The Millfield Foundation
The Millfield Foundation
In recent years Millfield has begun to present itself as “probably the best all round school in the world”.
This is no idle boast, when one considers the diversity of opportunity available both in and outside the classroom, the accomplishments of our pupils and the contribution made by Old Millfieldians in the wider world. It is clear that Millfield is no ordinary school.
- We are international and always have been.
- We are proudly not academically selective.
- We have a highly sophisticated pastoral care and welfare system.
- Our facilities are second to none and we have a very high teacher:pupil ratio.
If we are to become widely recognised as one of the best all round schools of the world we must balance the excellence of Millfield.
We must: become more accessible to a wider range of pupils, ensure we have an outstanding community of teachers and coaches, and add to and continue to improve our facilities and environment.
The Millfield Mix
The extraordinary diversity of Millfield pupils is one of the School’s defining characteristics and a major influence on the education experience.
This has only been possible because Millfield has awarded many scholarships and bursaries since its establishment.
There is absolutely no desire to change this core value.
The Millfield Mix is the very reason for the School’s success. In order to sustain this position we need a scholarship and bursary fund to provide awards in perpetuity.
We routinely interview talented children who would blossom at Millfield, yet we are unable to admit them as they require greater financial support than our finances allow. It follows that if we cannot admit more of these outstanding pupils then Millfield is not fulfilling all of its potential.
At present scholarships are funded almost exclusively from Millfield’s general revenue. Almost half the pupils in the Senior School currently receive some form of award. The cost of this programme is 13% of total school revenue. It is critical that we begin to relieve this burden and then provide funding to expand the scholarship scheme.
We will seek out new revenue and capital funding (from charitable giving) for scholarships. It is now possible to establish specific, named awards with either a gift of capital for endowment or revenue for term-funding. If money was not a constraint we would offer many more substantial scholarships (i.e. 50 to 100% of fees).
Philanthropy at Millfield
Since its establishment Millfield has benefited from parents, OMs and friends giving financial and material support to the School. There have been various appeals. A number of other buildings on site have also been funded by gift support including the second and third (i.e. current) Millfield swimming pools and the new Cricket Pavilion.
There is considerable anecdotal evidence of parents and OMs assisting with the fees of pupils other than their own children.
On many occasions Jack Meyer, founder of Millfield, would telephone friends to ask them to pay the fees of a particularly outstanding applicant. Together these efforts brought about the Millfield Mix.
The Finances of Millfield
- Millfield’s current annual turnover is £39 million, 92% of which comes from fee income.
- We own our premises and land
- Millfield has no endowment or property holdings contributing to the annual revenue stream.
Millfield relies almost entirely on fee income and has always done so. Whether it is by good luck, or intention, the great schools of the world all enjoy additional revenue from large endowments.
It may not be immediately apparent but our limited resources, relative to those of other leading schools of the world, will constrain the future development of Millfield.
The Challenge Ahead
Millfield has become an extraordinary school within seventy years of its establishment.
The challenge ahead is to continue to be true to the well-understood Millfield values, while we grow in world-wide recognition. This accomplishment would be the affirmation of the quality of education and development our pupils take with them to the world beyond Millfield.
By establishing The Millfield Foundation the School has taken the first step in building a new source of revenue and capital that will provide for scholarships.
Before Millfield is one hundred years old we would be secure in our place as “probably the best all round school in the world”.
If you would like further information please contact: foundation@millfieldschool.com Tel: +44 (0) 1458 444170