Joint statement from the Rhodes Trust and the South African Schools 

In May 2024 the Trustees of the Rhodes Trust unanimously resolved to apply to the Charity Commission for England and Wales for approval to expand the selection pools of the South Africa Schools Scholarships to bring them in line with the UK Equality Act 2010 by opening them to candidates from South Africa-at-Large. The four Schools opposed the application.

At the end of March 2026, the Rhodes Trust and the four Schools concluded confidential discussions which explored whether a revised position on changes to the Schools Scholarships could be put to the Charity Commission. From that process emerged a proposal for an alternative amendment to the selection pools, which is acceptable to the Rhodes Trust and the Schools. The change is intended to address questions relating to equality legislation, while retaining a closer connection to attendance at each School than the change requested in 2024, and the Rhodes Trust will be seeking the Charity Commission’s approval of it.

If given effect, the agreed amendment would replace the School and Partner School-specific eligibility criteria with revised criteria connected to geographic districts and/or additional partner institutions. The Schools' Scholarships would retain the names of the Schools. Furthermore, the Rhodes Trust and the Schools have agreed how the selection process for these new pools will operate, if they are approved. There will be new Selection Committees set up for each Schools Scholarship, with an independent Chair. Where possible, a past recipient of the relevant School Scholarship will be appointed as Secretary to the Committee, and a representative of the relevant School will also sit on the Selection Committee. Selection will take place in a neutral location. For each of the four Scholarships, eligibility would extend to:

· South African College School (“SACS”) Scholarship – Students matriculated from SACS, Rustenburg Girls’ High, Sans Souci Girls’ High (i.e. SACS's Partner schools), or graduates of the University of Cape Town (with which SACS has historic links).

· Paul Roos Gymnasium Scholarship – Students from any high school in specified education districts in the Western Cape of South Africa (which include Paul Roos and its Partner Schools).

· Bishops Diocesan Scholarship (“Bishops”) – Students matriculated from high schools in the Cape Town Metro South district or from Bishops, Herschel Girls, St Cyprian’s, St George’s Grammar, or LEAP Langa (i.e. Bishops' Partner Schools).

· St Andrew’s College Scholarship – Students whose high school is located in the Makana municipality of South Africa (which includes St Andrew's College and The Diocesan School for Girls, its Partner School, or graduates of Rhodes University, with which St Andrew's College has historic links).

The Schools have agreed not to oppose the proposed change, or the position taken by the Rhodes Trust on the appropriate legal process for implementing it. The Rhodes Trust is confident that it is in the best interests of the Rhodes Scholarship programme for the Trust to withdraw the 2024 resolution and to seek the agreed change instead. The Rhodes Trust will also make a payment to each of the Schools to support the Schools’ educational and bursary initiatives, including for students from historically underrepresented backgrounds.

Meanwhile, the Rhodes Trust has decided, commencing with the 2026 award cycle, to fund four interim Rhodes Scholarships to be awarded to selection pools which match those agreed with the Schools. The interim awards will ensure that the total number of Rhodes Scholarships available to students from South Africa is maintained pending resolution of this matter. The Rhodes Trust will fund recipients of the interim scholarships for their full tenure as a Rhodes Scholar regardless of the outcome of the legal process. The awards will be made from the Rhodes Trust Public Purposes Fund, which already funds four Rhodes Scholarships to students from South Africa-at-Large. No funds from the trust established by the Will of Cecil Rhodes will be used unless and until that is authorised by a formal change.

The settlement resolves a long-running matter between the Rhodes Trust and the Schools. It provides a framework for the award of the Schools Scholarships to recommence and for the Rhodes Trust and the Schools to work together to make that a success.

The Rhodes Trust and the Schools are aware that some members of the Schools' communities hold differing views on the future of the Schools Scholarships. The views expressed have been taken into account, but the Rhodes Trust is satisfied that a change is necessary, and is glad to have reached a consensual solution with the Schools.