RGS Guildford is delighted to have been named a winner at the Independent Schools of the Year Awards 2025, where the school was honoured with The Development Award for Outstanding Fundraising Achievement. The award was accepted by Ms Popa (Development Director) and Mrs Rathmell (Head of Charity & Volunteering) at the ceremony, recognising the school’s exceptional commitment to philanthropy, outreach and community engagement.
This accolade comes at a pivotal moment, coinciding with the launch of RGS Giving Days, a fundraising initiative focused on supporting bursaries. The aim is to ensure that an RGS education remains accessible to bright local boys, regardless of financial background. The Giving Days are part of the school’s broader Road to 2035 Bursary Campaign, which has already raised over £280,000 through student-led telethons, alumni support and community donations.
To mark the Giving Days, students and staff have taken on a series of creative and ambitious challenges designed to inspire participation and support:
- First Form Reading Challenge: New Year 7 students have committed to reading for 20 minutes a day—a significant undertaking as they settle into life at RGS. This marks their first fundraising adventure, and the school is encouraging donations to support their efforts and foster a lifelong love of reading.
- School Cycling Challenge: Staff and students are attempting to cycle a combined total of 452.7km—the equivalent of three full circuits of 150.9km. Supporters are invited to make a gift and cheer on the pedal pushers as they take on this endurance challenge.
- World Record-Breaking Music Challenge: In a unique musical initiative, staff, Old Guildfordians (OGs), and parents have come together to record a single track featuring numerous soloists. Donors are encouraged to contribute to discover who features on the track and help the school aim for a world record.
These challenges reflect the school’s ethos of combining creativity, leadership and community spirit in its fundraising efforts. Over the past six years, RGS Guildford has raised £155,400 for 18 charities and contributed more than 20,000 hours of volunteering. These initiatives not only support important causes but also instil values of empathy, civic responsibility and teamwork in students.
One standout initiative is the Pilgrims’ Challenge, now in its fourth year, which sees Sixth Form students design and undertake self-directed physical challenges in support of charities they care about. This year, 44 students across four teams are managed their own logistics, planning and fundraising.
The annual Sleep Out event also continues to make a powerful impact. Students and staff spend a night outdoors on school grounds to raise awareness of homelessness. Since its inception, the event has raised over £24,000, including £6,000 in 2025 alone.
RGS Guildford’s outreach extends beyond the UK. The school maintains a strong partnership with Bhu Pu Sainik School in Nepal, recently contributing £5,000 for books and lab equipment and supporting infrastructure development through ongoing fundraising.
Closer to home, the RGS String Scheme provides free weekly music tuition and instruments to around 180 Year 4 pupils annually. Nearly 3,000 children have benefitted from the programme, which now includes a second school and the formation of the Strictly Strings Orchestra, offering public performance opportunities.
Staff at RGS are equally committed to charitable efforts. Fifteen colleagues recently raised £2,500 for The Fountain Centre by running the Surrey Half Marathon, while a corporate grant of £18,000 was secured for the Tudor Project, which brings hands-on historical workshops to local primary schools.
In its most recent inspection, the Independent Schools Inspectorate (ISI) praised RGS Guildford for offering “a variety of opportunities for pupils to contribute to the lives of others… in the wider community.”
As Giving Days continue, the school invites its community to get involved, donate and celebrate the spirit of giving that defines RGS Guildford.
To learn more or make a donation, visit: http://rgsgivingday.co.uk