Heritage pupils achieved our best ever results at the Cambridgeshire Schools Cross Country Championships, held at King's Ely School on Saturday 11th January.

Heritage’s Best Ever Results at the Cambridgeshire Schools Cross Country Championships

Heritage pupils achieved our best ever results at the Cambridgeshire Schools Cross Country Championships, held at King’s Ely School on Saturday 11th January. Undeterred by the sharp frost, six of our Senior pupils competed against runners from across the county, cheered on by their families and our Head of PE, Mrs Eastwood. 

Particular congratulations goes to Head Boy, Sandy, who finished in 1st place to be declared County Champion in the Inter Boys race! All of our runners finished high enough to either be invited to represent Cambridgeshire at the Anglian Schools Championships or be a reserve for the county team.

The results were:

Inter boys (Y10 & Y11)

  • Sandy (Y11) – 1st – County Champion

Inter Girls

  • Caitlin (Y10) – 5th
  • Izzy (Y10) – 15th

Minor Boys (Y7)

  • Wilfrid (Y7) – 7th
  • Jamie (Y7) – 16th

Minor Girls

  • Anna (Y7) – 6th

Well done everyone!

Heritage Bursary Fund Appeal

As we look back over our first 17 years, the generosity of those who have been in a position to help has made a decisive contribution. This was true when the school was founded in 2007, and it was especially true when we were seeking to purchase 17-19 Brookside in 2020. As we turn the corner into 2025, our school community is facing another serious challenge. That is why, today, we are asking those who are able to consider helping our community by contributing to our Bursary Fund.

The Challenge We Face
Following the general election that took place in July, the new Labour government has introduced three taxes that directly affect us, all of which are being implemented between January and April. They are:

  1. VAT on independent school fees at 20% from January
  2. higher business rates for schools that are charities from April
  3. higher employer National Insurance contributions from April

The impact of these new taxes upon the independent sector and the communities they serve will be severe. In our case, they amount to a claim worth approximately £650,000 – about 25% of total revenue in 2023-24. Smaller and newer independent schools, like Heritage, make up the majority of the sector. 65% of all independent schools have 200 or fewer pupils and over 50% were founded since 1990. It is these communities which are at particular risk. Without support, fewer middle income families will be able to access the education they believe best meets the needs of their children. This includes families seeking an education that accords with their faith tradition.

A Balanced Strategy
Our story is a remarkable one and we have much to be thankful for. Over our first 17 years, Heritage has overcome many challenges and exceeded expectations. Throughout, Trustees have been attentive in ensuring that the work of the school rests on a secure financial footing. Regular cost-benefit analysis of expenditure, together with detailed long term modelling and cash flow projections, have ensured good value for money for parents and careful stewardship of the school’s resources.

With respect to the current challenge, Trustees have agreed a balanced strategy: (1) increasing fees gradually to help parents adapt to VAT (see our unique Five Year Plan for Fees for more information), (2) pursuing cost savings without compromising our core offering, and (3) seeking to build a Bursary Fund to support families who need help, so that as many children as possible can benefit from a Heritage education.

Our Fundraising Goal
Today, therefore, we are launching our Bursary Fund Appeal. We know that it will take time for our community to adapt, and we see the next three years as a particularly important transitional phase.

Our goal is to raise £60,000 – £100,000 per year for our Bursary Fund, and to achieve this in 2025, 2026 and 2027. As we look beyond the next three years, we would love to see our Bursary Fund established for the long term through regular and occasional giving, including legacy gifts.

The Uniqueness of a Heritage Education
We believe that a Heritage education is good for children. Our emphasis upon a knowledge-rich curriculum, the habit of attention, and living books, for example, together with the care and dedication of our wonderful staff team, is making a significant difference in the lives of our pupils. In a context of mounting concern over the mental health and academic development of children and young people, our model is attracting attention.

This term there have been national, local, and international stories in the media about Heritage School.

Two Ways to Give
In view of the uniqueness of a Heritage education and the challenge our community is facing, will you consider contributing to our Bursary Fund? Or, do you know others, perhaps in your extended family, who might be willing and able to help?

If you are in a position to help, there are two ways to do so:

  1. You could make a one-off contribution to our Bursary Fund.
  2. You could commit to giving regularly to our Bursary Fund.

Regular giving can make a significant impact over time. For example, five people giving £20 per month can enable a substantial bursary for a family facing difficulties or who might otherwise not be able to access a Heritage education. In order to make a one-off contribution or to find out how to give regularly, please go to our new Support Us page. There you will also find instructions for how to give tax efficiently from the USA.

Thank you for considering how you might help our community meet the challenges ahead.

Wishing you a Happy Christmas,

Jason Fletcher, Headmaster

 

Second Issue of Tolle Lege Now Available

The eagerly anticipated second edition of Tolle Lege, Heritage’s Senior School pupil-led magazine, has been released to much acclaim. Editor Maxim (Year 11) has once again done an outstanding job curating this engaging collection, highlighting the diverse talents and voices of our students. Contributions from pupils across various year groups bring together a compelling mix of articles, stories, puzzles, and reviews, making this edition even more impressive than the first.

Some of the highlights of this issue include:

  • An account of the Year 11 mock exams, offering humour and insight into the Senior School experience.
  • Fascinating articles on historical and cultural topics, including the Romantic Movement, Christian Heresies and the Dinosaur Renaissance.
  • Reviews of Asimov’s Foundation Trilogy and The Hunger Games, alongside thought-provoking pieces like the impact of AI on society.
  • Personal reflections on the French trip, as well as alumni reports offering guidance for future leavers.
  • Interactive features such as multilingual crosswords, puzzles, and creative writing, including short stories and poetry.

Printed copies have been made available to Senior pupils, and they have already sparked lively discussions and much admiration for the creativity and effort poured into the magazine. Proceeds from magazine sales supporting UNICEF’s Ukraine crisis appeal.

We extend our congratulations to Maxim and all the contributors who made this issue such a success. Tolle Lege continues to be a testament to the intellectual curiosity and collaborative spirit that define Heritage School. We look forward to seeing how this excellent publication evolves in future issues!

 

Cecilia Selected for Saracens Mavericks Futures Programme

Congratulations to Year 11 pupil Cecilia on her selection for the Saracens Mavericks Under 18 Futures programme. Saracens Mavericks, one of the UK’s top netball clubs, competes in the elite Netball Super League and supports player development from grassroots to professional level through its Futures pathway. After impressing at an invite-only trial in October, Cecilia earned a place in this prestigious programme, which is part of the England Netball performance pathway. Many U21 and Super League players began their journeys here. In addition, Cecilia trains and competes for Comberton Netball Club, which was unbeaten across the Eastern Region and topped the league in April. Her exceptional standard of play at such a young age reflects her incredible talent and dedication. Well done, Cecilia!

Dutch Newspaper Explores Heritage’s Screen-Free Learning Culture

In mid-October, a journalist from the Dutch newspaper Trouw visited Heritage to learn about our alternative learning culture, where the distractions of screens and tech are replaced by a knowledge-rich curriculum that ‘prioritises reading books, nature and engaging in real-world activities and relationships’.

In common with other visitors to Heritage, Trouw journalist Niels Posthumus was immediately struck by the calm learning environment, as he spent time observing in the Year 5 classroom:

‘Everything in the classroom is designed to enhance their ability to focus. The lighting is soft, partly provided by table lamps. The walls display a piece of art and a world map, as in every classroom, along with some student projects. But they have deliberately been kept calm. And most importantly, there are no mobile phones, iPads, or televisions in sight. Students cannot access the internet throughout the school day—also not during breaks. Teachers … do not use electronic tools in their teaching.’

The article highlights how Heritage has been ahead of the curve, by adopting its screen-free approach from its foundation in 2007, as now an increasing number of parents, schools and governments are concerned about the dangers of giving children unlimited access to smartphones, with more schools looking to limit pupil’s smartphone use at school.

Mr Fletcher is quoted, explaining: ‘”The problem with the internet, smartphones, social media, and gaming is that they are destroying our capacity for attentive engagement…[technology] is taking an axe to the root of the tree of human flourishing.”‘ Because without the capacity to concentrate and to be curious, he argues, acquiring knowledge is difficult. It limits a child’s—and later an adult’s—potential for personal growth.’

If you have not yet visited for yourself, this article captures perfectly so much of what makes a Heritage education special and attractive; to read more, click here for an English translation of the full article, or to view the original in Dutch, with additional photographs, click here.