Our Director reflects on 2025 and his first 9 months in role
By Will Durham
As 2025 begins to draw to a close, and we all move into that festive period when time seems to follow a different rhythm, it feels like a natural moment to pause and reflect on what has been a fascinating and, we hope, transformational year for the William Ellis Trust.
On a personal level, the year began with me tentatively considering a change in my working life. I had spent almost ten very happy years at a wonderful educational charity, where I was fortunate to be part of significant success and to learn a great deal about leadership and navigation in the often uncertain waters of the charity sector. I had no firm plans to move on, but a growing sense that it might be the right moment to start thinking differently about the next chapter.
It was in early January that the advert for the Director role at the Birkbeck and William Ellis Schools Trust was shared with me by a LinkedIn connection. As someone who grew up within the Camden state education system and who still has strong links to the borough, the opportunity immediately resonated. The role offered the chance to work with an inspirational group of trustees and a school with a clear ambition to build something special. It was an opportunity to make a genuine difference to the lives of current and future pupils, while strengthening relationships with former pupils and contributing to the wider community.
Increasingly, state secondary schools are establishing their own charitable trusts to help raise additional funds. This is largely a response to the long-term underinvestment in education by successive governments, at a time when the needs of schools and pupils have certainly not diminished. What is far rarer is a trust with the depth of history and heritage that ours has. That history reflects the fact that William Ellis is a school unlike many others. As one of the original Birkbeck schools, its founding vision and philosophy remain as relevant today as they were when the school was first established.
Despite its long association with the school, dating back to 1862 in one form or another, the Trust has often operated quietly in the background. This is not meant negatively, but rather to acknowledge that our support has not always been visible or well understood. It has been entirely possible to attend the school, work there, or carry strong memories of time spent at William Ellis without ever knowing the Trust existed. One of our ambitions is to change this gradually, by becoming more visible in our work and clearer about the important role we play within the school community.
One of the great pleasures of my time in post so far has been getting to know that community. I have had countless conversations over coffee, lunch, email and video calls with people who hold the school very close to their hearts. These conversations have spanned generations, from alumni now in their eighties who attended the school in the 1950s and have spent much of their lives abroad, to former pupils in their early twenties who still live locally and are already engaged in work that brings real benefit to their communities.
While meaningful change takes time, and we are committed to a long-term journey alongside the school, there is much to celebrate from the first nine months of this new way of working, with me in post as the Trust’s first full-time employee.
In 2025, we have:
Redesigned how we provide funding to the school, including the launch of a highly successful Staff Innovation Fund that backs the expertise and passion of William Ellis staff
Launched a new strategy and website to raise our visibility, alongside hosting our first major community event, featuring Alastair Campbell in conversation
Reconnected with a wide range of alumni and others with strong links to the school, including many who had not returned for decades
Strengthened our role as a fundraising charity, with growing support from donors, including the launch of our Rather Use Than Fame Club monthly giving initiative. We have also seen trusts and foundations provide some funding and take an interest in our work.
We have developed lots of this work working closely alongside the school community. Izzy Jones, William Ellis headteacher, reflected on the work done so far and the work to come in her comment below.
”The William Ellis Trust plays a vital role in enriching the educational experience we offer to our students…What makes the Trust's support particularly powerful is how their work creates opportunities that wouldn't otherwise be possible. From the Staff Innovation Fund that enables our teachers to pilot new approaches, to programmes that specifically support students from under-resourced backgrounds, the Trust embodies our founder's belief that a broad education combined with strong character development prepares students for success. Their commitment to helping our boys develop into tomorrow's leaders aligns perfectly with our mission of nurturing successful students and good citizens through strong relationships, and their support enables us to maintain the honest, robust and caring environment that defines William Ellis School.”
We are deeply grateful for the warmth, enthusiasm and engagement shown by so many people across our extended community. While you are far too numerous to name individually, it is a privilege to work with and alongside you as we continue to develop our role as a charity dedicated to supporting William Ellis School and its wider community.
We are very much looking forward to 2026. With strong foundations now in place, the year ahead promises to be an exciting one, with new projects and ambitions that we are eager to develop in partnership with the school and our supporters. We look forward to sharing more about these plans as they take shape.
Thank you for being part of our work this year. We wish you a restful and enjoyable festive period and look forward to continuing our relationship into 2026
