Haberdashers' Elstree Schools Foundation

The Haberdashers' Elstree Schools Foundation is a registered UK charity (Charity number 1107027) established in 2008 with the purpose of supporting and promoting the educational aims of the Haberdashers' Elstree Schools. The Foundation traces its heritage back to the philanthropy of Robert Aske, a wealthy 17th-century merchant whose bequest in 1689 enabled the founding of the first Haberdashers' school in 1690. The Foundation upholds Aske's vision that capable students should receive the best education possible, regardless of their financial background, and that those who succeed should give back to the community[1].

History and Purpose

The Foundation was originally created to serve the boys' school exclusively but expanded its remit in 2019 to support both the boys' and girls' schools at Elstree. It exists primarily to raise funds that remove financial barriers to attending these schools and to ensure sufficient resources are available to deliver outstanding education. The Foundation addresses this by providing substantial bursaries and financial aid, covering on average 89% of school fees for recipients. As of recent figures, 81 students benefit from fully funded places that cover tuition, transportation, meals, and extracurricular activities. The total bursary expenditure by the schools exceeds £3 million annually, a figure that continues to rise[1].

Activities and Community Role

Beyond financial support, the Foundation, together with the Development Office, plays a vital role in fostering and maintaining the wider Habs community. This includes organizing reunions, social and sporting events, networking opportunities, and career talks, thereby strengthening connections among current students, alumni (known as Old Haberdashers), faculty, donors, and friends of the schools. The Foundation depends heavily on philanthropic contributions to sustain and expand this support in the future[1].

Legacy

The Foundation continues the long-standing traditions of the Haberdashers' schools, which originated from Robert Aske's original endowment. Aske's legacy began with a charity hospital and school for the sons of poor freemen of the Haberdashers' Company, established in Hoxton in 1690. Since then, the schools and their supporting organizations have evolved considerably, now operating from their Elstree campuses and offering scholarship and bursary programs that reflect the founding philanthropic ideals[1][2][3].

This charitable foundation plays a crucial role in preserving the heritage and extending access to the high-quality education for which the Haberdashers' Elstree Schools are known.

[1] https://www.habselstree.org.uk/boys/our-community/staying-connected/the-foundation/ [2] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Haberdashers'_Boys'_School [3] https://www.habselstree.org.uk/girls/about-us/our-history/ [4] https://www.habstrustsouth.org.uk/Our-History/ [5] http://haberdashersaskesschoolforgirls.daisy.websds.net/SchoolHistory.aspx