Circle of the Oak

A community of major supporters backing our work

A tradition of generosity, and a commitment to the future.

Philanthropy sits at the very heart of William Ellis School and the William Ellis Trust.

The school owes its existence to a considerable act of philanthropy. Our founder and namesake established William Ellis School in the mid-nineteenth century as part of a wider philanthropic vision to expand access to education across London. The founding belief that education can transform lives and strengthen society remains central to who we are today. You can learn more about our roots here.

Philanthropy today:

Individual philanthropy remains a vital force within our work. In recent years, a number of alumni and other supporters have chosen to give generously, both during their lifetimes and through legacy giving. This generosity has allowed us to significantly grow our Investment Fund in recent years, and in turn the impact of what we are able to achieve.

This fund provides an annual income that is reinvested directly into impactful work within the school community. It enables us to:

·       Support ambitious, pupil-focused programmes year on year

·       Invest in staff-led innovation that strengthens boys’ education

·       Make occasional larger, strategic investments in the school site and the Mill

·       Plan with confidence, independence and long-term vision  

Quite simply, the larger this fund grows, the more we are able to achieve each year, and the more boldly we can respond to the needs and opportunities facing the school. Gifts provided to the Trust are partly spent on immediate projects with significant portions being added to our investment fund. This means the generosity of supporters continues to contribute to the expansion of our work for many years as a part of this investment.

The Circle of the Oak is our community for those who have provided, or pledged to, the support to grow this vital element of our work. Learn more about the Circle in this short presentation.

Backing innovation on boys’ education:

William Ellis School is at the forefront of trialing new and thoughtful approaches to boys’ education. It recognises that the challenges facing young men today are complex, evolving and demand more than standard solutions.

We play a critical role in enabling this work. Philanthropic support allows the school to test, refine and scale initiatives that improve outcomes not only academically, but socially, emotionally and culturally. This includes work focused on character, wellbeing, belonging, agency and aspiration which are all areas where early investment can have lifelong impact.

You can read more about why this work matters, and the role we play in supporting it, in our article Why Our Work Is Important.

Why your support matters:

As an alum or other member of our community, your support carries particular weight. You understand the school’s ethos, its potential and the difference that opportunity can make at the right moment.

Strategic alumni philanthropy enables us to:

·       Ensure that financial circumstance never limits access to formative educational and social experiences

·       Sustain long-term investment rather than short-term fixes

·       Protect the school’s ability to innovate and lead

·       Create lasting benefit for generations of pupils to come

A personal approach to giving:

We work closely and discreetly with alumni who wish to support the Trust in a significant way. This may include:

  • Contributions to the Investment Fund

  • Multi-year or strategic gifts aligned to specific priorities

  • Legacy giving that strengthens the Trust’s work for decades ahead

All major gifts are stewarded carefully, with transparency, respect and meaningful reporting on impact as may be desired.

Begin a conversation:

Many alumni choose to engage with us privately, guided by a shared belief in the enduring power of education. Whether you are considering your first significant gift or exploring a legacy, we would welcome a confidential conversation.

To discuss becoming a member of the Circle of the Oak, please contact:

Will Durham
Director, William Ellis Trust
wdurham@williamellis.camden.sch.uk

We would like to express our heartfelt thanks to current members of the Circle of the Oak.

These are:

  • Mr Syd Aldridge

  • Mr Alastair Campbell

  • Ms Fiona Millar

  • Mr William Schwitzer

  • Ms Selina Skipwith