The Rather Use Than Fame Club

Creating opportunities for pupils and our community

Join our community of regular supporters and help us create more opportunities for William Ellis pupils every year.

Taking its inspiration from the school motto — “Rather Use Than Fame”, as meaningful today as ever, our regular giving initiative brings together alumni, parents, and friends who want to make a lasting difference to our pupils’ futures. We hear from many alumni whose lives and career since leaving the school provide a rich embodiment of the values inherent within the motto. Joining the club is a way of continuing to build on this rich legacy of positive social contributions by alumni and supporters of the school.

Your ongoing support helps us expand our impact across the school, funding experiences and opportunities that go beyond what core budgets can cover.

In a student’s words:

Watch a short speech from a current William Ellis pupil below on what Rather Use Than Fame means to him as he looks to the future — a moment that captured so much hope for the world to come.

Making your donation

In recognition of the school’s founding year, we suggest a monthly donation of £18.62 — but please feel free to give any amount that suits you.
Every contribution, large or small, helps us continue creating exceptional opportunities for our pupils.

How your gift makes a difference

All donations made through the Rather Use Than Fame Club are used exclusively to enhance opportunities for William Ellis students.

While the trust’s core funding largely comes from returns on our modest endowment, these additional contributions allow us to go further and do more. We will report each year on what we have made possible as a collective through the club.

Your donations may support:

  1. Outdoor Education: Subsidising attendance at The Mill for pupils from under-resourced backgrounds, ensuring it remains an opportunity for all. Supporting our goal to see more WES pupils go on to take the Duke of Edinburgh Gold Award in KS5.

  2. Resources for learning: Purchasing equipment and materials that enhance teaching and learning, beyond what school budgets can provide. This complements our staff innovation fund which champions teaching expertise and passion to drive excellent outcomes

  3. Enrichment and experience: Funding trips, workshops, and creative projects and collaborations that inspire curiosity and confidence in our pupils. Some of these will lead to tangible outcomes we will be delighted to share with you.

Thank you

Thank you for considering joining the Rather Use Than Fame Club.

Together, we can continue the William Ellis tradition of generosity, purpose, and impact — using our resources for good, rather than for fame. We will add those who join the club below and are happy to be listed as regular givers to our work. There are others who prefer to give anonymously and our warm thanks go to you all too.

Our thanks to those who have become among the earliest members of the club and are listed below. To date, these are;

  • Mr P Ashby

  • Mr W Schwitzer

  • Ms S Skipwith

  • Mr C Smith