Stonyhurst Foundation

The Stonyhurst Foundation is an independent UK charity established in 2019 to advance education by providing scholarships and bursaries that remove financial barriers to Stonyhurst College and Stonyhurst St Mary’s Hall, two leading Jesuit Catholic independent schools for ages 3-18. Rooted in Jesuit values of compassion, inclusion, and nurturing "men and women for others," its mission promotes social mobility and merit-based access, making it the first permanently endowed, ring-fenced bursary fund in the UK's Catholic independent school sector. Governed by a diverse board with robust Charity Commission-compliant standards, it sustains transformative education amid economic challenges through philanthropic endowment growth.

It exclusively funds means-tested bursaries (partial to full fee remission) and talent scholarships (academic, arts, music) for current or prospective pupils unable to afford fees, including UK and international families from disadvantaged backgrounds. Support covers tuition, boarding, and related educational expenses at the two Stonyhurst schools only, with referrals, needs assessments, and home visits conducted by school staff before trustee decisions. Annual distributions reach hundreds of thousands of pounds, enabling increasing pupil access.

Unsolicited applications from external charities or organizations are not accepted; eligibility requires families to register for school entry and request aid via Admissions, followed by an online means-tested form with financial documents. The next deadline is 31 December 2025 for September 2026 entry (notifications by late February); scholarships close early October. Typical grants range 10-100% of fees (£?–£30,000+ per pupil/year). It excludes general projects, core funding, capacity-building, or non-Stonyhurst activities, distinguishing itself through hyper-targeted, school-exclusive impact and enduring endowment strategy for educational equity.