The newly named Portal Trust supports the education of young people in London through its grant programmes for individuals, schools, and organisations and this award will enable pupils at Aldgate School and Stepney All Saints School to participate fully in home schooling during and after the national pandemic.

Richard Foley, CEO, The Portal Trust said:
“We are pleased to make this our first announcement under our new name of the Portal Trust as it will support pupils’ ability to have access to education and learning resources and that the gains made over recent years in closing the attainment gap for disadvantaged students are not now reversed. It demonstrates that our funding strategies are entirely responsive to the changing needs of our communities.”

Paul Woods, Head Teacher, Stepney All Saints Secondary School said:
“We at Stepney All Saints Secondary School have been committed to providing laptops for students during the pandemic as a support aid for all our students. The generous support from the Portal Trust will allow us to continue to deliver quality-first teaching to all our students and maximise their learning and achievement.”

NOTES TO EDITORS

The Portal Trust awards grants to a number of partner organisations, including the Aldgate School and Stepney All Saints Secondary School, and London Metropolitan University, among others.

In addition, the grant programme at the Portal Trust is governed by the grant strategy which prioritises widening access and participation in Further and Higher Education projects to reduce truancy and exclusion, prisoner education and new initiatives.

The formal change of name from Sir John Cass’s Foundation to the Portal Trust took place on 27 January 2021. We will retain the working name, Sir John Cass’s Foundation until our relaunch in Spring 2021.

The Trust committed to a name change to demonstrate their commitment and support to the local community in acknowledging the Founder’s association with the trans-Atlantic slave trade.