Headteacher's Blog Issue 10

Building for the Future: An Exciting School Improvement Project

It is a pleasure to share news of an exciting collaboration with the Burford School Foundation and Roberts Limbrick Architects in the coming months. As illustrated in the image below, a long-awaited project to refurbish the school’s reception area will soon get underway, made possible by a generous gift from the charity established in the school’s name some 100 years ago. Work is scheduled to begin towards the end of the Summer Term, with initial preparatory phases taking place while students are still in school, before more intensive work continues over the holiday period. While the transformation will be a welcome one, we are conscious that it will bring a degree of disruption at the start of September. Please be assured that plans are already in place to keep this to a minimum—and we hope the end result will more than justify any temporary inconvenience.

The Foundation has a fascinating, if sometimes misunderstood, history. Created at a time when elements of the school and its assets transferred to county control, it is easy to assume it forms part of the school itself. In fact, it is an entirely independent charity, run by a dedicated group of local volunteers. Over the past half century, it has provided support to young people in the town who have benefited from at least two years of education at the school.

That support has taken many forms. Some has come through direct contributions to the school, while much has been provided through means-tested grants to students—helping with everything from transport and uniform to musical instruments, camping equipment, computers, and university books. Its impact has been both practical and transformative for generations of students.

In a similar spirit, I would also like to recognise the ongoing work of the PTA, which is currently undergoing an exciting rebrand (more details to follow). Their generous support recently helped ensure that the incredible production of Chitty Chitty Bang Bang was possible, an event that showcased the talent, creativity, and commitment of our students and staff. Behind the scenes, the dedicated team of PTA volunteers gives their time in countless ways: from supporting the serving of refreshments at events, to running the pre-loved uniform initiative, and helping organise much-loved occasions such as the Year 6 Burford School Family Fayre. Their contribution is both wide-ranging and deeply valued.

Organisations such as these play a vital role in sustaining and enriching the opportunities for which the school is so well known. While we are fortunate to benefit from such support, we are also mindful of the broader challenges facing school funding nationally. Continued partnership and community engagement remain essential in enabling us to provide the highest standard of education.

If you would like to learn more about ways to support the school, further information is available on our website: https://www.burford.oxon.sch.uk/about-us/support-us

We will also share more detail in our Summer Information Letter in July, including how contributions can help sustain into the future valued aspects of school life such as the late bus service, music events, and an extensive programme of sports fixtures.