Marlborough already has an exceptional system of pastoral care and to accommodate the increasing number of bursary pupils, there has been recent investment to develop our system further. We know that pupils on full bursaries often require additional help and support. As a result, thanks to a generous parent and funds held by the Foundation, the College has appointed a Head of Bursary Welfare to oversee the pastoral care of all our full bursary pupils and to liaise with the families both before and during their time at the College.
Lisa Milner was appointed as the Head of Bursary Welfare in April 2024, having previously worked in state education. Her role provides extra support for bursary pupils and their families throughout their time and she is their point of contact from before they start right the way through to when they leave. We asked Lisa about her first year at Marlborough.
In my first few weeks at Marlborough, it was clear to me that bursary pupils had little time to transition to their new school. They had lots of questions during the summer holidays when they were packing their belongings and preparing for their first few weeks. To help answer their questions and get to know our bursary pupils and their families, I travelled across the country making informal home visits to our new Shell and Lower Sixth pupils during the holidays. When they started school in September, I already had an insight into their circumstances, and they were comfortable approaching me with any challenges they faced. I also support parents in those first few weeks who are often anxious about the huge move their children are making – often geographically as well as academically.
I present to Common Room about who our bursary pupils are and some of the difficulties they may face. Beaks, Housemasters, Dames, and any other members of staff are encouraged to come to me if a bursary pupil is having problems so that together, as a community, we can help. As the main point of contact for bursary pupil welfare, I can oversee any challenges whether they are struggling academically, socially or having family difficulties which allows me to offer the contextualised support they need.
I hold half-termly “keeping in touch” meetings with each bursary pupil so that I can stay up to date with their College experience. There are so many opportunities available to pupils whilst they are here and at these meetings, I encourage them to fully participate in college life. In these meetings, I can also offer a proactive use of additional funding for those on 110% bursaries. I have helped a talented lacrosse player source equipment, arranged funding for a pupil to participate in an overseas school event, and organised travel and accommodation for a prospective medical student to attend work experience at a London hospital.
I am looking forward to building on pupil and parent relationships in College and in doing so evolving a confident, happy and high achieving bursary cohort
thought their prospects would have been worse if they had stayed in their local school.
of bursary holders came to Marlborough for the academic challenge
felt prepared before arriving and adjusted easily academically, with 71% adjusting socially, too.
made friends from different backgrounds to their own.
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