About Us
Charitable Foundation
Welcome to the Foundation of the Royal Alexandra and Albert School.
We exist to support children. From its early beginnings in the mid-18th century to today, the Foundation has focused on improving the lives of children without one or both parents and securing their better outcomes through a boarding education.
Our History
On 10 May 1758 fourteen gentlemen gathered at the George Tavern, London, to found a school for orphans funded by charitable donations. The first eleven boys were admitted in 1760.
Since then the lives of more than 15,000 vulnerable children (our Foundationers) have been transformed through the provision of a holistic education and a home. We are proud to continue to support this mission through our charitable Foundation.
The Royal Alexandra & Albert School is now a co-educational state boarding school for around 1000 students located on 260 acres of beautiful parkland in Reigate.
Our Purpose
The core purpose of the Foundation is to accommodate and educate ‘Foundationers’ — these are students who face challenging home circumstances. Typically, these students have lost one or both parents, have a chronically ill parent, have experienced abandonment or abuse, or have parents unable to meet their daily needs. A proportion of the school’s boarding places are reserved for Foundationers.
Support Offered
The Foundation provides bursaries for children whose home circumstances require a boarding education and who meet the Foundation bursary criteria. These bursaries are means-tested and range from fully funded to part-funded boarding places. Recipients may also be eligible for additional support, including assistance with uniform costs, pocket money allowances, and contributions towards school trips, music tuition, and riding lessons.
Collaboration
We collaborate with trusts and benevolent funds, including the St Marylebone Educational Foundation, RNCSF, Buttle UK, The Emmott Foundation, The Lloyd Foundation, Thornton-Smith and Plevins Trust, NCCBS, The NFL Trust, The Sue Thomson Foundation, Ewelme Exhibition Endowment, and anonymous donors for this financial aid.
The Foundation strives to get the best possible outcomes for Foundationers, and to this end, there is an ongoing programme to develop and enhance the boarding and learning environment at the Royal Alexandra and Albert School.
Further Information
More information about the bursaries on offer, the criteria for application, and information on how to apply can be found here.