The Department for Education makes this Order, effective June 12, 2026, to address the endowment funds associated with the former teacher's house at Shaw Church of England Primary School in Wiltshire, whose premises are no longer used for that specific religious education purpose; it appoints the Salisbury Diocesan Board of Education as the trustee for the net sale proceeds (£55,260 plus income) and mandates that these assets be consolidated with the Diocese of Salisbury Consolidated Educational Endowments, to be administered under the Uniform Statutory Trusts benefiting relevant Church of England schools within the Diocese.
Arguments For
Ensures that endowment funds, originally tied to a Church of England school premises that is no longer in use for that purpose, are repurposed for continued educational benefit within the diocese.
Provides legal clarity and a defined administrative structure by appointing the Salisbury Diocesan Board of Education as the sole trustee for the assets.
Consolidates the funds with existing diocesan educational endowments, creating efficiencies and ensuring the money serves a broader, managed purpose under established statutory trusts (Uniform Statutory Trusts).
Follows required statutory procedures under the Education Act 1996, including public notice and confirmation that no objections were received, thereby legitimizing the transfer of purpose.
Arguments Against
Reallocates specific historical property-related funds away from their original, localized purpose (the teacher's house for Shaw School) to a general diocesan fund, potentially diluting the specific intent of the original donor.
Removes public transparency regarding specific endowment deeds, as the Order notes none are available for inspection, relying instead on administrative records.
The consolidation may shift focus away from immediate local needs near the former school, as the funds benefit the entire area defined as the Diocese of Salisbury for qualifying schools.
Relies on the Secretary of State's determination that the original educational use (religious education at a voluntary school whose premises ceased use) is obsolete, which some stakeholders might dispute if alternative uses for the original property were conceivable.
2026 No. 625
EDUCATION, ENGLAND
The Diocese of Salisbury (Educational Endowments) (Shaw Church of England Primary School Teacher's House) Order 2026
| - - - Made | 11th June 2026 | |---------------------|------------------| | - Coming into force | 12th June 2026 |
This document is an official statutory instrument numbered 625 for the year 2026, issued under the jurisdiction of Education in England.
It establishes the Diocese of Salisbury (Educational Endowments) (Shaw Church of England Primary School Teacher's House) Order 2026.
The Order was officially made on June 11, 2026, and came into legal effect the following day, June 12, 2026.
It has been shown to the satisfaction of the Secretary of State for Education ('the Secretary of State') that the endowment of the educational foundation known as the teacher's house at Shaw Church of England Primary School in the County of Wiltshire, is or has been used in connection with the provision of religious education in accordance with the tenets of the Church of England at a voluntary school, the premises of which have ceased to be used for the purposes of such a school.
The Secretary of State for Education concluded that a specific educational endowment, linked to the teacher's house at Shaw Church of England Primary School in Wiltshire, is no longer serving its original purpose.
This original purpose involved supporting religious education based on Church of England tenets at a voluntary school whose premises are no longer being used as such.
None of the deeds comprising the endowment are available for inspection.
The legal documents (deeds) that originally established this endowment cannot be located or inspected at this time.
The assets representing the endowment consist of: (a) £55,260 being the net proceeds of sale of the teacher's house and held by the Salisbury Diocesan Board of Finance in a deposit account at CCLA Investment Management Limited; and (b) any income derived from those proceeds of sale before the coming into force of this Order.
The current assets of this endowment are quantified as £55,260, which is the net money received from selling the teacher's house.
This capital is held in a deposit account by the Salisbury Diocesan Board of Finance through an investment manager (CCLA).
Additionally, any interest or earnings generated by this capital prior to the Order taking effect are also included as part of the endowment.
Application for an order making new provision as to the use of the endowment has been made to the Secretary of State by the Salisbury Diocesan Board of Education, which body appears to the Secretary of State to be the appropriate authority of the Church of England for the purpose.
The Salisbury Diocesan Board of Education formally requested this Order from the Secretary of State to redefine how the endowment funds are used.
The Secretary of State recognizes this Board as the correct authority within the Church of England to manage this process.
Notice of the proposed Order and of the right of persons interested to make representations on it has been given in the manner required by section 555(2) and (3) of the Education Act 1996( a ).
Public notice was issued regarding the proposed changes to the endowment's use, informing interested parties of their right to formally object or comment.
This procedure followed specific requirements laid out in subsections 555(2) and (555(3)) of the Education Act 1996.
No representations have been made on the proposed Order.
No objections or representations were received from the public or interested parties following the required notification of the proposed Order.
Accordingly, the Secretary of State makes this Order in exercise of the powers conferred by sections 554 and 556 of the Education Act 1996( b ).
Because the legal requirements were met and no objections were raised, the Secretary of State officially issues this Order.
The authority to do this stems from powers granted under sections 554 and 556 of the Education Act 1996.
( a ) 1996 c. 56.
( b ) Sections 554 and 556 were amended by Schedule 30 to the School Standards and Framework Act 1998 (c. 31).
These footnotes cite the primary laws.
Reference (a) points to the Education Act 1996 (Chapter 56 of that year).
Reference (b) clarifies that the specific sections (554 and 556) used to create this Order were subsequently modified by amendments found in Schedule 30 of the School Standards and Framework Act 1998.
Citation and commencement
- This Order may be cited as the Diocese of Salisbury (Educational Endowments) (Shaw Church of England Primary School Teacher's House) Order 2026 and comes into force on the day after the day on which it is made ('the operative date').
Article 1 confirms the official short title for referencing this regulation.
The legislation takes legal effect on the day immediately following the date it was formally made, which is established as the 'operative date'.
Interpretation
- In this Order-
'the Diocesan Board' means the Salisbury Diocesan Board of Education;
'the endowment' means the endowment relating to the foundation;
'the foundation' means the educational foundation known as Shaw Church of England Primary School Teacher's House;
'trust assets' means the sum of £55,260 held on deposit account at CCLA Investment Management Limited representing the endowment of the foundation being the net proceeds of sale of the teacher's house of Shaw Church of England Primary School, together with any income derived from those assets (whether before or after the operative date);
'trustee' means the Diocesan Board.
Article 2 defines key terms used throughout the Order. 'The Diocesan Board' refers specifically to the Salisbury Diocesan Board of Education. 'The endowment' and 'the foundation' refer to the historic funds associated with the Shaw school teacher's house. 'Trust assets' specifically detail the monetary value (£55,260 plus accrued income) held at CCLA, which constitutes the foundation's wealth.
Finally, 'trustee' is explicitly defined as the Diocesan Board.
Trustee and vesting
- -(1) The Diocesan Board is appointed to be the trustee of the foundation and the trust assets.
(2) All funds belonging to or held in trust for the foundation immediately before the operative date must be transferred to the Diocesan Board and all acts necessary for that purpose must be done by any persons holding such funds.
Clause 3(1) formally appoints the Salisbury Diocesan Board of Education to take responsibility as the trustee for both the foundation's purpose and its assets.
Clause 3(2) mandates that any existing funds belonging to the foundation must be transferred into the control of the Diocesan Board before the Order becomes operative, requiring anyone currently holding those funds to complete the transfer.
Administration of Foundation
- After payment of any expenses of administration the Diocesan Board must hold the trust assets on the terms set out in the Schedule (being the uniform statutory trusts set out in Schedule 36 to the Education Act 1996( a )).
Article 4 dictates that after deducting necessary administrative costs, the Diocesan Board must manage the trust assets according to the specific rules detailed in the Schedule appended to this Order.
These rules are known as the Uniform Statutory Trusts, which are derived from Schedule 36 of the Education Act 1996.
Consolidation
- The trust assets must be consolidated with the fund known as the Diocese of Salisbury Consolidated Educational Endowments( b ) and that consolidated fund must be known as the Diocese of Salisbury Consolidated Educational Endowments.
Article 5 directs that the assets from the Shaw teacher's house foundation must be merged with the Diocese of Salisbury's existing large fund, titled 'Diocese of Salisbury Consolidated Educational Endowments.' The combined fund will retain this consolidated title.
Signed by the authority of the Secretary of State
11th June 2026
Louise Whitesman Deputy Director Department for Education
The Order is officially signed on June 11, 2026, by Louise Whitesman, acting under the authority of the Secretary of State for Education, in her capacity as Deputy Director within the Department for Education.
( a ) Schedule 36 was amended by paragraph 10 of Schedule 9 to the Education Act 2005 (c. 18).
( b ) The trustee of the Diocese of Salisbury Consolidated Educational Endowments fund is the Diocesan Board. The assets of the Diocese of Salisbury Consolidated Educational Endowments fund are held under the uniform statutory trusts.
These footnotes provide additional citations.
Footnote (a) notes that the Uniform Statutory Trusts referenced earlier were later amended by the Education Act 2005.
Footnote (b) confirms that the trustee for the larger consolidated fund is also the Diocesan Board and that its assets are managed under the same Uniform Statutory Trusts.
- In this Schedule-
'the area' means the Diocese of Salisbury;
'relevant school' means a voluntary school, a foundation school, an academy school, an alternative provision academy, a city technology college or a city college for the technology of the arts at which religious education in accordance with the tenets of the Church of England is or is to be provided.
The Schedule begins by defining 'the area' as the geographical boundary of the Diocese of Salisbury.
It then defines a 'relevant school' broadly as any qualifying school structure (voluntary, foundation, academy, etc.) within that area where education provided aligns with Church of England principles.
- The trustee may, after payment of any expenses incurred in connection with the administration of the trust, apply the capital and income of the trust assets for any of the following purposes-
- (a) in or towards the purchase of a site for, or the erection, improvement or enlargement of, the premises of any relevant school in the area;
- (b) for the maintenance of any relevant school in the area;
- (c) in or towards the purchase of a site for, or the erection, improvement or enlargement of, the premises of a teacher's house for use in connection with any relevant school in the area; and
- (d) for the maintenance of a teacher's house for use in connection with any relevant school in the area.
Article 2 outlines the permitted uses for both the capital (the original endowment money) and the income generated, after administrative costs are paid.
These purposes cover capital expenditure: buying sites, building, improving, or expanding relevant schools or teacher accommodation linked to those schools.
They also cover maintenance costs for both the school premises and associated teacher housing within the Diocese.
- The trustee may also, after payment of any expenses incurred in connection with the administration of the trust, apply the income of the trust assets for any of the following purposes-
- (a) in or towards the provision of advice, guidance and resources (including materials) in connection with any matter related to the management of, or education provided at, any relevant school in the area;
- (b) the provision of services for the carrying out of any inspection of any relevant school in the area required by Part 1 of the Education Act 2005( a ); and
- (c) to defray the cost of employing or engaging staff in connection with-
- (i) the application of income of the trust assets for either of the purposes referred to in sub-paragraphs (a) and (b) above, or
- (ii) the application of capital or income of the trust assets for any of the purposes referred to in paragraph 2 above.
Article 3 details specific purposes for which the trust income—but not the capital—may be used, again after accounting for administration fees.
These include funding advice, guidance, and materials related to school management or education.
Income can also cover the cost of inspection services required by the Education Act 2005.
Furthermore, income can fund the staff costs necessary to manage the distribution of funds for any of the capital uses listed in Article 2 or the operational/advisory uses listed in Article 3(a) and (b).
( a ) 2005 c. 18.
SCHEDULE
The Uniform Statutory Trusts
Article 4
This footnote cites the Education Act 2005 (Chapter 18 of that year) concerning school inspections.
The text then signals the start of the Schedule itself, titled 'The Uniform Statutory Trusts,' which contains the administrative rules referenced in Article 4.
EXPLANATORY NOTE
(This note is not part of the Order)
This Order appoints the Salisbury Diocesan Board of Education as trustee of the foundation known as Shaw Church of England Primary School Teacher's House and makes new provision as to the use of the endowment of that foundation.
The Order provides for the trust assets to be consolidated with the fund known as the Diocese of Salisbury Consolidated Educational Endowments and held on the uniform statutory trusts as set out in the Schedule to the Order (being the uniform statutory trusts set out in Schedule 36 to the Education Act 1996) for the benefit of Church of England voluntary schools, foundation schools, academy schools, alternative provision academies, city technology colleges and city colleges for the technology of the arts in the Diocese of Salisbury.
The Explanatory Note, which has no legal standing, summarizes the action taken.
The Order appoints the Diocesan Board as the trustee for the Shaw School foundation and redefines how the related funds must be used.
The key outcome is that the assets are merged into the Diocese of Salisbury's broader Consolidated Educational Endowments and managed under the statutory trusts for the benefit of various types of Church of England schools across the entire Diocese.
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