A.S. Hornby Educational Trust

The Trust is dedicated to the teaching and to all teachers, of the English language

The Trust

The A.S. Hornby Educational Trust is a UK charity that promotes English Language Teaching (ELT). It was founded in 1961 by A.S. Hornby who created the Oxford Advanced Learner’s Dictionary, and since then royalties from the dictionary have funded its activity.

The Trust supports the professional development of ELT teachers from the Global South via scholarships and grants, and via the A.S. Hornby Dictionary Research Awards. Much of its work has been in partnership with the British Council.

Our values

  • We are inclusive and collaborative, fostering a culture where diverse perspectives thrive, and collective efforts drive positive change in the teaching and learning of English language.
  • We empower and encourage our partners to deliver teaching and learning approaches relevant to their own environments and settings.
  • We ensure that our activities are relevant and contextually appropriate, allowing our participants and partners to shape, align and deliver on common goals and desired outcomes.
  • We ensure that all our activities are targeted, meaningful, relevant and impactful to our participants’ and partners.
  • We ensure that commitment, trust, and integrity are the foundation of our governance and all our activities.
  • We foster creativity, collaboration and we celebrate success and achievement.

Our charitable aims

The advancement of the study of English as a foreign language and the teaching of English as a foreign language.

Charity Commission website

Hornby Scholarships

Our Masters in ELT scholarships in partnership with the University of Exeter.

Hornby Projects, Awards & Grants

Our projects in partnership with Teacher Associations and researchers.

Hornby Initiatives

Our work in the area of Decentring ELT and the History of ELT.

Hornby Alumni

Our alumni and the professional development we offer them.

Recent News and Announcements

Teacher Association Project Awards 2026 – Applications Now Open

Alumni Project Awards 2026 – Applications Now Open

MEd TESOL Scholarships 2026/27 – Applications Now Open

Scholarship for Teachers of English to Refugees 2026/27 – Applications Now Open

 

ASHDRA Newsletter

January 2026 2025 was another busy year for ASHDRA with: research proposals submitted from 19 different countries a record number of new research projects funded...

Scholarship for Teachers of English to Refugees

The A.S. Hornby Educational Trust is offering a scholarship to support the teaching of English to refugees. The scholarship supports experienced teachers who are themselves...

Alumni Project Awards 2026 – Applications Now Open

Hornby alumni project awards aim to stimulate and enhance the professional development of ELT practitioners in transitional countries through knowledge sharing, skills training and resource provision,...

World Teachers’ Day Conference 2025

We are delighted to share that Hornby Alumni Dr Amol Padwad, Yiviri Rasifatu Tombir, Cecilia Nobre, and Anestin Lum Chi took part in the World...

Teacher Association Project Awards 2026 – Applications Now Open

The Trust supports Teacher Associations to run small-scale projects that enhance English teaching in public education systems. Click here to read more and apply.

Roger Bowers Teacher Participation Grants – Applications Now Open.

Grants of up to GBP 500 are now available for Teacher Associations to support member participation in their events. To read more and apply, click...

Call for papers for the First Hornby Alumni Conference: Global Connect (online) 6 & 7 June

Call for Papers Founded in 1961 by A.S. Hornby, the A.S. Hornby Educational Trust have been supporting English language teachers from around South Globe to...

Apply now for ASHDRA project funding, 2026

The call for proposals for ASHDRA project funding has opened! Through these annual awards we aim to facilitate innovative research into areas of lexicography and...

The call for applications for the 2025-2026 scholarships for international ELT professionals has now CLOSED

Do you think you have what it takes to become a Hornby scholar? Applications for the prestigious Hornby scholarships are open.   The A.S. Hornby...

Evaluation of programme impact: consultants sought

The Trust wishes to appoint consultants to evaluate the impact of its work. The activities of the Trust focus on enhancing the teaching and learning of...

Excellent results for our 2023-24 scholars

Congratulations! An amazing 6 Distinctions and 2 Merits!                                   ...

All change at the Hornby Trust

We have had quite a busy year of change here at Hornby, with exciting new additions to the Hornby team.           ...

Upcoming Events

Hornby Master’s TESOL scholarships: information and briefing webinar
28 January 2025

Hornby Master’s TESOL scholarships: information and briefing webinar

There was a briefing webinar for intending Hornby scholarship applicants on Tuesday 28 January, to clarify the trust's expectations and respond to questions about the...

Hornby Alumni Conference
6 June 2025
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7 June 2025

Hornby Alumni Conference

Join us for the first Hornby Alumni Conference  6 and 7 June 2025 This Conference aims to bring together Hornby alumni from all cohorts between...

2024-2025 scholars to speak at IATEFL
8 April 2025

2024-2025 scholars to speak at IATEFL

Our 2024-2025 scholars who have very recently arrived in the UK and are no doubt trying to acclimatise to the weather have already started preparing...