Our Challenge
The transformative education we provide comes at a far greater cost than the funding we receive.
Uckfield College receives around £7,000 on average per student per year in Government funding ( this equates to around 15 hours a week of contact time). The College offers 35 hour weeks plus a rich menu of enrichment activities and multiple interventions and holiday teaching to support students fully. This means that Uckfield College has a significant annual funding shortfall.
We could reduce the funding shortfall by reducing the number of subjects offered, increasing our class sizes further, reducing our pastoral and super-curricular offer, removing sport and the cultural capital provision–but we don’t want to do that.
If we are to continue to ensure that children from all backgrounds are able to achieve their potential to access excellent universities and careers, as well as opportunities in the cultural, arts and other sectors, then it is clear that an education like that offered at Uckfield College must be supported to continue. Donor support to our unrestricted fund helps us offer this transformative education to more students: it supports all that we do and make possible for our students.
To offer the academic, pastoral and super-curricular support we believe our students deserve costs £750,000 more per year than we receive from the Department for Education.
Those from disadvantaged households are 55 times less likely to attend top universities than independent school students.
We know that attending elite universities often results in careers within the top professions, careers which some students may feel are unattainable and therefore may not aspire to - a continuing barrier to social mobility.
If we are to ensure our students are supported, it is clear that we need to have exceptional pastoral and SEND provision, as well as exceptional teaching. Some of our students face challenges not faced by everyone: the need to have a part-time job to help contribute to the family income, caring responsibilities, the lack of suitable study space at home, unaffordability of books and enrichment opportunities, inability to pay for transport to attend school, and sometimes noone at home who is able to support their academic work.
Like all schools, Covid impacted the young people in our community and levels of need have never been greater, especially amongst our disadvantaged students.
It is our mission to support them and help them seize the opportunities they deserve.
If you want to help us, click here to find out more.
