FAQ - Governors and Friends Fund

What is the Fund for?

The Fund supports the School's mission that each student will realise their God-given potential.

Where does the money come from?

Parents and carers of pupils at The Bishop Wand School contribute to the Fund.  Their payments provide most of the income (79%).  About 19% comes from the government in repaid tax for those who Gift Aid their contributions.  Some local churches also contribute (about 2% of the total) 

 Bishop Wand is a church school, doesn't the church support the school?

Several local churches do make donations, but the Church of England does not.  There was a time when the Church of England had large reserves, but not now.  We can see this as the Diocese of London is having to reduce the number of clergy posts.

Where does the money go?

Over the last three years we are delighted that the Fund provided:

             £45,000 for computers and the network that all pupils benefit from

             £20,000 for interactive whiteboards, projectors etc.

             £25,000 for repairs to the swimming pool

             £300 to support pupil visits to Senegal

             Half the cost of having a Chaplain...and more.

We also pay buildings insurance premiums and, as a Voluntary Aided school must provide 10% of building project costs.  A copy of the Annual Report and Accounts are available on request/The Annual Report and Accounts can be seen on this website.

Why do you ask people to pay by standing order?

Because it is easier to process the payments, which makes administering the Fund cheaper.  We are proud of the fact that our costs only use about 2% of our income.  Regular giving also enables us to plan ahead knowing how much we will receive.

What if I don't want to pay by standing order?

We are happy to accept your generous donation in other ways, for example cheque payable to The Governors and Friends of Bishop Wand School or cash.

How much should I pay?

The recommended amount is £17 per month.  If that is too much for you, we will be very happy to accept a smaller amount.  Similarly, if you would like to pay more we would be delighted!

What if I have more than one child at the School?

We recommend £17 per month for the family, however many children attend the school.

What if I can't afford to make a contribution at all?

The governors realise that some families will have serious difficulties with money.  If that is you, we really don't expect you to pay and wouldn't want you to!

 What is the Charity Number for the Fund?

The Charity Number is 1081558.

Q) Who cancels the standing order instruction?

A) The Bank Account Holder needs to cancel the standing order instruction by contacting their Bank.

Q) What do I do if my son/daughter has left the school and the contributions have continued to be debited to my account?

A) In the first instance you must cancel the standing order with your Bank. Secondly, you can apply for a refund, however please note that the Governors will not refund more than 3 months contributions.