# Schools of King Edward VI Birmingham Schools of King Edward VI Birmingham is an Endowment / Foundation based in Birmingham, United Kingdom. ## Overview - **Organization type:** Endowment / Foundation - **Headquarters:** Birmingham, United Kingdom - **Region:** Europe - **Address:** Edgbaston Park Road, Birmingham, B15 2UD, United Kingdom - **Founded:** 1552 - **Assets under management:** Undisclosed - **Website:** kingedwardvifoundation.co.uk - **LinkedIn:** https://uk.linkedin.com/company/schools-of-king-edward-vi ## Regulatory record - **Reports private funds:** No ## About The King Edward VI Foundation was established by a charter from King Edward VI in 1552, absorbing the assets of the Guild of the Holy Cross. It operates fourteen secondary schools across Birmingham — a deliberate mix of selective independents, selective state academies, and comprehensive schools. Jodh Dhesi, as CEO since 2020, oversees an entity that is both a service provider to its pupil population and a steward of the endowment that makes its mission possible. The foundation’s investment assets are managed across a long-term portfolio allocated to UK equities, fixed income, and direct real estate holdings. Directly owned properties include the Edgbaston campus, the Bordesley Centre on Stratford Road, and a commercial portfolio in Birmingham city centre — notably land on New Street. The endowments for King Edward’s School and King Edward VI High School for Girls operate as parallel trusts, with a pooled investment mandate. The foundation is a signatory to the UK Stewardship Code through its fiduciary manager, Schroders. The financial scale remains opaque: the foundation does not publish audited investment returns or asset values. Its team size is undisclosed. The Investment Committee is chaired by Mark Lee, former CEO of Calthorpe Estates, with Vice Chair Erica Conway, CFO of the University of Birmingham. The foundation operates through the King Edward VI Academy Trust Birmingham, which it sponsors and to which it provides land, buildings, and administrative infrastructure (per firm website). Structurally, the foundation is a charitable corporation that functions as an estate manager, a school operator, and an investment office under one governance roof. Unlike most endowed charities, its operating model ties its real estate directly to its educational mission — land generates income and houses schools — creating a balance sheet that resists separation from its charitable purpose. ## Sectors - Real Estate - Education ## People - Prof Hywel Thomas — Chair of the Foundation Board - Jodh Dhesi — Chief Executive Officer - Erica Conway — Vice Chair of the Foundation Board - Mark Lee — Chair of the Investment Committee - Kirsty von Malaisé — Chief Master & Principal of King Edward's School and King Edward VI High School for Girls - Barry Matthews — Bailiff of the Foundation ## Questions ### How is the King Edward VI Foundation structured as an asset owner? It is a charitable foundation that pools the long-term investment portfolios of its constituent school trusts under a central investment committee, chaired by Mark Lee. Its fiduciary management is delegated to Schroders, and it reports as a signatory to the UK Stewardship Code. The foundation directly manages its land holdings — including its Edgbaston campus and Birmingham city centre properties — separately from its liquid portfolio. ### Who makes investment decisions at the foundation? Mark Lee, former CEO of Calthorpe Estates, chairs the Investment Committee. The Vice Chair is Erica Conway, CFO of the University of Birmingham. CEO Jodh Dhesi oversees the foundation's operations, while the committee governs asset allocation and manager selection. Day-to-day portfolio management is executed by Schroders as the disclosed fiduciary manager. ### What is the foundation's real estate exposure? The foundation holds a direct property portfolio that includes the landmark King Edward’s School and King Edward VI High School for Girls campus on Edgbaston Park Road, the Bordesley Centre on Stratford Road, and commercial holdings on New Street in Birmingham city centre. These properties support operating income and house foundation activities. ### How does the independent-school network relate to the academy trust? The King Edward VI Academy Trust Birmingham is sponsored by the foundation and runs the state-funded schools. The foundation provides land, buildings, and administrative services to the trust. The two independent schools — King Edward’s School and King Edward VI High School for Girls — are separately governed but share the foundation’s board oversight and endowment backing. ### Is the foundation's investment portfolio publicly disclosed? No. The foundation does not publish its asset values, investment returns, or total endowment size. Its public disclosures are limited to its stewardship code report, filed through Schroders, and narrative updates on its website. Specific portfolio holdings remain confidential. ## Related profiles - [Schoolhouse Partners](https://altss.com/profile/schoolhouse-partners) - [Schouw & Co.](https://altss.com/profile/schouw-co) --- Last updated: 2026-06-03T20:00:00.000Z Canonical page: https://altss.com/profile/schools-of-king-edward-vi-birmingham Maintained by Altss — https://altss.com — methodology: https://altss.com/methodology