A college has raised a staggering £12.7m without even having to make its historic new appeal public.

On Tuesday, Worcester - one of Oxford's poorest colleges - will launch an appeal for £25m at the National Gallery in London.

The college said the money was needed to offset the squeeze in Government funding and to secure its long-term future. But rich former students, including many Americans, have ensured the college is over half way to its target even before the big launch to be hosted by Sir Timothy Sainsbury, a member of the famous food chain family, who is president of the Campaign.

A big donation has also been received from an unnamed American charity foundation. Nina Anstee, development director, said: "This money is not for extra activities. It is to make sure we can continue for the next 100 years. The money will be spent on core activities like education and looking after our historic buildings."

Provost of Worcester, Richard Smethurst, said: "The college is determined to maintain its ability to recruit undergraduates on the basis of academic ability, not income, and to protect the tutorial system.

"The £25m campaign is just the first stage in a longer term ambition to fully re-endow the college."

Worcester College was founded in 1283 as Gloucester Green College. It is famous for its gardens, it was refounded in 1714 and renamed Worcester in honour of its benefactor Sir Thomas Cookes, a Worcestershire baronet.

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