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Our founders day is a Shiplake tradition which dates back to the College’s inception in 1959. We have reimagined and rejuvenated it for the 21st Century to host a Giving Day on this date, the 1st & 2nd May 2025.
Our main aim for the day is to gather our whole school community by hosting 36 hours full of challenges, activities, events and celebrations – at the College and online for our overseas parents and OV’s.
Funds raised from the day will be directed towards transformational bursaries and site development and preservation.
If you are interested in becoming a Giving Day Ambassador, helping us to shape and deliver this exciting day in the social calendar, please contact Head of Community and Development, Natalie Spearing – nspearing@shiplake.org.uk.
To find out more about Giving Day – click here
Our mission:
As we continue to go from strength to strength in all areas of academic, pastoral and co-curricular life we want to continue to offer the best possible school experience to every pupil, while also being aware of our responsibilities to the local community and wider society.
Our aim:
To raise funds to provide more transformational bursaries (which make up over 70% of the total funding).
To raise funds in support of major site development plans (as part of our 5 year strategy).
Your generous donation allows us to offer several students with talent and promise but limited means a chance to benefit from a Shiplake College education.
We believe in the power of bursaries and their ability to change lives - both of the recipient and those around them but also to enrich the school with broader diversity and inclusivity, fostering greater empathy and understanding of the wider world beyond the gates of Shiplake.
Last year the Headmaster outlined the 5 Year Strategy for the College. This sets out the plans for development and preservation of the College site to ensure it is future-fit.
With rising costs and a challenging economic landscape, the Site Development and Preservation Fund aims to provide additional support to areas of this plan to speed up development and/or to maximise the impact of the spaces.
Over the history of Shiplake gifts and donations from parents, OVs and friends of the College have made a significant impact towards enabling us to develop the site and offer state-of -the art facilities to our pupils and wider Shiplake Community.
A major legacy donation helped us to build the 6th Form block – Marjorie’s Café.
A number of donations funded the John Turner Building – the home of our Lecture Theatre, Music, Art, Photography and the Thinking Space.
A fund-raising event contributed towards the costs of building the Davies Centre Boat Club and Outdoor Learning Centre.
Kind major gifts have contributed to our success in many sports.
In most cases donors empower the college to allocate gifts to the area(s) most at need. However, some donors have asked for their gifts to be directed to specific projects in the Arts, Sports or general academic performance.
If you are considering donating to the College and would prefer not to do this online – please contact Natalie Spearing, Head of Community and Development at Shiplake to discuss in more detail.
