Hugh’s grant to alma mater in mother's name

One pupil a year will have the £12,840 annual fee for Latymer Upper School in London's Hammersmith, paid by Grant, who was a pupil there in the Seventies.

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Donor: Hugh Grant is said to be very fond' of Latymer Upper

The scholarship will be named after the Four Weddings And A Funeral star's mother Fynvola Grant, who taught in state schools for 30 years.

She died of pancreatic cancer in 2001.

Inspiration: Hugh's late mother Fymvola Grant

Headteacher Peter Winter said the actor decided to set up the scheme after a visit to the school in March.

He said: "Hugh is very fond of his old school and he did very well by the school. I have to say that when he visited he gave me - in an entirely pleasant way - the most searching grilling about what the school was doing. Like any donor, he wanted to make sure the money went to where he wanted it to go.

"We are thrilled to have Hugh back on board and very positive about the school."

The first boy to benefit from Grant's gift is the son of a bus driver from Wembley.

He will start at the school in September after doing "extremely well" in Latymer's entrance exam.

One Fynvola Grant scholar will join the school each year.

Another Latymer alumnus, comedian Mel Smith, sponsors a similar scholarship at the school.

It is named after Colin Turner, an English teacher who inspired him.

Latymer has also received a £4 million donation from an anonymous benefactor to fund means-tested scholarships and a new music, dance and drama complex.

This September 100 pupils joining the school will have all their fees paid by means-tested bursaries and scholarships.

Education Secretary Alan Johnson has warned that private schools could lose their charitable status unless they do more to help local communities, but Mr Winter said: "The Labour government has been rattling its sabre for years on this. We already do this."