The RGS Family of Schools is Shortlisted for IDPE Award
RGS is thrilled to have been shortlisted and to have made it to the final three schools nominated for the IDPE (Institute of Development Professionals in Education) Schools’ Award for Ambition and Progress.
Shortlisting by the industry experts judging this prestigious national award is highly valued at The RGS Worcester Family of Schools because it recognises the absolute commitment we have to fostering meaningful life-long relationships across our community and extending access through Bursary Awards.
It is particularly pleasing that the Judging Panel feel we have established a determined, purposeful and strategic step-change in our Development work and that this is leading to clearly identifiable benefits for RGS pupils and the local community.
Of particular note was our clear and compelling “Change a Life” Bursary campaign, launched in December 2022, with its ambitious targets to increase significantly the number of transformational Bursary Awards at RGS, so that even more children will benefit from an RGS education irrespective of their financial circumstances.
The Judging Panel also identified the successful implementation of a new strategic Alumni Relations Engagement Programme (communications and events) during 2023 as being integral to boosting alumni interaction and involvement with the School, reconnecting our former pupils, enabling sustainable fundraising growth, and supporting current pupils through the Careers department.
Recognising that good relationships are fundamental to a supportive community, the success of our inaugural RGS ‘Giving Day’ earlier this year clearly demonstrated to the panel the strength, generosity and positive engagement we have with our alumni network and the wider RGS Family.
IDPE was established over 20 years ago and is the organisation that champions and recognises the very best practice in schools’ fundraising and engagement here in the UK and further afield. We are therefore honoured to have been recognised by them for the work we do across our Schools, directed from the Foundation office.
Foundation Director, Scott MacDonald, said, “The Development team has a clear vision with exciting targets and has exhibited that we are engaging more of our alumni community and the wider RGS Family than ever before. Crucially, we are also helping to welcome an unprecedented number of Bursary Award holders to RGS. We are passionate about creating opportunities for young people by harnessing the potential within our alumni community so it is extremely rewarding to be recognised by our industry peers within this prestigious Award category.”
John Pitt, Headmaster commented, “To be shortlisted for this Award means a great deal to us all. Across The RGS Worcester Family of Schools, we have long-established, strong relationships with our alumni, parents and the wider community and it has been fantastic to see these relationships grow. Being recognised by IDPE is a true testament to the work we are doing here to increase engagement with, and support for, the School. The recognition also endorses the belief we have here that a strong Development function plays a pivotal role in supporting our pupils and connecting us as a Family”.
