In this article on the final day of the Cranleigh Foundation Week, Adrian Lajtha (pictured), Chairman of the Governing Body, reflects on how important the Foundation is in helping Cranleigh School and Cranleigh Prep to be inclusive to all, regardless of background or family circumstance. Adrian sits on the Cranleigh Foundation board as a trustee.
The Cranleigh Foundation is a real jewel in the Cranleigh crown and, over this past week, it has been wonderful to see it sparkle in the light of so many contributions from people involved in its work.
I do believe that the Cranleigh Foundation is a precious gift to us all:
- It gives life-changing opportunities for children who, through no fault of their own, have been affected by tragedy
- It introduces and welcomes children to Cranleigh who bring a different world-view that challenges and enriches the life experienced by Cranleighans
- It gives pupils and staff the insight to recognise their privilege and to think beyond themselves.
The Cranleigh Foundation… gives the disadvantaged the potential to achieve, and to get the best life has to offer…. It can help a child value themselves and give them the education and growth they need to be successful and contribute to the world around them in a meaningful way. – Foundationer’s guardian
Here at Cranleigh, our school is large enough to provide for breadth of opportunity and small enough to nurture a friendly, cohesive community. It is our pleasure as well as our privilege to welcome young people from a diverse range of backgrounds and experience to Cranleigh.
The pandemic has shone an even brighter light on our society’s inequalities and it has renewed our determination to strengthen an inclusive culture at Cranleigh as part of our long-term strategic aim to be more diverse. The work of the Cranleigh Foundation, in offering fully funded bursaries to children with really significant pastoral need, plays a key role in this strategy. Since 2011, there have been 13 Foundationer pupils at Cranleigh and, even in that short time, we have already seen at first-hand the benefits these Foundationer places provide.
As a trustee of the Cranleigh Foundation, it is so very moving and inspiring to read the progress reports about our Foundationers and to hear from them and their families about how Cranleigh has improved their lives:
The Cranleigh Foundation changes lives quite literally… It does not just impact the future of Foundationers, but also the people around them. – Past Foundationer
Our child has more belief in themselves now. They are proud to be at Cranleigh and it has affected their mental state in a very positive way…. The School spirit is a very real thing at Cranleigh, and this makes the children feel part of something bigger than themselves. – Foundationer’s guardian
As well as my child learning from them, many have learnt from her the ways of the outside world…. They [my child] have contributed by showing how diverse and enriched life outside of Cranleigh is.– Foundationer’s parent
The board of trustees draws strength and inspiration from the experience of our first generation of Foundationers and their families and sponsors, and we are now singularly focused on the next stage of the Cranleigh Foundation journey to get us to the goal of funding 10 Foundationer pupils in perpetuity. With your help and support, we look forward to achieving this goal in the years to come.