We are delighted to announce a £285,000 gift from the Frank Misselbrook Foundation, building on its longstanding support and commitment to King Edward VI School in Southampton. This generous donation will establish an endowment to support new 100% Bursary Award holders from the 2025/26 academic year onwards, ensuring pupils have access to essential resources beyond school fees.

At KES, we are proud to play our part in increasing opportunities for young people in our city by providing several full and partial bursaries each year. However, up until now, Bursary Award holders have only received financial assistance with the fee itself. 

Thanks to this generous support from the Frank Misselbrook Foundation, new pupils who are awarded a 100% bursary will also be eligible to receive funding for school uniforms, essential technology for learning, lunches, travel and a school trips allowance. All of these costs are vital to the everyday KES experience, and this gift will ensure that all pupils receive similar opportunities regardless of their financial background.

The Frank Misselbrook Foundation was founded by Margaret Misselbrook, who had a passion for supporting deserving, local young people through enhanced educational opportunities. The Foundation was named in memory of her father, Frank Misselbrook, who attended the School.   

The Foundation has generously supported KES since the 1990s, providing over £1 million in vital funding for pupils finding themselves in financial hardship and the Frank Misselbrook Sixth Form Bursary. Now, in 2024, the Foundation is playing a key part in helping our School to build a sustainable and successful bursary programme.

James Lapage, Trustee of the Frank Misselbrook Foundation, commented: “As Trustees, motivated by Margaret Misselbrook’s original intentions, we firmly believe in the power of education to change lives. In order for this to happen, all the right ingredients need to be in place. We are therefore so pleased to be able to provide this funding for Bursary Award holders, so that they can make the most of their time at KES and hopefully look ahead to a bright future.”

Neal Parker, Head, commented: “We are immensely grateful for our longstanding partnership with the Frank Misselbrook Foundation, and to the Trustees for making this latest transformational gift. Having the Frank Misselbrook Endowment means we can give certainty to families considering applying for a bursary, that not only will the fees be covered, but these important extras too. Our message to families in our city is: if you have the motivation to succeed, KES can help you fulfil your ambitions. Please do consider applying for a bursary”.

To find out more about our bursary provision and how you can apply, please visit our website.