OKA support

In this section

Supporting individuals & the School

With the OKA office integrated into the School, the ways that OKs lend support to current pupils, as well as other OKs, has expanded in the last few years.

Discover how you may be able to help in the future…

Careers advice

One of the many benefits of the OKA is the opportunity to network across a range of professions. This is valuable for both current pupils and OKs to seek careers advice and find work experience placements.

The School hosts a Careers Fair that exposes pupils in the Fourth to Sixth Forms to as many career paths as possible at a time when curriculum and university choices are being considered. Its enables pupils to learn about the many different opportunities open to them and to hear first hand about what it is really like working in different fields.

The OKA would be delighted to hear from you if you or your organisation are interested in attending the Careers Fair to talk to pupils about your career, or if you are prepared to:

offer work experience placements (anything from a day to two weeks)
offer careers advice (by telephone, email or in person)
attend careers events at the School.

Talking to clubs and societies

With a plethora of extra-curricular clubs and societies open to pupils, it is not surprising that there is plenty of opportunity for OKs to support the School by coming along and talking to specific clubs / societies about their experience in a particular and relevant field.

In the past, we have benefitted from visits from OKs who spoke to the History Society, the Medical Society and to the Upper Sixth in a Citizenship lesson.

General donations

To mark their time at school, or simply in recognition of how their Kimbolton education provided a sound base for stepping into the world of work, many OKs have donated a gift to the School.

You can see several gifts as you walk around the grounds including the flag poles on the Kyffin Owen Cricket Pavilion (donated by Simeon Skey, OK 89), the pavilion clock (donated by brothers John Furnival, OK 56, and Adrian Furnival, OK 58), and benches in the courtyard donated in memory of former staff Michael Petty and Peter Smout.

Alumni profiles

Our current pupils are inspired by alumni stories and careers. If you would be happy to share your experiences, please complete an alumni profile.

OKA Scholarship Trust Fund & Geoff Coles Memorial Fund

In 1995 the OKA set up the Scholarship Trust Fund. Its purpose was to establish and maintain scholarship awards to Sixth Form students who, due to specific circumstances, would not be able to further their education at Kimbolton without the support of a bursary award.

In 2015, the Fund was boosted by the introduction of the Geoff Coles Memorial Fund – a fund set up in memory of Geoff a member of staff, 1958-94.

OKA sponsorship

The OKA currently has a fund allocated to financially support OKs and current pupils in exceptional ventures that they are pursuing.  If you are planning a particular challenge or project that meets one of the following criteria and are looking for sponsorship, you are welcome to apply for support:

pursuit of a significant personal achievement
career development
raising money for a worthy cause
charity work
advancement of your education (we will not, however, simply contribute towards course fees).

More about sponsorship

OKA to OKA support

One of the benefits of being a member of the OKA is the opportunity for OKs to network with each other, whether to create social, business or career opportunities.   We are developing an OK Business Directory, detailing support and benefits that OKs are able to extend to other OKs, such as offering a discount on products/services or developing a point of contact for career guidance.

If you run your own business or the company you work for is in a position to extend services / offers to OKs, please contact the Alumni Office.

Old Kimboltonians’ Lodge

The Old Kimboltonians’ Masonic Lodge meets five times a year in the Castle on a Friday evening. The meeting concludes with a convivial formal dinner. The Lodge supports many charities and, recognising that charity begins at home, makes a significant contribution to the Headmaster’s Scholarship Fund in conjunction with the OKA Scholarship Trust Fund.

The Lodge has members of all ages and is a great way to meet and interact with other OKs. If you are interested in finding out more, please visit the Lodge website.