"Without doubt, I would not have built the platform that I now have without my time at St Helen’s and the generosity and warmth of those who contributed to the bursary fund. The wonderful thing about the School is that even if you’re not exceptionally clever, if you have the right mindset, if you are teachable and receptive to the St Helen’s environment, the staff will do all that they can for you and consequently the entire direction of your life can change. St Helen’s got me to the point where I achieved fabulous exam results and now I am working at UCL and associated with some of the most acclaimed immunologists in my field. This all started with the bursary fund at St Helen’s."

Louisa (2010 leaver)

"There is no question that without a bursary I wouldn’t have been able to experience the wealth of opportunities that I did. From travelling to Japan for a drama trip and to Germany for a music tour, to representing the UK at the European Youth Parliament and representing the school as a prefect, I look back on every experience at St Helen’s with fondness.  For me, being in an environment where it was cool to be curious, where it wasn’t unusual to love learning and where it was OK to be unashamedly enthusiastic, has led me to where I am today. I will forever be grateful for my bursary for giving me the life-changing gift of becoming a St Helen’s girl."

Leying (2013 leaver)

"The bursary that enabled me to study at St Helen's has shaped my life in many ways. The support from the school, encouraging us to participate in various Olympiads and academic competitions, gave me the opportunity to study Natural Science at the University of Cambridge. I think this has been the single biggest influence on my career so far, opening many doors for my future life. I am currently studying for a PhD in Biotechnology at the University of Edinburgh and I think my choice to continue as a woman in STEM is certainly impacted by my school life. Throughout my education, I never considered there to be barriers to any field and just followed what interested me the most. I hope many more girls will grow up believing this too."

Fiona (2017 leaver)

I'll never forget the day that the letter arrived and I opened it in the bathroom while my mum looked on expectantly. It was a relief to everyone that I had got in. My ability had been recognised and I was not being excluded on the basis of a lack of family finances; I was wanted by the school. My time at St Helen's was amazing. It was a puzzle to my teachers that I wanted to study Chemistry, Biology and English A level; but I knew where I was heading and I knew I needed that English A Level to keep the artist inside me happy. I qualified as an Osteopath and last year celebrated 25 years in practice. I play clarinet, saxophone and trombone in the local Big Band and have two stunning children. And it all started with that letter in the bathroom.

Sarah (1992 leaver)

"I think one of the main benefits of attending St Helen's was the fact that we had access to such great facilities: the library, the science labs, the art rooms, the language centre. I know that I wouldn't have received such a fantastic education in the sciences, for example, in another school. St Helen's definitely instilled in me a passion for languages. I was offered a teaching job in Spain in 2015 and I jumped at the opportunity and have never looked back. St Helen's set me up for this and my life would have been completely different if I had gone somewhere else. I will forever be grateful for the education I received and I hope many more young women can benefit from the wide range of opportunities offered."

Emily (2005 leaver)