Naming the Sixth Form Library

This September, The Portsmouth Grammar School was delighted to name the Sixth Form Library after a major donor to Sixth Form Scholarships, Mr Brian Wilkie MBE.

Mr Wilkie is the founder of the Wilkie Scholarship scheme created for pupils from Mayfield School, Portsmouth to join PGS for their sixth form studies.

Dubai-based businessman, Mr Wilkie, attended Mayfield School from 1960-66, when it was known as the Northern Grammar School. He set up the Wilkie Scholarship scheme in 2012 to help talented young people from Mayfield succeed in life, regardless of their financial means. In 2021, he gave PGS an endowment sufficient to ensure the scheme in perpetuity.

While celebrating the naming of the Wilkie Library, Mr Wilkie spoke of his ambition to give even more young people an opportunity to attend the Sixth Form at PGS, regardless of their economic circumstances.

“My aim is to help all young people to succeed and fulfil their potential, no matter what their backgrounds may be” says Mr Wilkie, “I hugely enjoy following the success of all the young people who benefit from the scheme as they move through life beyond school and into their careers. I really hope that all those funded through my and similar scholarships will enjoy and use the opportunities offered at The Portsmouth Grammar School to make the most of their skills and talents.”

Thanks to Mr Wilkie’s gift, two Mayfield students every year are able to join PGS for their sixth form studies, giving them the opportunity to improve their life chances while also having a positive impact in the school community, the city and the wider world. So far, 20 young people from Mayfield have been able to join the PGS Sixth Form, before going on to attend some of the UK’s top 10 universities such as Oxford, Warwick and UCL (University College London).

Emily, currently a PGS Pupil and Wilkie Scholar, gave thanks to Mr Wilkie: ‘His extraordinary generosity has helped pupils like me, reach higher, dream bigger and achieve more .’ Emily is hoping to go on to study Law next year at the University of Surrey.

Head of PGS, Mr David Wickes added “We are immensely grateful to Brian for his extraordinary generosity. At PGS, we are committed to opening doors to those for whom this is the right school. Allowing able and ambitious local students, whatever their financial means, to attend our school is a core part of our vision and we are delighted that Brian shares it with us. It is only right to have a place in the heart of the Sixth Form Centre named after Mr Wilkie, a key figure in shaping the education of so many young people.”