United Church Schools Trust Explained

The United Church Schools Trust (UCST) is a large education charity in the United Kingdom which owns and operates a group of 13 private schools. The charity is operating under the name United Learning as of 2012.

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 (now United Learning) 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 Peterborough, Cambridgeshire. It is governed by a Board of Trustees and an Executive Team.

Schools

UCST currently owns and manages 13 independent schools across England:

• AKS Lytham
• Ashford School
• Banstead Prep School
  • Coworth Flexlands School Dunottar School, Reigate
• Embley
  • Godolphin School Guildford High School
• Lincoln Minster School
  • Rowan Preparatory School St Ives School for Girls
• Surbiton High School
  • The Royal School, Haslemere Tranby School

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

The UCST planned to merge King Edward VII and Queen Mary School (KEQMS) with Arnold School in September 2012, to create Arnold KEQMS (now AKS Lytham).^[3] A parent group lodged an appeal with HM Courts and Tribunal Service – First Tier Tribunal on Friday 9 December 2011.^[4] The appeal was heard on 11 & 12 April 2012^{[5] [6]} and a decision was released by the tribunal on 17 May 2012 stating that the merger can proceed; however, the lease granted to UCST does not adequately protect the assets of the Lytham Schools and will therefore need to be re-written.^[7] The parents group have since announced that they will not be appealing this decision and the merger will therefore go ahead.^[8]

Academies

See main article: United Learning. UCST's subsidiary charity the United Learning Trust operates 60 academies and one City Technology College.^[9]

United Learning

In 2012 ULT and UCST rebranded to operate under one name, United Learning.^[10] They legally remain as two separate charities.

Notes and References

1. Web site: ucst.org.uk . 2024-02-16 . www.ucst.org.uk.
2. Web site: charitiesdirect Resources and Information. . 2024-02-16 . ww16.charitiesdirect.com.
3. Web site: An outstanding future - Arnold and KEQMS to merge in September 2012.
4. Web site: Arnold KEQMS Appeal . 2011-12-28 . dead . https://archive.today/20120904150007/http://www.notothetakeover.co.uk/2011/12/our-appeal-has-been-submitted-to-first.html . 2012-09-04 .
5. Web site: Our Appeal . 2011-12-28 . dead . https://archive.today/20120904150007/http://www.notothetakeover.co.uk/2011/12/our-appeal-has-been-submitted-to-first.html . 2012-09-04 .
6. Web site: School fight appeal . 2011-12-28.
7. Web site: Tribunal Decision . 2012-05-29.
8. Web site: Campaign Announcement . 2012-05-29 . dead . https://archive.today/20120910062146/http://www.notothetakeover.co.uk/2012/05/campaign-announcement-from-ray.html . 2012-09-10 .
9. Web site: United Learning Academies . 2018-03-21.
10. The Road to United Learning