Guidance

Umbrella trusts for schools

Published 9 July 2015

Applies to England and Wales

1. What umbrella trusts are

Umbrella trusts are charities established to offer services and support to a number of schools. One of the motivations for establishing an umbrella trust is to improve the educational outcomes at the schools.

Often the group of schools that are supported contain academies and non-academy schools. The objects of an umbrella trust will be directed toward improving the efficiency and effectiveness of schools and for improving standards. They will act to help ‘failing’ or under-achieving schools to deliver a good standard of education and care.

2. When an umbrella trust would be established

Often a Diocese will want to set up an umbrella trust to promote the Church character of the schools in its diocese and to help and support the schools to fulfil their responsibilities.

An umbrella trust might act as a sponsor or appoint the majority of the governors to help to hold the governing body to account.

3. Registration with the Charity Commission

Umbrella trusts must register as charities. They are not exempt from registration, even where they help support academies, which are exempt charities.

4. Governing document

Umbrella trusts can be charitable companies, charitable incorporated organisations (CIOs), trusts or unincorporated associations. For guidance on each type of governing document, see Charity types: how to choose a structure and How to write your charity’s governing document.

The example object, definitions and powers in the following sections can be included in any of the commission’s model governing documents.

4.1 Example object

The umbrella trust’s objects (‘the objects’) are specifically restricted to the following: to advance education for the benefit of the public, in the [relevant area] or elsewhere, in particular but not exclusively, by:

• promoting the efficiency and effectiveness of educational institutions and the efficient and effective application of resources for such purposes including by promoting and disseminating models of good practice and by the delivery of support services generally to such institutions

• advancing the education of people who work or volunteer in, or govern, educational institutions in order to assist those persons to deliver a high quality education to the pupils and communities served by those institutions

4.2 Example definitions

In addition to the standard definitions in the commission’s model governing documents, you may wish to include some specifically suited to an umbrella trust:

• ‘member schools’ means any educational institution that is a member of the [Umbrella Trust][company][name]

• ‘educational institution’ includes any academy, school or college conducted in accordance with the requirements of the Education Acts or any other institution having as its purpose the education of children, adults or adults and children

4.3 Example powers

In addition to the standard powers available to charities, you may wish to include:

(a) to procure and deliver goods and services to the member schools

(b) to establish a Raising Achievement Panel and to assist any such panel to deliver improved achievement at any member school

(c) acting as a sponsor for or appointing trustees to member schools

5. Activities most likely to be carried on

Umbrella trusts will undertake a range of activities for the public benefit, for example:

• procuring services

• providing advice on good and best practice in delivering high educational outcomes for pupils

• providing a site for a school

• providing or assisting in the provision of training

Some umbrella trusts act as sponsors for academies and have a role in appointing trustees for member schools.

Note: umbrella trusts do not operate academies. They are not academy proprietors. If you wish to establish a multi-academy trust or federation of academies, read the Department for Education (DfE) guidance. Academy proprietors are exempt charities.