The Foundation's mission to make Birmingham the best place to be educated in the UK underpins the decision-making process for the growth team when identifying schools to approach to join the King Edward VI Foundation.
Our search is always values-led and as such is focused on schools that serve a higher-than-average percentage of pupil premium children, in line with our goal to make a King Edward VI education accessible to all; especially for children from disadvantaged backgrounds. We also have geographical parameters, focusing on reaching pupils within Birmingham's boundaries to help address the deep-rooted impact of educational inequality across the city.
The Academy Trust plans to welcome a further four secondary schools by 2026, as part of the current five-year strategy. By the time this has been achieved, the Foundation will also have reviewed and communicated its long-term plans for any additional expansion. We believe that growth must always happen sustainably and for the benefit of Birmingham children.
When a school joins the Foundation, it retains full control over its budget, whilst a very small percentage is paid to the Academy Trust on an annual basis. In return, the school receives a suite of central support services including HR, Finance and Procurement, Governance and School Improvement. The overall cost of these services is subsidised by the Foundation's endowment, enabling us to keep the cost to our schools as low as possible.
As we continue on our growth journey, we would welcome any suggestions of schools that you believe align to our values and would like to discuss the possibility of joining the Foundation. For more information, please contact Grace Cousens ([email protected]) or Jeni Butler ([email protected]).
