Welcome to the website of Sir John Cass's Foundation.

The Foundation is one of London's oldest and largest education charities.  Founded in 1748, it supports education for young people under the age of 25 in inner London through its grant programmes for individuals, schools and organisations, and its support for a number of institutions bearing Sir John Cass's name.

These include:

Cass Nursery Centre in the City of London

Sir John Cass's Foundation Primary School in the City of London,

Sir John Cass's Foundation and Red Coat Secondary School in Tower Hamlets

Sir John Cass's Department of Art, Media and Design which is part of London Metropolitan University

Sir John Cass Halls of Residence in Hackney

The Cass Business School, which is part of City University

The Sir John Cass School of Education, which is part of the University of East London

The Foundation also gives its name to Cass Housing Estate located in and around Cassland Road in Hackney

We are extremely pleased to be supporting three Academies; St. Mary Magdalene and the City of London Academies in Islington and St. Michael & All Angels Academy in Camberwell. The Foundation has also awarded grants to thirty four secondary schools across inner London towards their bids to become designated as Specialist Schools, including a grant last year, to Elmgreen School in Lambeth, which is the first parent promoted school in the country.

The website provides information about the Foundation and the different types of grants we offer to individuals, schools and organisations.

Latest News 

Scholarships

The Launch of the £1.5m Sir John Cass's Foundation Lord Mayor's Scholarships Programme took place at the Mansion House on the 28th October 2011 in the presence of the Rt Hon. the Lord Mayor, Alderman Michael Bear.

The Foundation has agreed to contribute £1m over a five years towards this new initiative on the basis that the Office of the Lord Mayor of the City of London will contribute £0.5m over the same period of time.

This year's scholarships were funded by both the Foundation and the Lord Mayor's Bear Necessities Appeal; the Programme awarded 19 scholarships to young London residents facing financial hardship, who would greatly benefit from undergraduate studies. Each scholarship of £7,000 per annum can be used to meet the cost of tuition fees, maintenance or other educational costs.

Students supported in year one will also receive support in subsequent years, subject to a satisfactory report from their university confirming academic progress, good attitude and attendance.  The participating universities are: University of East London; Queen Mary, University of London; London Metropolitan University; Imperial College; University of the Arts; Goldsmiths College and City University.

The Chairman of the Foundation and the Vice Chancellors of the participating universities attended the launch with the Lord Mayor.

Sir John Cass's Foundation Lecture

The 5th Sir John Cass's Foundation Lecture took place on the evening of 5th October 2011 at the Cass Business School in London.

Katharine Birbalsingh kindly agreed to give an address which is entitled Is the British Education System Broken?

Katharine Birbalsingh was the deputy head teacher who spoke at the Conservative Party Conference last October and declared that the education system was broken. Some say she is Britain’s most outspoken and controversial teacher. Educated at a comprehensive school, she earned a degree in philosophy and modern languages at Oxford University and has taught for over a decade in inner-city schools. She has written a book To Miss with Love, which exposes the reality of inner-city schools and the problems with the education system. Katharine now writes regularly for the Daily Telegraph and other publications. She is also setting up a free school, the Michaela Community School, in south London.

Articles about the Lecture appeared in the Guardian, Daily Telegraph, Daily Mail and the Metro newspapers.

Wellington College - The Sunday Times - Festival of Education weekend - Saturday 25th and Sunday 26th June 2011

The Sunday Times - Festival Education weekend was held on Saturday 25th June 2011 and Sunday 26th June 2011 at the Wellington College.  For further details, please go on to the Wellington College website and click into the The Sunday Times Festival of Education Wellington College.

The Foundation was honoured to be one of Wellington College's sponsors.

 http://www.festivalofeducation.org.uk/  This link is for the homepage for the festival of education

http://www.festivalofeducation.org.uk/resource.aspx?id=237328   This link is to download the brochure for the festival of education

 Specialist School's Academies Trust (SSAT) - 15th Annual Lecture -  28th June 2011

The SSAT 15th Lecture took place on Tuesday 28th June 2011, at Royal College of Physicians, 11 Saint Andrew's Place, London, NW1 4LE at 17.15 to 20.30. For further details, please go on the SSATs website.

The Sir John Cass's Foundation was honoured to be one of SSAT's sponsors.

Founder's Day 2011

Founder's Day is celebrated annually by the Foundation and its two schools each year in February.  Founder's Day in 2011 will take place on the 1st February 2011 and will be a special year as it marks the 350th Anniversary of the birth of our Founder, Sir John Cass. The principal guest will be the Right Honourable Lord Mayor, Alderman Michael Bear.

The event marks the birth of the founder, Sir John Cass, on the 20th February 1661, and commences with a procession of up to 30 pupils and guests from the Foundation's Jewry Street offices to St Botolph-without-Aldgate on Aldgate High Street,  The service includes performances by pupils from the Foundation's primary and secondary schools.  Although the reception is by invitation only, members of the public are welcome to attend the services 

The Foundation regrets to announce that Professor Manuel Alvarado passed away on the 30th April 2010.

 In Memoriam

Professor Manuel Alvarado 1948-2010

Esteemed Governor and Chairman of the Grants Committee

http://www.guardian.co.uk/media/2010/jun/01/manuel-alvarado-obituary

A Dance, Drama and Music Studio at the Cass School of Education at the University of East London in Stratford was named in honour of the late Professor Manuel Alvarado on the 28th September 2010.

A high-tech performing arts studio used by teacher-training students at the school was renamed in Mr Alvarado’s honour, while a glass commemorative plaque marking the event was unveiled by his widow Tana Wollen.

A host of dignitaries including UEL Vice-Chancellor Patrick McGhee and Sir John Cass Foundation Chairman Kevin Everett paid tribute to Mr Alvarado’s work, much of which was devoted towards supporting access to education for under-privileged children.

Speaking at the event Ms Wollen said: "Manuel would have been absolutely delighted to have been honoured in this way.

"His first great love was music and the performing arts and he, along with many others, worked extremely hard at UEL to ensure that education here was funded adequately. In many ways this event represents the realisation of his dream."

Mr Alvarado, who was the former Head of Education and Training at the British Film Institute, was also renowned for his commitment towards advancing the cause of media studies as an academic discipline. 

Mr Everett revealed that he had campaigned tirelessly on behalf of local students, and rarely took no for an answer.

"He was a poor east end boy who made good through education. He had a tremendous passion for highlighting the benefits of education for under-privileged people because, essentially, he had come from the same environment."

Patrick McGhee said: "We are extremely proud of the Cass School for Education, and I am delighted to be able to honour Manuel’s tireless efforts to ensure students are able to reap the benefits of higher education. 

"The University of East London is a major force for social, cultural and economic development. The Cass School for Education lies in the heart of an area of enormous potential, and is a catalyst for change both locally and beyond."

The newly named performing arts studio at the school boasts a spring-cushioned dance floor, three practice rooms and a state of the art recording studio. It is primarily used by trainee teachers of dance, music and drama.

Mr Alvarado, who died earlier this year aged 62, was also a major figure in the development of media education in Britain and beyond. During his distinguished career Mr Alvarado was secretary of the Society for the Education in Film and Television as well as holding positions at a number of prestigious organisations including UNESCO and the BBC.

SPECIALIST SCHOOLS AND ACADEMIES TRUST -SPONSOR OF THE YEAR 2010

Ed Balls, the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families announced at a Reception held at the Guildhall in the City of London on 21st January 2010 that Sir John Cass's Foundation had been honoured as the Specialist Schools and Academies Trust Sponsor of Year 2010. This was in recognition of the generous support given to the SSAT over a twelve year period.

Sir John Cass's Foundation has supported 34 Specialist Schools, 3 Academies and 1 Parent Promoted School during this period, which has unlocked tens of millions of pounds in additional funding from central government and has seen both examination results and partnerships between schools, businesses and charitable foundations substantially improve.

Mr Kevin Everett, the Treasurer and Chairman of Sir John Cass's Foundation accepted the honour on behalf of the Board and gave an address.

More information can be obtained by clicking on the link below.

https://www.ssatrust.org.uk/media/Pages/SSATannounceswinners.aspx

SIR JOHN CASS'S FOUNDATION LONDON AMBASSADOR SCHEME FOR LEARNERS WITH DISABILITIES

An Evaluation Event took place on 23rd April 2010 in the Octagon at Queen Mary, University of London that afforded interested parties and professionals in the field of widening participation into further and higher education, a chance to meet senior representatives from Sir John Cass's Foundation who funded this very successful 3 year programme and Student Ambassadors, as well as those from London East Thames Gateway Aim Higher and Achieveability, who managed the project. 

The project involved 500 students from 40 schools from across the Foundation's beneficial area of inner London, including its own secondary school in Tower Hamlets. Widening Participation is one of the five priory areas set out in the Foundation's Grants Strategy and the Foundation believes that university places should not simply be the preserve for the most priviliged in society but open to all students on the basis of merit, regardless of their background or in this case their disability.

Support from the Foundation encompassed projects costs but also paid for an evaluation report, which has set out the outputs and outcomes of the project, and given that much of the work undertaken in the field of widening participation is fragmented, has spelt out what has been learnt, as well as what went less well.

The recommendations that have been made have been well considered and will hopefully inform future policy in this area, as well as assisting the Government and others in the field who will no doubt consider undertaking similar projects in the future.

Speeches were made by the following parties:

Professor Simon Gaskell, Principal, Queen Mary, University of London

Kevin Everett, Chairman & Treasurer, Sir John Cass's Foundation

Susan Mueller, Director, LETG Aim Higher

Katharine Hewlett, Director, Achieveability

More information on the project and a full copy of the evaluation report can be obtained by clicking on the link below

http://www.aimhigher.ac.uk/sites/londoneast/publications/disable_student_ambassador_scheme.cfm

FOUNDER'S DAY 2010

Founder's Day is celebrated annually by the Foundation and its two schools each year in February.  Founder's Day in 2011 will 0 tookplace on the 2nd February 2010 and also marked the tercentenary of the opening of Sir John Cass's School in the City of London in 1710. 

This photograph was taken in the drawing room at the Mansion House on the 2nd February 2010. From left to right are the Right Honourable Lord Mayor, Alderman Nicholas Anstee, His Royal Highness The Duke of Gloucester KG GCVO and the Treasurer and Chairman of Sir John Cass's Foundation, Kevin Everett OSt.J DSc CC who had the honour of presenting a ceremonial gold coin, a history of the Foundation and ceremonial red feathers to these principal guests.

This photograph shows the procession, which takes place on an annual basis, outside the Foundation's Jewry Street Offices in the City of London. The Procession made its way from Jewry Street to the Church of St Botolph-without-Aldgate, which is located on Aldgate High Street. 

 The following people who took part in the Tercentenary procession:-

Lynne Waller, Verger at St. Botolph-without-Aldgate

Francesca Byrne and Louie Kalvis, Sir John Cass’s Foundation Primary School 

Humaun Rashid and Janna Aziz Ria , Sir John Cass’s Foundation Secondary School

Susan Laney, Deputy Head, Sir John Cass’s Foundation Primary School

Janelle Todd, Deputy Head Teacher, Sir John Cass's Foundation Secondary School

Gerard Loughran, Head Teacher, Sir John Cass’s Foundation Primary School

Haydn Evans, Head Teacher, Sir John Cass’s Foundation Secondary School 

Nigel Priest, Chairman of Governors, Sir John Cass’s Foundation Primary School 

David Pascall CBE , Chairman of Governors, Sir John Cass's Foundation Secondary School

Frank Armstrong, Assistant Commissioner, City of London Police

Ann Slater, Dean of the Sir John Cass School of Education, University of East London

Professor Julius Weinberg, Acting Vice Chancellor, City University

The Reverend Nigel Kirkup, Sir John Cass's Foundation

Professor Malcolm Gillies, Vice Chancellor, London Metropolitan University

John Ward, The Foundation Beadle, carrying the Mace of Sir John Cass’s Foundation

Billy King-Harman CBE, City Marshal

Richard Foley, Deputy Clerk/Deputy CEO, Sir John Cass's Foundation

Mervyn Streatfeild, Sir John Cass's Foundation

Anthony Mullee, Clerk/CEO, Sir John Cass's Foundation

Alderman Michael Bear, Ward of Portsoken

David Turner, Deputy Treasurer, Sir John Cass's Foundation

Alderman David Wootton, City of London Sheriff

Kevin Everett DSc CC, Treasurer of the Foundation

Alderman Nicholas Anstee, Rt Hon the Lord Mayor

Alec Kemp and Gary Caughey, Churchwardens, St Botolph-without-Aldgate

The Reverend Christopher Burke,  Rector, St Dunstan’s and All Saints, Stepney

The Right Reverend and Right Honourable Richard Chartes KCVO, The Bishop of London

This photograph shows pupils from Sir John Cass's Foundation Secondary School performing at the Church of St.Botolph-without-Aldgate.

A lunch to celebrate the tercentenary was arranged by the City of London Corporation at the Mansion House.

A commemorative coin has been struck to mark the Tercentenary of the opening of Sir John Cass's School. The front of the coin shows the bust of Sir John Cass with his dates (1661-1718) and on the reverse is found the Coat of Arms of Sir John Cass's Foundation, which has generously funded this coin.

Coins will be given to all the pupils, staff and Governors of the Sir John Cass Schools, as well as staff and Governors of the Foundation, which will act as a lasting memento of this significant anniversary.

A book charting the history of Sir John Cass and the charitable foundation which bears his name has been published.

SIR JOHN CASS SCHOOL OF EDUCATION

The Foundation decided to award a major grant to the University of East London towards what has become the Sir John Cass School of Education. This new state of the art centre for education, teaching and research is based at Stratford. This new building was opened by Mrs Cherie Blair on the 8th October 2009.

More information can be obtained about this exciting development at www.uel.ac.uk/news/latest_news/stories/johncass.htm

SIR JOHN CASS'S FOUNDATION LECTURE

Michael Gove announces new Tory policy to support teachers at Cass event
MP gives annual Sir John Cass’s Foundation lecture Friday, 4 December, 2009 Michael Gove, Shadow Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families, gave the annual Sir John Cass’s Foundation lecture last night where he announced a new Conservative Party policy to boost teaching quality in science and maths. Under this policy, science and maths graduates from top universities would have their student loans repaid if they become teachers.  Their loans would be repaid for as long as they were working as teachers.  This incentive is aimed at challenging the current situation where too many people are considered to have left school without a good, basic knowledge of maths and science and too few go on to study these subjects at university.  Gove said the policy would produce better educated teachers with a commitment to the long term and would diminish the churn where many people leave teaching after a few years, that characterises our system. The Sir John Cass Foundation Lecture is given annually by a policy maker or commentator and seeks to advance the debate of charity and business working together to promote education. Cass Business School is named after the 18th Century City of London educational philanthropist and businessman Sir John Cass following a generous donation from his foundation in 2001.  Cass was a renowned entrepreneur and established his foundation for furthering education in the City of London. Sir John Cass’s Foundation has supported education in London since Sir John Cass set up a school in East London in 1710.  He was born in the City of London in 1661 and served as the Member of Parliament for the City.  He was knighted in 1713.

More information can be found on the Sir John Cass's Foundation Lecture page of our website.This website has been created using software provided by BeeVirtual.