Bond partners with The Bursary Foundation

Unlocking opportunities for disadvantaged pupils

Newly-established Manchester charity The Bursary Foundation is launching a pilot project working with 20 children from 5 primary schools in inner-city Manchester who have been identified as potentially eligible for bursary places at the region’s leading independent schools. The project will oversee tutoring and mentoring support for selected pupils. We have partnered with the foundation to provide Bond 11+ resources for free to pupils who are selected, to help them prepare for entrance exams.

The project will launch with two of the UK’s most successful independent schools, The Manchester Grammar School and Withington Girls’ School, both of whom are committed to increasing their existing bursary provision and broadening their demographic. Work begins this month with primary schools in Harpurhey, Gorton, Clayton and Ancoats.

The Bursary Foundation was founded by former primary school teacher Jenny Hopkinson based on the belief that bright pupils, regardless of their family’s financial means, should be able to access the best educational opportunities. Teaching in inner-city Manchester, she began to feel frustrated by the gap between the independent and state sector and the lack of opportunity for talented children from low-income backgrounds, compared to their more affluent counterparts. She has set up the foundation to bridge the gap between the sectors and to unlock opportunity.

Jenny Hopkinson said: “It is now widely recognised that we are in crisis when it comes to social mobility and it’s time for selective schools, both grammar and fee-paying, to step up to the issue. Sadly, evidence shows that too many highly-able pupils from disadvantaged backgrounds are falling behind at secondary school. For me, this is a tragic waste of talent and our hope is that the project supports some of these children to realise their potential."