Canford Campaign

The aims of the Canford Development Programme are simple: to provide the best possible facilities to our pupils, and to give the opportunity of a Canford education to deserving young people regardless of their financial means. 

Three top-priority projects have been identified to help achieve these goals, and over the next 2-3 years we aim to raise at least £3 million towards them with a focused Canford Campaign. 

So far, the response has been very encouraging: your generous contributions have helped us raise £1.3 million towards our goal.

We thank all of our supporters who have already contributed, and now we appeal to the wider Canford community – OCs, parents and friends - to help support us now and into the future.

Please contact the Development Director with any questions about the Campaign or gifts to it. 

PoolThe Assyrian Legacy. Many people familiar with Canford will remember the discovery of the Assyrian Frieze in 1993, the sale of which raised almost £6.5 million for the school.  The proceeds part-funded the Layard Theatre, the sports centre, and new boarding facilities. 

£2.5 million was invested in a new Assyrian Scholarship fund, and a small portion went to the fledgling Partnership and Community Service programmes.

Other Income.  In all, Canford has been able to invest about £23 million into capital projects over the last twenty years.  This has been possible without major fundraising, thanks to the Frieze, sale of some offsite properties, and increased fee revenue as the school went fully co-educational and roll numbers increased. 

Moving Forward.  £6.5 million, even wisely invested, only stretches so far. 

Canford has been extremely fortunate over the past twenty years, and now we need to think about how we continue to thrive over the next twenty years.  With increased running costs, a full school roll, and very little chance of finding more ancient treasures in the cellars, we know it is time to ask our friends and supporters to help move the school forward.

This is why the Development Programme was established in 2005, and why we now launch our first major Campaign in a generation. 

Put simply, bursaries change lives.  They open up a Canford education and a world of opportunity to talented young people who wouldn’t otherwise have the means. 

Brianna Stubbs“A full bursary allowed me not just to go to Canford, but to take part in the full range of activities the school was able to offer.  I took my sport to new levels, went on the Partnership Trip to Argentina, and was phenomenally well prepared for Oxbridge entrance.

Having people from all backgrounds at Canford makes it special, and giving young people like myself a chance to come can change their lives forever.”

Brianna Stubbs (L09) is now in her third year studying medicine at Oxford, and, as well as winning two Boat Races, represents Great Britain at U23 level. 

Our long-term goal?  A self-sustaining Bursary Endowment Fund – this will require £10 million or more to offer a significant number of bursaries in perpetuity. 

In the short-term, we aim to start building the Bursary Endowment Fund.  We have so far been able to initiate the Fund with £157,000 pledged entirely by Old Canfordians and a further £1 million raised during the initial stages of the Campaign.  Thank you.

 

Teaching Block

All pupils need excellent facilities which support their learning, living and activities.  One area currently in need of improvement is teaching space, which has not kept pace with pupil numbers or requirements.

We need approximately ten classrooms and more laboratory space to relieve pressure on space and teaching.  Our plans for a new teaching block include:

  • Ten new classrooms
  • One new Lab
  • Office, seminar and storage space
  • 2nd storey to be built above current physics/chemistry department

Planning permission has been granted, and, subject to funding, we hope to begin construction in Spring 2012.

Chapel

We have nowhere for the entire school – 630 pupils and 80 teaching staff – to gather comfortably as a community for worship and assembly.  Gisborough Hall was built for a much smaller school, and fitting 700 people into the space meant for 450 is a challenge!  Whole-school services never actually involve the whole school; services are run consecutively or simultaneously. 

Our Music School was also built for about half the pupil numbers using it.  Pupils and staff do achieve excellent results, but the simple fact is that we need more space for teaching, lessons, practice and rehearsal.  The wish list also includes upgraded space for contemporary music, and improvements to soundproofing, instrument storage and music IT.

Our vision is for a contemporary multipurpose space which will achieve the following:

  • Provide space for 700+ pupils and staff to gather for assemblies and worship
  • Function as an acoustically vibrant concert hall seating 450
  • A new music school with more practice, storage, rehearsal and teaching space
  • New contemporary music spaces, music IT suites
  • A drama studio and extended green room and workshop spaces adjacent to the current Layard Theatre
  • A new recital hall combining excellent acoustics with views into the Park

A contemporary, environmentally friendly and complementary building has been designed by Bennetts Associates.  The timeline for building this project is subject to funding, and we hope that all the Canford community will help us to realise this vision.