United Church Schools Trust
Encyclopedia
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
.
(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.
UCST is one of the 100 largest UK charitable organisations. 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 the majority of parents, pupils and staff. The takeover and merger was delayed by the Charity Commission as it investigated the arrangements following a number of objections. A parent group opposed to the takeover submitted objections to the Charity Commission which prompted a review prior to allowing the merger to proceed. The Charity Commission completed their report and announced on 11th November 2011 that they had approved the new scheme. The parent group have announced their intention to appeal against the Charity Commission decision. Parents at KEQMS opposed to the takeover have a website: www.notothetakeover.co.uk
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).
operates 17 academies (central government funded, semi-independent secondary schools).
Charitable organization
A charitable organization is a type of non-profit organization . It differs from other types of NPOs in that it centers on philanthropic goals A charitable organization is a type of non-profit organization (NPO). It differs from other types of NPOs in that it centers on philanthropic goals A...
in the United Kingdom
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
which owns and operates a group of 11 independent schools
Independent school (UK)
An independent school is a school that is not financed through the taxation system by local or national government and is instead funded by private sources, predominantly in the form of tuition charges, gifts and long-term charitable endowments, and so is not subject to the conditions imposed by...
.
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 ChristianChristian
A Christian is a person who adheres to Christianity, an Abrahamic, monotheistic religion based on the life and teachings of Jesus of Nazareth as recorded in the Canonical gospels and the letters of the New Testament...
(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
United Learning Trust
The United Learning Trust is an education charity and the largest single sponsor of academies in the UK with 20 academies and one City Technology College currently open. ULT's objective is to bring out "the best in everyone", driving educational improvement across its family of academies and...
(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.
UCST is one of the 100 largest UK charitable organisations. Its central office is based in Titchmarsh
Titchmarsh
Titchmarsh may refer to:*Titchmarsh, Northamptonshire, a village in England*Alan Titchmarsh, celebrity gardener, writer and broadcaster*Edward Charles Titchmarsh, mathematician...
, Northamptonshire
Northamptonshire
Northamptonshire is a landlocked county in the English East Midlands, with a population of 629,676 as at the 2001 census. It has boundaries with the ceremonial counties of Warwickshire to the west, Leicestershire and Rutland to the north, Cambridgeshire to the east, Bedfordshire to the south-east,...
. 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 the majority of parents, pupils and staff. The takeover and merger was delayed by the Charity Commission as it investigated the arrangements following a number of objections. A parent group opposed to the takeover submitted objections to the Charity Commission which prompted a review prior to allowing the merger to proceed. The Charity Commission completed their report and announced on 11th November 2011 that they had approved the new scheme. The parent group have announced their intention to appeal against the Charity Commission decision. 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 SchoolArnold SchoolArnold School is an independent school located in Blackpool, Lancashire, England on the Fylde coast. It is in the United Church Schools Trust group of schools and is a member of HMC.-History:Arnold School was founded by Frank Truswell Pennington on 4 May 1896...
- Ashford SchoolAshford SchoolAshford School is an independent school in East Hill, Ashford, Kent. For the vast majority of its 111 years of existence it has been a school purely for girls but in 2006 boys were admitted in some year groups and it is now a school for both sexes from the age of 3 to 18 offering boarding and day...
- Bournemouth Collegiate SchoolBournemouth Collegiate SchoolBournemouth Collegiate School is a co-educational independent school based in the coastal town of Poole, Dorset on the south coast of England. It consists of a prep school and a senior school . In 2009, Wentworth College and Uplands School merged.The merger of these schools have formed Bournemouth...
- Caterham SchoolCaterham SchoolCaterham School is an independent coeducational day and boarding school in Caterham, Surrey and a member of the Headmasters' and Headmistresses' Conference.-History:...
- Guildford High SchoolGuildford High SchoolGuildford High School is an all girls independent school not far from Guildford High Street, on London Road, Guildford, Surrey. It works closely with the Royal Grammar School. It houses a junior and senior school, and a sixth-form college...
- Hampshire Collegiate SchoolEmbley ParkEmbley Park near Romsey, Hampshire was the family home of Florence Nightingale from 1825 until her death in 1910. It is also where Florence Nightingale claimed she had received her divine calling from God...
- Hull Collegiate SchoolHull Collegiate SchoolHull Collegiate School commonly known in the area as Collegiate or Tranby Croft is an independent school for boys and girls aged 2.8 to 18.It was established, with the merger of Hull Grammar School and Hull High School, in September 2005.It is located in Anlaby, near Hull, in the East Riding of...
- Lincoln Minster SchoolLincoln Minster SchoolLincoln Minster School is an independent co-educational day and boarding school in Lincolnshire, England. It houses scholars in music, sport and academics. It comprises three schools: the pre-preparatory, preparatory, senior school and sixth form...
- Rowan Preparatory School
- Sunderland High SchoolSunderland High SchoolSunderland High School is an independent junior school and senior school in Sunderland, Tyne and Wear, England.The school lays stress on the creation of a Christian atmosphere. The school welcomes pupils of all faiths or none. The curriculum is broad and, from Year 10, is built around pupil choice...
- Surbiton High SchoolSurbiton High SchoolSurbiton High School is a private school in Surbiton in the Royal Borough of Kingston upon Thames, Greater London, England. It was founded in 1884 by a group of Anglican clergymen who instituted the Church Schools Company...
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
Independent Schools Council
The Independent Schools Council is a non-profit organisation that represents 1,234 schools in the United Kingdom's independent education sector...
(ISC).
Academies
UCST's subsidiary charity the United Learning TrustUnited Learning Trust
The United Learning Trust is an education charity and the largest single sponsor of academies in the UK with 20 academies and one City Technology College currently open. ULT's objective is to bring out "the best in everyone", driving educational improvement across its family of academies and...
operates 17 academies (central government funded, semi-independent secondary schools).