The History of Dundee,
Education and Schools

Dundee Educational Trust 1889.

Memorandum

-By-

The Governors of The City of Dundee Educational Trust dealing with (1) the History and Objects of the Trust, (2) the Composition of the governing body, (3) the general administrative powers of the governing body and its experience in exercising such powers, (4) the future application of the Income of the Trust, and (5) general observations.

(1) The History and Objects of the Trust.

The Trust was originally known as "The Dundee Educational Trust" and was constituted under Scheme No. 251 of the Commissioners under the Educational Endowments (Scotland) Act 1882, approved by Her late Majesty. Queen Victoria in Council on 28th May, 1889. A new Scheme was constituted under the Educational Endowments (Scotland) Act, 1928 and known as "The City of Dundee Educational Trust". The undernoted are endowments of the new constituted Trusts.

(2) The Composition of the Governing Body.

The present body of Governors is a representative one and entirely suitable for the administration of the Scheme. It is as follows:-

(3) The general administrative powers of the governing body and its experience in exercising such powers.

The general administrative powers are contained in Sections 11 to ' 23 of the Scheme. These powers have proved sufficient for the efficient management of the Trust. The present arrangement for meetings and the various copy Minutes keep the Governors fully informed on all matters-concerning the Trust.
The Accounts of the Trust are fully stated and the whole intromissions of the Clerk and Factor are clearly set forth in the Cash Book and Ledger of the Trust. The Accounts are made up to 31st December in-each year and audited by Messrs. Alexander Tosh & Sons, Chartered Accountants, Dundee, and from time to time are fully audited by the Scottish Education Department. A Copy of the Accounts is sent to the Scottish Education Department each year.

(4)The future application of the Income of the Trust

Recommendations by the Governors of the City of Dundee Educational Trust for amendment of the Scheme of the Trust were submitted to the Scottish Education Department in April, 1948. These have been reconsidered and it has been agreed to alter the values under Sections 29, 30 and 32 and to cancel the provisions of Sections 31, 35, 36 and 39 and that a new Section for the provision of Scholarships for Post-graduate Studies should be instituted.
The proposed amendments and new clauses are as follows:-

Section 29: Residential Scholarship

Section 30: University Bursaries

• The governing body shall require candidates for an entrant bursary to apply for the bursary not later than two months before the, date, of the open entrance bursary examination of the University of St. Andrews. The governing body shall satisfy themselves that the candidate or candidates are of such attainment as to merit the award of the bursary. For this purpose the governing body shall require them to present themselves for and undergo the entrance bursary examination of the University which they propose to attend. They shall obtain a report of the results of the examination showing whether in the opinion of the Senatus the candidate or candidates are of sufficient attainment to merit the award of a bursary, and, if there is more than one candidate, the order of merit of the candidates. If more than one candidate is of sufficient attainment, the governing body shall take, into account the results of the examination, the school records and the financial circumstances of the candidate, and shall' award the bursary to the candidate who is of sufficient attainment and is in their opinion likely to derive the greatest benefit therefrom. If one candidate only is of sufficient attainment, they shall award the bursary to him. In the event of no candidate being of sufficient attainment, the governing body may nevertheless take into account the school record of each candidate and, if they are satisfied that special circumstances accounting for failure affected any candidate at the examination and that such candidate is of sufficient promise to merit the award of a bursary, they shall be entitled to award the bursary to such candidate.
• The governing body shall-require candidates for an undergraduate bursary to satisfy them that they are of such diligence, attainment and promise as to merit the award of the bursary. For this purpose the governing body shall take into account the University and school records of the candidates and any special circumstances affecting them, and they may, after consulting the authorities of the Universities, which the candidates are attending, require the candidates to undergo a special examination in such subjects as the governing body may prescribe. The governing body shall award the bursary to the candidate who is in their opinion likely to derive the greatest benefit therefrom.

5. The governing body shall at the time of awarding any bursary inquire into the financial circumstances of the successful candidate. If having regard to his financial circumstances and to any award made under the Education Authority (Scotland) Bursaries Regulations 1957 and 1958 a sum less than the standard value of the bursary is sufficient in the opinion of the governing body to enable him to derive: the greatest benefit from a University education they shall be entitled to award such smaller sum as they think fit. If in their opinion requires additional assistance they shall be entitled to make such additional award as they think fit. If in their opinion there are special circumstances affecting the case they shall award the standard sum of £50.

Section 32: High School Bursaries.

1.    It shall be lawful for the governing body subject to the provisions of the approved plan to offer High School Bursaries for competition among inhabitants of Dundee whose parents or guardians require financial aid in providing their children with secondary education.

The bursaries shall be open to children in attendance at the High School of Dundee or at any public or grant-aided school in Dundee, who are about to attain or have not more than twelve months prior to the date of application for a bursary under this section attained a standard education entitling them to enter the advanced division or secondary department of a public school.

New Section

It shall be competent for the governing body, subject to the provisions of the approved plan, to provide a scholarship, open to inhabitants of Dundee, for higher study or Post-graduate studies. The value of the scholarship shall be £300 per- annum, and it shall-normally be tenable for two years, but the tenure of a scholarship may be extended for a third year. Applicants for scholarships must possess a University Degree with Honours of the First or Second Class of the University of St. Andrews. All applicants must submit, along with their application, details of their proposed higher study or research, which must, in all-cases, be accompanied by a recommendation from the University that they are competent to undertake with profit their proposed line of study or research. The scholarship shall be awarded irrespective of the financial needs of the candidates, but it shall not be competent for the scholar to hold any other award, at the same time except with the consent of the governing body. Holders of the scholarship shall submit a report at the end of their first year of study on their progress during the year and it shall be competent for the governing body to discontinue the scholarship if this report is considered by them to be unsatisfactory.

(5) General observations

The Governors wish to stress that provided the proposed new amendments to the Scheme are given effect to, these will agree in most cases with the Recommendations set out in the Report to the. Committee on Educational Endowments in Scotland appointed in January 1948. Originally no Undergraduate Bursaries were to be granted but the Governors have now decided that in special financial circumstances it should be left to the discretion of the. Governors to award such grants to enable the applicants to make full use of University life. It is felt that the provisions of Section 31 and 35 are not now required, and these whole Sections have been cancelled. No payments for many years have been made under Section 36 and 39 and these Sections have also been cancelled. In regard to the provisions of Travel Grants and Holiday Travel, a great number of applications under these Sections have been received each year, and in regard to Travel Grants only students who are attending recognised courses at the University are granted these awards and full reports on the merit of each applicant are received from the University and submitted to the Governors before any awards are made. In regard to Holiday Travel these awards are mainly made to Schools and other recognised parties' travelling abroad on holiday and a great number of applications are received under this Section.

In regard to the new Section, it is felt there is a great need for research scholarships and the awarding of this new scholarship is in complete agreement with the recommendations of the Special... Committee.
In regard to all bursaries, grants and awards made by the Governors these are advertised in the local press and Application Forms with full particulars of the Applicant's parent's income and. their qualifications and course of study to be followed are completed by each Applicant and examined by the Governors.

In regard to grants made under Section 34; Holiday Travel, as many as fully 100 Applications are received and have to be examined by the Governors. Individual grants are made to each Applicant.
In connection with the High School Entrance Bursaries under Section 32 a written examination is held each year and supervised1 by the Clerk and Factor. The Papers are set by a retired Headmaster.
It is thought right to point out, that, as full accounts are submitted to the Education Department each year, and as a full audit is undertaken by the Education Department periodically, the Department has full knowledge of the administrative work undertaken by the Clerk and Factor. A considerable proportion of the Income of the Trust is derived from small feu duties collected in Dundee and Edinburgh. In connection with the Edinburgh Feu duties 700 Notices and Receipts are issued each year. The annual Accounts were formerly printed but special forms are now received from the Education Department and these are completed by the Clerk and Factor; consequently a considerable saving has been made in this respect.

There are 3 Stated Meetings held each year namely, on the first Thursday in January, May and September and a. Special Meeting is held, in February of each year to consider and approve of the Accounts and. to pass the allocation of expenditure for the ensuing year. In addition there are usually 6 Bursaries Sub Committee and 4 or 5 Finance Committee Meetings held each year. Most of the detailed work of the Governors is undertaken by the Finance and Bursaries Sub Committee and there is on average on Sub Committee Meeting held each month.

There is annexed an Abstract of the Accounts for the year ended 31st December 1960 showing the Income and Expenditure of the Trust and also a statement showing the approximate expenditure of the Trust when the proposed amendments are fully in operation.