The Catholic Schools Trust

Analysis

The Catholic Schools Trust is a registered charity in England and Wales, based in Sherborne. It was registered in September 1986, 40 years ago. Its declared purposes cover education/training and religious activities, which this site groups under religion. Legally it is a charitable company (Companies House number 02041443). It says it makes grants to individuals, provides human resources and provides buildings/facilities/open space.

In the financial year ending July 2025, The Catholic Schools Trust reported income of £9.8m and spending of £10.6m, spending 108% of what it took in. Across the 5 years on record, from July 2021 to July 2025, income grew from £6.3m to £9.8m (+56%), an average of +12% a year. The sharpest change came in the year to July 2023, when income rose by 21%. Over the whole period it spent 105% of the income it received.

Among 20,496 England and Wales charities whose main cause is religion and that reported income, The Catholic Schools Trust sits at the 100th percentile: it is one of the largest 1% in its cause. Against every charity in England and Wales with reported income it ranks in the 99th percentile. Charities of a similar size with the same main cause include Downside School (£9.6m), The Coventry Diocesan Board of Finance Ltd (£9.8m) and Worcester Diocesan Board of Finance Limited (£9.5m).

In its latest detailed accounts, income came from charitable activities 95%. Charitable activities took 94% of spending and raising funds 0.9%. Reserves of £1.7m would cover about 2 months of spending at that rate. It employed 214 people.