Habs was founded on a conviction that capable students deserve the best possible education, regardless of family wealth or connections. Alongside that was a belief that those who have success in life should give back to the community.

The Haberdashers’ Elstree Schools Foundation exists to further these founding principles. It raises funds to remove financial barriers to an outstanding Habs education, and to ensure the schools have the resources they need to deliver that education.

About the foundation

The Habs Elstree Schools Foundation was set up in 2008 and traces its roots to the philanthropy of the school’s founder, Robert Aske, who left a generous gift in his will to set up the first Haberdashers’ school in 1690. The Foundation originally served the boys’ school only, but in 2019 its remit was expanded to include both schools.

The Foundation is a registered charity (charity number 1107027). It is governed by a board of trustees that works closely with the schools’ Development Office, which is responsible for fundraising and alumni relations across both the girls’ and boys’ schools. The board is a volunteer body comprising Old Haberdashers, parents and Habs governors. All board members are themselves donors.

Philanthropy

Every pound raised through the Habs Elstree Schools Foundation goes to support the schools. Gifts can be restricted to either school, or made to both, at the donor’s discretion.

Philanthropic priorities for the Foundation and the schools include:

  • The Bursary Fund – provides means-tested support for families whose children meet all criteria for entrance to Habs but who could not afford to attend without financial support; financial need is rigorously assessed, and most families awarded bursaries qualify for a fully funded place; this is the top philanthropic priority for Habs.
  • The Greatest Need Fund – allows the schools to respond quickly to new opportunities or emergencies; gifts to this fund are entirely unrestricted.
  • The Hardship Fund – supports Habs families with personal emergencies (e.g. death of a parent) or the effects on the family of a broader crisis (e.g. COVID, major recession).
  • The Student Opportunities Fund – supports co-curricular activities, prizes & awards, special trips and other initiatives to improve the student experience.
  • The Campus Improvements Fund – supports new building projects and the renovation of existing facilities; examples of projects in need of funds include a new dining hall and refurbishment of Aldenham House (Habs Boys) and the refurbishment of The Prevett Hall and classrooms (Habs Girls).

Bursaries

More than 150 students at Habs Boys and Habs Girls are awarded means-tested bursaries each year. These children meet all admissions criteria but come from families that cannot afford to send them here without financial support.

One in three of these families has a total household income of £45,000 or less. Close to half of Habs’ bursaries students here qualify for free school meals had they attended a state school.

The average bursary awarded covers 89% of fees and 81 students are here on entirely free places, including not only tuition fees but coaches, school lunches and the cost of school trips. None of this comes without cost of course: the schools spend well over £3 million each year on bursaries and the cost goes up each year.

To continue to provide this level of support and help more families in future, will depend increasingly on philanthropic support.

OUR BURSARIES 

Staying connected

The Foundation and the Development Office also play a vital role in keeping Old Haberdashers and the wider Habs community connected with each other and with the schools. They also host regular reunions, social and sporting occasions, networking events and career talks.

Old Haberdashers are invited to regular reunions, social and sporting occasions, networking events and career talks which draw former classmates, students, inspirational teachers, donors, and the wider Habs community closer together

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Staying connected

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