## **The Blackburn Diocesan Board of Education**
**Trustees’ annual report and consolidated financial statements Company limited by guarantee (no 557954) Registered charity (no 1020101) 31 December 2025**
**The Blackburn Diocesan Board of Education**
Annual Report and Consolidated Financial Statements For the year ended 31 December 2025
## **Contents**
VISION STATEMENT .........................................................................................................................3 LEGAL OBJECTS ................................................................................................................................3 STRATEGIC REPORT..........................................................................................................................3 STRATEGIC AIMS AND OBJECTIVES FOR THE YEAR .................................................................................... 3 ACTIVITIES AND PERFORMANCE ............................................................................................................... 4 FINANCE REVIEW ....................................................................................................................................... 8 PRINCIPLE RISKS AND UNCERTAINTIES .................................................................................................... 10 STRUCTURE GOVERNANCE AND MANAGEMENT ..........................................................................11 TRUSTEES RESPONSIBILITIES .........................................................................................................12 STATEMENT OF DISCLOSURE TO THE AUDITORS .................................................................................... 12 APPOINTMENT OF AUDITOR ................................................................................................................... 12 ADMINISTRATIVE DETAIL ...............................................................................................................13 INDEPENDENT AUDITOR’S REPORT TO THE MEMBERS OF THE BLACKBURN DIOCESAN BOARD OF EDUCATION ..............................................................................................................................15 CONSOLIDATED STATEMENT OF FINANCIAL ACTIVITIES ...............................................................18 CONSOLIDATED INCOME AND EXPENDITURE ACCOUNT ..............................................................19 BALANCE SHEETS ..................................................................................................................... 20-21 CONSOLIDATED CASH FLOW STATEMENT .....................................................................................22 NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS ......................................................................................23
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**The Blackburn Diocesan Board of Education**
Annual Report and Financial Statements For the year ended 31 December 2025
## **VISION STATEMENT**
_**Serve Christ. Share the Gospel. Support, Equip and Educate**_
## _**Healthy Churches Transforming Communities**_
## **LEGAL OBJECTS**
- To promote or assist in the promotion of education in the Diocese of Blackburn (“the diocese”) being education which is consistent with the faith and practice of the Church of England.
- To promote or assist in the promotion of religious education and religious worship in schools in the diocese.
- To promote or assist in the promotion of church schools in the diocese and to advise the governors of such schools, and trustees of church educational endowments and any other body or person concerned on any matter affecting church schools in the diocese; to promote co-operation between its Board of Management (“the board”) and bodies or persons concerned in any respect with education in the diocese.
- To discharge within the diocese the functions assigned to Diocesan Boards of Education by section 3 to 8 and 11 of the Diocesan Boards of Education Measure 1991 or by any amending legislation.
- To discharge within the diocese such other functions relating to the furtherance of church education as may be assigned to the board by the diocesan synod, other than functions relating to church schools or church educational endowments.
- To do all such things as are incidental or conducive to the attainment of the aforesaid objects, including acceptance of the trusteeship of any trusts and the investment of any moneys not immediately required for its purpose in or upon such investments securities as the board may think fit.
## **STRATEGIC REPORT STRATEGIC AIMS AND OBJECTIVES FOR THE YEAR**
- The support of Church of England schools in all areas of their activities. In particular:
- ❖ Development and delivery of religious education and collective worship
- ❖ Protection of the Church of England’s interests in academy conversions in Blackburn Diocese
- ❖ Maintenance of church school buildings belonging to trustees of Church of England schools
- ❖ Protection of the interests of the trustees of Church of England schools
- The development of youth and children’s work in Parishes and Schools across the Diocese of Blackburn.
- The support and development of Christian Spirituality in secular institutions of higher and further education.
- The provision of Chaplaincy support to church colleges and church-based universities.
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**The Blackburn Diocesan Board of Education**
Annual Report and Financial Statements For the year ended 31 December 2025
## **ACTIVITIES AND PERFORMANCE**
## **Main Achievements of the Year**
|||
|---|---|
|**Expanding Youth and Children's Work through the IGNITE Project**||
|Main Objective|The IGNITE project represents a significant step change in our
approach to ministry for children and young people, both within
and beyond the parishes receiving funding. Our primary focus
for 2025-2026 will be to further develop, effectively
communicate, and implement the strategy for the IGNITE
project. This initiative promises to have a transformative
impact on our ability to inspire and engage young people
across the diocese.|
|||
|Objectives|Narrative|
|- Develop and communicate
the IGNITE project strategy
- Implement IGNITE initiatives
across the diocese
- Evaluate and adapt IGNITE
programs for maximum impact
- Leverage IGNITE to engage
teenagers and support youth-
focused church plants
- Create opportunities for
shared faith experiences and
foster a sense of community|The IGNITE Project has officially launched with eight out of nine
placements now appointed. Round two parishes have been
allocated and recruitment is underway.
Forge Days—monthly training and networking events—are now
running successfully (held on 25 Aug, 10 Sept, 8 Oct, and 12 Nov),
offering valuable support, prayerful reflection, and cross-parish
engagement.
The strategy has been developed and is now being implemented,
supported by the newly formed IGNITE Steering Group. Interest in
the project is strong, with 35 expressions of interest across diverse
church contexts.
Two current workers are undertaking Emmanuel theological
training, with plans to encourage others to follow.
A proposal to create a FORGE network was presented to V&S and
is currently on hold while apprenticeship pathways are explored.
Relationships are being built with national networks to align
recruitment and ministry approaches. The emphasis remains on
prayerful preparation and parish-rooted support to ensure
sustainability.|
|||
|**Enhancing Children and Youth Work**||
|Main Objectives|Continue to support the creation and renewal of toddler groups
that share the Gospel through a training and equipping
programme
Continue and expand the Youth Hub initiative and further
develop and promote the Launchpad programme for youth
ministry
Develop varied training programmes for those involved in
children's and youth work, including annual conference.|
|||
|Objectives|Narrative|
|-Continue to support the
creation and renewal of
toddler groups that share
the Gospel through a
training and equipping
programme|The Youth Hub has provided valuable learning platforms,
revealing a need for deeper strategic support and consultancy. We
are exploring a closer working relationship with Rachel Gardner,
potentially in a consultancy role, to help shape future direction.|
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**The Blackburn Diocesan Board of Education**
Annual Report and Financial Statements For the year ended 31 December 2025
|-Continue and expand the
Youth Hub initiative and
further develop and promote
the Launchpad programme
for youth ministry
-Develop varied training
programmes for those
involved in children's and
youth work, including annual
conferences|Our “Youth Ministry from Scratch” initiative launched in
September, supporting 20 leaders from diverse parishes to build
vision, gather teams, and begin youth ministry rooted in
community and discipleship.
Toddler group resources continue to flourish, including a popular
booklet of 30 creative prayer activities for under 5s shared during
National Toddler Group Month of Prayer.
Our Weekly@ Summer series focused on Paul’s Journeys and
remains available online. In alignment with the Diocesan Year of
Prayer, six new Bible Podlets episodes were released with
accompanying activity booklets to help children talk to God. These
are available on Spotify and the Board of Education website.
National engagement continues: Sarah and Sam attended the
“Flourishing Children, Young People and Family Ministries” event
at Lambeth Palace, contributing to national strategy discussions.
Blackburn Diocese is recognised as a leader in CYP ministry, with
strong diocesan support and strategic leadership.
The Children’s Ministry Conference (held annually for 10 years)
will move to Fulwood Free Methodist Church in 2026 to allow for
growth and accessibility. The theme is “Generation to Generation”
(Psalm 79:13).
Abide: Firm Foundation brought together 180 young people and
leaders in March 2025. Abide2026 is scheduled for 10 October at
St Michael’s CE High School, with “local Abides” planned to extend
reach.
The Diocesan Youth Forum continues to thrive, with over 30 active
members contributing to diocesan vision development. The last of
2025 met on 23 November at Blackburn Cathedral.
The Youth Leader Conference in Blackpool gathered leaders from
across Lancashire for inspiration, prayer, and practical support,
featuring national speakers and local voices.|
|---|---|
|||
||**Supporting Schools**|
|Main Objectives|Ensure distinctively Christian Schools where a Christian vision
permeates the life of school
Ensure Christian worship and high-quality RE enrich the
educational experience in our schools
Ensure our schools live out their Christian mission to the world|
|||
|Objectives|Narrative|
|-Continue to develop new
curriculum materials for RE
and collective worship
- Strengthen connections
between church schools and
local parishes|The Diocese continues to lead in supporting schools through
curriculum development, leadership training, and spiritual
formation. SEND advocacy has progressed significantly with the
establishment of a designated SEND fund approved by Directors,
enabling clusters of schools to access £4k each for CPD. The
SENCO Conference has helped build momentum and
collaboration.
SIAMS inspections under the new framework show strong
performance: 75 schools inspected (70 primary, 5 secondary), all
receiving J1 judgments. Prior to 2023, 116 schools were|
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**The Blackburn Diocesan Board of Education**
Annual Report and Financial Statements For the year ended 31 December 2025
|- Advocate for schools on
issues like SEND provision
and leader wellbeing
- Support the 'Growing Faith'
movement at church-school-
home intersections
- Enable schools to be built
around key Christian values
and a Vision rooted in
theology
- Develop broad, outward-
looking school communities
that seek positive change
- Ensure strong and
sustainable school presences
in their communities|inspected, with only two judged less than Good—one of which
has since improved. Nationally, 912 inspections yielded 901 J1
judgments (98.8%). Blackburn Diocese’s 38 inspected schools
(36 primary, 2 secondary) all received J1.
Ofsted’s new framework (from Nov 2025) introduces a 5-point
grading scale across multiple evaluation areas, removing overall
effectiveness grades. Blackburn schools continue to perform
well, with 93% rated Good or Better.
The Abraham Network has supported schools serving majority
non-Christian faith communities, focusing on themes like Worship
and Fasting.
The Year 6 Leavers Service welcomed 1,500 pupils to St
George’s in Chorley.
The Year of Prayer launch engaged 22,000 young people via
Zoom with +Philip.
Living Out God’s Big Story continues to be a popular resource,
with weekly views exceeding 100.
Every primary school has a named diocesan adviser offering
bespoke pastoral, spiritual, and professional support. Leadership
development is a key focus, with twilight sessions for aspiring
leaders, bespoke coaching, and induction programmes for new
headteachers and deputies. Peer support networks for HTs and
DHTs/AHTs offer spiritual and professional reflection.
The Board of Education delivered 32 courses and 8 conferences
in 2025, supporting RE coordinators, governors, and school
leaders.
Equity, Diversity, and Justice (EDJ) remains a core focus. The
BoE has delivered impactful training including:
• Let’s Talk About Race – 3 sessions, 159 delegates
• Towards Cultural Competence and a Curriculum for All – 2
conferences, 121 delegates
• Workshops on strategic EDJ approaches and honest
conversations about race
• EDJ staff meetings delivered in over 50 schools
• Integration of EDJ principles into all revised training courses
• Joint workshops with the CYP team for church-based youth
workers
Headteacher and senior leader wellbeing is actively supported
through:
• Advent and Lent Retreats at Whalley Abbey for reflection and
prayer
• Lunchtime Online Prayer and Reflection (termly) – a new
initiative offering spiritual nourishment and community
• Picnic and Prayer on Pendle Hill – a summer gathering for
fellowship and celebration of creation
• Termly Headteacher Meetings – providing updates, spiritual
and pastoral support, and shared learning|
|---|---|
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Annual Report and Financial Statements For the year ended 31 December 2025
## **The Blackburn Diocesan Board of Education**
|||
|---|---|
||**Strengthening Chaplaincy Services**|
|Main Objectives|Expand the provision of chaplaincy services in higher and
further education institutions across the diocese.
Explore new ways to support the spiritual development of
students and staff in these settings, potentially incorporating
innovative approaches developed through IGNITE.|
|||
|Objectives|Narrative|
|- Expand chaplaincy provision
in higher and further education
- Explore innovative
approaches to support spiritual
development
- Develop resources for the
Year of Prayer for university
students|Chaplaincy provision across all three universities in the diocese
has been successfully re-established, marking a significant
milestone. A new model has been introduced where chaplains
are based at local churches popular with students and staff,
ensuring they are embedded in supportive peer communities.
• University of Cumbria: Partnered with The Priory, Lancaster,
with an ordained chaplain offering contemplative services for staff
and students.
• University of Lancashire: A new lay chaplain has been
appointed following a successful maternity cover —and this is an
encouraging development as we try to develop the Christian
Support at the university.
• Lancaster University: Chaplain is based in Over Kellet for the
remainder of the week, serving in a part-time ordained interim
role. Weekly Tuesday communions have begun, fostering regular
spiritual engagement.
These placements reflect a renewed commitment to spiritual
formation in higher education, with chaplains offering creative
and contemplative worship opportunities. The Year of Prayer
resources are being adapted for university contexts, and IGNITE-
inspired approaches are being explored to deepen engagement
with students and staff.|
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**The Blackburn Diocesan Board of Education**
Annual Report and Financial Statements For the year ended 31 December 2025
## **Public Benefit Statement**
The Board exists under the Diocesan Board of Education Measure (2021). The Measure sets out the core purpose of the Board of Education, which is to
- promote or assist in the promotion of education in the diocese that is consistent with the faith and practice of the Church of England;
- promote or assist in the promotion of religious education and religious worship in schools in the diocese;
- promote or assist in the promotion of church schools in the diocese;
- promote co-operation between itself and other persons concerned with education in the diocese.
In addition, the Board of Education support youth and children’s work across church in the diocese.
The public benefit of our work is seen in the support and flourishing of church schools that provide education for all within a Christian ethos. Blackburn Diocesan Board of Education (BDBE) supports the promotion of Christian faith within universities and other educational institutions and also supports schools to engage in their communities and to build projects that create, improve and unify the local community. Our support for schools also ensures the provision of buildings which can be used by parishes and outside bodies for the benefit of all. The trustees have referred to Charity Commission guidance on public benefit and consider the entity is compliant.
Our support for Youth and Children’s Work across the Diocese touches the lives of thousands of people, many of whom are not regular church attenders and supports churches in their work with the children and young people of local communities.
## **FINANCE REVIEW**
## **Financial Performance**
During the year to 31 December 2025 the Group made a net surplus of £134k against a surplus of £139k in 2024.
## **Principal Funding Sources**
There is an annual grant agreed in advance by the Blackburn Diocesan Board of Finance Limited as agreed by the Diocesan Synod. A grant of service is provided in addition for the provision of finance. The Board is also in receipt of funds allocated from the BDBF Restricted Funds. Total funding from these sources for the year ended 31 December 2025 is £363,562 (2024: £308,154).
Service level agreements to provide support services to schools £325,000 (2024: £269,000). Total interest and dividends income is £436,000 (2024: £527,000) representing 27% of total income (2024: 39%). The Blackburn Diocesan Board of Finance grants represented around 26% of the total income of the charity for the year, equally 18% of the income came from service level agreements.
During the year a gift aid donation of £107,469 (2024:£5,000) was received from DBE Services Ltd.
## **Significant expenditure**
Additional school support is provided by staff and consultants for the development and delivery of religious education, school vision and ethos and collective worship. This may be in the form of direct support for schools or running training courses and events for the schools. During the year £416,423 of school and governor support and £12,000 of grant funding of activities (2024: £360,590) was spent on directly undertaking activities in this area.
Youth and children’s work occur both in schools and parishes. Youth and children’s work directly undertaken activities cost £141,671 (2024: £170,875).
The charitable company also supports university chaplains and this support amounted to £78,987 (2024: £56,683) of activities directly undertaken.
## **Balance Sheet Position**
Net assets of the company at 31 December 2025 are £6,376,000 (2024: £6,239,000) which is made up of designated funds of £2,818,000, restricted funds of £646,000,endowment funds of £91,000 and unrestricted funds of £2,821,000.
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**The Blackburn Diocesan Board of Education**
Annual Report and Financial Statements For the year ended 31 December 2025
Within the balance sheet, are the following assets and liabilities relating to Barchester. (See pages 32 and 33). Cash on deposit and at bank is held in separate bank accounts as client funds.
||£000|
|---|---|
|Debtorsless than 1year|513|
|Debtors greater than 1 year|130|
|Cash on deposit|4,765|
|Cash at bank|122|
|Creditors less than 1 year|(5,530)|
||**-**|
## **Investment policy**
The charity utilises the CBF fund with CCLA for investments.
This ensures ethical investment, as investments are held in companies which have high standards of corporate governance and act in a responsible way towards stakeholders.
Unrestricted and restricted funds are invested to balance income, liquidity and the reimbursement of capital. The investment policy for long-term funds is aimed primarily at generating a sustainable income with due regard to the need for preservation of capital value.
## **Reserves policy**
The total funds of the charitable company as at 31 December 2025 are £6,376,000, of which £646,000 are restricted and £91,000 are endowment funds.
The reserves of the company provide working capital for the activities of the Board. The Board also requires funds to be available to provide assistance to schools for their contribution to building projects and to ensure continued operation if income is disrupted.
The trustees have reviewed the charity's needs for reserves in line with the guidance issued by the Charity Commission. They have agreed to set a reserves figure equivalent of 20% of predicted income for SCA and DFC expenditure costs on behalf of schools, £1,327,000 and three to six months budgeted running costs for 2026, £591,931 (six months). The total approved level of reserves is £1,918,931.
The total value of free reserves (general reserves less assets used in the charity, designated funds and any pension adjustment) is £2,305,000. The level of free reserves is £386,069 above the target level. The directors at their summer meeting will review free reserves and designated funds along with plans for the future.
The level of designated funds at the year-end is £2,818,000 _(2024: £2,816,000)_ . Material designated funds include the New Opportunity Fund at £359,454 for school buildings support, the Elmslie Fund at £479,262 for educational purposes in the Blackpool area and £529,000 for the Vision Fund.
## **Financial assistance and grant making policy**
Organisations must make applications to the Board of Education Executive. The Executive considers these in the light of their benefit for promoting Christian education within the Diocese. Consideration is also given to the financial circumstances of the organisation applying.
Grants were 8% of total expenditure.
## **Related parties**
Blackburn Diocesan Board of Finance is a registered charity and the financial arm of the diocesan synod. It provides a grant to support the work of the Diocesan Board of Education and to enable the Diocesan Board of Education to undertake children and youth work.
Cidari is the diocesan multi academy trust which owes £89,608 to the Diocesan Board of Education for the initial startup of the trust.
DBE Services Ltd is owned by six dioceses, one of which is Blackburn Diocesan Board of Education and it provides total property maintenance to schools and manages the school condition grants.
Directors – the chair of the board David Picken is also a director of the Diocesan Board of Finance. Canon Stephen Whittaker is a director of the Diocesan Board of Education and is the diocesan secretary of the Diocesan Board of Finance.
Blackburn Diocesan Board of Education is the Sole Corporate Trustee of the Jackson’s Scholarship, Leyland Foundation, Warton St Paul and Henry Assheton Cross. These have therefore been treated as subsidiaries in the accounts.
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**The Blackburn Diocesan Board of Education**
Annual Report and Financial Statements For the year ended 31 December 2025
## **PRINCIPLE RISKS AND UNCERTAINTIES**
The trustees of the charitable company have overall responsibility for ensuring that the charity has an appropriate system of controls, financial and otherwise. The systems of internal control are designed to provide reasonable, but not absolute, assurance against material misstatement or loss. There is no internal audit function as it is not considered an efficient use of the resources of the charity.
They include:
- A strategic plan and annual budget approved by the trustees;
- Regular consideration by the Board of Education of financial results and variance from budgets;
- Delegation of authority and segregation of duties;
- Identification and management of risks.
During the year the trustees have further developed their risk management process to assess and document business risks and implement risk management strategies. This involved assessing the types of risks the charity faces, prioritising them in terms of potential impact and likelihood of occurrence, and identifying means of mitigating the risks. This process has drawn on the on-going consideration of business risk, which already forms a significant aspect of the trustees’ duties.
An annual meeting has been put in place to review the risks of the Blackburn Diocesan Board of Education.
During the year consultants and advisers have been engaged to assist in the management of on-going work where there has been identified need.
The key risks, which may impact on the charitable company, are:
|Keyrisks|Mitigations|
|---|---|
|Loss of grant funding from the DBF;|The company holds sufficient reserves to cope with
funding shortages and would be able to restructure the
business to manage such a reduction|
|Reduction in income from SLAs to a level not sufficient
to cover running costs;|The company holds sufficient reserves to cope with
funding shortages and would be able to restructure the
business to manage such a reduction|
|A tight labour market leading to staff shortages;|Effective recruitment campaigns and reviews of
employment benefits hope to tackle this need|
|An increase in statutory duties that cannot be recharged
to schools.|Use of reserves and clarity in SLA agreements to
reduce risks.|
## **Impact on risk and risk management**
The company risk register already contained income losses and actions associated with them and has been updated to include loss of income from the DBF. The company continues to be strong and anticipates that even with no DBF grant and reduction in investments and income, costs can be managed to ensure continued viability.
10
**The Blackburn Diocesan Board of Education**
Annual Report and Financial Statements For the year ended 31 December 2025
## **STRUCTURE GOVERNANCE AND MANAGEMENT**
The Board of Education is a statutory body under the Diocesan Boards of Education Measure 2021. This requires every diocese to have a Board of Education which has responsibility for overseeing the work of Church Schools and being responsible for managing Education Charitable Trusts. The Board of Education was incorporated in November 1955 and is a company limited by guarantee.
Those persons who are normally referred to as members of the Board of Education are in company law the Directors of the Board and Trustees in charity law.
The Trustees present their report and audited financial statements for the year ended 31 December 2025. The Trustees and the Trustees’ Report constitute the Directors and Directors’ Report for Companies Act purposes.
The financial statements have been prepared in accordance with the charity’s Memorandum and Articles of Association, the Companies Act 2006, the Charities SORP (Second Edition, effective 1 January 2019) and applicable accounting standards FRS102.
## **Organisation**
The Board of Education, as defined in statute, has overall control of the activities of the Company. The Board operates with four sub-committees. The finance, staffing and resources committee is responsible for all financial matters across the work of the Board of Education. The schools work is split over two committees with school Christian ethos development considered by the Distinctiveness Committee and the other aspects of work considered by the School Strategy Committee. Parish support work is considered by the Children’s and Youth Committee. The Board reports to the Diocesan Synod annually and the Director of Education also reports to the Bishop’s Council.
## **Method of Appointment of Trustees**
The trustees are appointed in the following way:
The Chair of the Board is nominated by the Diocesan Bishop. At least 4 but not more than 5 members are appointed by the Bishop, at least 4 but not more than 5 members are elected by Diocesan Synod and at least 4 but not more than 5 members are co-opted by the DBE
The trustees elected by synod are elected every three years.
## **Induction and Training of Trustees**
On induction there is a meeting with prospective trustees to explain their roles and responsibilities. They are advised of the structure of the Blackburn Diocesan Board of Education and associated companies.
Trustee training is provided as a need is identified.
## **Remuneration of key management personnel**
The Board is responsible for setting the pay for the key members of staff and any annual increments are agreed by the Chair of the Board.
## **Custodian Trustee**
The charitable company is the custodian trustee for all Voluntary Aided Church of England Schools in the Benefice area (Diocese of Blackburn) except in cases where it is the actual trustee either by right of the trustee document or following an order under S86 of the 1944 Education Act.
Under the 2021 Diocesan Board of Education Measure, the governing body or (in the case of an Academy) the proprietor of a church school which is on land in which a freehold or leasehold interest is held on trust for the purposes of a church school must obtain the consent of the DBE before entering into an agreement or arrangement in connection with an alteration to or repair the premises of the school.
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**The Blackburn Diocesan Board of Education**
Annual Report and Financial Statements For the year ended 31 December 2025
## **TRUSTEES’ RESPONSIBILITIES**
The trustees (who are also directors of The Blackburn Diocesan Board of Education for the purpose of company law) are responsible for preparing the Trustees' Annual Report (including the Strategic Report) and the financial statements in accordance with applicable law and United Kingdom Accounting Standards (United Kingdom Generally Accepted Accounting Practice).
Company law requires the trustees to prepare financial statements for each financial year.
Under company law the trustees must not approve the financial statements unless they are satisfied that they give a true and fair view of the state of affairs of the charitable company and of incoming resources and application of resources, including the income and expenditure of the charitable company for that period. In preparing these financial statements, the trustees are required to:
- select suitable accounting policies and then apply them consistently;
- observe methods and principles in the Charities SORP 2019 (FS102);
- make judgements and estimates that are reasonable and prudent;
- state whether applicable UK Accounting Standards have been followed; and
- prepare the financial statements on the going concern basis unless it is inappropriate to presume that the charitable company will continue in operation.
The trustees are responsible for keeping adequate accounting records that disclose with reasonable accuracy at any time the financial position of the charitable company and enable them to ensure that the financial statements comply with the Companies Act 2006. They are also responsible for safeguarding the assets of the charitable company and hence for taking reasonable steps for the prevention and detection of fraud and other irregularities.
The trustees are responsible for the maintenance and integrity of the corporate and financial information included on the charitable company's website. Legislation in the UK governing the preparation and dissemination of financial statements may differ from legislation in other jurisdictions.
## **STATEMENT OF DISCLOSURE TO THE AUDITORS**
So far as the trustees are aware:
- a. there is no relevant audit information of which the charitable company’s auditor is unaware, and
- b. the trustees have taken all the steps that they ought to have taken to make themselves aware of any relevant audit information and to establish that the auditor is aware of that information.
## **APPOINTMENT OF AUDITOR**
Sumer Auditco Limited were appointed as auditor to the Charitable Company following BHP LLP becoming part of the Sumer Group on 31 December 2025, which required a change in audit firm to comply with applicable regulatory requirements.
The appointment of the auditors to the BDBE will be proposed at the Annual General Meeting.
12
**The Blackburn Diocesan Board of Education**
Annual Report and Financial Statements For the year ended 31 December 2025
## **ADMINISTRATIVE DETAIL**
The Blackburn Diocesan Board of Education Limited (by guarantee) hereafter referred to as the “charitable company” is a registered company and is registered with the Charity Commission. The company was incorporated on 30 November 1955.
The trustees, who are also directors for the purposes of company law, present their trustees’ report, together with the audited financial statements, for the year ended 31 December 2025.
This report constitutes the Strategic Report and the Directors’ Report required under the Companies Act 2006.
|Charity Registration number|1020101||
|---|---|---|
|Company registration number|557954||
|Company Secretary|Mr I Parks||
|Directors|Mr R Jones||
||Rev Canon A Holliday||
||Rev P R M Venables||
||Rev Canon David Arnold||
||Mrs D L Metcalfe||
||Venerable D A Picken||
||Rev S Lloyd||
||Rev C Abbott|(Resigned 3 November 2025)|
||Ms Y Arshad||
||Rt Revd P North||
||Mr S Whittaker||
||Ms E Gregory-Witham||
||Mr P Duckworth||
||Rev C D Anderton||
||Mrs J Hackett||
||Ms J Mitchell|(Appointed 1 January 2025)|
Appointments are made under the Diocesan Board of Education Measure 2021
## **Advisers**
|**dvisers**||
|---|---|
|Solicitors|Anthony Collins Solicitors LLP|
||134 Edmund Street|
||Birmingham|
||B3 2ES|
|Bankers|National Westminster Bank|
||35 King William Street|
||Blackburn|
||BB1 7DJ|
|Insurers|Ecclesiastical Insurance Group|
||Beaufort House|
||Brunswick Road|
||Gloucester, GL1 1JZ|
|Investment Advisors|CCLA Investment Management Ltd|
||Senator House, 85 Queen Victoria Street|
||London|
||EC4V 4ET|
|Registered Auditor|Sumer Auditco Limited|
||Chartered Accountants, Statutory Auditor, One Waterside Place|
||Basin Square, Brimington Road|
||Chesterfiled, S41 7FH|
|Registered Address|Diocesan Office|
||Clayton House|
||Walker Office Park|
||Blackburn BB1 2QE|
13
**The Blackburn Diocesan Board of Education**
Annual Report and Financial Statements For the year ended 31 December 2025
In approving the Trustees’ Annual Report, we also approve the Strategic Report included therein, in our capacity as company directors.
By order of the board
## **The Venerable David Picken**
_Chair of the Board of Education_
Blackburn Diocesan Board of Education Limited Clayton House Walker Office Park BLACKBURN BB1 2QE
22 June 2026
14
**The Blackburn Diocesan Board of Education**
Annual Report and Financial Statements For the year ended 31 December 2025
## **INDEPENDENT AUDITOR’S REPORT TO THE MEMBERS OF THE BLACKBURN DIOCESAN BOARD OF EDUCATION**
## **Opinion**
We have audited the financial statements of The Blackburn Diocesan Board of Education (the 'parent charitable company') and it’s Subsidiaries (the ‘group’) for the year ended 31 December 2025 which comprise the Consolidated Statement of Financial Activities, the Consolidated Balance Sheet, the Company Balance Sheet, the Consolidated Statement of Cash Flows and the related notes, including a summary of significant accounting policies. The financial reporting framework that has been applied in their preparation is applicable law and United Kingdom Accounting Standards, including Financial Reporting Standard 102 'The Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland' (United Kingdom Generally Accepted Accounting Practice).
In our opinion the financial statements:
- give a true and fair view of the state of the group’s and parent charitable company’s affairs as at 31 December 2025 and of the group’s incoming resources and application of resources, including its income and expenditure for the year then ended;
- have been properly prepared in accordance with United Kingdom Generally Accepted Accounting Practice; and
- have been prepared in accordance with the requirements of the Companies Act 2006.
## **Basis for opinion**
We conducted our audit in accordance with International Standards on Auditing (UK) (ISAs (UK)) and applicable law. Our responsibilities under those standards are further described in the Auditors' responsibilities for the audit of the financial statements section of our report. We are independent of the group and parent charitable company in accordance with the ethical requirements that are relevant to our audit of the financial statements in the UK, including the FRC’s Ethical Standard, and we have fulfilled our other ethical responsibilities in accordance with these requirements. We believe that the audit evidence we have obtained is sufficient and appropriate to provide a basis for our opinion.
## **Conclusions relating to going concern**
In auditing the financial statements, we have concluded that the Trustees' use of the going concern basis of accounting in the preparation of the financial statements is appropriate.
Based on the work we have performed, we have not identified any material uncertainties relating to events or conditions that, individually or collectively, may cast significant doubt on the group and parent charitable company's ability to continue as a going concern for a period of at least twelve months from when the financial statements are authorised for issue.
Our responsibilities and the responsibilities of the trustees with respect to going concern are described in the relevant sections of this report.
## **Other information**
The other information comprises the information included in the Trustees' Report other than the financial statements and our auditor’s report thereon. The Trustees are responsible for the other information. Our opinion on the financial statements does not cover the other information and, except to the extent otherwise explicitly stated in our report, we do not express any form of assurance conclusion thereon. Our responsibility is to read the other information and, in doing so, consider whether the other information is materially inconsistent with the financial statements or our knowledge obtained in the course of the audit, or otherwise appears to be materially misstated. If we identify such material inconsistencies or apparent material misstatements, we are required to determine whether this gives rise to a material misstatement in the financial statements themselves. If, based on the work we have performed, we conclude that there is a material misstatement of this other information, we are required to report that fact.
We have nothing to report in this regard.
15
**The Blackburn Diocesan Board of Education**
Annual Report and Financial Statements For the year ended 31 December 2025
## **Opinion on other matters prescribed by the Companies Act 2006**
In our opinion, based on the work undertaken in the course of the audit:
- the information given in the Trustees' Report which includes the Strategic Report and the Directors' Report prepared for the purposes of company law, for the financial year for which the financial statements are prepared is consistent with the financial statements; and
- the Strategic Report and the Directors' Report included within the Trustees’ Report have been prepared in accordance with applicable legal requirements.
## **Matters on which we are required to report by exception**
In the light of our knowledge and understanding of the group and parent charitable company and its environment obtained in the course of the audit, we have not identified material misstatements in the Strategic Report or the Directors' Report.
We have nothing to report in respect of the following matters in relation to which Companies Act 2006 requires us to report to you if, in our opinion:
- adequate accounting records have not been kept by the parent charitable company, or returns adequate for our audit have not been received from branches not visited by us; or
- the parent charitable company’s financial statements are not in agreement with the accounting records and returns; or
- certain disclosures of trustees' remuneration specified by law are not made; or
- we have not received all the information and explanations we require for our audit.
## **Responsibilities of Trustees**
As explained more fully in the Trustees' Responsibilities Statement, the trustees (who are also the directors of the parent charitable company for the purposes of company law) are responsible for the preparation of the financial statements and for being satisfied that they give a true and fair view, and for such internal control as the trustees determine is necessary to enable the preparation of financial statements that are free from material misstatement, whether due to fraud or error.
In preparing the financial statements, the trustees are responsible for assessing the group and parent charitable company's ability to continue as a going concern, disclosing, as applicable, matters related to going concern and using the going concern basis of accounting unless the trustees either intend to liquidate the group or the parent charitable company or to cease operations, or have no realistic alternative but to do so.
## **Auditor responsibilities for the audit of the financial statements**
Our objectives are to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the financial statements as a whole are free from material misstatement, whether due to fraud or error, and to issue an Auditor’s Report that includes our opinion. Reasonable assurance is a high level of assurance, but is not a guarantee that an audit conducted in accordance with ISAs (UK) will always detect a material misstatement when it exists. Misstatements can arise from fraud or error and are considered material if, individually or in the aggregate, they could reasonably be expected to influence the economic decisions of users taken on the basis of these financial statements.
Irregularities, including fraud, are instances of non-compliance with laws and regulations. We design procedures in line with our responsibilities, outlined above, to detect material misstatements in respect of irregularities, including fraud.
Our approach to identifying and assessing the risks of material misstatement in respect of irregularities, including fraud and non-compliance with laws and regulations, was as follows:
- the senior statutory auditor ensured that the engagement team collectively had the appropriate competence, capabilities and skills to identify or recognise non-compliance with applicable laws and regulations;
- we identified the laws and regulations applicable to the group and parent charitable company through discussions with directors and other management, and from our commercial knowledge and experience of the ecclesiastical sector;
- we focused on specific laws and regulations which we considered may have a direct material effect on the financial statements or the operations of the group and parent charitable company, including
16
**The Blackburn Diocesan Board of Education**
Annual Report and Financial Statements For the year ended 31 December 2025
- the Charities Act 2011, Companies Act 2006, taxation legislation, data protection, employment and health and safety legislation;
- we assessed the extent of compliance with the laws and regulations identified above through making enquiries of management and inspecting legal correspondence; and
- identified laws and regulations were communicated within the audit team regularly and the team remained alert to instances of non-compliance throughout the audit.
We assessed the susceptibility of the group and parent charitable company’s financial statements to material misstatement, including obtaining an understanding of how fraud might occur, by:
- making enquiries of management as to where they considered there was susceptibility to fraud, their knowledge of actual, suspected and alleged fraud; and
- considering the internal controls in place to mitigate risks of fraud and non-compliance with laws and regulations.
To address the risk of fraud through management bias and override of controls, we:
- performed analytical procedures to identify any unusual or unexpected relationships;
- tested journal entries to identify unusual transactions;
- assessed whether judgements and assumptions made in determining the accounting estimates were indicative of potential bias; and
- investigated the rationale behind significant or unusual transactions.
In response to the risk of irregularities and non-compliance with laws and regulations, we designed procedures which included, but were not limited to:
- agreeing financial statement disclosures to underlying supporting documentation;
- reading the minutes of meetings of those charged with governance; and
- enquiring of management as to actual and potential litigation and claims.
Because of the inherent limitations of an audit, there is a risk that we will not detect all irregularities, including those leading to a material misstatement in the financial statements or non-compliance with regulation. This risk increases the more that compliance with a law or regulation is removed from the events and transactions reflected in the financial statements, as we will be less likely to become aware of instances of non-compliance. The risk is also greater regarding irregularities occurring due to fraud rather than error, as fraud involves intentional concealment, forgery, collusion, omission or misrepresentation.
A further description of our responsibilities for the audit of the financial statements is located on the Financial Reporting Council's website at: www.frc.org.uk/auditorsresponsibilities. This description forms part of our Auditors' Report.
## **Use of our report**
This report is made solely to the charitable company's members, as a body, in accordance with Chapter 3 of Part 16 of the Companies Act 2006. Our audit work has been undertaken so that we might state to the charitable company's members those matters we are required to state to them in an auditor’s report and for no other purpose. To the fullest extent permitted by law, we do not accept or assume responsibility to anyone other than the charitable company and the charitable company’s members, as a body, for our audit work, for this report, or for the opinions we have formed.
## **Nicola O’Sullivan (Senior statutory auditor)**
for and on behalf of
**Sumer Auditco Limited**
## **Chartered Accountants, Statutory Auditor**
One Waterside Place Basin Square Brimington Road Chesterfield S41 7FH
Date: 24 June 2026
17
Annual Report and Financial Statements For the year ended 31 December 2025
## **The Blackburn Diocesan Board of Education**
## **CONSOLIDATED STATEMENT OF FINANCIAL ACTIVITIES**
_for the year ended 31 December 2025_
|_Note_
**Income and endowments from:**
Donations and legacies
_3_
Charitable activities
_3_
Other trading activities
_3_
Investments
_3_
**Total**
**Expenditure on:**
Raising funds
_4_
Charitable activities
_5_
**Total**
**Net income/(expenditure) before**
**Investment gains**
Net gains on investments
_9_
**Net income/(expenditure)**
**Transfer between funds**
_14_
**Actuarial gains/(losses) on**
**defined benefit pension**
**schemes**
_2_
**Net movement in funds**
**Total funds brought forward**
_14_
**Total funds carried forward**
_14_|**Unrestricted**
**General**
**Designated**
**Restricted**
**Endowment**
**Fund**
**Fund**
**Funds**
**Funds**
**£000**
**£000**
**£000**
**£000**
380
-
30
-
559
-
29
-
2
-
-
-
488
39
16
-
1,429
39
75
-
2
-
-
-
1,217
36
87
-
1,219
36
87
-
210
3
(12)
-
(50)
-
(14)
(3)
160
3
(26)
(3)
-
(1)
1
-
-
-
-
-
160
2
(25)
(3)
2,661
2,816
1,200
94
2,821
2,818
1,175
91|**Restated**
**Total**
**Total**
**2025**
**2024**
**£000**
**£000**
410
320
588
482
2
2
543
532
1,543
1,336
2
2
1,340
1,259
1,342
1,261
201
75
(67)
64
134
139
-
-
-
-
134
139
6,771
6,632
6,905
6,771|**Restated**
**Total**
**Total**
**2025**
**2024**
**£000**
**£000**
410
320
588
482
2
2
543
532
1,543
1,336
2
2
1,340
1,259
1,342
1,261
201
75
(67)
64
134
139
-
-
-
-
134
139
6,771
6,632
6,905
6,771|
|---|---|---|---|
||||1,336
|
||||2
1,259|
||||1,261
|
||||75
64|
||||139
-
-|
||||139|
||||6,632|
||||6,771|
All activities derive from continuing activities.
The notes on pages 23 to 42 form part of these financial statements.
Details of comparative figures by fund are disclosed in note 25.
18
**The Blackburn Diocesan Board of Education**
Annual Report and Financial Statements For the year ended 31 December 2025
## **CONSOLIDATED INCOME AND EXPENDITURE ACCOUNT**
_for the year ended 31 December 2025_
|**CONSOLIDATED INCOME AND EXPENDITURE ACCOUNT**
_for the year ended 31 December 2025_|||
|---|---|---|
|Total income
Total expenditure
Operating surplus for the year
Net gains on investments
**Net income for the year**|_2025_
£000
1,543
(1,342)
201
(64)
137|_2024_
£000
1,336
(1,261)
|
|||75
64
|
|||139|
19
**The Blackburn Diocesan Board of Education**
Annual Report and Financial Statements For the year ended 31 December 2025
## **BALANCE SHEET - Company**
_at 31 December 2025_
|_Note_
**Fixed assets**
Tangible assets
_8_
Investments
_9_
**Current assets**
Debtors (amounts receivable after more than
_10_
One year £177,750 (2024: £275,000))
Cash on deposit
_11_
Cash at bank and in hand
_11_
**Creditors:**amounts falling due within one year
_12_
**Net current assets**
**Total assets less current liabilities**
**Creditors:**amounts falling due after more than
one year
_12_
**Net assets**
**Fund balances**
**Endowment funds:**
_14_
(including investment revaluation reserve of
£62,604 (2024:£66,384))
**Restricted income funds**
_14_
(including investment revaluation reserve of
£42,048 (2024:£32,087))
**Unrestricted income funds:**
General funds (including revaluation reserve of
_14_
£893,748 (2024:£943,000))
**Designated funds**(including revaluation reserve
_14_
of £nil (2024:£nil))|2025
£000
£000
516
2,263
2,779
975
7,507
1,045
9,527
(5,792)
3,735
6,514
(138)
6,376
91
646
2,821
2,818
6,376
|Restated
2024
£000
£000
520
2,316
2,836
1,059
7,810
1,071
9,940
(6,402)
3,538
6,374
(135)
6,239
94
668
2,661
2,816
6,239
|
|---|---|---|
The notes on pages 23 to 42 form part of these financial statements.
These financial statements were approved by the board of directors and were signed on its behalf on 22 June 2026 by:
## **The Venerable David Picken**
## _Chair of the Board of Education_
The Blackburn Diocesan Board of Education is a company limited by guarantee registered in England and Wales (no 557954)
20
**The Blackburn Diocesan Board of Education**
Annual Report and Financial Statements For the year ended 31 December 2025
## **BALANCE SHEET - Group**
_at 31 December 2025_
|_Note_
**Fixed assets**
Tangible assets
_8_
Investments
_9_
**Current assets**
Debtors (amounts receivable after more than
_10_
One year £177,750 (2024: £275,000))
Cash on deposit
_11_
Cash at bank and in hand
_11_
**Creditors:**amounts falling due within one year
_12_
**Net current assets**
**Total assets less current liabilities**
**Creditors:**amounts falling due after more than
one year
_12_
**Net assets**
**Fund balances**
**Endowment funds:**
_13_
(including investment revaluation reserve of
£62,604 (2024:£66,384))
**Restricted income funds**
_13_
(including investment revaluation reserve of
£42,048 (2024:£32,087))
**Unrestricted income funds:**
General funds (including revaluation reserve of
_13_
£893,748 (2024:£943,000))
**Designated funds**(including revaluation reserve
_13_
of £nil (2024:£nil))|2025
£000
£000
516
2,530
3,046
975
7,631
1,183
9,789
(5,792)
3,997
7,043
(138)
6,905
91
1,175
2,821
2,818
6,905
|Restated
2024
£000
£000
520
2,703
3,223
1,059
7,928
1,098
10,085
(6,402)
3,683
6,906
(135)
6,771
94
1,200
2,661
2,816
6,771
|
|---|---|---|
The notes on pages 23 to 42 form part of these financial statements.
These financial statements were approved by the board of directors and were signed on its behalf on 22 June 2026 by:
## **The Venerable David Picken**
## _Chair of the Board of Education_
The Blackburn Diocesan Board of Education is a company limited by guarantee registered in England and Wales (no 557954)
21
## **The Blackburn Diocesan Board of Education**
Annual Report and Financial Statements For the year ended 31 December 2025
## **CASH FLOW STATEMENT – Group**
_for the year ended 31 December 2025_
|**Cash (outflow)/ inflow from operating activities**
Net income
Net (gains)/losses on investments
Depreciation
Dividends and interest income
(Increase)/Decrease in debtors current assets
Decrease/(Increase) in debtors long term assets
(Decrease)/Increase in creditors current liabilities
(Decrease)/Increase in creditors long term liabilities
Net cash (outflow) / inflow
**Cash from investing activities**
Dividends and interest income
Purchase of tangible fixed assets
Sale of Investments
Net cash inflow/(outflow)
**(Decrease) in cash in the year**
Cash and cash equivalents at the beginning of the year
Cash and cash equivalents at the end of the year
**Analysis of cash and cash equivalents**
Cash on deposit
Cash at bank and in hand|_2025_
£000
134
67
28
(543)
(13)
97
(610)
3
(837)
543
(24)
106
625
(212)
9,026
8,814
2025
£000
7,631
1,183
8,814
|_2024_
£000
139
(64)
27
(532)
1,009
48
(2,636)
3
(2,006)
532
(39)
-
493
(1,513)
10,539
9,026
2024
£000
7,928
1,098
9,026|
|---|---|---|
The charitable company does not have any debt and as such no reconciliation of net debt note has been presented.
22
**The Blackburn Diocesan Board of Education**
Annual Report and Financial Statements For the year ended 31 December 2025
## **NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS**
_(forming part of the financial statements)_
## **1 Accounting policies**
## _**Basis of preparation and going concern**_
The financial statements have been prepared under the historic cost convention, with the exception of investments which are included on a market value basis, and in accordance with the Companies Act 2006, the Charities SORP (Second Edition, effective 1 January 2019) and applicable accounting standards FRS102.
The consolidated financial statements incorporate those of the Blackburn Diocesan Board of Education Ltd and its subsidiary undertakings The Jackson’s Scholarship, Leyland Foundation, Warton St Paul and Henry Assheton Cross where the charitable company is the sole corporate trustee. Details of the individual subsidiary results are given in note 19.
The charitable company manages its activities in line with income received. As a consequence, the Trustees believe the charitable company is well placed to successfully manage its risks. After making enquiries, the Trustees have a reasonable expectation that the charitable company has adequate resources to continue in operational existence for the foreseeable future and the trustees do not believe there to be any material uncertainties and as such believe the going concern basis remains appropriate. The Trustees believe they have sufficient reserves to allow time to adjust should grant funding for other operations reduce. Accordingly, they continue to adopt the going concern basis in preparing the Trustees’ report and financial statements. The Trustees believe that the charitable company is a public benefit entity.
The principal accounting policies and estimation techniques are as follows.
## **Functional currency**
These financial statements are rounded to the nearest £000.
## **Critical accounting judgements and key sources of estimation uncertainty**
In the application of the accounting policies, trustees are required to make judgements, estimates, and assumptions about the carrying value of assets and liabilities that are not readily apparent from other sources. The estimates and underlying assumptions are based on historical experience and other factors that are considered to be relevant. Actual results may differ from these estimates.
The estimates and underlying assumptions are reviewed on an ongoing basis. Revisions to accounting estimates are recognised in the period in which the estimate is revised if the revision affects only that period, or in the period of the revision and future periods if the revision affected current and future periods.
Judgements made by the trustees, in the application of these accounting policies that have significant effect on the financial statements and estimates with a significant risk of material adjustment in the next year are deemed to be in relation to the depreciation rates of tangible fixed assets and are discussed below.
In the view of the trustees, no assumptions concerning the future or estimation uncertainty affecting assets or liabilities at the balance sheet date are likely to result in a material adjustment to their carrying amounts in the next financial year.
## _**Fixed assets and depreciation**_
Assets with a value in excess of £500 are capitalised. Depreciation is provided by the company to write off the cost less the estimated residual value of tangible fixed assets by equal instalments over their estimated useful economic lives as follows:
|Freehold property|2% per annum|
|---|---|
|Re-modelling|3.33% per annum|
|Computers|25% per annum|
|Fixtures and fittings|5 - 10% per annum|
|Office equipment|25% per annum|
The charitable company will perform annual impairment testing of assets on which depreciation is not provided in accordance with FRS 102 to determine whether residual disposal values of these assets in aggregate continue to exceed carrying value.
## _**Fixed asset investments**_
Fixed asset investments are included in the balance sheet at market value and the gain or loss taken to the Statement of Financial Activities.
23
**The Blackburn Diocesan Board of Education**
Annual Report and Financial Statements For the year ended 31 December 2025
## _**Stocks**_
Stocks are stated at the lower of cost and net realisable value.
## _**Debtors**_
Debtors are stated at amounts receivable less any provision for uncertain recoverability.
## _**Deferred Payment Arrangements**_
Deferred Payment Arrangements are agreements to defer payment of the governors’ liabilities on buildings projects under the Barchester Scheme.
## _**Creditors**_
Creditors are recognised when there is an obligation at the Balance Sheet date as a result of a past event, it is probable that a transfer of economic benefit will be required in settlement, and the amount of the settlement can be estimated reliably.
Creditors are recognised at the amount that the Charitable Company anticipates it will pay to settle the debt or the amount it has received as advanced payments for the goods or services it must provide.
## **Income:**
## _**Grants received and donations**_
All grants and donations are recorded as income when receivable. Where grants have conditions relating to future accounting periods they are treated as deferred income and recognised in those accounting periods. Other donations are recorded as income when receivable.
Grants received from the government on behalf of the Governors of schools are not recorded as income in these accounts as they are treated as being the income of the Governors of the schools. School Condition grants are no longer allocated to individual schools. This money is “paid to eligible bodies responsible for maintaining school buildings” who are the Governors. The grant is calculated using a formula largely based on the number of pupils in VA schools and the relative condition of each school building as assessed through a government survey. For the Board of Education, the allocation of funding and the prioritisation of projects is managed by and through DBE Services who involve an independent advisor to advise on the assessment of the bids. Funding is allocated on an agreed set of principles with the highest priority being keeping all schools open, warm and safe. The Board of Education has relatively little discretion in which projects to fund as this is determined by the state of the buildings.
## _**Fees and Chaplaincy income**_
Fees received are recognised on an accruals basis in the period to which they relate.
## _**Service level agreement income**_
From April 1999 schools have been invoiced for the support services provided by the Board of Education. Prior to this school support contributions were voluntary. Income is recognised on an accruals basis.
## _**Arrangement fee income**_
Arrangement fees are payable on loans arranged for schools by the Board of Education. The arrangement fee is deferred over the life of the loan.
## _**Investment income**_
Interest and dividends are recognised on an accruals basis.
## _**Grant from Blackburn Diocesan Board of Finance**_
The annual grant is agreed in advance by the Blackburn Diocesan Board of Finance Limited as agreed by the Diocesan Synod. A grant of service is provided in addition to cash for the provision of finance.
## **Expenditure:**
## _**Grants payable**_
Grants payable are debited to expenditure when the charitable company has a constructive obligation to pay.
## **Barchester Scheme Building work**
The Board of Education has traditionally been involved in helping voluntary aided church school governing bodies with projects involving major funding streams from the Department for Education (DfE). This entails paying contractors’ and professional fee invoices on behalf of the governing body concerned, claiming the appropriate grant (90%) from the DfE, and collecting the governors’ (and sometimes the local authority) contributions. The Board might also have agreed deferred payments arrangements to the governors (10%) to
24
**The Blackburn Diocesan Board of Education**
Annual Report and Financial Statements For the year ended 31 December 2025
such projects. The gross turnover of such activity can amount to considerable sums, where a major new build is concerned.
The payment of such invoices is not accounted for as expenditure of the Board. Normally, the Board has received grant funding or the governors’ contribution in advance, but where this is not the case it is shown as the making of short-term cash-flow deferred payments for the governing bodies concerned. These are repaid when the appropriate DfE grant and governors’ contributions are received. Essentially the Board is acting as the agent of the appropriate governing body in these transactions.
The Board also acts as an agent with DfE arrangements for making ‘voluntary aided school annual devolved formula capital grants’ available to schools in advance of project spend or approval.
During 2025 the total expenditure was £8,736,446 _(2024: £_ 9,305,937 _)_ . This expenditure has not been recognised in the financial statements of the company in line with FRS 102.23.4.
## _**Cost of Activities**_
The cost of running each department of the Board is recognised on an accruals basis.
## _**Governance and support costs**_
Governance costs consist of the audit fee and the cost of preparing the accounts.
Board of Education administration support costs are recognised on an accruals basis. Support costs are apportioned on a basis consistent with the use of resources.
## _**Taxation**_
The Blackburn Diocesan Board of Education Limited (by guarantee) is considered to pass the tests set out in paragraph 1 Schedule 6 Finance Act 2010 and therefore it meets the definition of a charitable company for UK Corporation Tax purposes. Accordingly, the charity is potentially exempt from taxation in respect of income or capital gains received within categories covered by Chapter 3 Part II Corporation Tax Act 2010 or Section 256 of the Taxation of Chargeable Gains Act 1992, to the extent that such income or gains are applied exclusively to charitable purposes.
## _**Pensions**_
The charitable company operates a defined contribution pension scheme. The assets of the scheme are held separately from those of the charitable company in independently administered funds. The amount charged in the statement of financial activities represents the contributions payable to the scheme in respect of the accounting period.
Some of the charitable company’s staff are members of the Church Workers Pension Fund. The costs charged as expenditure represent the charitable company’s contributions payable in respect of the accounting period, in accordance with FRS102.
Two employees are members of the Church of England Funded Pension Scheme. At 31 December 2025 the Board of Education is responsible for its own liabilities on this scheme and as such the liability is held on the balance sheet. There is no liability at 31.12.25
## _**Fund accounting**_
Funds held by the charitable company are either:
_Unrestricted general funds_ – these are funds which can be used in accordance with the charitable objects at the discretion of the trustees.
_Designated funds –_ these are funds set aside by the trustees out of unrestricted general funds for specific future purposes or projects.
_Restricted funds –_ these are funds that can only be used for particular restricted purposes within the objects of the charitable company. Restrictions arise when specified by the donor or when funds are raised for particular restricted purposes.
## _**Endowment funds**_
This is capital, held in perpetuity to create income for specified purposes.
Further explanation of the nature and purpose of each fund is included in the notes to the financial statements.
Where a grant or donation is received to fund a capital item or where an asset is donated, if there is an obligation relating to the future use or retention of the relevant asset, the balance relating to that asset is held within restricted funds as long as that restriction exists. Where there is no such restriction, the income relating to the purchase of capital items is transferred to unrestricted funds in the Statement of Financial Activities.
25
**The Blackburn Diocesan Board of Education**
Annual Report and Financial Statements For the year ended 31 December 2025
## _**Realised gains on schools**_
Realised gains on schools represent amounts which accrue to the Board of Education from the sale of church schools’ land or buildings and which have been received in the period.
## _**Unrealised gains / losses on investments**_
Unrealised gains and losses on investments represent the aggregate change in market value of investments since the previous balance sheet date.
## _**Realised gains / losses on investments**_
Realised gains or losses on investments relate to actual gains or losses arising in the period on disposal.
## **2 Staff Costs**
## **Remuneration of trustees**
No trustee has received remuneration from the Board of Education during the year (2024: £nil).
Travel expenses were reimbursed to one trustee during the year, these amounted to £828 (2024: £1,335).
## **Staff numbers and costs**
The average number of people employed during the year was 13 (2024: 10).
The average number of full-time equivalent persons employed by the charitable company during the year, analysed by category, was as follows:
|Director of Education
Principal Schools Adviser
Schools Improvement Officers
Youth and Children’s Chaplains/ Officers
Administration and Secretarial
The aggregate payroll costs of these employees were as follows:
Wages and salaries
Social security costs
Other pension costs|**Number of employees**
**2025**
**2024**
**1**
**1**
**1**
**1**
**1**
**1**
**5**
**3**
**5**
**4**
**13**
**10**
**_2025_**
**_2024_**
**£000**
**£000**
**519**
**476**
**52**
**44**
**91**
**69**
**662**
**589**|**Number of employees**
**2025**
**2024**
**1**
**1**
**1**
**1**
**1**
**1**
**5**
**3**
**5**
**4**
**13**
**10**
**_2025_**
**_2024_**
**£000**
**£000**
**519**
**476**
**52**
**44**
**91**
**69**
**662**
**589**|
|---|---|---|
|||**589**|
During the year one employee received a salary in the band £60,000 - £70,000. In 2024 there was one employee in the salary band £60,000 to £70,000, with £nil pension contributions.
## **Remuneration of key management personnel**
Key management personnel are deemed to be those having authority and responsibility, delegated to them by the trustees, for planning, directing and controlling the activities of the charitable company. During 2025 they were:
Chief Executive officer
Deputy Director
Iain Parks
Sally Schofield
Remuneration, pensions and expenses for these employees amounted to £137,396 (2024: £176,894).
26
**The Blackburn Diocesan Board of Education**
Annual Report and Financial Statements For the year ended 31 December 2025
## **Pension schemes**
## **Church of England Funded Pension Scheme (CEFPS)**
Blackburn Diocesan Board of Education participates in the Church of England Funded Pensions Scheme for stipendiary clergy, a defined benefit pension scheme. This scheme is administered by the Church of England Pensions Board, which holds the assets of the schemes separately from those of the Responsible Bodies.
Each participating Responsible Body in the scheme pays contributions at a common contribution rate applied to pensionable stipends.
The scheme is considered to be a multi-employer scheme as described in Section 28 of FRS 102. It is not possible to attribute the Scheme’s assets and liabilities to each specific Responsible Body, and this means contributions are accounted for as if the Scheme were a defined contribution scheme. The pensions costs charged to the SoFA in the year are contributions payable towards benefits and expenses accrued in that year, which were £12,641 in 2025 (2024: £10,474), plus any figures arising from contributions in respect of the Scheme’s deficit (see below). The 2021 valuation showed the Scheme to be fully funded and as such following the valuation results agreed in 2023, the deficit contributions paid were £0 (2024: £0).
The December 2024 valuation revealed a surplus of £560m, based on assets of £2,570m and a funding target of £2,010m, assessed using the following assumptions:
- An average discount rate of 6.0% p.a.;
- RPI inflation of 3.4% p.a. (and pension increases consistent with this);
- CPIH inflation in line with RPI less 0.7% pa pre 2030 moving to RPI with no adjustment from 2030 onwards;
- Increase in pensionable stipends in line with CPIH;
- Mortality in accordance with 90% of the S4NA_L tables, with allowance for improvements in mortality rates from 2017 in line with the CMI2023 extended model with a long term annual rate of improvement of 1.5%, a smoothing parameter of 7, an initial addition to mortality improvements of 0.5% pa and an allowance for 2020 and 2021 data of 20% (i.e. w = 20%).
The 2024 valuation reflects the benefit improvements that the General Synod agreed in principle in July 2025 (and confirmed in February 2026).
Section 28.11A of FRS 102 requires agreed deficit recovery payments to be recognised as a liability. However, as there were no deficit recovery payments from 1 January 2023 onwards, the balance sheet liability as at 31 December 2024 and 31 December 2025 is nil.
The movement in the balance sheet liability over 2024 and over 2025 is set out in the table below.
|Balance sheet liability at 1 January
Deficit contribution paid
Interest cost (recognised in SoFA)
Remaining change to the balance sheet liability* (recognised in SoFA)
Balance sheet liability at 31 December|**_2025_**
**£000**
-
-
-
-
-|**_2024_**
**£000**
-
-
-
-|
|---|---|---|
|||-|
* Comprises change in agreed deficit recovery plan and change in discount rate and assumptions between year-ends.
The legal structure of the scheme is such that if another Responsible Body fails, Blackburn Diocesan Board of Education could become responsible for paying a share of that Responsible Body’s pension liabilities.
27
**The Blackburn Diocesan Board of Education**
Annual Report and Financial Statements For the year ended 31 December 2025
## **3 Analysis of Income**
|**Donations and legacies**
Donations
Diocesan Board of Finance
General Funds
External organisations
**Income from Charitable**
**activities**
Fees and chaplaincy income
Sale of publications and courses
Service level agreements
Rent
**Other trading activities**
DBE Services Fees|**General**
**Fund**
**Designated**
**Fund**
**Restricted**
**Fund**
**Endowment**
**Funds**
**£000**
**£000**
**£000**
**£000**
-
-
7
.
341
-
23
-
39
-
-
-
**380**
**-**
**30**
**-**
**General**
**Fund**
**Designated**
**Fund**
**Restricted**
**Fund**
**Endowment**
**Funds**
**£000**
**£000**
**£000**
**£000**
21
-
-
-
119
-
-
-
325
-
-
-
94
-
29
-
**559**
**-**
**29**
**-**
**General**
**Fund**
**Designated**
**Fund**
**Restricted**
**Fund**
**Endowment**
**Funds**
**£000**
**£000**
**£000**
**£000**
2
-
-
.
**2**
**-**
**-**
**-**|**Total**
**2025**
**£000**
**7**
**364**
**39**
**410**
**Total**
**2025**
**£000**
**21**
**119**
**325**
**123**
**588**
**Total**
**2025**
**£000**
**2**
**2**|**Total**
**2024**
**£000**
**12**
**308**
**-**
**320**
**Total**
**2024**
**£000**
**10**
**122**
**269**
**81**
**482**
**Total**
**2024**
**£000**
**2**
**2**|
|---|---|---|---|
28
## **The Blackburn Diocesan Board of Education**
Annual Report and Financial Statements For the year ended 31 December 2025
|**Group**
**Investment income**
DBE Services gift aid donation
(17% owned)
Dividends
Interest|**General**
**Fund**
**Designated**
**Fund**
**Restricted**
**Fund**
**Endowment**
**Funds**
**£000**
**£000**
**£000**
**£000**
107
-
-
-
95
-
14
-
286
39
2
-
**488**
**39**
**16**
**-**|**Total**
**2025**
**£000**
**107**
**109**
**327**
**543**|**Total**
**2024**
**£000**
**5**
**110**
**417**|
|---|---|---|---|
||||**532**|
|**4**
**Fund Raising Costs**
**Activities**
**undertaken**
**directly**
**Grant**
**funding of**
**activities**
**£000**
**£000**
Fundraising trading
2
-
**2**
**-**
All fundraising trading costs are unrestricted.
**5**
**Charitable Activities**|**Support**
**costs**
**£000**
-
**-**
|**Total**
**2025**
**£000**
**2**
**2**
|**Total**
**2024**
**£000**
**2**|
|---|---|---|---|
||||**2**|
|||||
|**Activity or Programme**
**Activities**
**undertaken**
**directly**
**Grant**
**funding of**
**activities**
**£000**
**£000**
Cost of charitable activities:
_School and governor_
_support_
416
12
_Higher and further_
_education_
76
3
_Children’s work_
81
-
_Youth work_
81
6
_Central - designated_
-
34
_School buildings support_
73
56
Charitable activities subtotal
**727**
**111**
|**Support**
**costs**
**£000**
288
53
56
55
-
50
**502**|**Total**
**2025**
**£000**
**716**
**132**
**137**
**142**
**34**
**179**
**1,340**
|**Total**
**2024**
**£000**
**664**
**92**
**137**
**171**
**27**
**168**
**1,259**|
|---|---|---|---|
None of the grants were to individuals.
29
## **The Blackburn Diocesan Board of Education**
Annual Report and Financial Statements For the year ended 31 December 2025
|_School and governor support_
_Higher and further education_
_Children’s work_
_Youth work_
_Central_
_School buildings support_|**General**
**Fund**
**Designated**
**Fund**
**Restricted**
**Fund**
**Endowment**
**Fund**
**£000**
**£000**
**£000**
**£000**
407
20
-
-
79
-
-
-
81
-
-
-
85
-
6
-
485
20
-
80
16
61
-
**1,217**
**36**
**87**
-|**Total**
**2025**
**£000**
**427**
**79**
**81**
**91**
**505**
**157**
**1,340**|**Total**
**2024**
**£000**
**361**
**42**
**74**
**91**
**576**
**115**|
|---|---|---|---|
||||**1,259**|
## **6 Net income/(expenditure) for the year**
|These are stated after charging:
Auditors remuneration
**Total**|**2025**
**£000**
**17**
**17**
|**2024**
**£000**
**16**
**16**
|
|---|---|---|
## **7 Realised gains on schools**
The Church of England Primary School at Out Rawcliffe was closed in July 2013 and the Board is currently in the process of establishing the exact terms regarding closure and use of the sale proceeds of the original Trust Deed. If this is not available, the Board will follow due process in establishing how the proceeds from the sale of the school should be used or distributed. This is still unresolved as at 31 December 2025.
## **8 Tangible fixed assets Company and Group**
|**angible fixed assets Company and Group**|||
|---|---|---|
|**_Cost_**
At beginning of year
Additions
Disposals
At end of year
**_Depreciation_**
At beginning of year
Charge for year
Eliminated on disposal
At end of year
**_Net book value_**
**At 31 December 2025**
**_At 31 December 2024_**|**Fixtures,**
**fittings and**
**Freehold**
**other**
**Buildings**
**equipment**
**£000**
**£000**
644
113
10
14
-
-
654
127
150
87
19
9
-
-
169
96
485
31
494
26|**Total**
**£000**
757
24
-|
|||781|
|||237
28
-|
|||265|
|||516|
|||520|
30
**The Blackburn Diocesan Board of Education**
Annual Report and Financial Statements For the year ended 31 December 2025
## **9 Investments – Company and Group**
|Company||**Unlisted securities**|**Unlisted securities**||
|---|---|---|---|---|
|||**Central Board of Finance**|||
|||**Church of England**|||
|||**Fixed interest**||**Total**|
||**Investment**|**securities**|**Property**|**UK**|
||**Fund**|**fund**|**Fund**|**investments**|
||**£000**|**£000**|**£000**|**£000**|
|Market valuation|||||
|At 1 January 2025|1,484|196|636|2,316|
|Increase/(Decrease) in market value|(62)|5|4|(53)|
|At 31 December 2025|1,422|201|640|2,263|
|Historic cost|1,145|224|700|2,069|
|Group|||**Unlisted**
**securities**|||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
||||**Fixed interest**||**Total**|
||**Investment**|**Investment**|**securities**|**Property**|**UK**|
||**Fund CCLA**|**Fund**
**Brierley’s**|**fund**|**Fund**|**investments**|
||**£000**|**£000**|**£000**|**£000**|**£000**|
|Market valuation||||||
|At 1 January 2025|1,765|106|196|636|2,703|
|Sale of Investments|-|(106)|-|-|(106)|
|Increase/(Decrease)
in market value|(76)|-|5|4|(67)|
|At 31 December 2025|1,689|-|201|640|2,530|
|Historic cost|1,145|-|224|700|2,069|
Included within Total UK Investments is a 17% holding in DBE Services Limited, a non-listed company and a related party. The Board of Education holds 12 shares in DBE Services Limited valued at £12 ( _2024: £12_ ).
31
## **The Blackburn Diocesan Board of Education**
Annual Report and Financial Statements For the year ended 31 December 2025
## **10 Debtors Company and Group**
|**_Amounts receivable within one year_**
Deferred payments on school building projects
Deferred Payment Arrangements
Other debtors
Loans
Prepayments
Accrued income
Amounts due from Diocesan Board of Finance
Amounts due from DBE Services Ltd
Amount owed from related party (Cidari)
Debtors: amounts receivable within one year|_2025_
**£000**
404
18
191
1
2
117
14
-
50
797|_2024_
**£000**
484
7
79
1
12
135
25
1
40
784|
|---|---|---|
Debtors: amounts receivable within one year
|**_Amounts receivable after more than one year_**
Deferred Payment Arrangements
Loans
Amount owed from related party (Cidari)
Debtors: amounts receivable after more than one year|130
8
40
178|126
9
140
275|
|---|---|---|
Debtors: amounts receivable after more than one year
|**Instalments due**
**in one year**
**2025**
**2024**
**£000**
**£000**
Deferred Payment Arrangements
18
7
Loans
1
1
Total
19
8|**Instalments**
**payable due in**
**two and five**
**years**
**Instalments due**
**in five years or**
**more**
**2025**
**2024**
**2025**
**2024**
**£000**
**£000**
**£000**
**£000**
72
81
58
45
4
4
4
5
76
85
62
50|**Total**
**2025**
**2024**
**£000**
**£000**
148
133
9
10
157
143|**Total**
**2025**
**2024**
**£000**
**£000**
148
133
9
10
157
143|
|---|---|---|---|
||||143|
## **11 Deposits and cash at bank and in hand**
|**Deposits and cash at bank and in hand**|||
|---|---|---|
|**_Company_**
**_2025_**
**£000**
Bank (Current Account and Deposits)
1,045
Deposits with Central Board of Finance Church of England
7,507
8,552|**_Group_**
**_2025_**
**_Company_**
**_2024_**
**£000**
**_£000_**
1,183
1,071
7,631
7,810
8,814
8,881|**_Group_**
**_2024_**
**_£000_**
1,098
7,928|
|||9,026|
32
**The Blackburn Diocesan Board of Education**
Annual Report and Financial Statements For the year ended 31 December 2025
## **12 Creditors Company and Group**
|**_Amounts falling due within one year_**
Receipts in advance on behalf of boards of school governors
Monies held on behalf of schools in relation to Devolved Formula Capital (DFC)
Monies held on behalf of schools in relation to SCA Funding
Monies held on behalf of schools in relation to PSDS Funding
Other creditors
Accruals
Deferred income
Creditors falling due within one year
**_Amounts falling due after more than one year_**
Education trust funds
Creditors falling due after more than one year
_Deferred Income:_
At beginning of year
Recognised in year
Deferred income 2025
At end of year|**_2025_**
**£000**
1,782
1,466
2,084
95
278
16
71
5,792
138
138
87
(87)
71
71|**_2024_**
**£000**
3,148
2,014
733
-
398
22
87
6,402
135
135|
|---|---|---|
Deferred income is recognised as follows:
Deferred income arises from the school SLA agreements
|**Recognised in one**
**year**
**Recognisable**
**between two and**
**five years**
**Recognisable after**
**five years**
**2025**
**2024**
**2025**
**2024**
**2025**
**2024**
**£000**
**£000**
**£000**
£000
**£000**
£000
Deferred income
71
87
-
-
-
-
|**Total**
**2025**
**£000**
71
|
**2024**
**£000**
87|
|---|---|---|
## **13 Funds - Company**
|At beginning of year
Surplus/(deficit) of income over expenditure in
the year
Investment gains in the year
Transfers between funds
At end of year|**Unrestricted**
**General**
**Designated**
**Restricted**
**Endowment**
**fund**
**fund**
**fund**
**fund**
**£000**
**£000**
**£000**
**£000**
2,661
2,816
668
94
210
3
(23)
-
(50)
-
-
(3)
-
(1)
1
-
2,821
2,818
646
91|**Total**
**£000**
6,239
190
(53)
-
6,376|
|---|---|---|
The General Fund consists of those amounts available for the general purposes of the charitable company.
33
## **The Blackburn Diocesan Board of Education**
Annual Report and Financial Statements For the year ended 31 December 2025
## **14 Funds - Group**
|At beginning of year
Surplus/(deficit) of income over expenditure in
the year
Investment gains in the year
Transfers between funds
At end of year|**Unrestricted**
**General**
**Designated**
**Restricted**
**Endowment**
**fund**
**fund**
**fund**
**fund**
**£000**
**£000**
**£000**
**£000**
2,661
2,816
1,200
94
210
3
(12)
-
(50)
-
(14)
(3)
-
(1)
1
-
2,821
2,818
1,175
91|**Total**
**£000**
6,771
201
(67)
-
6,905|
|---|---|---|
The General Fund consists of those amounts available for the general purposes of the group.
34
**The Blackburn Diocesan Board of Education**
Annual Report and Financial Statements For the year ended 31 December 2025
## **15 Funds Detail**
|**1**
**Designated funds Company**
**and Group**
Sponsoring academies
Elmslie Fund
New Opportunity Fund
Admissions & Appeals
Appointments
Vision 2026
Statutory Governance
Schools causing concern
Digital Resources
Underwriting DBF grant
Youth Development
SEND
**Restricted funds Company**
Residential Income Fund
Education Trust Funds
Common Fund
Other restricted funds
**Restricted funds Group**
Leyland Foundation
The Jackson’s Scholarship
Warton St Paul
Henry Assheton Cross
**Endowment funds**
Residential Endowment
Fund|**At**
**January**
**2025**
**£000**
265
472
343
59
30
429
63
194
61
700
100
100
2,816
49
364
245
10
668
34
165
332
1
1,200
94|**Income**
**Expenditure**
**Net investment**
**gains, losses**
**and transfers**
**At**
**31 December**
**2025**
**£000**
**£000**
**£000**
**£000**
-
-
-
265
22
(15)
-
479
17
-
-
360
-
-
-
59
-
-
-
30
-
-
100
529
-
-
-
63
-
(2)
-
192
-
-
-
61
-
-
-
700
-
-
(100)
-
-
(20)
-
80
39
(37)
-
2,818
27
(6)
-
70
1
(12)
-
353
7
(49)
-
203
29
(20)
1
20
64
(87)
1
646
-
-
(1)
33
5
-
(4)
166
6
-
(9)
329
-
-
-
1
75
(87)
(13)
1,175
-
-
(3)
91|**Income**
**Expenditure**
**Net investment**
**gains, losses**
**and transfers**
**At**
**31 December**
**2025**
**£000**
**£000**
**£000**
**£000**
-
-
-
265
22
(15)
-
479
17
-
-
360
-
-
-
59
-
-
-
30
-
-
100
529
-
-
-
63
-
(2)
-
192
-
-
-
61
-
-
-
700
-
-
(100)
-
-
(20)
-
80
39
(37)
-
2,818
27
(6)
-
70
1
(12)
-
353
7
(49)
-
203
29
(20)
1
20
64
(87)
1
646
-
-
(1)
33
5
-
(4)
166
6
-
(9)
329
-
-
-
1
75
(87)
(13)
1,175
-
-
(3)
91|
|---|---|---|---|
||||2,818|
||||70
353
203
20|
||||646
33
166
329
1
|
||||1,175|
||||91|
The specific purposes for which the designated and restricted funds are to be applied is as follows:
The Sponsoring Academies fund - to support the sponsoring of academies.
The Elmslie fund is used for the work of the youth chaplain at Blackpool St George CE School.
New Opportunity Fund - for school buildings support.
Church Workers Pension Deficit – designated for use against deficits on the defined benefit pension scheme for some employed staff.
Admissions, Appointments and Appeals – designated to cover the cost of statutory expenditure for where there is no direct source of income.
Vision 2026 – a designated fund has been created to enable churches and schools to fund initiatives and projects that seek to deliver the objectives of the diocese vision 2026.
35
**The Blackburn Diocesan Board of Education**
Annual Report and Financial Statements For the year ended 31 December 2025
Statutory Governance – this fund is to be used to underwrite the Board of Education’s statutory duties for governance in schools.
Schools causing concern – schools falling into difficulty often require financial support and assistance this fund will enable the diocese to work in partnership with local authorities to support schools as they seek to improve.
Digital Resources – for the production of digital resources for the Board of Education and staffing to meet the target of significantly increasing digital reach.
DBF Grant – for the underwriting of the DBF Grant.
Youth Development Fund - for the support of chaplaincy work.
SEND – to deliver the Board of Education SEND strategy, supporting schools with support of those with SEND.
The Residential Endowment and Income Fund are used to support Youth Work activities.
Educational Trust Fund – the revaluation reserve on funds held in creditors awaiting final decision on ownership of the investment.
The Common Fund was set up by schools make voluntary donations to support capital work in schools.
Leyland Foundation, Jackson’s Scholarship, Warton St Paul and Henry Assheton Cross have been consolidated into the accounts as The Blackburn Diocesan Board of Education is Corporate Trustee.
## **Share capital**
The charitable company is limited by guarantee, registered in England and does not have authorised or allotted share capital. The liability of each member of the Board may not exceed £1.
## **16 Analysis of net assets between funds - Company**
|**Tangible**
**fixed assets**
**Investments**
**£000**
**£000**
Unrestricted Funds
516
2,138
Restricted Fund (restricted)
-
34
Endowment fund
-
91
516
2,263|**Current**
**assets**
**Current**
**liabilities**
**Creditors**
**falling due**
**after more**
**than one year**
**Total**
**£000**
**£000**
**£000**
**£000**
3,201
(216)
-
5,639
6,326
(5,576)
(138)
646
**-**
-
-
91
9,527
(5,792)
(138)
6,376|
|---|---|
## **Analysis of net assets between funds - Group**
|**Tangible**
**fixed assets**
**Investments**
**£000**
**£000**
Unrestricted Funds
**516**
**2,138**
Restricted Fund (restricted)
**-**
**301**
Endowment fund
**-**
**91**
516
2,530|**Current**
**assets**
**Current**
**liabilities**
**Creditors**
**falling due**
**after more**
**than one year**
**£000**
**£000**
**£000**
**3,201**
**(216)**
**-**
**6,588**
**(5,576)**
**(138)**
**-**
**-**
**-**
9,789
(5,792)
(138)|**Total**
**£000**
**5,639**
**1,175**
**91**
6,905|
|---|---|---|
## **17 Commitments**
There were no commitments in 2025 nor 2024.
## **18 Related party transactions**
The company is related to Blackburn Diocesan Board of Finance Ltd who provides significant funding by way of a grant. At the year-end the balance due from this company was £14,205 (2024 due to: £44,760). Grants received in the year from this company amounted to £363,562 (2024: £308,154) and grants paid to this company amounted to £33,995 (2024: £27,154). Recharges in the year were £26,392 (2024: £30,406).
36
**The Blackburn Diocesan Board of Education**
Annual Report and Financial Statements For the year ended 31 December 2025
The company is related to DBE Services Ltd by virtue of owning 17% of the share capital. There was £nil due from DBE Services Ltd (2024 £2,400) at the year end and recharges in the year were £15,747 (2024: £14,437).
The company is related to Cidari Multi-Academy Trust which was set up by both the DBE and DBF to look after Church of England schools converting to academies within the diocese. As at 31 December 2025 £89,608 (2024: £179,608) was due from this company and recharges in the year were £nil (2024: £183).
Details of Key Management remuneration, Trustee remuneration and expenses are given in note 2.
## **19 Subsidiary Undertakings**
The Blackburn Diocesan Board of Education is corporate trustee for The Leyland Foundation, The Jackson Scholarship, Warton St Paul and Henry Assheton Cross and has now consolidated these subsidiaries into their accounts.
The results for the year to 31 December 2025 and the assets and liabilities at this date are:
|||||||**Gains and**|
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|||**Income**|**Expenditure**|||**Losses**|
|||**£000**|**£000**|||**£000**|
|Leyland Foundation|||||||
|Charity number: 526348||-||-||(1)|
|The Jackson Scholarship|||||||
|Charity number:526403||5||-||(4)|
|Warton St Paul|||||||
|Charity number:526309||6||-||(9)|
|Henry Assheton Cross|||||||
|Charity number:526408||-||-||-|
||**Fixed Assets**||**Deposits**|||**Total Net**|
||**Investments**|
**Debtors**|**and Cash**|**Creditors**||**Assets**|
||**£000**|**£000**|**£000**|**£000**||**£000**|
|Leyland Foundation|||||||
|Charity number: 526348|12||21||-|33|
|The Jackson Scholarship|||||||
|Charity number:526403|94|-|72||-|166|
|Warton St Paul|||||||
|Charity number:526309|160|-|169||-|329|
|Henry Assheton Cross|||||||
|Charity number:526408|1|-|-||-|1|
|**nancial instruments**|||||||
|||**_Group_**||**_Company_**|||
||**_2025_**||**_2024_**|**_2025_**||**_2024_**|
||**£000**||**£000**|**£000**||**£000**|
|Financial assets measured at fair value|**2,530**||**2,703**|**2,263**||**2,316**
|
|Financial assets measured at amortised cost|
**9,789**||**10,085**|**9,527**||**9,940**
|
|Financial liabilities measured at amortised cost||**-**|**-**|**-**||**-**
|
|Financial liabilities measured at fair value||**-**|**-**|**-**||**-**|
## **20 Financial instruments**
37
**The Blackburn Diocesan Board of Education**
Annual Report and Financial Statements For the year ended 31 December 2025
## **21 Prior Period Adjustment Company**
In the prior year the expenditure line raising funds was overstated resulting in a £3k error, the figure reported in the accounts to 31 December 2024 was £1,261k when it should have been £1,258k.
## **22 Prior Period Adjustment Group**
During the year ended 31 December 2025 the company identified subsidiaries that it was Corporate Trustee of and should have been consolidated into Group accounts.
||Company|Adjustments|Group|
|---|---|---|---|
||£000|£000|£000|
|**Company**- adjustment on transfer from subsidiary to||||
|company||||
|Fixed Assets - Investments|2,316|387|2,703|
|Cash at bank and on deposit|8,881|142|9,023|
## **23 Prior year comparative Statement of Financial Activities Company**
|**Income and endowments from:**
Donations and legacies
Charitable activities
Other trading activities
Investments
**Tota**l
**Expenditure on:**
Raising funds
Charitable activities
**Total**
**Net income/(expenditure) before**
**Investment gains**
Net gains/(losses) on investments
**Net income/(expenditure)**
Transfer between funds
Actuarial (losses) on defined
benefit pension schemes
**Net movement in funds**
**Total funds brought forward**
**Total funds carried forward**|**Unrestricted**
**General**
**Designated**
**Restricted**
**Endowment**
**Fund**
**Fund**
**Funds**
**Funds**
**£000**
**£000**
**£000**
**£000**
308
-
12
-
456
-
26
-
2
-
-
-
467
41
9
-
1,233
41
47
-
2
-
-
-
1,098
63
98
-
1,100
63
98
-
133
(22)
(51)
-
40
-
-
2
173
(22)
(51)
2
151
(152)
1
-
-
-
-
-
324
(174)
(50)
2
2,337
2,990
718
92
2,661
2,816
668
94|**2024**
**Total**
**£000**
320
482
2
517|
|---|---|---|
|||1,321|
|||2
1,259|
|||1,261|
|||60
42|
|||102
-
-|
|||102|
|||6,137|
|||6,239|
38
**The Blackburn Diocesan Board of Education**
Annual Report and Financial Statements For the year ended 31 December 2025
## **24 Prior year Charitable Activities Company**
|**Activity or Programme**
**Activities**
**undertaken**
**directly**
**Grant**
**funding of**
**activities**
**£000**
**£000**
Cost of charitable activities:
_School and governor support_
361
-
_Higher and further education_
42
14
_Children’s work_
74
-
_Youth work_
91
3
_Central - designated_
-
27
_School buildings support_
65
49
Charitable activities subtotal
633
93|**Support**
**costs**
**£000**
303
36
63
77
-
54
533|**Total**
**2024**
Total
2023
**£000**
£000
664
710
92
100
137
111
171
169
27
48
168
252
1,259
1,390|
|---|---|---|
## **25 Prior year Funds Company**
|**r year Funds Company**||
|---|---|
|**Unrestricted**
**General**
**Designated**
**Restricted**
**Endowment**
**fund**
**fund**
**fund**
**fund**
**£000**
**£000**
**£000**
**£000**
At beginning of year
2,337
2,990
718
92
Surplus/(deficit) of income over expenditure in
the year
133
(22)
(51)
-
Investment gains in the year
40
-
-
2
Transfers between funds
151
(152)
1
-
At end of year
2,661
2,816
668
94|**Total**
**£000**
6,137
60
42
-|
||6,239|
39
**The Blackburn Diocesan Board of Education**
Annual Report and Financial Statements For the year ended 31 December 2025
## **The General Fund consists of those amounts available for the general purposes of the charitable company.**
|**1**
**Designated funds**
Sponsoring academies
Elmslie Fund
New Opportunity Fund
Church Workers Pension Deficit
Admissions & Appeals
Appointments & Appeals
Vision 2026
Statutory Governance
Schools causing concern
Digital Resources
Underwriting DBF grant
Youth Development
SEND
**Restricted funds**
Residential Income Fund
Education Trust Funds
Common Fund
Other restricted funds
**Endowment funds**
Residential Endowment
Fund|**At**
**January**
**2024**
**£000**
365
462
327
53
126
49
429
101
194
84
700
100
-
2,990
44
363
281
30
718
92|**Income**
**Expenditure**
**Net investment**
**gains, losses**
**and transfers**
**At**
**31 December**
**2024**
**£000**
**£000**
**£000**
**£000**
-
-
(100)
265
25
(15)
-
472
16
-
-
343
-
-
(53)
-
-
(27)
(40)
59
-
(8)
(11)
30
-
-
-
429
-
(13)
(25)
63
-
-
-
194
-
-
(23)
61
-
-
-
700
-
-
-
100
-
-
100
100
41
(63)
(152)
2,816
5
-
-
49
4
(3)
-
364
12
(48)
-
245
26
(47)
1
10
47
(98)
1
668
-
-
2
94|**Income**
**Expenditure**
**Net investment**
**gains, losses**
**and transfers**
**At**
**31 December**
**2024**
**£000**
**£000**
**£000**
**£000**
-
-
(100)
265
25
(15)
-
472
16
-
-
343
-
-
(53)
-
-
(27)
(40)
59
-
(8)
(11)
30
-
-
-
429
-
(13)
(25)
63
-
-
-
194
-
-
(23)
61
-
-
-
700
-
-
-
100
-
-
100
100
41
(63)
(152)
2,816
5
-
-
49
4
(3)
-
364
12
(48)
-
245
26
(47)
1
10
47
(98)
1
668
-
-
2
94|
|---|---|---|---|
||||2,816|
||||49
364
245
10|
||||668|
||||94|
## **26 Prior year Analysis of net assets between funds Company**
|**Tangible**
**fixed assets**
**Investments**
**£000**
**£000**
Unrestricted Funds
520
2,185
Restricted Fund (restricted)
-
37
Endowment fund (restricted)
-
94
520
2,316|**Net**
**current**
**assets**
**Creditors**
**falling due**
**after more**
**than one year**
**£000**
**£000**
2,772
-
766
(135)
-
-
3,538
(135)|**Total**
**£000**
5,477
668
94|
|---|---|---|
|||6,239|
40
**The Blackburn Diocesan Board of Education**
Annual Report and Financial Statements For the year ended 31 December 2025
## **27 Prior year comparative Statement of Financial Activities Group**
|**Income and endowments from:**
Donations and legacies
Charitable activities
Other trading activities
Investments
**Tota**l
**Expenditure on:**
Raising funds
Charitable activities
**Total**
**Net income/(expenditure) before**
**Investment gains**
Net gains/(losses) on investments
**Net income/(expenditure)**
Transfer between funds
Actuarial (losses) on defined benefit
pension schemes
**Net movement in funds**
**Total funds brought forward**
**Total funds carried forward**|**Unrestricted**
**General**
**Designated**
**Restricted**
**Endowment**
**Fund**
**Fund**
**Funds**
**Funds**
**£000**
**£000**
**£000**
**£000**
308
-
12
-
456
-
26
-
2
-
-
-
467
41
24
-
1,233
41
62
-
2
-
-
-
1,098
63
98
-
1,100
63
98
-
133
(22)
(36)
-
40
-
22
2
173
(22)
(14)
2
151
(152)
1
-
-
-
-
-
324
(174)
(13)
2
2,337
2,990
1,213
92
2,661
2,816
1,200
94|**2024**
**Total**
**£000**
320
482
2
532|
|---|---|---|
|||1,336|
|||2
1,259|
|||1,261|
|||75
64|
|||139
-
-|
|||139|
|||6,632|
|||6,771|
## **28 Prior year Funds Group**
|**Unrestricted**
**General**
**Designated**
**Restricted**
**Endowment**
**fund**
**fund**
**fund**
**fund**
**£000**
**£000**
**£000**
**£000**
At beginning of year
2,337
2,990
1,213
92
Surplus/(deficit) of income over expenditure in
the year
133
(22)
(36)
-
Investment gains in the year
40
-
22
2
Transfers between funds
151
(152)
1
-
At end of year
2,661
2,816
1,200
94|**Total**
**£000**
6,632
75
64
-
6,771|
|---|---|
41
**The Blackburn Diocesan Board of Education**
Annual Report and Financial Statements For the year ended 31 December 2025
## **The General Fund consists of those amounts available for the general purposes of the charitable company.**
|**haritable company.**||||
|---|---|---|---|
|**1**
**Designated funds**
Sponsoring academies
Elmslie Fund
New Opportunity Fund
Church Workers Pension Deficit
Admissions & Appeals
Appointments & Appeals
Vision 2026
Statutory Governance
Schools causing concern
Digital Resources
Underwriting DBF grant
Youth Development
SEND
**Restricted funds**
Residential Income Fund
Education Trust Funds
Common Fund
Other restricted funds
**Restricted funds Group**
Leyland Foundation
The Jackson’s Scholarship
Warton St Paul
Henry Assheton Cross
**Endowment funds**
Residential Endowment
Fund|**At**
**January**
**2024**
**£000**
365
462
327
53
126
49
429
101
194
84
700
100
-
2,990
44
363
281
30
718
32
157
305
1
1,213
92|**Income**
**Expenditure**
**Net investment**
**gains, losses**
**and transfers**
**At**
**31 December**
**2024**
**£000**
**£000**
**£000**
**£000**
-
-
(100)
**265**
25
(15)
-
**472**
16
-
-
**343**
-
-
(53)
-
-
(27)
(40)
**59**
-
(8)
(11)
**30**
-
-
-
**429**
-
(13)
(25)
**63**
-
-
-
**194**
-
-
(23)
**61**
-
-
-
**700**
-
-
-
**100**
-
-
100
**100**
41
(63)
(152)
2,816
5
-
-
**49**
4
(3)
-
**364**
12
(48)
-
**245**
26
(47)
1
**10**
47
(98)
1
668
2
-
-
**34**
6
-
2
**165**
7
-
20
**332**
-
-
-
**1**
62
(98)
23
1,200
-
-
2
**94**||
||||2,816|
||||**49**
**364**
**245**
**10**|
||||668
**34**
**165**
**332**
**1**|
||||1,200|
||||**94**|
## **29 Prior year Analysis of net assets between funds Group**
|**ior year Analysis of net assets between funds Group**|||
|---|---|---|
|**Tangible**
**fixed assets**
**Investments**
**£000**
**£000**
Unrestricted Funds
520
2,185
Restricted Fund (restricted)
-
424
Endowment fund (restricted)
-
94
520
2,703|**Net**
**current**
**assets**
**Creditors**
**falling due**
**after more**
**than one year**
**£000**
**£000**
2,772
-
911
(135)
-
-
3,683
(135)|**Total**
**£000**
5,477
1,200
94|
|||6771|
42