The United Church Schools Trust (UCST) is a large education charity in the United Kingdom which owns and operates a group of 14 private schools. The charity is operating under the name United Learning as of 2012.
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 70,000 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.
UCST currently owns and manages 14 independent schools across England:
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).
UCST's subsidiary charity the United Learning Trust [3] operates 90 academies and one City Technology College. [4]
In 2012 ULT and UCST rebranded to operate under one name, United Learning. [5] They legally remain as two separate charities.
Private schools in the United Kingdom are schools that require fees for admission and enrolment. Some have financial endowments, most are governed by a board of governors, and are owned by a mixture of corporations, trusts and private individuals. They are independent of many of the regulations and conditions that apply to state-funded schools. For example, the schools do not have to follow the National Curriculum for England, although many such schools do.
Education in England is overseen by the Department for Education. Local government authorities are responsible for implementing policy for public education and state-funded schools at a local level. State-funded schools may be selective grammar schools or non-selective comprehensive schools. All state schools are subject to assessment and inspection by the government department Ofsted. England also has private schools and home education; legally, parents may choose to educate their children by any suitable means.
St Ursula's School was a private school in Henleaze, Bristol, England. It consisted of a Junior Department, providing education for pupils up to age 11.
The King Edward VI Foundation Birmingham is a charitable institution that operates thirteen schools in Birmingham, England.
The Girls' Day School Trust (GDST) is a group of 25 independent schools, including two academies, in England and Wales, catering for girls aged 3 to 18. It is the largest group of independent schools in the UK, and educates 20,000 girls each year. It was formed in 1872 to provide affordable day-school (non-boarding) education for girls as The Girls' Public Day School Company (1872–1905), then The Girls' Public Day School Trust (1906–1998).
The London Grid for Learning commonly referred to as LGfL is a British not for profit technology company with headquarters in central London. The charity founded in 2001 procures, develops and delivers technology and educational content including broadband connections, filtering and safeguarding services, devices and software and licences. LGfL started in London but is now a nationwide organisation winning multiple awards such as ERA Education Supplier of the Year.
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United Learning is a group of state-funded schools and fee-paying private schools operating in England. United Learning is the trading name for United Church Schools Trust (UCST) and United Learning Trust (ULT). It is one of the largest 10 charities with the most employees in the UK, with central offices in Peterborough, London and Salford. It is governed by a board of trustees and run by an executive team. In 2012, ULT and UCST rebranded to operate under one name, United Learning. They legally remain as two separate charities.
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Paddington Academy is a non-selective co-educational secondary school and academy located in Maida Vale in the borough of Westminster and the ceremonial county of London, England. Established in September 2006, it is run by United Learning, formerly known as United Church Schools Trust. It was officially opened by The Princess Royal on 19 March 2009 at 9 am.
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Oasis Academy Lord's Hill is an Academy situated in the city of Southampton, Hampshire and specialises in Arts. Oasis Academy Lord's Hill replaced Millbrook Community School and Oaklands Community School which both closed in August 2008.
Oasis Academy Isle of Sheppey is a coeducational secondary school and sixth form with academy status, located over two sites in Minster-on-Sea on the Isle of Sheppey in the English county of Kent. It is currently managed by the Oasis Community Learning Multi-academy Trust.
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Oasis Academy South Bank is a free school in Lambeth, London, England. It is coeducational secondary school with sixth-form opened and run by Oasis Community Learning. It opened to pupils in September 2013 and was fully operational by September 2016. Oasis Academy South Bank was rated 'Outstanding' in its first Ofsted inspection.