Charity no 1047025
THE INDEPENDENT SCHOOLS CHRISTIAN ALLIANCE
FINANCIAL STATEMENTS YEAR ENDED 31 AUGUST 2025
THE INDEPENDENT SCHOOLS CHRISTIAN ALLIANCE
LEGAL AND ADMINISTRATIVE INFORMATION
Charity Registered Number 1047025 Address for correspondence PO Box 17634 Redditch B97 9RW Governing document Declaration of Trust dated December 1994, amended April 1995, amended June 2022 Rev. Alex Aldous Joanna Wright Sue Clark Rev. Jim Houghton Rev. Andrew Hutchinson Frankie Knight Raymond Maher Rev. Alice Monaghan Elizabeth Nesbitt Normon Patterson Anthony Spencer Victor Selvaraj Peter Middleton (appointed 10 June 2025) Anna Graham (appointed 15 July 2025) Bankers Metro Bank One Southampton Row London WC1B 5HA Independent Examiner Louise Tunley FCA CTA DChA 19 Goldington Road Bedford MK40 3JY
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THE INDEPENDENT SCHOOLS CHRISTIAN ALLIANCE
TRUSTEES REPORT
FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 AUGUST 2025
The Trustees present their Annual Report together with the independently examined accounts for the year ended 31 August 2025.
Accounting Policy
The Charity’s accounts are prepared on a Receipts and Payments basis.
Governance
Responsibility for setting policy and for making operating decisions rest with the trustees who meet regularly to monitor the activities of the charity. New trustees are recruited and appointed by the existing trustees.
Objects of the charity
The charity is constituted as a trust governed by a trust deed. The charity’s principal objects, as set out in its governing document, are to promote and advance evangelical Christian education and to advance general, and to advance Christian religion generally.
Summary of the charity’s main activities and achievements
See pages 4 to 6 for the full report. In planning the activities, the Trustees have applied the guidance on public benefit issued by the Charity Commission.
Financial Review
During the year, income increased by £7,361 to £58,573, and expenditure increased by £8,803 to £58,293. £16,000 income was due to a sale of investments. As a result, the cash held by the charity increased by £280 to £5,297 of which £5,297 is unrestricted and can be used for any charitable purpose.
Funds in deficit
The charity has relied on the sale of investments to fund its annual deficit.
Reserves policy
The Trustees believe that the minimum level of reserves that are freely available from cash and investments for its general purposes should be the equivalent of six months’ operating costs (equivalent to approximately £20,000), reviewed annually.
At the year end, the charity held unrestricted cash of £5,297. The value of the COIF investment fund as at 31 August 2025 was £23,716. The investment figure is not included in the year end cash balances because investments can decrease as well as increase. Investments are held in a fund where same-day transfers can be made and as many times as may be required throughout the year. The Trustees are confident that these can be realised when needed in order to have freely available cash to comply with the reserves policy.
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THE INDEPENDENT SCHOOLS CHRISTIAN ALLIANCE
TRUSTEES REPORT
FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 AUGUST 2025 (continued)
Responsibility of trustees
Charity law requires us as Trustees to prepare financial statements for each accounting year which record the receipts and payments of the charity for the year.
We are responsible for keeping proper accounting records which disclose with reasonable accuracy at any time the financial position of the charity and enable us to ensure that the financial statements comply with the Charities Act 2011.
We also have a responsibility to safeguard the assets of the charity and to take reasonable steps to prevent fraud or any other irregularities.
Signed on behalf of the Trustees:
Rev. Alex Aldous
18/03/2026 Date:
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Regd. Charity No. 1047025
Review of the Trust’s Activities: 1 September 2024 to 31 August 2025
The TISCA year begins in tandem with the schools’ academic year. Membership forms were sent out to all schools and individual members in early September via email. We continued with the policy of preparing formal invoices for schools (and emailing these out with a personalised letter) which have in the past provided generous support for TISCA by paying a subscription as Foundation (and Foundation +), Associate or Overseas’ Schools of TISCA. The response to this approach was again generally positive, with most of the schools paying up promptly and cheerfully (but a few having to ‘drop out’ owing to financial pressures). We have three Academies in membership, additional Schools in both categories and also one more Overseas’ School in membership. A number of individual members pay their subscriptions by Standing Order (and many add in a gift, too), some via Stewardship or CAF, but we are aware that we need to increase such regular donors. Some 120 schools are linked to TISCA, either through direct school membership or through individuals.
We also have a business/charity membership and this has led to several organisations, with which we liaise closely, join TISCA, including the Titus Trust, Rock UK, Kick, the Christian Schools Trust and Moore Barlow LLB. They pay an annual fee of £100.
We produce two print editions of TISCA News and Views (TNV) each year – Autumn and Spring – and have updated their presentation, increased the number of pages (c.40) and secured a few paid adverts
continued with a monthly e-TNV which generally contains two short articles and an occasional advertorial. These also go out by email to nearly 600 people and the response to this, and the upgraded print TNV, have been gratifying. Some schools have also asked to advertise vacancies on our platforms. For members this is free and non-members pay £50 per advert.
TISCA now has three members of part-time staff : Alastair Reid (General Secretary), Alix Stockwell
Trustees, and they have a weekly online planning and prayer meeting.
Over the course of this academic year the TISCA employees have continued to liaise with ACT (The Association of Christian Teachers), for prayer and some discussion. Additionally, we have quite close links with the Titus Trust (Christian camps) and the Christian Schools Trust ( CST ),
This academic year was celebrated as TISCA’s 30[th] anniversary year: the charity was formally launched in 1995. Our target as employees was to visit at least 30 schools and we were delighted to exceed this figure! Many visits were to see Heads or Chaplains and, occasionally, to have a prayer time
Thanksgiving Service held at one of the
founder schools, Dean Close in Cheltenham. Some 50 supporters gathered for the service and afternoon tea and there was a real sense of thanksgiving and celebration.
It was a delight to hold seven in-person meetings during the course of this academic year (including two regional meetings in schools) and we have retained three online evening gatherings (one per term). The online events were attended by between 20- 40 people each time, including delegates from Overseas and the Western Isles of Scotland. Amani Simpson (youth coach), Ruth Wharton (parent
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coach) and Johnny Reid (Christians in Sport/Oak Hill College) were are excellent online speakers. We have also continued weekly online prayer meetings for Chaplains and now run four very active closed WhatsApp groups for Heads, for Chaplains, for Senior Leaders and for Governors.
Our Senior Prefect Training was hosted again at Dean Close School. Over 50 pupils attended from six schools. This was a vibrant and informative day. We re-started (since COVID times) the Junior Prefects’ training, hosted at Kingham Hill School. There were 30 pupils there from four schools. The highlight was the assault course, led by the Head!
The three-day residential Chaplains’ Conference, held every 18 months, was again a highlight of the academic year. In October 2024 we moved to a new venue, High Leigh Christian Conference Centre, and some 35 chaplains gathered for a time of teaching, sharing, encouragement and fellowship. There was a wide range of visiting speakers including Ruth Cross of ‘Walk through the Bible’, Dave Thomas of ‘GSUS Live’, Nick Pollard of ‘Family Mental Wealth’, Paul Gooding (a fellow chaplain) on mental health issues, Antony Spencer of Mill Hill School on ‘courageous chaplains’ and Michael Nazir-Ali on ‘whatever has Christianity done for England?’ Several chaplains also led a resources’ session.
We held our second Governors’ Gathering in November 2024 at Kingham Hill School and this proved to be extremely encouraging. The theme was ‘caring for the team’. Allan Beckett of Carnelian Search spoke about the marks of a good governing team and then Carol and Nick Pollard, of Family Mental Wealth, focused on how governors can best look out for the mental health of the schools they govern. There were 16 in attendance representing 12 schools.
Our annual Heads’ Meeting took place in May 2025 at Luckley House School where the Head, Areti Bizior, referred to Philippians 4:4-13, and encouraged Heads to consider what it means to ‘rejoice in the Lord always’ despite the pressures swirling around. Some 10 Heads were in attendance, including a few new in post, and once again this was a good time of encouragement and fellowship.
Regional meetings numbered only two this year – at Aldro Prep School and at Solihull School – and both were well attended. The reason we held fewer than usual was that we added in the Thanksgiving Service, e�ectively a large regional meeting, together with the visits to 30+ TISCA member schools, including one in India (Woodstock).
Our Annual Conference in June 2025 , held in Westminster as usual, was on the theme of Foundations. We were blessed with 80 delegates in person. There was a substantial exhibition of resources and Christian groups and we received some sponsorship from two of them. Speakers included Anna Graham (Chaplain at Trinity, Sevenoaks, one of our academies), Bishop Graham Tomlin (founder of St Mellitus College), Joe Lowther (CEO of ‘Kick’) and Peter Middleton (Head at Oswestry School).
Over the course of the academic year, we have continued to meet regularly via Zoom in meetings with CCfE (Christian Coalition for Education) and the EA ’s (Evangelical Alliance) Education Forum. Key contacts continue to be forged with CST (Christian Schools’ Trust), CVE (Christian Values Education – Scotland), the Christian Institute and with Christian Concern. Waverley Abbey is also a new link college. TISCA is also a member of the REC (Religious Education Council) and has been involved in the launch of a new RE network (REN) which is seeking to maintain the clarity of this subject in the face of pressures from worldviews. We continue to reach out to Christian governors and will o�er them a special event again next academic year.
We have had a stable and growing Trustees’ body , chaired by Revd Alex Aldous from January 2024. One Trustee stepped down after six years in the role, Antony Spencer (CEO of Mill Hill) but he remains involved on our Council of Reference. Another Trustee, Ray Maher, is on sabbatical. The Trustee body
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school as such) and Peter Middleton (Head at Oswestry School).
The TISCA Council of Reference (designed to be an advisory, prayerful and supportive wider group of evangelical Christians) was reconstituted this year and the number on this body has risen to 14. Robert Court, a former Head (at Birkdale) and a former Chair of Trustees, is the group’s coordinator. They have already proved to be extremely useful with their encouragement and links.
appeal will go out to individual supporters to consider regular, monthly, giving. Owing to the growing financial pressures on schools we are aware that although the membership fee income has fallen only a little thus far, we need to prepare for a more pressurised future.
Our objectives objectives and planning our activities the TISCA Trustees have given careful consideration to the Charity Commission’s general guidance on public benefit. They are satisfied that the activities described above provide clear and substantial public benefit.
Alastair Reid
General Secretary
November 2025
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THE INDEPENDENT SCHOOLS CHRISTIAN ALLIANCE
INDEPENDENT EXAMINER'S REPORT TO THE TRUSTEES OF
THE INDEPENDENT SCHOOLS CHRISTIAN ALLIANCE
I report to the charity trustees on my examination of the accounts of the charity for the year ended 31 August 2025 which are set out on pages 8 to 9.
Responsibilities and basis of report
As the charity’s trustees you are responsible for the preparation of the accounts in accordance with the requirements of the Charities Act 2011 (‘the Act’).
I report in respect of my examination of the charity’s accounts carried out under section 145 of the Act and in carrying out my examination I have followed all the applicable Directions given by the Charity Commission under section 145(5)(b) of the Act.
Independent examiner's statement
I have completed my examination. I confirm that no material matters have come to my attention in connection with the examination giving me cause to believe that in any material respect:
- accounting records were not kept in respect of the charity as required by section 130 of the Act; or 2. the accounts do not accord with those records.
I have no concerns and have come across no other matters in connection with the examination to which attention should be drawn in this report in order to enable a proper understanding of the accounts to be reached.
Louise Tunley FCA CTA DChA Chartered Accountant
19 Goldington Road Bedford MK40 3JY
Date: 18/03/2026
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THE INDEPENDENT SCHOOLS CHRISTIAN ALLIANCE
RECEIPTS AND PAYMENTS ACCOUNT FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 AUGUST 2025
| Unrestricted | ||
|---|---|---|
| Total | Total | |
| 2025 | 2024 | |
| £ | £ | |
| Receipts | ||
| Donations | 9,783 | 9,866 |
| Gift aid receipts | 1,790 | - |
| Conference and other events | 12,869 | 9,941 |
| Membership subscriptions: | ||
| School membership | 16,315 | 18,380 |
| Prefects training | 778 | 893 |
| Investment Income | 788 | 1,326 |
| Other | 250 | 805 |
| ───── | ───── | |
| 42,573 | 41,212 | |
| Capital and similar receipts | ||
| Sale of investments | 16,000 | 10,000 |
| ───── | ───── | |
| 16,000 | 10,000 | |
| ───── | ───── | |
| Total receipts | 58,573 | 51,212 |
| ───── | ───── | |
| Payments | ||
| Employment costs and expenses | 34,467 | 32,191 |
| Conference costs and prefect training | 11,934 | 5,431 |
| Donations made | 100 | - |
| Staff training | 155 | 420 |
| Insurance | 915 | 888 |
| Post, printing and production of TISCA news | 5,187 | 4,773 |
| Accounts and independent examination | 792 | 756 |
| Travel | 1,117 | 1,515 |
| Regional and trustee expenses | 20 | 400 |
| Subscriptions | 2,413 | 1,682 |
| Administration and other costs | 1,193 | 1,435 |
| ───── | ───── | |
| Total payments | 58,293 | 49,490 |
| ───── | ───── | |
| Net of receipts and payments | 280 | 1,722 |
| ═════ | ═════ | |
| Cash funds at last year end | 5,017 | 3,295 |
| ───── | ───── | |
| Cash funds at this year end | 5,297 | 5,017 |
| ═════ | ═════ |
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THE INDEPENDENT SCHOOLS CHRISTIAN ALLIANCE
STATEMENT OF ASSETS AND LIABILITIES FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 AUGUST 2025
| 2025 | 2024 | |
|---|---|---|
| £ | £ | |
| Assets | ||
| Cash funds | ||
| Held at Bank | 4,297 | 4,017 |
| Held in term deposits | 1,000 | 1,000 |
| ───── | ───── | |
| Total cash funds | 5,297 | 5,017 |
| ═════ | ═════ | |
| Other monetary assets | ||
| Gift aid due to charity | 1,299 | 1,055 |
| ───── | ───── | |
| Total other monetary assets | 1,299 | 1,055 |
| ───── | ───── | |
| Investment assets | ||
| COIF Charities Investment Fund | 23,716 | 40,426 |
| ───── | ───── | |
| Total investment assets | 23,716 | 40,426 |
| ───── | ───── | |
| ───── | ───── | |
| Total assets | 30,312 | 46,498 |
| ═════ | ═════ | |
| Liabilities | ||
| Falling due within one year: | ||
| PAYE and pension | 928 | 192 |
| Fee for Independent Examination | 600 | 792 |
| ───── | ───── | |
| Total liabilities | 1,528 | 984 |
| ───── | ───── | |
| Excess of assets over liabilities | 28,784 | 45,514 |
| ═════ | ═════ |
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