We are delighted that RGS Guildford has been shortlisted for the Independent Schools of the Year 2025 award in the category of Outstanding Fundraising Achievement, in recognition of its wide-ranging charitable initiatives, both within and beyond the school gates.
Fundraising at RGS Guildford is a core part of our school’s identity. With a focus on both raising significant funds and delivering real-world impact, the development programme is built around values of access, opportunity and community.
Over the past six years, students and staff have raised more than £155,400 for 18 charities and contributed over 20,000 hours of volunteering. These efforts are not only philanthropic in outcome, they also cultivate leadership, empathy and civic responsibility in students.
At the heart of the school’s development work is the belief that education should be accessible to all, regardless of financial background. Fundraising for bursaries is a major focus, supporting the Headmaster’s vision that any bright local boy should be able to attend RGS Guildford. As part of the Road to 2035 Bursary Campaign, a student-led telethon raised over £111,000, with an additional £169,000 secured through other campaigns and alumni support.
The school’s commitment to outreach also shines through in the RGS String Scheme, which offers free weekly music tuition and instruments to around 180 Year 4 pupils every year. To date, nearly 3,000 children have benefitted. Strategic partnerships have enabled the expansion of the programme to a second school and the formation of the Strictly Strings Orchestra, offering public performance opportunities that build musical confidence.
Student-led fundraising plays a central role in the life of the school. The Pilgrims’ Challenge, now in its fourth year, encourages Sixth Form students to design and undertake self-directed physical challenges in aid of causes they care about. This year, 44 students are participating across four teams, independently managing planning, logistics and fundraising for their chosen charities.
Another standout initiative is the annual Sleep Out, where students and staff spend a night outdoors on school grounds to raise awareness of homelessness. The event has raised over £24,000 since its inception, including £6,000 in 2025 alone. Participants take part with the understanding that while for them it is just one night, for many it is a daily reality.
RGS staff 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 engaging, hands-on historical workshops to local primary school children.
Internationally, the RGS maintains a strong partnership with Bhu Pu Sainik School in Nepal, recently contributing £5,000 for books and laboratory equipment and supporting school infrastructure through continued fundraising.
In our most recent inspection, the Independent Schools Inspectorate (ISI) praised the school for offering “a variety of opportunities for pupils to contribute to the lives of others… in the wider community.”
Being shortlisted for this national award is a reflection of the entire RGS Guildford community of students, staff, alumni and families, coming together to create lasting impact through purposeful fundraising.