Supporting education in Donington since 1680

The Cowley Endowed
Schools Foundation

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About

A registered charity with a history stretching back more than 300 years.

About the Cowley Endowed Schools Foundation

The Cowley Endowed Schools Foundation is a registered charity with a history stretching back more than 300 years.

Today, the Foundation continues Thomas Cowley’s legacy by supporting the education of young people from Donington and neighbouring communities.

Registered Charity No.

527291

Established by deed

1701

Charity Commissioners’ Order

1910

300+

Years of supporting
‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ education‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎

1701

Thomas Cowley’s founding deeds‎ 

1719

Charity school opened its doors‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ 

11–13

Representative Trustees on the Board

Our History

The Cowley Endowed Schools Foundation traces its origins to the remarkable generosity of Thomas Cowley, a wealthy gentleman who settled in Donington during the late 17th century.

Having no direct heirs, Thomas Cowley chose to dedicate much of his estate to improving the lives of future generations. Through deeds made in 1701 and provisions in his wills of 1711 and 1718, he established a permanent charitable endowment to provide education for local children and support those in need within the community.

Following his death in 1721, his vision became a reality. In 1719, the Foundation’s charity school had already opened, providing free education to children who would otherwise have had little opportunity to learn.

His endowment also supported almshouses and other charitable purposes, reflecting his belief that education and community welfare should be available to everyone, regardless of circumstance.

Over the centuries, the school founded through Thomas Cowley’s generosity evolved into what is now Cowley Academy, while Donington Cowley Endowed Primary School also continues to reflect his enduring legacy.

Key Moments in Our Story

Early 17th century

Thomas Cowley settles in Donington‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎

1701

The founding deeds establish a permanent endowment

1711 & 1718

Further provisions made in his wills‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ 

1719

The charity school opens, providing free education‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎

1721

Following his death, his vision becomes a reality‎‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ 

1910

Order of the Charity Commissioners‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ 

Today

Cowley Academy and Donington Cowley Endowed Primary School carry his name forward‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ 

More Than 300 Years of Supporting Education

More than 300 years later, the Cowley Endowed Schools Foundation remains true to Thomas Cowley’s original vision.

Grants for young people

The Foundation supports education by awarding grants to eligible young people from Donington and neighbouring parishes, helping them with the costs of further and higher education, apprenticeships and vocational training.

Our local schools

It also continues to support the schools in Donington that bear Thomas Cowley’s name — Donington Cowley Endowed Primary School and Cowley Academy.‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ 

The wider community

The Foundation assists educational groups within the local community, reflecting Thomas Cowley’s belief that education and community welfare should be available to everyone.‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ 

“Thomas Cowley’s gift was not simply for his own generation.
It was intended to benefit the people of Donington for generations to come.”

His foresight, generosity and commitment to education continue to shape opportunities for local young people today, making his legacy as relevant in the 21st century as it was over three centuries ago.

Our Trustees

The Cowley Endowed Schools Foundation is a registered charity, established by an Order of the Charity Commissioners in 1910.

The Foundation is governed by a Board of Trustees consisting of the current Vicar of Donington and between 11 and 13 Representative Trustees, and is administered by its Clerk.

Our trustees are volunteers who give their time and experience to ensure that the Foundation’s funds are managed responsibly and in accordance with its charitable objectives and governing scheme.

The trustees meet regularly to consider grant applications, oversee the Foundation’s activities and make decisions on the distribution of funds.

Their aim is to ensure that Thomas Cowley’s legacy continues to support education by providing grants to eligible students, supporting Donington Cowley Endowed Primary School and Cowley Academy, and assisting educational groups within the local community.

Governance at a glance

Governing scheme
Order of the Charity Commissioners, 1910

Board composition
The Vicar of Donington and 11–13 Representative Trustees

Administered by
The Clerk to the Trustees

Trustee status
Volunteers

Meetings
Held regularly to consider grant applications and oversee activities

Could the Foundation support you?

We award grants to eligible young people from Donington and neighbouring parishes towards further and higher education, apprenticeships and vocational training.

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