The origins of Finnart House School Trust go back more than a century, to a time when the Jewish community in Britain recognised the need to provide care and education for children facing hardship. Finnart House School was founded to offer residential schooling and vocational training to Jewish boys, many of whom were orphaned or disadvantaged.

In 1937 the school moved to Oatlands Drive in Weybridge, becoming a Junior Approved School dedicated largely to Jewish boys. Over the years, as admissions declined, the school opened its doors more widely, welcoming pupils from different backgrounds. By the early 1970s, Finnart House School had become a Community Home with education under the care of the local authority, before finally closing in the late 1970s.

Although the school itself closed, its spirit endured. The sale of the property and land of the school created a fund that was placed in trust, ensuring that Finnart’s mission could live on in a new way. Thus, Finnart House School Trust was born, with a purpose shaped not by buildings or classrooms, but by opportunity and support.

Today, the Trust continues that legacy by offering scholarships to Jewish young people aged 14–21 who face financial or family hardship. These awards help those with the talent and ambition to pursue higher education but without the means to do so and in so doing stay in education, overcome barriers, and achieve their potential.

From its beginnings as a residential school to its present role as a charitable trust, Finnart has always been guided by the same belief: that every young Jewish person in the UK deserves the chance to thrive.