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The Blue Coat Foundation ​​​​​​​

The Foundation is the school’s landlord and is a registered charity with the following charitable objects:

  • The provision of items, services, and facilities for the school;
  • The promotion of education of individuals attending the school who are in need;
  • The promotion of education of former pupils from the school who are in need.

The Blue Coat School Foundation continues its vital work supporting the school’s growth and development: 

The foundation donated a brand new, 17-seater minibus in July. It will enhance opportunities for students to participate in off-site activities, sports fixtures, and educational trips.

The Foundation also made a substantial contribution to the Multi-Use Games Area (MUGA) - a versatile space that is already benefiting students during recreation as well as the PE department and extracurricular sports programs by providing a modern, all-weather facility.

In July Old Blue Ron Richardson, plus the Foundation’s Chair, Lyndsay Lynch (parent of two Old Blues) attended the Key Stage 4 Prizegiving ceremony. Their presence highlights the lasting connection between past and present students and serves as an inspiration for our current pupils. The support of our alumni through the Foundation is a powerful reminder of the enduring Blue Coat community and its commitment to ensuring future generations benefit from the same enriching experiences.

Foundation Trustees & Recruitment

Lyndsay Lynch (Chair person)

Lyndsay became part of the Blue Coat community in 2005 when her son joined in year 7, initially becoming part of the Parents’ Association and then progressing to the position of chair of finance of the former governing body. Lyndsay was appointed as the first female chair of the foundation in 2017 and is keen to address diversity and inclusion as the foundation looks to continue to support the school’s vision and development over years to come.

Lyndsay is a senior tax manager and has considerable trust and charity experience over many years, acting in a capacity as a personal trustee for a number of families, as well as the Blue Coat School. Lyndsay is a member of the Society of Trust and Estate Practitioners (STEP) and likes to spend time with her family, reading and growing vegetables at her allotment, which was a positive result during and after the pandemic!

Keith Caulkin MBE

Keith is an Old Blue and retired physics teacher from Blue Coat School. He left Blue Coat in 1965 to study for a B Sc physics degree at Manchester University, continuing to gain a M Sc degree.

After a gap of a few years he studied at Liverpool University for a PGCE then commenced his teaching career at Blue Coat in 1975, continuing to retirement in 2016.

During his teaching period at Blue Coat School he ran the badminton club, the photographic society and annually took many students on a week’s bicycle tour in England then subsequently Normandy, Picardy, Brittany, Belgium and Switzerland. He was appointed a teacher governor for about twenty years and was the ATL representative over many years. Keith introduced the Physics Olympiad national competition to the physics department developing it into a school institution. The U6 Round 1 is a challenging three hour paper but after much practice many students achieved a Gold Award and one year an U6 student managed to gain a place in the British Physics Olympiad National team, travelling to Indonesia for ten days to participate in the International Physics Olympiad.

Keith has an extensive knowledge of the Blue Coat School and its ethos over this period, is still in touch with numerous past students and has taught many sons and daughters of boys he taught in his first twenty years of teaching!

Keith brings to the Foundation a great educational awareness about what strengthens and promotes excellence in the school.

Charles Hurst

Charlie became involved with Blue Coat as a “Guardian” in 2010 before becoming a Trustee of the Foundation in 2014.

Career-wise, Charlie is an insurance broker having started within the insurance sector in 1981, directly from school. He pursued a Business Studies course before embarking on his insurance qualifications, becoming qualified in 1987 (ACII).  

Apart from a couple of years in Edinburgh, he has been based from offices in Liverpool and is currently local Chair of Gallagher. In 1999 he founded Coulter Hurst & Co and for 15 years enjoyed it's growth until being acquired ultimately by Gallagher.

He held the position of President of the Insurance Institute of Liverpool in 2007/2008, coinciding with the Institute’s centenary.

He is now Chair of The Hive, a youth charity organisation based in Birkenhead, part of a national delegation of youth zones overseen by Onside.

He has been Chair of Liverpool Lord’s Taverners, another youth charity, and he supports The Lambeth Partnership, a Christian charity, and Voluntary Aid Club, a charity assisting both local and national causes.

He believes passionately in the provision of excellent youth work. This so complements those working within the educational sector, striving for young people to be happy and healthy within a thriving environment, empowering our young to lead positive and fulfilling lives.

Charlie is a member of Liverpool 41Club, Artist’s Club, Liverpool Ramblers AFC, Neston Cricket Club, Royal Liverpool GC, and a keen Evertonian!

Charlie is married to Helen, a nurse, and they have two children, Caroline, a Primary School Teacher, and Tim, who’s pursuing Business Admin.

Michael Walker

Michael Walker is professionally qualified as a Civil Engineering Land Surveyor (MCICES) with a BA in Law and an MSc in Management Science. He has over 40 years’ experience of successfully developing and delivering infrastructure, nuclear, and regeneration projects.

For the past 20 years he has project managed pan European ICT R&D projects, supported by EU, UK public, and private funding for both private and not for profit sectors.

All four of his children attended The Liverpool Blue Coat School, and he has, since 1997, served as a member of the Parents Association, Chair of the Liverpool Blue Coat School Foundation, and Vice Chair of Governors of the school.

Michael is honoured to be a member of the Foundation and to still be associated with the school.

Ron Richardson

Ron is an ‘Old Blue’ who joined the school in 1962 at the age of 11.

He studied chemistry in Liverpool before moving into sales in technical plastics. He has had in excess of 45 years of successful involvement at executive level in the Plastics and Master-batch industry.

Due to a personal debt owed Ron is ‘Blue Coat’ through and through and is currently President of the ‘Old Blues Association’, an association he has been a member of since leaving School. Over the past thirty years, he has been actively involved as both a Governor and, lately, as a Foundation Trustee.

 
Helen Brown
 

Helen is an Old Blue from the class of 1999, when girls were admitted only in Sixth Form.  

After leaving Blue Coat, Helen read Politics at Durham University then joined the BBC. Her roles have included working on BBC Breakfast and as Editor of Football Focus, and she is now Senior News Editor at BBC Sport. 

Her career has taken her to the Olympics, Paralympics, men’s World Cup and Euros and - thanks to a spell working at Sky Sports F1 - multiple Grands Prix around the world.  

Outside of work, she sits on the council of the University of Salford and is currently studying for an MBA at the University of Exeter. 

She looks back with great fondness on her time at the Blue Coat and is keen to help play a role in the future of the school. 

Jon Daley

Jon Daley is an Old Blue alumni, Class of 2006.

He is currently the Head of Environmental, Social and Governance at G2M Group, a national housing provider where he helps lead the way in sustainability and environmental work. 

After leaving Blue Coat, Jon obtained a BSc (Hons) degree in Psychology at Liverpool John Moores University specialising in satisfaction within housing tenure. He then went on to achieve and a Master of Arts at the University of Liverpool in Social Policy conducting extensive research into the housing market within the Liverpool City Region. 

Jon has spent the last 16 years working within both public and private housing. This has been inclusive of working for some of the country's largest social and private providers, building expertise in delivering sustainability strategy, residential social value and effective governance practices. He has achieved 5 national awards along the way including 3 SHIFT Gold Awards, a national ACSP 'Best approach to sustainability' Award and a national Unlock Net Zero Climate Power List Champion award. 

He also leads on both public and private housing sector best practice within sustainability for both the Housing Quality Network and Chartered Institute of Housing as well as regularly guest lecturing at Liverpool John Moores University.

Away from his work desk, Jon is a Brazilian Jiu Jitsu enthusiast, a competing Toastmaster and an avid Liverpool fan.

Kieran O'Sullivan

Kieran is an Old Blue from the class of 2005. After leaving Blue Coat he studied English and Communications at the University of Liverpool, graduating in 2008. After living and working in Australia for a year, Kieran joined the University of Liverpool in 2010 and has worked there in various roles over the past 15 years. Kieran is currently the UK Recruitment Manager, responsible for recruiting UK students to all of the undergraduate and postgraduate degree programmes and works with schools and colleges across the UK. Kieran has held various governance positions in different educational settings including being Chair of Governors at the Belvedere Academy and a Trustee of the Girls Day School Trust Academy Trust Board for over 5 years. Kieran is currently an associate governor at Carmel College with responsibility for quality and standards and is serving his third term as the first professional services representative on the University of Liverpool’s governing body, the University Council.

Outside of work, Kieran spends most of his spare time either watching his two sons play football, trying to play football himself or watching Everton try to play football.

Ivan Yip

Ivan is an “Old Blue” joining the school at aged 11.

He left for the University of Cambridge completing degrees in Medicine and Pharmacology. He has successfully finished his medical training becoming an Consultant Ophthalmologist working at Alder Hey Children’s Hospital and Liverpool University Hospitals Foundation Trust.

Having personally experienced the transformative impact The Liverpool Blue Coat School can have. He is passionate to ensure that children from Liverpool regardless of their backgrounds continue to have the best education, belonging and opportunity to thrive.

As a trustee he is deeply committed to preserving and promoting the rich heritage that has defined the school for over three centuries. Aiming to advocate for positive change whilst working as part of a forward thinking and proactive team.