The Trustees Of St Alban'S School
Charity 1139434
Overview
Summary
The Trustees Of St Alban'S School appears to be a parish-rooted grant-making and asset-holding charity rather than a conventional school operator. Its role seems to be to translate Church of England charitable purposes into practical support for Highgate in Birmingham, with children and young people identified as its principal beneficiary group. The organisation may occupy a useful bridging position: connecting religious stewardship, local educational benefit and social wellbeing through grants and access to facilities or open space.
Operational geography
Evidence and reasoning
Supporting evidence
Bordesley and Highgate
Confidence: high
The most recent trustees’ report, for the year ended 31 August 2025, identifies the charity’s geographically restricted work as being in the ecclesiastical parish of St Alban the Martyr and St Patrick, Highgate. It records current grant-funded activity and charity-owned land connected with Ark St Alban’s Academy in Highgate. Birmingham City Council identifies the Academy as being in Bordesley & Highgate ward.
- Charity Commission, Trustees of St Alban’s School report and financial statements, year ended 31 August 2025
The report says the charity’s objects concern religious, educational and charitable work in the ecclesiastical parish of St Alban the Martyr and St Patrick, Highgate. It states that the geographical restriction is appropriate to the charity’s limited resources and historical origin in providing a church and school for the district. - Charity Commission, Trustees of St Alban’s School report and financial statements, year ended 31 August 2025
During 2024-25 the charity made grants to St Alban and St Patrick PCC in Highgate for public worship and to Birmingham Diocesan Board of Finance for chaplaincy at Ark St Alban’s Academy. The report also records support connected with Highgate Community Support and Stanhope Hall Wellbeing Hub. - Charity Commission, Trustees of St Alban’s School report and financial statements, year ended 31 August 2023
The charity owns land leased to Ark Academies for use by St Alban’s Academy, with part of the land accessible as a public amenity. The report identifies the Academy as situated in the parish. - Birmingham City Council, Ark St Alban’s Academy directory record
Ark St Alban’s Academy is listed in Highgate, Birmingham, in Bordesley & Highgate ward.
Remaining uncertainties
- The charity is principally a grant-maker and landholder rather than a direct frontline service provider; the evidence does not show the full geographic catchment of beneficiaries of the Academy, church, chaplaincy or community-support activity.
- The charity’s registered address has not been treated as an operational area, as available records do not establish that it is a service-delivery or charity-owned operational site.
- The available evidence supports activity within Highgate and the Bordesley & Highgate ward, but does not demonstrate current operational activity elsewhere in Birmingham despite the Charity Commission’s broader 'Birmingham City' operating-area classification.
- The precise boundaries of the ecclesiastical parish are not established by the reviewed evidence, so no inference has been made about adjoining civil wards.
Additional evidence needed
- The next trustees’ annual report and accounts, including a complete schedule of grants and any changes to land arrangements.
- Confirmation from Ark St Alban’s Academy, St Alban and St Patrick PCC, Birmingham Diocesan Board of Finance and Highgate Community Support of the locations and current status of the funded work.
- A current parish-boundary map or official parish documentation, if more precise geographic attribution beyond Bordesley & Highgate ward is required.
Areas of work
- Education/training
- General Charitable Purposes
- Religious Activities
Who they help
- Children/young People
How they help
- Makes Grants To Organisations
- Provides Buildings/facilities/open Space
Discoveries involving this organisation
The Atlas has not published any Discoveries involving this organisation yet.
Observations
A locally anchored charitable steward
The charity appears to have a tightly defined geographic and institutional mandate: supporting charitable work within the ecclesiastical parish of St Alban the Martyr and St Patrick, Highgate. Its discretion sits with directors, suggesting a locally governed fund or trust rather than a programme with narrowly fixed interventions.
Why it matters
This helps distinguish the organisation from citywide youth charities. Its potential value may lie in sustained knowledge of, and accountability to, one parish-based community.
Show evidence
“THE RELIGIOUS, EDUCATIONAL AND OTHER CHARITABLE WORK OF THE CHURCH OF ENGLAND IN THE ECCLESIASTICAL PARISH OF ST ALBAN THE MARTYR AND ST PATRICK, HIGHGATE AS THE DIRECTORS SHALL DETERMINE FROM TIME TO TIME.”
Source:Charity Commission“Grants for the religious and social wellbeing of the ecclesiastical parish of Highgate in Birmingham”
Source:Organisation
More a connector of provision than a direct provider
Its stated support through grants to organisations suggests that it may strengthen local civic capacity indirectly, by enabling other groups to deliver religious, educational or social activity. Buildings, facilities or open space may add a second form of support beyond funding.
Why it matters
Understanding this operating model is important for identifying potential relationships: the charity may be most relevant to local organisations needing modest funding, premises or community space rather than to individuals seeking direct services.
Show evidence
“Makes Grants To Organisations, Provides Buildings/facilities/open Space”
Source:Charity Commission“Grants for the religious and social wellbeing of the ecclesiastical parish of Highgate in Birmingham”
Source:Organisation
A youth-facing mission with broad charitable scope
Children and young people are identified as beneficiaries, yet the charity's purposes span religious, educational and general charitable activity. This may indicate that youth benefit is pursued through wider community institutions and environments, rather than through a single youth-specific service.
Why it matters
This suggests an opportunity to investigate whether the charity supports the wider conditions around young people—such as schools, faith communities or shared spaces—and whether those connections are visible to potential partners.
Show evidence
“Children/young People”
Source:Charity Commission“General Charitable Purposes, Education/training, Religious Activities”
Source:Charity Commission
- Whether the charity operates or is connected to a school despite its name.
- Which organisations receive grants, and whether support reaches groups beyond Church of England bodies.
- The scale, condition and accessibility of any buildings, facilities or open space it provides.
Remaining uncertainties
- Recent annual reports or accounts showing grant recipients, amounts and asset use.
- Information on governance, partnerships and the activities delivered through its facilities.
- Evidence of outcomes for children and young people in Highgate.
Additional evidence needed
Charity Commission profile
Activities
Grants for the religious and social wellbeing of the ecclesiastical parish of Highgate in Birmingham
Charity objects
THE RELIGIOUS, EDUCATIONAL AND OTHER CHARITABLE WORK OF THE CHURCH OF ENGLAND IN THE ECCLESIASTICAL PARISH OF ST ALBAN THE MARTYR AND ST PATRICK, HIGHGATE AS THE DIRECTORS SHALL DETERMINE FROM TIME TO TIME.