A break for the walkers on their first mountain, Ben Nevis. Pictured are Gordon’s staff (left to right): Kathryn Moore, Director of Creative Arts; Houseparent Daisy Cooper; Houseparent and Head of Boarding Sam Cooper and Director of Commercial and Development Jemma Moreau.
Gordon’s Teachers on Peak Form
While the rest of the UK were enjoying record-breaking temperatures and sunshine over the half term holiday, four members of staff from Gordon’s School were encountering snow, ice and freezing conditions as they took on the Three Peaks Challenge. The group made an ascent of 3064 metres, walked 37km and travelled some 462 miles to conquer Ben Nevis, Scafell Pike and Snowdon, to raise money for bursaries at Gordon’s.
The four, Houseparents Sam and Daisy Cooper; Director of Creative Arts Kathryn Moore and Director of Commercial and Development, Jemma Moreau were supported by two staff drivers, netball coach Tina Lowe and Head of Transport Services Edwin Sutton and tackled Ben Nevis, the highest of the three peaks, first, in the early hours of the morning. Then it was a race against time to travel to, and scale Scafell Pike, where they briefly enjoyed the sun setting, finishing their descent at around 11pm. Snowdon followed and then the long journey home.
The next day, after completing their mammoth challenge, they were welcoming boarders back to the state boarding school!
Gordon’s families, staff and friends sponsored the group, who raised over £5,000 for bursaries, ensuring that more children may benefit from a Gordon’s education.
Afterwards, Head of Boarding and Houseparent, Sam Cooper said: “An enormous effort from the whole team and a huge thank you to everyone who has donated towards the cause. The messages of support have been incredible and we are all very grateful for your contributions”.
“Every day we see bursary children benefiting from being at Gordon’s, where they are nurtured and provided with the stable environment they need to flourish. As teachers, it is one of the most rewarding parts of our jobs. We want more children to benefit, which is why we are embarked on this challenge.”
A second fundraising page has now been opened for those wishing to donate to bursaries. Please click here for the link. https://www.justgiving.com/crowdfunding/sam-cooper-3peaks
Gordon’s is a state boarding school, founded in 1885 as a home for ‘necessitous boys’ and the National Memorial to General Gordon, at the insistence of Queen Victoria. It is now a top performing co-educational senior state school providing both day and residential boarding. Tradition and heritage stand at the heart of the school, which has continued its founding principle of providing for the ‘necessitous’ child through bursaries. The state funds the tuition fees with parents paying for the boarding aspect and extended day activities. The bursary programme ensures that no family is precluded from applying to Gordon’s for a day or residential place for financial reasons.
There are currently 60 children across the school on assisted bursary places and those asking for a bursary-assisted place increases every year. It might be that a parent has died or there is a redundancy in the family or perhaps a child is in desperate need of the security and stability afforded by boarding. Whatever the reason, the difference the bursary makes to their lives is seen every day by staff at the school, many of whom donate to the bursary scheme through their monthly salaries.
