WGS Giving Day 2024

House challenges were a big part of the day in school, with students and staff taking part in the Sixth Form Rowathon, a whole school penalty shootout, the ‘Through the Window’ art and writing challenge and a Bumper Bucket Collection. Their fantastic efforts unlocked nearly £2,000 in additional match funding.

The ‘Through the Window’ art and writing challenge resulted in a wonderful exhibition in the Hub. It wasn’t only pupils who took part – thank you to Mrs Haslam, Ms Howard, Dr Madden and Ms Johnston who also submitted entries. The Junior School hosted a parents’ breakfast on Wednesday morning where, alongside a stunning performance from the award-winning choir, parents and pupils viewed written submissions and also artwork created in a pop art style, summing up what it meant to them to attend WGS.

Highlights of the event were the visits by two former Lionesses – Jill Scott MBE and Rachel Brown-Finnis – to support our Giving Day. It was wonderful to be able to welcome them both to Withington. On Wednesday, Jill offered encouragement to those taking part in the Rowathon and also gave some of our Junior School pupils some footballing tips. She was then interviewed expertly by Sonali Koku Hannadige, our Head Girl, and Immy Polley, Year 9, who asked some very insightful questions during a specially organised Senior School Assembly. Jill spoke of the importance of kindness in our dealings with others and how she had tackled her experience on I’m a Celebrity… Get Me Out of Here! by viewing it as being part of a team.

Rachel joined us for the penalty shootout, commentating alongside Ms Johnson, WGS Director of Sport, and giving lots of encouragement. Speaking to students afterwards, Rachel also spoke of the life skills that football had given her and re-iterated the importance of teamwork and the benefits of being part of a team.

Giving Day was a great example of what we can achieve when we all work together, so thank you to everyone in school for getting involved and to those who so generously donated, thus making it such a success.

It is testament to the generosity of our Withington community that, over the 36 hours of our Giving Day in March, we raised more than £80,000 for the Marjorie Hulme Bursary Fund.