> St Paul’s Telethon Campaign 2026

Shaping Our Future: Next Steps

Building our community and keeping its members connected to the school is a significant priority for St Paul’s. To this end, we have enlisted a team of bright and dedicated recent Pauline leavers who will be ‘phoning our network of Old Paulines and parents from Wednesday 26 August to Monday 7 September 2026. The team are looking forward to hearing stories of St Paul’s and sharing the success of the Shaping Our Future: Next Steps campaign which is in its final stages.

Whilst the team won’t be able to contact all Old Paulines and parents during this time, if you do not hear from them and are interested in hearing more about how you can support St Paul’s, please get in touch with the Development Office on 020 8746 5343 or development@stpaulsschool.org.uk.

This year, we are running a £1,000 draw for everyone we speak to during this upcoming telethon. The winner will get to choose the allocation of a £1,000 funding pot to the bursary of their choice – see below for the choices. When you see our local number starting with 020, do answer the ‘phone to be in with a chance to win. Click here for terms and conditions.

St Paul’s School Bursary Funds

Colet Foundation Bursary – The USA Colet Foundation Bursary was introduced for our American community to support our ambition to grow our bursary programme.
Thomas Gresham Bursary to help the Thomas Gresham Committee get off to a flying start in the new academic year. Their bursary fund is for the highest achieving 11+ pupil in need of financial assistance.
Oliver Sacks Bursary to help our founding donor grow this fund to recognise one of the most extraordinary Paulines. It is awarded to a boy who shows outstanding academic excellence.
Class of 2027 Leavers’ Bursary Fund – set up annually as a leaving gift from each leaving year group to support future Paulines.
Bursary Fund If the winner is unable to choose from the above, it can go into our general bursary fund.

As mentioned, we are now in the final phase of Shaping Our Future: Next Steps, a two-year mid-term campaign, which will finish in December this year. It centres around our commitment to widening access to a St Paul’s education through bursaries and growing our partnerships. This helps us ensure St Paul’s remains open to all and representative of a wider society, at the heart of our local community. Read the full campaign brochure here.

We are greatly appreciative of any and all donations and the team is looking forward to speaking with you.

Meet the Team

Angel Jesse Ellis (2022-24)

My name is Angel and I left St Paul’s in 2024. I loved public speaking and oral advocacy, and I was very involved in the Debating Team, European Youth Parliament and Model United Nations. I was also involved in a lot of writing, including for the Black and White, History Review and the Film Magazines. Being at St Paul’s was an amazing and valuable experience for me, and I’m really passionate about the school community to make sure everyone gets those same experiences and opportunities.

Cillian Bramham (2021-26)

My name is Cillian and I left St Paul’s in 2026. I’m currently applying to do English Literature at UCL. Whilst at school I was primarily involved in debating, representing the school abroad at the European Youth Parliament debating competition and serving as Head Organiser and Secretary General for the School’s annual SPS/SPGS Model United Nations conference.

The reason I care about the school’s bursary programme is due to the opportunities I’ve been afforded at St Paul’s. I feel that it’s incredibly important that as many pupils have the chance to partake in what the school has to offer as possible.

Cormac Boden (2024-26)

Hi, my name is Cormac and I’m 18. I just left St Paul’s and I’m will be going to Edinburgh to study Earth Science. Whilst at school I was Captain of West House, one of the two school boarding houses, and I was the vice president of the Geology Society and the Geography editor for Polemic, a school magazine. I was also heavily involved in music playing both violin and viola in various school groups. I was also the MD of a Young Enterprise company where we made oil absorbing sponges to help tackle oil pollution. Additionally, I won a school grant to present a research paper at an international conference in Prague.

The reason I wanted to do this fundraising is to widen access and allow more people to experience the amazing things St Paul’s offers. I want to fundraise to ensure that financial background never limits a talented student from accessing the wonderful opportunities at St Paul’s.

Dhruva Suraj (2023-25)

Hi, my name is Dhruva and I was a Pauline for the Eighth Form (2023–2025). I was mainly STEM focused, with some time spent in debate and Model UN. Since then, I’ve completed my first year of Medicine at King’s College London, and I look forward to talking to some of you! Coming from a state school, St Paul’s gave me a truly unforgettable experience I’d love to help share through the bursary programme.

Frederick Websper (2020-25)

I’m Fred, and I left St Paul’s in 2025. While I was at school, I was involved in music, drama, rugby and the Charities Team, and in my final year I was also a prefect. I’ve just completed my first year reading English and Economics at the University of St Andrews. I wanted to be part of this campaign because I loved my time at SPS and benefited enormously from everything the school had to offer. I’d really like to give something back; I know how important the bursary programme is and the difference it makes to so many pupils.

Harry Hickles (2018-23)

My name is Harry and I left St Paul’s in 2023. Whilst at the school I was co-captain of Gilks House, involved in a vast array of school theatre productions and represented the 1st XI for football. I have since gone on to study at the University of Warwick, recently graduating with a degree in Theatre and English.

This campaign is so important to me because St Paul’s is a place full of opportunity, and I want other pupils, like myself, to experience that to the fullest, regardless of financial background. The bursary programme was a crucial part of both my education and my life, and any chance to give back to the place that shaped me is one I’ll always take.

Jacob Lee (2023-25)

My name is Jacob and I left St Paul’s in 2025. Outside of academics at the school, I was involved in fundraising and volunteering, entrepreneurship programmes, cross country, as well as two orchestras. I’m currently approaching the end of my gap year, which included six months working in the Development and Engagement Office at St Paul’s. I will go on to study Geography at the University of Bristol in September.

Being part of this campaign is rewarding because I know a St Paul’s education can be life-changing. I believe that no pupil should be priced out of an opportunity to study at this incredible institution.

Kyle Hunt (2020-2025)

My name is Kyle and I left St Paul’s in 2025. Outside of lessons I explored sport, music and science, spending my lunchtimes at rugby training or a science club and my evenings in orchestra practice. I have since spent a gap year working and travelling, including some time at St Paul’s as a Sports Intern, where I had the privilege of coaching some pupils. I am going on to study Chemistry at the University of Edinburgh and can’t wait.

This campaign is important to me because I learnt and experienced so much at St Paul’s and I want to give something back. I believe everyone should have access to those experiences, so I hope to be part of the growth of a bursary programme that is already so valuable.

Lachlan Murray (2020-25)

Hello! I’m Lachlan and I left St Paul’s in 2025. I’m currently reading Mathematics and Philosophy at Christ Church, Oxford. I had an absolute blast at St Paul’s. I was a keen member of the Hans Woyda team, proudly represented the Paul’s4All Charities Committee, and enjoyed getting involved in a wide range of art, drama, and sport. In my final year, I was delighted to serve as School Captain.

I’m looking forward to speaking with fellow Old Paulines and hearing about your own experiences at the School.

Luke Buckland (2018-23)

My name is Luke and I left St Paul’s in 2023. I was vice-captain of the water polo team and part of the basketball team as well. Having studied History, English and Mathematics at A level, with an EPQ on the National Security Law in Hong Kong, I am now a Politics and International Relations student at the University of Bristol, graduating next year. At school I enjoyed being part of the Polecon Society, debating viewpoints at the Philosophy Society and playing football on Big Side during lunch breaks. I now hope to work in journalism, politics or entertainment.

Marco Benedetti (2020-25)

I left St Paul’s in 2025, having spent 11 years there discovering interests in basketball, jazz and charity work. I’m now studying Arabic and Classics at St Andrews. Charity work is something I’ve kept up here, including leading sponsorship for a student-run fundraising event and volunteering at a legal aid clinic in Jordan.

St Paul’s gave me the space to explore my interests without knowing where they might lead, which is why I care about expanding accessibility to the school through the bursary programme.

Max Swinnerton (2020-25)

My name is Max and I left St Paul’s in 2025. Whilst at school I was house captain and got keenly involved in drama and writing. Since leaving school, I have gone on to study languages (German and Russian) at the University of Cambridge and I am about to enter my second year! I joined the campaign in order to give back to a place which gave me so much over the years, be it education or lifelong friendships and memories. I’m also especially proud to be supporting the bursary programme so that a St Paul’s education is available to anyone who deserves it, regardless of background.

Michael Tao (2022-24) 

Hi, I’m Michael and I left St Paul’s in 2024. The school really was my second home, both literally, as a boarder, and in every other sense too.

I was Boarding House Captain and a Music Scholar, though honestly what I remember most fondly are the daily jokes with friends and making music in the Wathen Hall. Performing at Apposition and playing Chopin’s 2nd Piano Concerto with the school orchestra were nerve-wracking at the time, but are among my favourite memories now. Since leaving, I’ve gone on to study Chemistry at Imperial College London, while also holding the Ash Music Scholarship to study Piano at the Royal College of Music.

I’m taking part in this campaign because St Paul’s shaped so much of who I am, and the bursary programme is what makes that experience possible for more people.

Samuel Monro-Davies (2018-23)

My name’s Sam and I left St Paul’s in 2023. While at school I loved all things sport, music and classics. I’m now entering my fourth and final year studying Classics at Oxford. I had the best time at St Paul’s and hope through this campaign to help ensure that more pupils can enjoy the same opportunities, regardless of their economic or social backgrounds.

Thomas Chappell-Pike (2017-22) 

My name is Thomas, and I left St Paul’s in 2022. Since leaving school, I have gone to the University of Bristol, where I am entering my final year of studying Mathematics, something which I picked up an affinity for at school. The reason I wanted to join this campaign is to raise money for the bursary fund, to help allow bright pupils who are held back financially to attend the school.