King Edward VI Foundation

King Edward VI Foundation in Birmingham is dedicated to leading the way in educational experience and opportunity across its growing collective of 14 schools. Since 2017, when it established a Multi-Academy Trust (MAT), the Foundation’s role and scope of activity has necessarily widened. Its core mission now extends to two independent schools, six grammar schools and six comprehensive academies clustered around the city.

Creating a powerhouse of sustainable philanthropic giving

Whilst the Foundation has longstanding experience of supporting King Edward’s School (KES) and King Edward VI High School for Girls (KEHS) as national leaders in the independent sector, its goal is to inspire transformational philanthropy across every one of its Birmingham schools. To assist governors, Gifted has been engaged to undertake a Strategic Review of the Foundation’s development activities and test its ambition to create a new ‘Foundation Hub’ as part of a reimagined Edgbaston campus.

“Our research and recommendations will explore the potential for turning an expanded development operation into a powerhouse of sustainable, philanthropic giving,” says Andrew Day, lead director on the assignment. “At this stage, it’s about understanding stakeholder perspectives on the Foundation’s strategic plans to meet the challenges of social deprivation in the city, improve facilities and make Birmingham the best place to be educated in the UK.”

Harnessing the educational DNA of a great city

The Foundation’s vision also includes building local partnerships that enrich the experience of students. Given that its schools educate one tenth of the city’s 11-18yr olds, an expanded development team will be ideally placed to generate long term philanthropic giving and unlock vital civic engagement. “By investing in important research now, the Foundation is preparing the ground for future development success across its family of schools. Together they have a wonderful opportunity to harness the educational DNA of a great city and turn this next stage of evolution into one that befits Birmingham’s creative heritage and capacity for innovation.”