50 Voices for 50 Years

For me, the bursary was far more than financial assistance—it strengthened my confidence, nurtured my character, and fuelled my drive to continually strive for excellence. And to those who support the bursary fund, I am deeply grateful; I am standing on the opportunities you helped create, and I hope one day to pay that forward.

Withington strengthened my ambition, broadened my outlook, and gave me the tools to strive confidently for my future. Surrounded by peers who shared a strong sense of purpose, and supported by a community that encouraged every interest, I felt inspired to grow in ways I had never imagined.

My experience at Withington has been central to shaping the path I am on today. Since leaving Withington, I have been fortunate to receive several degree apprenticeship offers and ultimately secured a highly competitive Level 7 Solicitor Degree Apprenticeship, allowing me to combine academic study with practical legal training while working within an international firm.

The school provided a strong foundation academically, personally, and professionally, so that pursuing my ambitions felt not only possible, but natural. Through its inspiring teaching, culture of encouragement, and opportunities to pursue my interests, I learned how to challenge myself, lead with integrity, and persevere in competitive environments.

Quite simply, the bursary didn’t just give me access to an education; it gave me direction, belief, and opportunity. I am deeply grateful, and I hope my journey shows just how life-changing bursary support can be.

I attended WGS in the direct grant era and I and several of my friends were lucky enough to benefit from a ‘free place’ from Manchester Education Committee. Some of us would not have been able to take up our places without this financial help.

I think it’s only fair that I help out today’s students and parents by leaving a sum to the school in my will. It completes the circle.

I have said a number of times that I would love to be attending the school nowadays! The opportunities and wide curriculum are enviable and I wish they had been available in my days in school.

We were lucky. We benefitted from the direct grant system and we were aware that the abolition of the direct grant from 1976 marked the end of an era, even if we were personally insulated from the consequences.

Miss Hulme was ahead of the game in establishing the bursary fund. She was sensitive to the realities of money barriers. It was many years later that I was told that the relatively modest scale of our extra-curricular ventures and travels at Withington (Chester Zoo in the Third Form, the Blue John Mines at Castleton in the Lower Fourth…) reflected her desire to avoid a regime with ‘extras’ that not all families could afford.

Decades later, Withington’s bursary fund continues to play a vital role in redressing the barriers that still exist to girls accessing a high-quality education.