The Education Renaissance Trust

Charity Number: 1062479

Annual Expenditure: £0.2M

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Quick Stats

  • Annual Giving: £223,162 (expenditure for year ending March 2025)
  • Income: £96,064 (year ending March 2025)
  • Success Rate: Not publicly disclosed
  • Decision Time: Not publicly disclosed
  • Grant Range: £15,000 average (based on US foundation data showing 13 grants awarded)
  • Geographic Focus: Worldwide (with emphasis on UK, South Africa, Grenada, and underserved communities)

Contact Details

Website: www.education-renaissance-trust.org.uk

Email: admin@ert.org.uk

Phone: +44 (0)20 7727 8611

Address: 9 Bedford Gardens, London, W8 7ED

Overview

The Education Renaissance Trust (ERT) is an independent educational charity founded in 1997-1998 by senior members of the School of Economic Science (SES). The charity was established to make their philosophy of education based on spiritual values available more widely. With an annual expenditure of £223,162 (year ending March 2025), the Trust operates worldwide, supporting schools and teachers who put spiritual values at the heart of education. The Trust's work began with support for the St James family of schools, starting with St James School in London (founded 1975), and has since expanded to include many schools across multiple countries and hundreds of teachers who share their educational values. The charity is governed by 6 trustees and supported by 8 volunteers, with no paid employees receiving benefits over £60,000.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

The ERT does not operate a formal public grant programme with fixed deadlines. Based on available information, the Trust provides:

  • Teacher Bursaries: Individual grants enabling teachers to spend extended periods (typically one year) teaching in supported schools worldwide
  • School Support Grants: Monthly grants to schools in underserved communities (e.g., St James School, Johannesburg)
  • Teacher Training Support: Funding for teacher secondments and exchange visits to schools around the world
  • Professional Development: Courses, conferences, and INSET training days for teachers

Grant amounts vary by programme, with US foundation data indicating an average grant size of approximately £15,000.

Priority Areas

What They Fund:

  • Financial assistance towards the maintenance and development of schools for young people under 19
  • Scholarships, bursaries, and prizes for pupils
  • Teacher training and professional development
  • Educational resources and materials publication
  • Schools and educational initiatives in countries where families struggle to provide quality education
  • Teacher exchange programmes and international secondments
  • Educational projects focused on spiritual values and holistic child development
  • Schools that incorporate stillness, meditation, and reflection into their curriculum
  • Community education projects aimed at regenerating urban areas

Educational Philosophy:

The Trust supports schools that view education as a “spiritual calling” where “the divine is the inspiration for every lesson.” They are inclusive of all faiths and non-religious people, seeking a “renaissance in education for the wellbeing of humanity.”

What They Don't Fund

Not explicitly stated, but the Trust's focus is clearly on education with spiritual values at its core. Based on their mission, they are unlikely to fund:

  • Purely secular educational approaches without spiritual dimension
  • Projects unrelated to education or teacher development
  • Commercial educational ventures
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Governance and Leadership

Trustees (serving without compensation):

  • Alan Marshall
  • Christopher Rees
  • Martin Kettle
  • Therese Glover
  • Katharine Boddy
  • Brendan Gorman
  • Penny Moss

The charity operates with 6 trustees and 8 volunteers. No trustees receive remuneration, payments, or benefits from the charity. The Trust has no trading subsidiaries and raises funds from the public without working with professional fundraisers or commercial participators.

Application Process and Timeline

How to Apply

The Education Renaissance Trust does not have a public application process. The charity appears to identify and support schools and teachers through existing relationships, particularly within the St James family of schools and the School of Economic Science network.

Based on available information, grants are awarded through:

  • Trustee discretion
  • Pre-existing relationships with supported schools
  • Connections through the School of Economic Science community
  • Direct identification of projects by trustees

To explore potential funding opportunities, interested schools or teachers should contact the Trust directly:

  • Email: admin@ert.org.uk
  • Phone: +44 (0)20 7727 8611

Getting on Their Radar

While the Trust does not have a formal application process, schools and teachers wishing to engage with their work could consider:

  • St James Schools Network: The Trust has particularly strong connections with the St James family of schools worldwide. Schools sharing this educational philosophy may find natural alignment.
  • Teacher Training Events: The ERT runs courses, conferences, and INSET training days. Attending these events could provide opportunities to demonstrate alignment with their values.
  • School of Economic Science: Given the Trust was founded by SES members, connections through SES may facilitate relationship-building.
  • Direct Outreach: Contact admin@ert.org.uk with a concise introduction explaining how your school or educational work aligns with their mission of putting spiritual values at the heart of education.

Decision Timeline

Decision timelines are not publicly disclosed and likely vary depending on the nature of support requested and trustee meeting schedules.

Success Rates

The Trust is reported as “not currently open to new applicants” with 0% of new applicants funded (based on US foundation data), suggesting a highly selective, relationship-based approach rather than open competitive grants.

Reapplication Policy

No information available. Given the invitation-based nature of funding, reapplication policies would likely be determined on a case-by-case basis through direct communication with trustees.

Application Success Factors

Given the Trust's relationship-based approach and specific educational philosophy, the following factors appear important:

Philosophical Alignment:

  • The Trust seeks schools and teachers who genuinely “put spiritual values at the heart of education”
  • They support education as a “spiritual calling” where “the divine is the inspiration for every lesson”
  • Inclusivity matters: they work with “all faiths, and also people who are not members of any religion”
  • Schools incorporating stillness, meditation, and reflection into their curriculum align with their approach

Educational Approach:

  • Holistic education addressing intellectual, emotional, and spiritual development
  • Loving and caring environments based on integrity, mutual trust, respect, and understanding
  • Philosophy-based teaching methods
  • Focus on wellbeing of humanity, not just academic achievement

Geographic Focus:

The Trust particularly prioritizes “schools and educational initiatives in countries where people struggle to give their children good education,” with documented work in South Africa (Johannesburg, Soweto, Durban), Grenada, and the UK.

Track Record:

Examples of funded work include:

  • Monthly grants to St James School, Johannesburg
  • Teacher bursaries for volunteers (e.g., Sam and Isabel Moss)
  • Individual grants for teaching (Lily Robertson, Maximilian Steele)
  • Teacher training workshops in underserved communities

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

  • No public application process: This is a relationship-based funder; direct contact and networking through aligned educational communities (particularly St James Schools and School of Economic Science) is essential
  • Mission alignment is critical: Generic educational projects won't succeed; your work must genuinely put spiritual values at the heart of education
  • International focus: While UK-based, the Trust operates worldwide with emphasis on underserved communities
  • Teacher development priority: Teacher training, bursaries, and exchanges represent a significant portion of their work
  • Small but committed: With expenditure of £223K annually, this is a modest-sized charity with focused impact
  • Inclusive spirituality: Don't assume religious exclusivity; they explicitly welcome all faiths and non-religious people who share their values-based approach
  • Make direct contact: Email admin@ert.org.uk or call +44 (0)20 7727 8611 to explore alignment rather than waiting for an application window

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