Kenilworth School goes above and beyond

In 2019, Kenilworth School shared a compelling fundraising vision for a superb new school and sixth form centre. Three years later, thanks to the enthusiasm and engagement of local partners, residents, trustees and staff, the build is well underway. Taking the project to another level with an additional £2.5m of philanthropic funding is the next strategic challenge.

Kenilworth, an historic market town in Warwickshire, is home to a castle, an ancient abbey and a thriving population of some 23,000 residents. At the heart of this community is Kenilworth School and Sixth Form, an Ofsted ranked ‘outstanding’ Multi Academy Trust with around 1,900 students. Operating across spilt sites and facing a growing demand for places, the school is looking forward to bringing pupils together on a single, expanded campus in September 2023.

Costing £48m, the project includes ground-breaking investment from local partners and promises to deliver a first-class facility where young people and the wider community are encouraged to flourish. In fundraising terms, the project also has the capacity to go beyond the brief and include an impressive suite of ‘extras’ including innovative teaching and learning technology, top flight sports provision and high-quality furnishings.

“When we completed the fundraising feasibility study, it was clear that the school had an opportunity to explore new territory in terms of philanthropic support,” says Gifted Director, Andrew Day. “Already, leadership giving has surpassed expectations with over £1m pledged towards the campaign target of £2.5m. It’s a fantastic start and demonstrates that transformational philanthropy is just as much at home in the state school sector as it is in an independent setting.”

Seizing an important window of opportunity

Whilst contractors are currently on site, the school now has the chance to optimise the new build, by using this window to incorporate additional enhancements and facilities. This means that every pound donated will go further and make an even bigger impact on the quality of learning and resources on offer.

The challenge of meeting the fundraising target and achieving something ‘extra-ordinary’ is also being taken up by the school’s students, alumni and parents through the PTA. “We are immensely grateful for everyone’s efforts in driving the campaign forwards and providing the kind of stakeholder participation that makes all the difference when seeking external support,” says Headteacher, Hayden Abbott. “A £48m ambition to build a brand new school was daunting enough, but to fundraise for a further £2.5m when our team had never mounted a capital campaign, was a challenge we clearly needed professional help to meet. Gifted have been there every step of the way as a trusted partner providing a tailored service that has enabled us to secure gifts at a level we never thought possible. Gifted’s no-nonsense fundraising advice and practical day-to-day professional support has been pivotal to our philanthropic success.”