FRIENDS OF ST MARY'S SCHOOL
ANNUAL REPORT AND ACCOUNTS
YEAR TO 31 MARCH 2025
CONTENTS:
ANNUAL REPORT
2/3
INDEPENDENT EXAMINER'S REPORT
RECEIPTS AND PAYMENTS ACCOUNT
STATEMENT OF ASSETS AND LIABILITIES

Annual Re
ort for the
ear to 31 March 2025
The Friends of St. Marl s School, St. Marfs Catholic School, Windhill, Bishop's Stortford,
Hertfordshire, CM23 2N(L is registered with the Charity Commissioners No. 1050230 and
constituted by Deed of Trust.
The Charity is administered by a Management Committee comprising..
Chairmannrustee
Trustee
Treasurernrustee
Trustee
Trustee
Mr P. Carroll
Mr D. Wojcik
Mrj McHugh
Miss D. McHugh
Mrs. C Saunders
The Management Committee shall consist of not less than 4 nor more than 10 persons of
which, excluding the Chairman lif any) of the Committee, not less than half the members of
the Committee are, or have been, members of the Board of Governors of St. Mary's Catholic
School or appointed by the said Board of Governors, or who are or have been staff or pupils
of St. Mary's Catholic School.
The Committee may elect any member of the Friends of St. Mary'sAssociation to be a member
of the Committee to fill any vacancy to hold ofPice until the conclusion of the Annual General
Meeting then next following.
The objett of the Charity is to advance the education of the pupils of St. Mary's Catholic
School, Bishop's Stortford, Hertfordshire, and particularly to raise Capital Funding for the
provision of new buildings or improvement to existing buildings. It has initially done this by
providing parents and other friends of St. Mavs with the opportunity to make donations,
under Gift Aid where appropriate, which are used to support loan repayments for the School's
new buildings. In recent years this has enabled the following projetts to be completed-_
New Sixth-Form Centre
Performing Arts Centre
New Library, Science Laboratory and 4-Court Sports Centre
Classroom Block
Purchase of new minibus
Science Department Major Redevelopment
Redevelopment of T Block
1998
2003
2005
2011
2017
2018
2021
Since 1998 the Trustees, in conjunrtion with the Board of Governors, have successfully
negotiated a series of interest-free loans in the name of the School from the Diocese of
Westminster, the most recent in 2021 to assist with a newly renovated T block and 11 new
classrooms. This loan has an outstanding balance of £60,450, £20,150 is paid every three
months with the final payment to the Diocese in the amount of £20.150 due to be paid in
January 2026. It IS the intention of the Trustees to support the school's long term building
plans by directing reBular parental donations and any other capital donation that the Charity
is able to obtain, toward scheduled repayments of future loans that may be negotiated with
the Diocese, and also to outright gifts to the school.

100% of parental donations pledged prior to July 2024 are directed to Capital Funding as
described above. In July 2024 and subsequently, parents have been informed of the Charity's
intention that approximately 75% of their newly pledged donations to the Charity shall be
diretted to Capital Funding. and that the remainder (approximately 250AI of their newly
pledged donations shall be direrted to School Attivity Support to assist with day-to-day
expenses that the school's state-funded budget do not address, such as new exercise books,
retreats and various sports, music and drama enhancements for pupils.
Total funds raised in the financial year under report were £42,33212024- £51,841), of which
all arose from Parental Donations. Gift Aid Tax Refunds received in this financial year were
£10,778.71 {2024- £11,173.25).
Investment Poli
The Trustees have the power to invest in such assets as they see fit. The Policy is to preserve
the real value of the investment assets and as a secondary consideration to earn interest
income from investment in inherently low risk instruments.
For the time being the requirement of the Trustees is for investment of funds to be restricted
to mainstream Bank of England authorised deposit-taking institutions. The day-to-day
management of deposit funds rests with the Treasurer of the Charity under the direction of
the Trustees.
Reserves Poli
The Trustees have undertaken a thorough assessment of the needs of the Charity in relation
to Reserves.
The income of the Charity is dependent on the generosity of individuals and the business
sector. The ability of the Charity to support its objectives is based on the success of the
Trustees in raising such donations.
The income of the Charity is for the purpose of providing Capital for new buildings and major
building and sport field capital improvements for St. Marls Catholic School, Bishop's Stortford
and also assistance to the School with non-state-funded day-to-day expenses for the benefit
of pupils (referred to above as "School Attivity Support").
The Charity does not have any employees and incidental expenditure is minimal. This position
is likely to continue for the foreseeable future.
The Trustees therefore regard all funds within the Charity from time to time to be held in its
unrestricted funds as a Reserve, for the sole benefit of St. Marls Catholic School capital
projetts and School Activity Support referred to above, to be distributed atthe sole discretion
of the Trustees.
Risk Mana
ement
The Trustees examine the major risks thatthe Charityfaces on a regular basis and believe that
maintaining the assets of the Charity as described above (see "Reserves Policty, and
"Investment Policf'l will provide sufficiently to reduce risk to an absolute minimum.
For and on behalf of the Trustees
Chairman
Dated:

Independent Examinerfs Report to the Trustees of Friends of St. Marfs School Charitable
Trust
I report on the accounts of the Trust forthe year ended 31 March 2025 that are set out above.
Respective Responsibilities of Trustees and Examiner
As the Trustees of the Charity, you are responsible for the preparation of the accounts, you
onsiderthatthe audit requirement of section 4312) of the CharitiesAct 1993 ("the ACY,) does
not apply. It is my responsibility to examine the accounts (under Section 43(3) (al if the 1993
Act} and to state, on the basis of procedures specified in the General Directions given by the
Charity Commissioners under Section 43(7) {b) of the Act, whether particular matters have
come to my attention.
Basis of Independent Examinerfs Report
My examination was carried out in accordance with the General Directions given by the
Charity Commi55ioners. An examination includes a review of the accounting records kept by
the Charity and a comparison with the accounts presented with those records. It also includes
consideration of any unusual items or disclosures in the accounts, and seeking explanations
from you asTrustees, concerning such matters. The procedures undertaken do not provide all
the evidence that would be required in an audit, and consequently I do not express an audit
opinion on the view given by the accounts.
Independent Examinerfs Statement
In connection with my examination, no matter has come to my attention:
l. that gives me reasonable cause to believe that in any material respect the requirements
To keep accounting records in accordance with Section 41 of the Act- and
to prepare accounts which accord with the accounting records and to comply
with the accounting requirements of the Act
have not been met". or
to which, in my opinion, attention should be drawn in order to enable a proper
understanding of the accounts to be reached.
Christopher Brolly
Independent Examiner
1("44
5 Mill Croft
Bishop's Stortford
CM23 2BP
Date:

RECEIPTS AND PAYMENTS ACCOUNT
YEAR TO 31 MARCH 2025
2025
2024
Income Receipts
Parental Donations=
Monthly Standing Orders
East Herts Lottery
Amazon Donatlons
Benevtti Causes
Charity cheques
42,332.00
314.50
51,841.00
428.00
16.97
238.52
70.00
10,778.71
Gift Aid
Interest
11,173.25
Total Income Recèipts
53,733.63
63.459.22
Paymèr
Direct Charitable Expenditure
Bank Charges
Refund5 of Parent Payments
Loan Repayments to Diocese of Westminster
Donations to School Artivity Support
Donation to School Building Fund
iio.001
Nil
170,000.001
Nil
152,500.001
Total Payments
170,000.001
152,510.001
Net Incomelpayments
116.266.271
10.949.22
Bank Balances Brought Forward
At l April 2024
At l April 2023
89,673.97
78.724.75
Bank Balances Carried Forward
At 31 March 2025
At 31 March 2024
73A07.70
89.673.97
STATEMENT OF ASSETS AND UABILMES
AT 31 MARCH 2025
At 31 March 2025
At31 March 2024
Assets
Co-op Bank Current Account
HSBC BankCommunityAccount
73,407.70
89,673.97
Nil
Totsl Assets
73,407.70
89.673.97
Liabilities
Net Assets
73,407.70
89.673.97
For and on behalf of the Tru
ees
oraryTreasurer
Dated: