,050 – Prendergast Vale School
Headteachers then decide which specific activities they want to use the fund for in their school, ensuring they fall within the aims of the fund.