About our academies
Responding to the challenge - past and present
When UCST was founded in 1883, it identified a profound area of need - education provision for girls to enable them to enter universities and professions. UCST established schools across the country, making this a national movement and a force for improvement.
In 2001 the Government introduced the idea of re-launching 200 of the nation's most under-performing and socially disadvantaged secondary schools as a new category of independent schools: City Academies. We responded as we believe our Founders would have done.
We stepped forward to support the Government's Academies Programme with the pioneering energy and dedication of our Founders. In 2002 we established the United Learning Trust (ULT) as a wholly-owned subsidiary of UCST. Our first academy opened in Manchester in 2003.
ULT is now the largest single sponsor in the Government's Academies Programme. Our academies are a force for improvement, bringing hope and opportunity to thousands of young people across the UK.
