What the Foundation means to Bill Gillen

What the AKS Lytham Foundation means to Patron Bill Gillen:

As a former headmaster of 2 HMC co-educational day schools and as a current school governor, I have no hesitation whatsoever in affirming that the AKS Lytham School, successfully evolved from its three heritage schools with their combined history of over 300 years, is pre-eminent on the Fylde coast and Blackpool communities.

AKS is so because, under the dynamic leadership of the Board of Governors and the Headmaster, David Harrow, it is resolutely committed at all levels( 2 to 18 years) to offering its boys & girls a progressive & outward -facing education that combines academic rigour in the classroom & laboratory with character building that includes the inculcation of service to others by virtue of its rich co-curricular programme.

The School’s avowed commitment to educating ‘the whole student’ and to making it available to as many bright young people in the local area as possible - as the three heritage schools did for a time by virtue of the Direct Grant status and the Assisted places Scheme- is being staunchly encouraged & supported by the newly formed AKS Lytham Foundation; whose Patrons are determined to raise money for bursary awards as well as to help ensure that the School enjoys a state -of -the art infrastructure. The Launch of the Foundation with speeches from several of its Patrons on 5th May was a most auspicious occasion.

I am certain that together the School & the Foundation will succeed in their altruistic mission to enable as many bright young people as possible to look up at the stars rather than down at their feet and thereby subsequently to enter adult life equipped and determined to serve others with empathy & compassion and to make the world a better place. 

I feel privileged and honoured to be a Patron of the Foundation and to have the opportunity to support the AKS School Lytham at this propitious stage in its development.

Bill Gillen
Headmaster Arnold School 1993-2003