***Update - Sunday 4th August***
I'm super excited to say that with Tuesday's deadline looming I'm now within touching distance of getting to Harvard.
My nanny sadly passed away a couple of weeks ago (super peacefully at a beautiful age of 90!). The solicitors have just confirmed that money had been held for her future care can be released to me for tuition fees.
So.... with that accounted for, I need to get my Crowdfunder page to £10,000 to make up the gap left - that's just £2,139 pounds to go!!
If you can share widely I would be so grateful. Thank you so much for your constant cheer leading through a particularly tricky few weeks. You are awesome.
As always, you can donate here!
Flic xx
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Your support for this project is an investment into the education outcomes of disadvantaged students in areas where outstanding education doesn't reach. I've shown I can have an impact locally, now I need help to kick-start the impact I can have globally.
Why Harvard?
The knowledge and skills from Harvard will give me the opportunity to make a bigger global impact. Around 387 million children were on course to leave primary school unable to read or do basic maths. In 2015, UNESCO declared this as a global learning crisis. If we want a world where no child's education success is limited by their background then we have to invest in leaders in education. This is where you can make a difference!
While at Harvard, I will study the latest developments in cognitive science so that I can become an expert in how children learn. This means that I can support curriculum development that has global reach. Modules at Harvard Business School will help me to bring innovation from a diverse range of sectors into the education sector.
In 2015, the global community committed to the sustainable development goal to ensure inclusive & quality education for all by 2030. A Harvard education will enhance my skills and knowledge to place me at the centre of this ambitious agenda. This course at Harvard is highly competitive and the best in the world. The education faculty includes some of the top scholars and practitioners in their fields: education nonprofit management, literacy in developing countries, and more. I need your help so that I can take up my place and dramatically accelerate my work to tackle educational disadvantage.
Why me?
It is an injustice that income defines how well children do at school. The education system provides less to those who need the most and this has to change.
I arrive in my classroom at 6.30am every day to lead a team of teachers who are all committed to changing this reality. I passionately believe that great education cannot be dictated by socio-economic background. Ofsted returned to our school in 2019 and saw how "leaders have acted with vigour and urgency to ensure that teachers have the support they need." We know that great leadership transforms schools, transforms life chances and transforms communities.
I've shown I can have an impact locally, now I need help to kickstart the impact I can have globally.
If you are interested in education then I hope my Crowdfund campaign will resonate with you.
Knowledge is power.
FREDERICK WILLIAM BURGESS FOUNDATION
All funds that I raise beyond my target will go into a foundation to support students from the Isle of Sheppey. Financial background should never be an obstacle to education or ambition. The foundation is named after my late grandfather. His father was illiterate and after securing a Scholarship my Granddad attended a school which, as a keen footballer, he chose because this school had access to Wormwood Scrubs Prison football pitch.
When I was 11, I was lucky enough to get a place at Tonbridge Grammar School. I used to travel an hour and a half to get to school but I benefited from a world class education thanks to many incredible teachers. While at TGS, I benefited from bursaries and financial support that allowed me to participate fully in all school life. The Pitchford Fund supported me to go on the year 9 camp with my peers. In year 11, the PE department made it as easy as possible for me to join the South Africa Netball Tour – I remember taking envelopes of money to my PE teacher that I had earned that month in a local hotel.
My History teacher Ms. Andersen inspired me to pursue a career in teaching. I've experienced first-hand the transformational power of education and the opportunities it's given me.
Now I want to be able to give others the same opportunities.