End of Term Report Autumn 2025

Dear Member,

It is usual at the end of every school term for pupils to get a report on their progress. I am writing on behalf of the trustees of Southend High School for Boys Charitable Trust to give my short report about our progress and once again to thank everybody for their support.

Since the charity was launched just under eight months ago, we have now raised just over £132,000 through a mix of personal and corporate donations, events at the school involving the pupils, the Summer Dance and the recent Musical Marathon. This is a considerable sum in such a short period of time. It is evident to me that the school community, former staff and old students hold the school in high regard and really do care about its future. We are currently evaluating where Trust funds will be most useful in helping the school and achieving our aims. We should be able to report early in the New Year how your donations are making a real difference to pupils.

We have previously reported on the success of the Summer Dance held in July. On 6th December we held our 12-hour Musical Marathon. From 9am until 9pm there was continuous music in the school hall. Thanks are due to the many groups and individuals who sung or played a variety of musical instruments throughout the day. As well as audience participation in person, the day was live streamed on the internet. You can still see the recording on our website until the end of the year, alongside a shorter (2 minute) highlights reel. The school song at about 3pm was certainly a heartwarming moment! Due to everyone’s endeavours the event was a great success and raised nearly £2,500 for the Trust which will be used to further enhance our pupil experience.

With this successful event and the continued support of people like you, we expect to have raised over £24,000 during the term for the Trust, which, combined with successful and ongoing in-school “festive fundraising” of over £8,000 at last count, will make a real difference. We are so lucky that we have current and former pupils, staff and parents who are so willing to give up their own time to ensure that Southend High School for Boys continues to provide a superb all-round education to all the pupils that pass through its gates.

We are looking forward to 2026 with many exciting and possibly record-breaking events planned and will provide more information on the website when it becomes available.

Thank you once again for all your support and on behalf of the Charitable Trust may I wish each and every one of you a very Happy Christmas and a healthy and prosperous new year.

Dr Paul Husselbee
Chair of Trustees

SHSB Charitable Trust