King Edward’s School (KES) in Bath has appointed Freya Geary-Smith to a newly created role aimed at helping more young people benefit from the school’s educational opportunities, regardless of their family’s financial circumstances.
As Bursary Support and Educational Partnerships Lead, Freya will work with families throughout the means-tested bursary application process, while also developing partnerships with schools, charities and community organisations across Bath and the surrounding area.
The new role, the first of its kind at KES, has been made possible through philanthropic support and reflects the school’s commitment to widening access to independent education.
Freya brings extensive experience in educational outreach and social mobility initiatives. After studying English Language and Literature at the University of Oxford, she began her career at the Times Educational Supplement before completing a Master’s degree in Musical Theatre at Goldsmiths, University of London.
She has since worked with several educational and social impact organisations, including The Access Project and the School for Social Entrepreneurs.
Most recently, Freya spent four years at the University of East Anglia as Outreach Faculty Manager, leading initiatives designed to encourage young people from backgrounds underrepresented in higher education to explore their educational opportunities.
In her new position, she will help families navigate the KES bursary application process and support the school’s ambition to make its education accessible to talented pupils from a wider range of financial backgrounds.
Alongside her career in education, Freya is also an award-winning musical theatre writer, composer and lyricist. Her work includes the internationally acclaimed musical Ride, and in 2023 she became the first British recipient of the prestigious Fred Ebb Award for Musical Theatre Songwriting.
Tom Davies, Bursar and Chief Operating Officer at King Edward’s, said, “We are delighted to welcome Freya to KES. She brings a wealth of experience in educational outreach, widening participation and supporting young people from a wide range of backgrounds to access educational opportunities.
“The creation of this new role, made possible through philanthropic support and the first of its kind at KES, reflects our commitment to ensuring that more pupils can benefit from a KES education regardless of their financial circumstances, while also strengthening our partnerships with schools and communities across Bath and the local area.”
For more information about King Edward’s School and its bursary programme, visit www.kesbath.com
.
