Define: Trusts For The Advancement Of Education

Trusts for the advancement of education are legal arrangements established to support educational endeavors and promote learning. These trusts are typically created by individuals or organisations who wish to dedicate funds or assets to educational purposes, such as scholarships, research grants, educational institutions, or other educational initiatives. The trustees are responsible for managing the trust according to the terms set out in the trust deed or instrument, ensuring that the funds are used effectively to advance education as intended by the settlor. Trusts for the advancement of education play a crucial role in supporting educational institutions, fostering academic research, and providing opportunities for learning and development in various fields of study.

This is one of the categories of charitable purpose set out in Pemsels Case 1891. It is a tricky category because many organisations that have a political dimension also carry on ‘education’ in one form or another. As well as conventional schools and colleges, charitable status has been granted to professional bodies, providers of school sports facilities, publishers of law reports, and artistic and cultural institutions. On the borderline are, for instance, student unions (see Baldry v Feintuck (1972)) if they are associated with political movements, and research projects with limited educational benefit (see, e.g., re Shaw (1957)).

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This glossary post was last updated: 29th March 2024.