UNITED LEARNING TRUST (ULT)
The United Learning Trust is a not for profit subsidiary of the Church Schools Company
involved in the development of Academies in Manchester, Lambeth and Northampton.
ULT's objective is to manage schools which 'offer students a high quality education
based on Christian principles of service and tolerance'
The Church Schools Company was founded as an educational charity in 1883 with the
principal objective of creating schools that would offer pupils a good academic education
based on Christian principles. The Church Schools Company set up the subsidiary
United Learning Trust, which shares its head office address, specifically to manage
Academies.
The Church Schools Company was recently renamed United Church Schools Trust
(UCST). UCST employs in the region of 1200 people, of whom 650 are teachers.
UCST currently owns and manages twelve schools across the country. All are governed
by the Governing Council of the Company, supported by a local governing body at each
school with the exception of Caterham, which is governed by a separate body of
Trustees, the majority of whom are appointed by the United Church Schools Trust.
United Learning Trust Board Members
Sir Ewan Harper is Chief Executive of both the United Church Schools Trust and the
United Learning Trust. He was knighted in 2003 for services to the Church of England.
He is very much the public face of both organisations. He was an oral witness to the
House of Commons and Lords Joint Committee on the Draft Charities Bill – arguing for
maintenance of charitable status for independent schools. The full minutes of his
evidence
are
available
to
download
from
http://www.publications.parliament.uk/pa/jt200304/jtselect/jtchar/167/4063008.htm
Sir Ewan Harper appears to have no other outside interests, unlike other members of the
ULT Board. The only other reference to activity by him is his attendance at an event in
2003 in support of the Entertainment Software Charity, at which Tony Blair launched the
proposed expansion of the Academies programme. Founded in 2000, ESC was created
”to use the popularity of gaming to help give back to those less fortunate. The not-forprofit charity was established by prominent members of the gaming community to create
a dedicated initiative programme to advance young people through play, training and
education.“ there does not appear to be an formal involvement between Sir Ewan and
ESC however.
Mr John Beardwell TD MA FSI is also Deputy Chairman of the United Church Schools
Trust.
John Beardwell holds a Securities and Investment Institute Fellowship, which is
described as “the pinnacle of membership, demonstrating an outstanding commitment to
the financial services industry. “ A former senior Compliance Officer in the private client
field, having worked for a number of firms as a private client investment adviser, he
specialised in the area of compliance with Carr Sheppards Crosthwaite Ltd, retiring
recently as their Compliance Officer.
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Carr Sheppards Crosthwaite Ltd was the result of the amalgamation of three London
Stock Exchange businesses. Since 1997 the companies have been owned by Investec,
the international specialist banking group.
CSC is a private client stock broking firm which provides discretionary, non-discretionary
and advisory services to private clients and charities. About two thirds of CSC's business
is discretionary, and about one third of its business is advisory. The firm employs over
300 employees in four regional offices.
Its website claims “We have over 70 years’ experience of helping charities and currently
look after more than 400 with investments totalling over £800 million. We identified the
need for an investment vehicle specifically designed for charities allowing them access
to professional property investment but avoiding the time and expense of property
administration.”
The result of this work with charities was the Charities Property Fund, the first Common
Investment Fund which enabled all charities under English law to invest in the
commercial property market. Carr Sheppards Crosthwaite handles more than 30
properties ranging in size from £3 million to £12 million on behalf of charities: it is
unclear, however, whether this includes those owned by ULT.
In May 2004, the Financial Services Authority fined Carr Sheppards Crosthwaite
£500,000 for serious failings in its compliance function, leading to breaches of the FSA
Principles and Rules. The failings arose because CSC failed to keep fully up to date with
regulatory developments after the creation of the FSA. Most of the failings were
identified by the FSA during the course of visits in July and August 2003.
John Beardwell has served on several specialist committees for the Securities and
Futures Authority (SFA), the Securities Institute and the Association of Private Client
Investment Managers and Stockbrokers as well as acting as a practitioner member for
SFA Disciplinary and Authorisation Tribunals and the SFA Consumer Arbitration
Scheme.
The Rt Rev and Rt Hon The Lord Carey of Clifton is the former Archbishop of
Canterbury.
Geoffrey Davies is a former partner of law firm Lewis Silkin, which he joined in
September 2000, merging his own practice, which focussed on corporate and
commercial advice to clients ranging from large publishing houses to software
development and industrial companies with the larger company. He set up his own
practice in January 1991, having worked as a partner for 16 years at Titmuss Sainer
(now Dechert) where he headed one of the firm’s two corporate finance teams.
Lewis Silkin is a 30-partner commercial law firm based in central London. The firm
delivers its services through ten divisions: Construction, Corporate Services,
Defamation, Employment, Housing and project finance, Litigation and dispute resolution,
Marketing services, Property, Sport and Technology and communications. Its clients
range from large corporations and PLCs to entrepreneurs and come from a wide range
of sectors, including advertising, social housing and property, government agencies and
corporate financiers. It is a signatory to Liberty’s statement for justice and security.
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12 February 2016
Rt Hon Frank Field MP is the Labour MP for Birkenhead. He voted against an
amendment opposing the creation of foundation hospitals in 2003 and against an
amendment to require faith schools to take 25 per cent of pupils from other backgrounds
in 2002.
He has been a member of the public accounts committee since 2001 and was Minister
of State, Department of Social Security from 1997 – 1998. He holds one remunerated
directorships, for Medicash Health Benefits Ltd. His previous occupations include
company director; author/writer; and teacher
On 18 Nov 2004 he asked the following Parliamentary question:
“To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills whether schools which (a)
have already gained specialist status and (b) are involved in private finance
initiative projects may apply for academy status.”
Whether he asked this question on behalf of ULT is unclear.
Fiona Gilmore is the founding partner and Chief Executive of Acanchi, a London based
independent consultancy which specialises in strategy development for country brands.
She was formerly head of brand and corporate identity design consultancy Springpoint.
She has advised on communications, strategy, brand positioning, architecture,
innovation, migration, internal communication and identity for companies such as
Vodafone, Unilever, and Armani, as well as a selection of countries such as Hong Kong,
England, Lebanon and Zambia. She has had extensive experience working in China and
the region where, she has advised the Hong Kong government on how to develop a
brand strategy for the country, post handover. The company advised the UK
Government on the reorganization of the Commonwealth Development Committee in
2003.
Acanchi is a Soho-based private limited company with partners in Beijing and Moscow
and was launched during the summer of 2003. According to its website, Acanchi
“believes that motivational energies, whether in a collective, a company or a country can
be released and channelled, if cultural, political, social and psychological barriers are
broken down and if the cultural values are attuned closely with the business plan; our
term for this is corporate acupuncture….It believes in trying to influence the way
business is done. Social responsibility is central to that. We practise what we preach: for
example, ten per cent of our profits will be committed to a chosen charity. Next year, that
will be WaterAid. We like to work with partners who share our enthusiasm for social
responsibility, for example, 20% of our time will be dedicated to non-profit making
business, focusing on developing countries in Africa. “
Edward Gould was formerly master of Marlborough College and chairman of the
Headmasters’ and Headmistresses’ Conference from 2002-2000. He was educated at
Oxford and taught at Harrow School from 1967-1983 before becoming head teacher of
Felsted School in Essex until 1993 when he became master of Marlborough. He is on
the governing council of the Independent Schools Council, founded the Boarding
Education Alliance and is a member of the Secondary Heads Association. He is also a
fellow of the Royal Geographical Society and a fellow of the Royal Society for Arts,
Manufactures and Commerce (FRSA). He was appointed to the board of the
Qualifications and Curriculum Authority in December 2002.
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He is perhaps best known for being among the first to protest about "bizarre" A-level
results in 2002, also alleging that the QCA had pressurised exam boards to downgrade
students, claims which led the Government to set up an independent inquiry.
Alan Millward is Chair of Governors at Manchester Academy. It is to be ascertained
unclear whether he is also an academic at the University of Newcastle, who has written
extensively on special needs education, who shares the same name.
John O' Farrell is Chair of Governors at Lambeth Academy. He is also an author and
local parent (his child attends the school). He was previously a school governor at his
child’s primary school in Battersea.
John O'Farrell was Labour candidate for Maidenhead in the 2001 election and is a
Guardian columnist. He is the author of several popular books, including “Things Can
Only Get Better”. John was one of the founding members of the campaign for a new
secondary school in Clapham.
Rt Hon Dame Angela Rumbold (Chair) is a Conservative politician and former Deputy
Chair of the party. She was Minister of Education from 1986 to 1990. She lost her
Mitcham and Morden seat in 1997.
'I am really rather fed up with people who complain about a rather modest increase. ... If
pensioners were working 90 hours a week, as I am, maybe there would be more
sympathy for your case.' reply to an OAP's letter concerning MPs' £9,000 pay increase
when Deputy Chairman of the Conservative Party.
Mr Richard Tice is Joint Chief Executive of the Sunley Group, a Board member of
Uppingham School in Rutland, an independent boarding school which charges £7,102
per term and Chair of Governors at Northampton Academy. According to his company’s
website, “he has over eighteen years experience in both commercial and residential
property markets, in the UK, US and France and has been a director of Sunley
companies since 1992. He previously cut his teeth as a development surveyor with
London & Metropolitan Plc from 1987 to 1991.”
Bernard Sunley founded the Sunley Group in the 1920's as a landscaping design and
contracting business. Since then the company has diversified into all areas of property,
including house building, commercial property, investment, trading and development,
real estate equity and mezzanine finance and venture and development capital. Sunley
Holdings plc is the group parent of a number of subsidiaries and has 65 employees.
Sunley’s headquarters are based in Berkeley Square, Mayfair, London, and its house
building subsidiary, Sunley 'Homes for Living', is based in Horsham, West Sussex.
Projects are throughout the UK, although residential development is concentrated in the
South. The group Chairman is Mr John Sunley. His son James and nephew Richard
Tice share the Chief Executive's role.
Richard Tice is a National Council member of the “No Euro” campaign, a cross-party
organisation that believes Britain should remain a member of the European Union and
keep the pound. According to the group’s website, “We are an alliance of economists,
diplomats, parliamentarians, leading figures in the arts and media and many of the most
successful entrepreneurs and business leaders in Britain. We are internationalists and
come from all political backgrounds.” He also loaned his offices as a campaign
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headquarters to David Davis, during his campaign to become Conservative leader in
2003.
The Bernard Sunley Foundation gives grants to charitable institutions within the UK. The
majority of grants go towards community projects, the disadvantaged and where there is
a focus on environmental issues
Extract from the Central Register of Charities maintained by the Charity Commission
for England and Wales
Group Of Charities 1016538
Click link for more details THE UNITED CHURCH SCHOOLS TRUST
Old Names
THE
CHURCH
SCHOOLS
COMPANY
CHURCH SCHOOLS COMPANY
Charity Correspondent MR
JAMES
ADAM
NICHOLSON
ACA
CHURCH
SCHOOLS
HOUSE
TITCHMARSH
KETTERING
NORTHANTS
NN14 3DA
Telephone
01832 730320
Fax
01832 734760
Email Address
admin@church-schools.com
Website Address
www.church-schools.com
Governing Document
MEMORANDUM AND ARTICLES OF ASSOCIATION
INCORPORATED 18 JANUARY 1993.AS AMENDED BY
SPECIAL RESOLUTION 17 MARCH 1994
To view the Governing Documents click here Click Here
for Help
Objects
TO PROVIDE IN ENGLAND AND WALES, BY THE
ESTABLISHMENT AND MAINTENANCE OF SCHOOLS, A
LIBERAL, PRACTICAL, AND GENERAL EDUCATION
FOR CHILDREN AND ADULTS OF ALL AGES AND BOTH
SEXES AND OTHERWISE TO PROMOTE THE
ESTABLISHMENT AND MAINTENANCE OF SCHOOLS
CONDUCTED, OR TO BE CONDUCTED, BY ANY
CHARITABLE INSTITUTION
Area of Benefit
NOT DEFINED
Area of Operation
Charity Operates in locations in England and Wales
LINCOLNSHIRE
SURREY
TYNE AND WEAR
Registration History
21 Jan 1993 Registered
Classification
What
Education/Training
Who
Children/Young people
How
Provides services(eg care/counselling)
To view account documents click here
ULT BOARD MEMBERS_LC
Click Here for Help
5
12 February 2016
Mailing
& Mailing Financial Year
Submissions Cycle
Start
End
Financial
History
Annual Return
Accounts
Issued Received Received
AR7
01 Sep 1997
31 Aug 1998
06 Nov 19 Aug 19
Aug
1998 1999
1999
AR8
01 Sep 1998
31 Aug 1999
22 Dec 06
Jul 06
1999 2000
2000
Jul
AR00
01 Sep 1999
31 Aug 2000
21 Jul 09 Aug 09
2001 2001
2001
Jul
AR01
01 Sep 2000
31 Aug 2001
24 Nov 20
Jun 20
Jun
2001 2002
2002
AR02
01 Sep 2001
31 Aug 2002
07 Oct 24
Jun 24
Jun
2002 2003
2003
AR03
01 Sep 2002
31 Aug 2003
17 Oct 30
Jun 30
Jun
2003 2004
2004
AR04
01
Sep 31
Aug 21 Sep
2003(estimated) 2004(estimated) 2004
Financial
Start
Year Financial
End
Year Gross
Income
Total
Expenditure
01 Sep 1997
31 Aug 1998
£17,040,597
£15,921,800
01 Sep 1998
31 Aug 1999
£18,331,103
£17,373,066
01 Sep 1999
31 Aug 2000
£22,527,760
£20,819,442
01 Sep 2000
31 Aug 2001
£24,867,483
£22,732,666
01 Sep 2001
31 Aug 2002
£28,744,439
£28,779,020
01 Sep 2002
31 Aug 2003
£33,546,619
£35,461,825
http://www.charitycommission.gov.uk/registeredcharities/showcharity.asp?chyno=1016538
ULT BOARD MEMBERS_LC
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12 February 2016