The Annual Fund

School life, and in particular the vibrancy of the extracurricular offering, helps shape a pupil's interests for the future.  Your contribution can make a real difference, enabling Oundle to offer the wonderful breadth of extracurricular activity for which is is renowned.

The Fund is run by parents on behalf of pupils.  Two current parents, Robin Horsell and Pippa Kirkbride, co-chair the Annual Fund Committee and are ably assisted by a team of parent volunteers who help the representatives of the School whose projects we are promoting to achieve the funding they require.

All teaching departments in the School are invited to submit their specific projects for consideration by the Annual Fund Committee at the start of the Summer term.  Those selecting projects for the Annual Fund endeavour to achieve a balance covering the sporting, musical, creative and outdoor spectrum.

The Annual Fund 2007/08 was launched in September 2007.  If you would like to help us by becoming an Annual Fund parent volunteer please contact the Director of the Oundle Society, Lindsey Crosswell by telephone on 01832 277304 or by e-mail to lcrosswell@oundleschool.org.uk.

Last year parental participation in the Annual Fund was the highest it has ever been, topping 15%.  This fantastic achievement enabled the following projects to be achieved.

Choir
The choir now looks impeccable at all its formal engagments in the new burgundy cassocks.

Music Technology
The dedicated music technology suite goes from strength to strength and has been enhanced this year through the purchase of a PA system, a synthesiser, a portable recording device and a suite of music technology software.

Outdoor Activities

The Duke of Edinburgh Scheme participants can now take advantage of seven shiny mountain bikes transported on their own purpose-built trailer.

Classics
Visitors to the Cripps Library can now enjoy looking at the School's fine Roman Coin Collection in its special bespoke display cabinet.

Sporting High Performance
The sports department now has the technology to video and analyse pupils' sporting performance in real time through the new Dartfish Analysis Software.

CCF
The Joint Service Sub-Aqua Section are the proud owners of twenty high quality wetsuits and the Adventure Training Section has taken delivery of two kayaks.

Rugby
Rugby players will be able to keep score by means of an electronic, remote controlled scoreboard.

Natural History
Pupils who enjoy birdwatching, badger watching and other wildlife observation will make good use of the new binoculars we have bought with your gifts.

Thank you to the Oundle parents who made these purchases possible.

This year's fund has been a great success.  We received 118 parental donations, which equates to 14% of the parent population having donated, a very significant increase on last year's parental donation rate, which was 2%.

The total raised was £32,000, with a further £16,000 being pledged in forward giving, as far ahead as 2014.

The money raised is used expressly to fund extracurricular projects and we are happy to report that the following purchases have recently been made :-

• For Cricket – a bowling machine and a set of roll on covers to protect the wicket

• For the CCF – a set of replica medals won by Old Oundelians during the two World Wars – these will be on display in the Armoury on Festival Day, 16th September

• For Religious Studies – the funding of a prize for a 5th and 6th Form essay competition.  The winners will travel to New York to attend a conference on the role Religion and Ethics in 21st century society

• For Music – the refurbishment of the Gascoigne Music studio which will enable pupils to record their own music

• For Drama – the purchase of a moving light for use in Stahl Theatre productions

• For Expeditions – the purchase of two katakanus

• For Physics – the purchase of an interactive quiz system