Villiers Park
Encyclopedia
Villiers Park Educational Trust is a registered educational charity
in the United Kingdom that helps very able students achieve their full academic potential and gain a place at a leading university. It runs a residential training centre in Foxton
, close to Cambridge
. The Trust also provides an advisory service for secondary schools to help them improve provision for gifted and talented students.
Over 17,000 Year 12/13 students have taken part in residential courses at Villiers Park Educational Trust, well over half from disadvantaged backgrounds, and of that group, more than 80% have gone on to study at a leading university.
In 2009 the Trust launched the Villiers Park Scholars Programme to support able 14-19 year old students from less advantaged backgrounds. The four-year programme includes course-specific residential courses at Villiers Park, master-classes at local universities, regular one-to-one meetings with a learning mentor and online provision to enhance learning. The Trust also offers advice to Scholars’ parents and works with their schools and colleges to improve everyday classroom provision for able students.
In 1951 Sir Edward Cadogan started some educational courses during school holidays at his home in Oxfordshire for members of the Boys' Club. When he died in 1962, the Hon. Arthur Villiers expanded the number of courses as a tribute to him, these being held at Hertford College, Oxford (for A-level students) and at Eton College and Timsbury Manor, Hampshire (for O-level students).
Arthur Villiers' family estate had once encompassed the village of Middleton Stoney in Oxfordshire and The Manor Charitable Trust purchased land and buildings there, establishing an educational centre. The first course was held in December 1965 and, after the closure of the Boys' Club in 1967, these subject-based courses were made available free of charge to state and independent school students throughout the country, thus bringing together students from different backgrounds to the benefit of all. Following the death of Arthur Villiers in 1969, they were also held more frequently and during school term time.
The success of these courses led the Trustees to expand the number of places available by building a second study centre in 1989 at Foxton, near Cambridge.
Following a strategic review in the late 1990s it was decided to close the study centre at Middleton Stoney and to expand the centre at Foxton. The number of courses for teachers was increased and regional networks were established linking schools, colleges and universities in four English regions. In 2000 the charity changed its name to Villiers Park Educational Trust, giving full recognition to the part played by Arthur Villiers in the development of the Trust and to its focus on educational activities.
The Trust is now the leading national expert in providing for gifted and talented students aged 14-19, organising events at its Cambridge Centre. It offers advice to schools, colleges and universities throughout the UK.
Charitable organization
A charitable organization is a type of non-profit organization . It differs from other types of NPOs in that it centers on philanthropic goals A charitable organization is a type of non-profit organization (NPO). It differs from other types of NPOs in that it centers on philanthropic goals A...
in the United Kingdom that helps very able students achieve their full academic potential and gain a place at a leading university. It runs a residential training centre in Foxton
Foxton, Cambridgeshire
Foxton is a small village in South Cambridgeshire, England. It has a number of well-preserved fifteenth and sixteenth century houses, and a thirteenth century church dedicated to St Lawrence.-History:...
, close to Cambridge
Cambridge
The city of Cambridge is a university town and the administrative centre of the county of Cambridgeshire, England. It lies in East Anglia about north of London. Cambridge is at the heart of the high-technology centre known as Silicon Fen – a play on Silicon Valley and the fens surrounding the...
. The Trust also provides an advisory service for secondary schools to help them improve provision for gifted and talented students.
Over 17,000 Year 12/13 students have taken part in residential courses at Villiers Park Educational Trust, well over half from disadvantaged backgrounds, and of that group, more than 80% have gone on to study at a leading university.
In 2009 the Trust launched the Villiers Park Scholars Programme to support able 14-19 year old students from less advantaged backgrounds. The four-year programme includes course-specific residential courses at Villiers Park, master-classes at local universities, regular one-to-one meetings with a learning mentor and online provision to enhance learning. The Trust also offers advice to Scholars’ parents and works with their schools and colleges to improve everyday classroom provision for able students.
Origins
Villiers Park Educational Trust was founded in 1924 as The Manor Charitable Trust by four old Etonians (Arthur Villiers, Gerald Wellesley, Alfred Wagg and Sir Edward Cadogan) for the purpose of supporting the Eton Manor Boys' Club in east London, which they'd set up in 1909.In 1951 Sir Edward Cadogan started some educational courses during school holidays at his home in Oxfordshire for members of the Boys' Club. When he died in 1962, the Hon. Arthur Villiers expanded the number of courses as a tribute to him, these being held at Hertford College, Oxford (for A-level students) and at Eton College and Timsbury Manor, Hampshire (for O-level students).
Arthur Villiers' family estate had once encompassed the village of Middleton Stoney in Oxfordshire and The Manor Charitable Trust purchased land and buildings there, establishing an educational centre. The first course was held in December 1965 and, after the closure of the Boys' Club in 1967, these subject-based courses were made available free of charge to state and independent school students throughout the country, thus bringing together students from different backgrounds to the benefit of all. Following the death of Arthur Villiers in 1969, they were also held more frequently and during school term time.
The success of these courses led the Trustees to expand the number of places available by building a second study centre in 1989 at Foxton, near Cambridge.
Following a strategic review in the late 1990s it was decided to close the study centre at Middleton Stoney and to expand the centre at Foxton. The number of courses for teachers was increased and regional networks were established linking schools, colleges and universities in four English regions. In 2000 the charity changed its name to Villiers Park Educational Trust, giving full recognition to the part played by Arthur Villiers in the development of the Trust and to its focus on educational activities.
The Trust is now the leading national expert in providing for gifted and talented students aged 14-19, organising events at its Cambridge Centre. It offers advice to schools, colleges and universities throughout the UK.