United Church Schools Trust

The United Church Schools Trust (UCST) is a large education charity in the United Kingdom which owns and operates a group of 11 independent schools.

History

UCST was founded in 1883 (as the ‘Church Schools Company’) to extend the reach of academic education in Victorian England and to educate young women based on Christian (and particularly Anglican) principles. The majority of its schools are now co-educational. As a group, it is non-denominational and welcomes pupils of all faiths and none to its schools.

In 2002, it established the United Learning Trust (ULT) as a fully owned subsidiary to extend UCST’s work and ethos into the state sector through the Academies Programme. Together, UCST schools and ULT academies educate more than 30,000 pupils.^[1]

UCST is one of the 100 largest UK charitable organisations.^[2] Its central office is based in Titchmarsh, Northamptonshire. It is governed by a Board of Trustees and an Executive Team.

The UCST is currently attempting to take over King Edward VII and Queen Mary School (KEQMS), in Lytham-St.Annes, and force a merger with Arnold School, against the wishes of some parents, pupils and staff. The takeover and merger has been delayed by the Charity Commission as it investigates the arrangements following a number of objections. Parents at KEQMS opposed to the takeover have a website: www.notothetakeover.co.uk

UCST schools

UCST currently owns and manages 11 independent schools across England:

• Arnold School
• Ashford School
• Bournemouth Collegiate School
• Caterham School
• Guildford High School
• Hampshire Collegiate School
• Hull Collegiate School
• Lincoln Minster School
• Rowan Preparatory School
• Sunderland High School
• Surbiton High School

Five schools are boarding and day; six schools are day only. Three schools are single-sex (girls); eight schools are co-educational. The schools are accredited through the Independent Schools Council (ISC).

Academies

Main article: United Learning Trust

UCST's subsidiary charity the United Learning Trust^[3] operates 17 academies (central government funded, semi-independent secondary schools).

References

1. ^ http://www.ucst.org.uk/about-us/view/41
2. ^ Charities Direct: Top 500 Charities ranked by annual income
3. ^ United Learning Trust, Registered Charity no. 1093277 at the Charity Commission

External links

• United Church Schools Trust, Registered Charity no. 1016538 at the Charity Commission