The Laurel Trust

Quick Stats

• Annual Giving: £387,783 (expenditure 2023-24)
• Success Rate: Not publicly disclosed
• Decision Time: Approximately 8-12 weeks (applications close late February, decisions by end of Spring Term)
• Grant Range: £5,000 - £50,000
• Average Grant: £25,000
• Geographic Focus: England (national)
• Application Method: Fixed deadline (annual)

Contact Details

Website: http://laureltrust.org.uk

Email:

• General: info@laureltrust.org.uk
• Maggie Roger: maggie.roger@laureltrust.org.uk

Phone:

• 07960 684014
• 07811 967024

Overview

The Laurel Trust was established in 2006 (registered charity 1117330) to advance education through promoting and developing educational leadership. The Trust has built a strong track record of supporting schools serving disadvantaged communities to make sustainable differences to children's learning and life chances. Their purpose is partnerships with schools, their communities, and other agencies to widen opportunities and reduce disadvantage for all children and young people through securing improvements in the quality of teaching, learning, and leadership. The Trust has funded 47 place-based research projects to date, with recent cohorts reporting “significant successes in improving outcomes and practice both for children/young people and for teachers,” with positive impacts extending to families and communities. Annual giving stands at approximately £387,783, supporting creative projects nationwide in diverse settings including areas of deprivation and disadvantage in cities, urban, rural, and coastal areas.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

Annual Research Grants: £5,000 - £50,000 (average £25,000)

• Fixed annual deadline (typically late February)
• Supports collaborative school partnerships conducting practitioner-led action research
• Projects typically start in September following spring selection
• Funding covers research projects that improve teaching, learning, and leadership in multiply deprived communities

The Trust offers annual themed research funding. Recent themes have included “Effective Transition: Educational readiness for every child at every phase.”

Priority Areas

Who Can Apply:

• Collaborative partnerships of minimum five schools working together
• Lead school must be rated “Good” or “Outstanding” by Ofsted
• Primary schools, early years providers, and special schools
• Schools and settings serving children up to 11 years old in multiply deprived communities
• Schools throughout England in areas of economic and social deprivation

What They Fund:

• Practitioner-led action research projects
• Innovation and evidence-based developments
• Projects focused on vulnerable children and young people from educationally disadvantaged backgrounds
• Research that reflects national, regional, or local priorities
• Projects aiming to improve progress, achievement, and well-being of vulnerable children
• Sustainable projects suitable for wider dissemination to support the school-led system
• Projects ranging from early years and school readiness to helping young people with learning difficulties gain employment

Project Partnerships May Include:

• School-to-school collaborations
• Partnerships with parents and the community
• NHS and other public agencies
• Entirely school/setting-focused initiatives

What They Don't Fund

• Individual schools (must be collaborative partnerships of minimum five schools)
• Schools not serving disadvantaged communities
• Projects not focused on children up to 11 years old
• Schools where lead school is not rated “Good” or “Outstanding” by Ofsted
• Projects without a clear research and innovation focus

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Governance and Leadership

Trustees:

• Bill Goddard - Chair, Retired University Head of Department. Bill communicates with Lead Schools on behalf of the Selection Panel.
• Becky Greenhalgh - Educational Consultant, appointed 2016. Former Headteacher of Horndean Infants School.
• 11 trustees total (no trustees receive remuneration)

Key Staff:

• Derrick Brett - Consultant Director. Provides support and guidance to successful schools as they conduct their research projects.
• Maggie Roger - Key contact for the Trust

The Trust is characterized by ethical leadership, moral integrity, and a commitment to raise hopes and horizons for vulnerable children and their families.

Application Process and Timeline

How to Apply

Application Method:

1. Read the “Guidance on Making your Application” document available on the Trust's website
2. Complete the Application Form available at laureltrust.org.uk/applying-for-a-research-grant/
3. Submit by the annual deadline (typically late February)

Eligibility Requirements:

• Minimum of five schools working collaboratively
• Lead school must be rated “Good” or “Outstanding” by Ofsted
• Projects must focus on schools in areas of deprivation serving vulnerable children
• Bids must reflect national, regional, or local priorities
• Projects should aim to improve outcomes for vulnerable children

Pre-Application Support:

Guidance documentation available on website before completing application form.

Decision Timeline

Application Process:

• Application Deadline: Typically late February (e.g., 28 February)
• Selection Panel Review: Late March
• Decision Notification: Before end of Spring Term (approximately 4-8 weeks after deadline)
• Project Start: September (following preparatory work during summer)

Post-Decision:

• Lead schools notified before end of Spring Term to allow preparatory work with partner schools
• Successful schools receive support and guidance from Consultant Director Derrick Brett

Success Rates

Not publicly disclosed. The Trust receives applications from schools throughout the country covering all phases of education. Recent cohorts have reported significant project successes.

Reapplication Policy

Not specified in publicly available materials. Contact the Trust directly for guidance on reapplication.

Application Success Factors

Evidence from Recent Successful Projects:

Recent cohorts have demonstrated success through projects that:

• Take account of local knowledge, context, and priorities
• Show understanding of local and regional needs
• Form partnerships with parents, community, NHS, and other public agencies
• Create sustainable improvements to teaching practice and pupil outcomes
• Lead to positive impacts extending beyond schools to families and communities

What the Trust Values:

The Trust's approach is “characterised by ethical leadership, moral integrity and a commitment to raise hopes and horizons for vulnerable children and their families.” This suggests successful applications should demonstrate:

1. Place-Based Understanding: Projects that reflect genuine understanding of local context and needs
2. Evidence-Informed Practice: Research grounded in evidence-based developments
3. Collaborative Approach: Strong partnerships between schools and potentially wider agencies
4. Sustainable Impact: Projects designed for wider dissemination to support the school-led system
5. Focus on Vulnerable Children: Clear focus on improving outcomes for disadvantaged children
6. Innovation and Research Quality: Creative projects combining action research with practical application
7. Leadership Development: Projects that improve teaching, learning, and leadership capacity

Project Diversity:

The Trust has successfully funded diverse projects covering:

• All educational phases (early years to employment support)
• Various geographic settings (cities, urban, rural, coastal areas)
• School-only initiatives and multi-agency partnerships
• Range of research topics addressing different aspects of disadvantage

Annual Themes:

Applications should address the Trust's annual theme (e.g., “Effective Transition: Educational readiness for every child at every phase”). Successful applications demonstrate how their research addresses this theme in their specific context.

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

1. Collaboration is Essential: You must form a partnership of at least five schools - individual school applications are not accepted. The lead school must be Ofsted-rated “Good” or “Outstanding.”

1. Focus on Disadvantage: Projects must serve schools in multiply deprived communities and focus on vulnerable children up to age 11. Be explicit about the disadvantage context and how your project addresses it.

1. Balance Research with Practice: The Trust funds “practitioner-led action research” - your proposal should demonstrate both rigorous research methodology and practical application that will improve teaching, learning, and leadership.

1. Address the Annual Theme: Each funding round has a specific theme. Ensure your proposal clearly addresses this theme while reflecting your local priorities and context.

1. Demonstrate Sustainability and Dissemination: Show how your project will create lasting change and how findings can be shared to benefit the wider school-led system beyond your immediate partnership.

1. Read the Guidance: The Trust provides specific guidance documentation before application. Study this carefully as it will contain detailed criteria and expectations that increase your chances of success.

1. Plan for Support and Timeline: Successful applicants receive ongoing support from Consultant Director Derrick Brett. Projects typically start in September, so plan your research timeline accordingly with preparatory work over summer.

Similar Funders

These funders have a similar focus and geographic reach:

• The Education Endowment Foundation
• The Bedgebury Foundation
• Gatwick Airport Community Trust
• THE 1989 WILLAN CHARITABLE TRUST
• SHINE: Support and Help in Education
• IMPETUS - THE PRIVATE EQUITY FOUNDATION
• EDUFUND UK
• The William Price Charitable Trust
• The Spoore, Merry and Rixman Foundation
• THE EVESON TRUST

References

• The Laurel Trust website: https://laureltrust.org.uk/
• Charity Commission Register: https://register-of-charities.charitycommission.gov.uk/en/charity-search/-/charity-details/4024806
• The Laurel Trust application page: https://laureltrust.org.uk/applying-for-a-research-grant/
• Bromley Education Matters - The Laurel Trust funding announcement: https://bromleyeducationmatters.uk/Article/141617
• Dorset Nexus - Laurel Trust funding opportunity: https://www.dorsetnexus.org.uk/Article/64684
• Gloucestershire Schools Net - Laurel Trust funding announcement: https://www.gloucestershire.gov.uk/schoolsnet/noticeboard/schoolsnet-bulletin-board/the-laurel-trust-funding-for-action-led-research-and-innovation-tackling-disadvantage/
• National Association of Small Schools research project information: https://www.smallschools.org.uk/articles/14-laurel-trust-research-project-latest-news
• Companies House information: https://find-and-update.company-information.service.gov.uk/company/05774260