Education M&A tax | Transaction services

Moore Kingston Smith advised Licensed Trade Charity on Claires Court acquisition

18 May 2026

Moore Kingston Smith has advised Licensed Trade Charity (LTC), through the LTC Education Group, its education arm and charitable family of schools, on its acquisition of the independent school Claires Court.

Established in 1793, LTC’s mission has always been to support people working in the licensed hospitality trade and their communities through emotional, practical and financial wellbeing.

LTC Education Group opened its first school in Kennington Lane, London in 1803, which granted a royal charter in 1836 and subsequently moved to Slough and then Ascot. Today, the charity educates young people across five schools within its LTC Education Group: LVS Ascot, LVS Hassocks, LVS Oxford, Kennington School and now Claires Court. King Charles III is Patron of the LTC Education Group schools.

Claires Court was founded in 1960 and is a well-established independent school with a strong identity, proud heritage and deep community roots. Spread across three sites in Maidenhead, the school provides high-quality education for pupils aged two to 18.

The decision for Claires Court to join LTC Education Group marks a carefully considered, positive step rooted in shared values, aligned educational philosophy and a commitment to delivering high-quality, pupil-centred education within a strengthened charitable governance structure.

The move builds on a long-standing and trusted relationship between Claires Court and LVS Ascot, shaped over many years through shared priorities and mutual respect. For LTC Education Group, this represents another significant milestone in developing a values-led, sustainable group of schools that places education, wellbeing and community at its core. By strengthening its schools, the charity further enhances its ability to support people working in licensed hospitality and broaden its impact.

In this transaction, Moore Kingston Smith provided financial and tax due diligence as well as SPA advisory services.

The project was led by Dan Leaman, Corporate Finance Partner and education sector specialist, supported by Florence Horne, Corporate Finance Associate Director specialised in transaction services. The tax aspect of the project was delivered by David Coates, M&A Tax Director, and Sam Talbot, M&A Tax Manager, while Geraint Lewis, Tax Director, and Zlatina Andreeva, Tax Manager, provided VAT analysis.

James Hathaway, Director of Finance at LTC, comments:

“I was very pleased to have the support of the Moore Kingston Smith team throughout this transaction. The team provided clear and comprehensive analysis, salient advice and commercial guidance to help support our executive team and board of trustees through the due diligence process to a successful completion. I was particularly grateful for their willingness and ability to deal quickly with time-critical questions and issues as they arose towards the end of the process.”

Dan Leaman, Corporate Finance Partner specialising in education at Moore Kingston Smith, concludes:

“This partnership brings together two organisations with deeply aligned values and a shared commitment to high-quality, pupil-centred education. It has been a privilege to support LTC in this important milestone, strengthening the charity’s educational provision. Claires Court is an excellent school with a strong heritage, and this move positions both organisations for a positive and sustainable future.”