Charity regulator appoints interim manager to Rabia Educational Trust

The Charity Commission has appointed an interim manager to the educational charity, Rabia Educational Trust, which operates the Rabia Girls and Boys School in Luton.

The Commission opened a second statutory inquiry into the charity in October 2020 to examine concerns about its administration and governance, including the trustees’ persistent failure to meet the Independent Schools Standards.

The Rabia Girls and Boys School is currently subject to regulatory action by the Department for Education, including the potential removal of the school from the Register of Independent Schools.

The Commission also continues to have serious concerns about the charity’s administration and governance. It therefore exercised its powers under the Charities Act 2011 to appoint an interim manager, Emma Moody of Womble Bond Dickinson (UK) LLP, to the charity on 29 January 2021.

The interim manager will assess the future viability of the charity to the exclusion of its trustees. The trustees of the charity continue to have all the powers and duties of trustees, with the exception of this specific function. Depending on the outcome of this initial assessment, the interim manager’s role may vary, for example, to improve the charity’s operation or to take steps to wind up the charity.

The Commission’s inquiry continues.