United Learning


United Learning is a group of academies and fee-paying independent schools operating in England. United Learning is the trading name for United Church Schools Trust and United Learning Trust . 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.

History

United Church Schools Trust began life as the Church Schools Company, formed in 1883 by a committee including the Archbishop of Canterbury. The company was formed in response to the lack of academic education available for girls. The first school the Company opened was Surbiton High School in 1884. By 1885, the Company had 10 schools with 653 pupils between them.
United Learning Trust was formed in 2002 as a subsidiary of the United Church Schools Trust in response to the government's invitation to develop new state academies. United Learning Trust's first academy, Manchester Academy, opened in 2003, replacing Ducie High School, a school with a severe truancy problem; the academy received an "outstanding" report from Ofsted in 2009. Inspectors noted: "No matter what their background, all groups of students make outstanding progress as they move through the years."
In 2012, it was agreed that United Church Schools Trust and United Learning Trust should come together under the same branding, 'United Learning', bringing together the state and independent schools represented by the two related charities.

United Learning Trust

The trust handles all the central bureaucracy that the schools need to have in place, for instance updating all of the statutory policies, such as these used in Lambeth human resources, capital spending and procurement.

Human resources (staffing)

These academies do not recognise the Burgundy Book teachers' pay and conditions of service agreements. Existing staff are transferred over on their existing contracts, following TUPE new members of staff enter into an individual contract with the trust.

Academies

There were 72 United Learning academies in November 2019. They are free to attend, and accept students of all backgrounds, all faiths and none. The ethos is distinctly Christian and particularly Church of England.

Primary

Independent schools

These are fee paying establishments in the United Church Schools Trust.