KES Celebrates Record-Breaking Year of Fundraising to Support Young People Across Hampshire
King Edward VI School is celebrating a record-breaking year of fundraising, with more than £1.2 million donated during the 2025-26 academic year to support bursary awards and widen access to education for talented young people across the region.
The achievement marks a significant milestone in the school's ongoing commitment to ensuring that financial circumstances do not prevent pupils from benefiting from the opportunities and experiences a KES education can provide.
Thanks to the generosity of donors, the school welcomed 17 new bursary recipients in September 2026, its largest ever intake, bringing the total number of bursary award holders currently studying at King Edward's to 61 pupils, including 27 receiving full fee remission.
The fundraising success forms part of the school's ambitious campaign to raise £5 million by 2030 and double the number of bursary places available to local families. To date, the campaign has raised more than £2.1 million.
Neal Parker, Head of King Edward's School, said:
"We are incredibly grateful to everyone who has contributed to this record-breaking year of fundraising. Every donation represents an investment in a young person's future and demonstrates the power of a community coming together to create opportunity.”
The transformative impact of bursary support can be seen in the experiences of many former recipients. Darren, who joined King Edward's on a full bursary award in 2019 and secured a place to study Chemistry at the University of Nottingham, reflected on his time at the school:
"The bursary has made a huge difference to me. Without it, I would have followed a completely different path. The opportunities, friendships and experiences I've had at KES have shaped who I am today.
"I am forever grateful that donors are generous enough to invest in the futures of pupils like me. My dream is that one day I can give back to KES and the community that has done so much for me."
The pupil's story reflects a wider ambition at King Edward's: to create opportunities for young people not only to succeed academically, but also to develop the confidence, skills and sense of responsibility to make a positive difference in the wider world.
During the past year, bursary award holders continued to excel across all areas of school life, with 12 pupils receiving prestigious external awards and prizes in recognition of their achievements.
The school's fundraising programme has attracted support from 90 donors over the past academic year, united by a shared belief that access to educational opportunity can be life changing.
As the campaign continues, King Edward's is encouraging alumni, parents and friends of the school to support its vision of opening doors for even more local young people.
Mr Parker added:
"We often talk about the life-changing impact of bursaries, but what is equally inspiring is the ripple effect they create. Many of the young people who benefit from this support go on to make meaningful contributions to their professions, communities and society. That is why this work matters so much, and why we are so determined to continue building on this momentum."
Bursaries are awarded at 11+, 13+ and Sixth Form. Find out more about giving and bursaries.
