Revised government consent: 29 October 2025

Department for Education 
Sanctuary Buildings 
Great Smith Street 
London SW1P 3BT 
Tel: 0370 000 2288 
Land.TRANSACTIONS@education.gov.uk
 
Ref: LT-4109 
29 October 2025 
Matthew Shanks 
Accounting Officer 
Education South West 
Balkwill Road, 
Kingsbridge TQ7 1PL 
By email only: 
Dear Mr Shanks 
Varied decision following decision letter dated 10 February 2025 relating 
to application to notify the Secretary of State for Education to a disposal 
of land under Schedule 1 Part 3 of the Academies Act 2010 and for 
consent from the Secretary of State under the trust’s funding agreement 
and the Academy Trust Handbook 
King Edward VI Community College, Ashburton Road, Totnes, Devon TQ9 
5JX (“the school”) 
I refer to my letter dated 10 February 2025 in relation to this matter (“the original 
letter”), attached for ease at Annex 3 of this letter. 
The original letter confirmed the Secretary of State’s consent to the disposal of 
the land marked A, B and C on the plans at Annex A to the original letter. The 
original letter also stated that the Secretary of State was minded to direct the 
land marked E and F1 on the plans at Annex A of the original letter to Devon 
County Council, notably for the relocation of River Dart Academy. 
Since the date of the original letter, circumstances surrounding the land and its 
disposal have changed. Firstly, an alternative site is now sought for the 
relocation of River Dart Academy and there is no need to direct the land to 
Devon County Council for that purpose. Secondly, some of the priorities of the 
school have changed since the application to dispose of the land was first 
made. 
As a result, the original letter should be disregarded and is superseded by this 
letter. This letter confirms that the Secretary of State has given consent to the disposal 
of the land shown marked A, B, E and F1 on the plan at Annex 1 of this letter 
by way of a freehold sale. The Secretary of State does not intend to make 
a direction or scheme in relation to any of that land. For the avoidance of 
doubt, the Secretary of State also consents to the registration of the transfer of 
this land at HM Land Registry. 
This decision has been made based on the information provided with the 
original application and any updated information provided by Education South 
West, including that the land shown marked C on the plan at Annex 1 will now 
be retained by the trust. 
Consent has been given on the following conditions: 
a) that the sale price is no less than the estimated open market value of the 
land confirmed by an up-to-date red book valuation (within 6 months of 
the sale date); and 
b) that the proceeds of sale are used for capital replacement and 
refurbishment projects at the school in agreement with officials from the 
department at the time the proceeds of sale are realised. The following 
projects will be prioritised (to the extent such projects are still required 
for the school at the time): 
 New changing facilities at the school; 
 Improved drainage to existing playing fields to the school’s 
western site; 
 Refurbishment of the existing gym/sports hall at the school. 
In the event there are no suitable projects at the school at the time the 
proceeds are realised, officials may agree to the proceeds being used for 
capital projects at other schools within the trust. 
The trust confirms acceptance of these conditions and confirms it will comply 
with them by returning an acknowledgement in the form of the letter at Annex 
2. 
It is the trust’s responsibility to manage its improvement projects and any 
consent contained in this letter does not imply consent to any other land 
transaction which may arise as a result of those projects, nor does it imply 
support for those projects in the event that the capital generated is insufficient 
to cover the planned works 
This consent does not provide or imply any additional funding. 
The trust remains responsible for managing any safeguarding issues which 
arise. 
Yours sincerely Signed in my capacity as G6 official acting for and on behalf of the Secretary 
of State for Education (Estates Legal, Land and Planning) 
CC 
 – DfE, 
Alan Salt – head teacher, King Edward VI Community College 
(Alan.Salt@kingedwardvi.org.uk) 
 – Devon CC 
 
Caroline Voaden MP Annex 1 – plans showing the land to be disposed of by freehold transfer 
at King Edward VI Community College, Ashburton Road, Totnes, Devon 
TQ9 5JX marked A, B, E and F1 (land marked C, G and F2 will not be 
included in the disposal) Annex 2 – form of acknowledgement letter 
[to be printed on the trust’s letterhead] 
Department for Education 
Sanctuary Buildings 
Great Smith Street 
London SW1P 3BT 
By email only: Land.TRANSACTIONS@education.gov.uk
[ ] 2025
Dear Sirs 
Acceptance of conditions of the consent of the Secretary of State for 
Education to a disposal of land under the academy trust’s funding 
agreement and the Academy Trust Handbook 
LT-4109: King Edward VI Community College, Ashburton Road, Totnes, 
Devon TQ9 5JX 
I confirm the trust’s acceptance of the conditions of consent set out in the 
Department’s letter dated 29 October 2025, a copy of which is attached to this 
letter, and confirm that the trust will comply with those conditions. 
Yours faithfully 
Accounting Officer