This is an exciting new opportunity for Alumni, Trusts and Foundations, Legacy pledgers and our current community to support our wonderful school. Some families are already choosing to do this by opting for their deposit fee to be donated to our Development Fund. This is a really good way to ensure future income for large school development projects.
If you would like to know more about our plans and ways to support Thornton College via:
- Making a Donation
- Setting up a Legacy Donation
- Gifts in Kind
- Corporate Sponsorship
- Sponsoring items for school such as apple trees, instruments etc.
- Supporting Friends of Thornton
- Deposit Fee Donations
- Other ideas
Then please do contact our Development and Marketing Director, Mrs Jennifer Walker, via email JWalker@thorntoncollege.com.
School Capital Developments
The School has expanded significantly over the past 90 years. Every decade has seen major building developments. Last year alone we redeveloped our Dining Room, converted The Villa into our Year 13 Boarding House and refurbished our ICT suites. In 2019 we developed our Forest School programme complete with Eco Park, fire pit, den building zone and dipping pond! In 2016 we created the Sixth Form involving huge refurbishment within the main Manor House building. Our Sixth Form provides large bright and modern classrooms and common rooms as well as the wonderful Friends Café, purchased by Friends of Thornton and enjoyed by all Sixth Formers every day. The St Clare Building (an Award Winning Design), was opened in 2010 and houses our new Prep Classrooms and Specialist Science Laboratories. In 2008 we opened a purpose built Expressive Arts Studio for Creative and Performing Arts and in 2002 we opened The Thevenet Wing housing our Pre-Prep.
Operating Costs
We offer excellent value for money at Thornton and it remains vital to maintain our fees at an affordable level to ensure that the very special education Thornton provides is as accessible to as many children as possible. To do this, we will need to devote as much of the fee income as possible to meeting the School’s operating costs.
School fee income finances the day to day running of the School, the extensive upkeep and maintenance programme for the buildings and estate and small improvements and refurbishment projects.
Unlike many independent schools, Thornton does not have access to an endowment fund or legacies. Development of the capital facilities in the past have been predominantly donated by our Founders the Sisters of Jesus and Mary, Friends of Thornton and our Alumni Old Thorntonians. We have therefore set up the Development Fund and recruited a Development Director to secure a percentage of external funds.
