UCS may set great store on nurturing and celebrating the individuality of pupils, but this emphasis never comes at the expense of developing relationships, championing collective endeavour or advancing community spirit. As a Foundation we are always conscious of our outward-facing responsibilities – to the local and wider communities in which we live and move and, increasingly, for the planet itself.

Social responsibility

A remarkable sense of social responsibility and enthusiasm for doing good runs through the UCS community. The majority of our charity work is carried out through pupil-led initiatives, typically raising over £50,000 a year.

Every charitable endeavour at UCS is oversubscribed: from annual volunteering trips, to the food collection programme and mentoring initiatives to support disadvantaged or disabled students from other schools in the local area. Our long-term, meaningful and mutually beneficial partnership relationships with a range of organisations are really important to us.

10,000 hours

UCS pupils offer up a combined hours in voluntary work each year

2,400

state school pupils are reached annually through long-term partnerships with local primary and secondary schools

1,600

Christmas cards written by UCS pupils and delivered to local care home residents

3 tonnes

of food collected at UCS and donated to North Paddington Foodbank

Sense of community

None of this is accidental. At UCS, we encourage our boys and girls to develop an appreciation of shared responsibility – and all of our staff members strive to instil a sense of community within the school and a recognition of our place in the wider social sphere.

The school plays a positive role in the local and global communities, with a wide range of volunteering, outreach and fundraising schemes undertaken all year round, both in term time and during the holidays. In fact, pupils in nearly every year group take part in voluntary work arranged at local organisations.

Our sustainability and environmental groups perform tremendous work too and recently we were delighted to be highly commended at the Sustainable School of the Year Awards.

Being united and having a sense of purpose are cornerstones of living fulfilled and happy lives, so it is always fantastic to see our pupils working together for a common cause. Mark Beard, Headmaster
UCS's support in difficult times has been truly amazing and it is always so appreciated. Sophie Smith, Age UK Camden
Community Action gives you a business sense while also working for a good cause. I was impressed by how much we had raised for charity. Everyone had the chance to realise their fundraising ideas. Ruby Koppel, UCS pupil, 2021–2023
Our pupils get so much out of working with the older UCS boys. The UCS students are excellent role models and our pupils relate extremely well to them. Kathy Bannon, Headteacher, Richard Cobden Primary School
With volunteering, we did a survey and the school matched us with an opportunity that would suit our personalities. Everything is tailored to the individual, which makes everyone's experience unique. Ellie Afek, UCS pupil, 2021–2023