Central Language School Cambridge
Registered charity no: 1056074
TRUSTEES' REPORT
and
ACCOUNTS
for the year ended
31 August 2024
CONTENTS
| CONTENTS | |
|---|---|
| Page | |
| Legal and administrative details | 2 |
| Trustees' report | 3 - 4 |
| Statement of financial activities | 5 |
| Balance sheet | 6 |
| Notes to the accounts | 7 - 9 |
| Independent examiner's report | 10 |
CENTRAL LANGUAGE SCHOOL CAMBRIDGE LEGAL AND ADMINISTRATIVE DETAILS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 AUGUST 2024
CHARITABLE STATUS
Registered charity no: 1056074
MISSION STATEMENT
The Central Language School is a small, friendly, city-centre School founded in 1996 by a group of Christians in Cambridge.
Our aim is to give students a warm welcome and an excellent opportunity to learn English in a caring, community atmosphere. Our general English courses, from Elementary to Advanced level, are run throughout the year for adults.
TRUSTEES
Mr Michael Priestley (Chairman) Mrs Christine Bromwich Mr Richard Colledge Mr David Farrer (Treasurer) Mrs Anna Lowe Mr Andrew Watts - resigned December 2024 Mrs Elizabeth Watts Mr Bartow Wylie
SCHOOL MANAGEMENT
Mrs Sian Serrano (Business Manager) Mr James Dennis (Director of Studies)
REGISTERED OFFICE
Stoneyard Centre, 41B St Andrews Street, Cambridge CB2 3AR
BANKERS
Lloyds TSB, Cambridge
INDEPENDENT EXAMINER
Geoff Mann, Geoff Mann Ltd, Cambridge
2
CENTRAL LANGUAGE SCHOOL CAMBRIDGE TRUSTEES' REPORT FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 AUGUST 2024
The Trustees present their Report for the year ended 31 August 2024, which incorporates the Legal and Administrative Details on Page 2.
STRUCTURE, GOVERNANCE AND MANAGEMENT
The Trust was established by Trust Deed and registered as a Charity with the Charity Commission in 1996. Under this Trust Deed the power to appoint Trustees is vested in the Trustees for the time being.
The Charity has a Board of Trustees who meet quarterly and are responsible for its strategic direction and policy. Senior management are appointed by the Trustees to manage the day to day operations of the charity.
OBJECTS, ORGANISATIONS AND ACTIVITIES
The Mission Statement of the Charity is stated on Page 2.
During 2023/24 the Charity continued to provide English Language teaching services at The Stoneyard Centre, 41B St Andrew's Street, Cambridge. The Tustees record with thanks the encouragement and assistance received from our landlords, St Andrew's Street Baptist Church.
.
During the past year we have had 212 full time students studying for a total of 1,069 student weeks on various courses. Students independently passed B2 First, C1 Advanced, C2 Proficiency and IELTS exams. There have also been 51 part time students. The Trustees record their thanks to the staff for their dedication to the work of the school and pastoral care of the students.
The language school continues to be fully accredited by the British Council and registered by the UK Border Agency. We also have membership of the English UK which is a national association of accredited English language schools and centres. The Trustees record their thanks to Mrs Sian Serrano (Business Manager), Mr James Dennis (Director of Studies) and all the staff for maintaining high standards of teaching, management and welfare at the school especially with the additional challenges posed by the Covid pandemic.
Many of our students have been accommodated with host families and the Trustees are grateful to all host families for their support of the school.
FINANCES
The attached accounts on pages 5 to 9 reflect the Trust’s activities for the year and show the state of the finances at 31 August 2024. The Trustees are grateful to Mr Geoff Mann for his independent examination of the accounts.
3
CENTRAL LANGUAGE SCHOOL CAMBRIDGE TRUSTEES' REPORT continued FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 AUGUST 2024
RESERVES POLICY
The Trustees have conducted a risk assessment and considered the level of unrestricted funds not committed or invested in tangible fixed assets ("the free reserves") that should be maintained by the charity to meet its liabilities and to sustain the organisation in the event of any unforeseen shortfalls in income. The Trustees have assessed the reliability of the charity's main sources of income and taken into account seasonal and market trends.The Trustees have examined the requirement for free reserves, i.e. those unrestricted funds not invested in tangible fixed assets, designated for specific purposes or otherwise committed. The Trustees consider that, given the nature of the organisation’s work, the level of free reserves should be approximately four month’s unrestricted funds expenditure (not including accommodation costs). This would equate to £67,100 based on current year expenditure. The Trustees are of the opinion that this provides:
• sufficient flexibility to cover temporary shortfalls in incoming resources due to timing differences in income flows
• adequate working capital to cover core costs
• an allowance to enable the organisation to cope and respond to unforeseen emergencies whilst specific actions are implemented.
Current free reserves amount to £83,807 and we will be working towards maintaining this level during the current financial year.
RISK REVIEW
The Trustees have conducted their own review of the major risks to which the charity is exposed and have agreed a risk management strategy which comprises :
(i) an annual review of the risks which the charity may face;
(ii) the establishment of systems and procedures to mitigate those risks identified in the plan; and (iii) the implementation of procedures designed to minimise any potential impact on the charity should any of those risks materialise.
On behalf of the Trustees David Farrer
23 June 2025
4
CENTRAL LANGUAGE SCHOOL CAMBRIDGE STATEMENT OF FINANCIAL ACTIVITIES FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 AUGUST 2024
| Note INCOMING RESOURCES Fees & Accommodation 2 Student Excursions Exam Fees Airport Transfers Book Sales Miscellaneous Donations Bank Interest Total Incoming Resources RESOURCES EXPENDED Costs of Generating Funds Publicity 3 Charitable Expenditure Operating Costs 6 Governance Costs 4 Total Resources Expended NET MOVEMENT IN FUNDS FUND BALANCES Brought forward 1 September 2023 Carried forward 31 August 2024 |
TOTAL Unrestricted Funds 2024 320,485 4,490 2,010 320 97 121 2,495 1,743 331,761 657 306,384 830 307,871 23,890 59,917 83,807 |
TOTAL Unrestricted Funds 2023 £ 252,250 6,024 420 129 85 111 1,900 349 |
|---|---|---|
| 261,268 | ||
| 671 232,997 820 |
||
| 234,488 | ||
| 26,780 33,137 |
||
| 59,917 |
5
CENTRAL LANGUAGE SCHOOL CAMBRIDGE BALANCE SHEET AS AT 31 AUGUST 2024
| Note CURRENT ASSETS Debtors 7 Bank Balances Cash in Hand CURRENT LIABILITIES Creditors 8 TOTAL NET ASSETS FINANCED BY: ACCUMULATED SURPLUS Unrestricted Funds Approved by the Trustees on 23 June 2025 David Farrer Treasurer |
2024 £ 2,554 128,506 69 131,129 47,322 83,807 83,807 83,807 |
2023 £ 9,530 121,394 11 |
|---|---|---|
| 130,935 71,018 |
||
| 59,917 | ||
| 59,917 | ||
| 59,917 | ||
6
CENTRAL LANGUAGE SCHOOL CAMBRIDGE NOTES TO THE ACCOUNTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 AUGUST 2024
1 ACCOUNTING POLICIES
(a) BASIS OF PREPARATION OF ACCOUNTS
The accounts have been prepared under the historical cost convention and include the the results of the charity's operations, which are described in the Report of the Trustees and all of which are continuing. They have been prepared in accordance with the Charities Act 2011 and Accounting and Reporting by Charities: Statement of Recommended Practice applicable to charities preparing their accounts in accordance with the Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and the Republic of Ireland (FRS 102) revised with effect from 1 January 2019.
Central Language School meets the definition of a public benefit entity under FRS 102.
The trustees consider that there are no material uncertainties about the charity's ability to continue as a going concern.
The trustees do not consider that there are any sources of estimation uncertainty at the reporting date that have a significant risk of causing a material adjustment to the carrying amounts of assets and liabilities within the next reporting period.
(b) INCOMING RESOURCES
Incoming resources are recognised in the year in which the charity is entitled to the receipt, and the amount can be measured with reasonable certainty. Income is only deferred when the charity has to fulfil conditions before becoming entitled to it or where the donor has specified that the income is to be expended in a future period.
(c) RESOURCES EXPENDED
Expenditure is recognised on an accruals basis as a liability is incurred. Expenditure includes any VAT which cannot be fully recovered, and is reported as part of the expenditure to which it relates.
(d) PENSIONS
The charity contributes to money purchase, defined contribution schemes, on behalf of its employees. No liability exists in respect of pensions other than monthly contributions due which is included within creditors.
(e) DEBTORS
Trade debtors and other debtors are recognised at their settlement amount due after any discounts. Prepayments are valued at the amount prepaid net of any trade discount due.
7
CENTRAL LANGUAGE SCHOOL CAMBRIDGE NOTES TO THE ACCOUNTS continued FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 AUGUST 2024
1 ACCOUNTING POLICIES (continued)
(f) CREDITORS AND PROVISIONS
Creditors and provisions are recognised where the charity has a present obligation resulting from a past event that will probably result in the transfer of funds to a third party and the amount due to settle the obligation can be measured or estimated reliably. Creditors and provisions are normally recognised at their settlement amount after allowing for any trade discounts due.
| 2 FEES & ACCOMMODATION 2024 £ Fees & Accommodation 322,365 Less Agents Fees 1,880 320,485 3 COSTS OF GENERATING FUNDS 2024 £ Publicity, Printing and Literature 657 657 4 GOVERNANCE COSTS OF THE CHARITY 2024 £ Independent Examination Fee 500 Other Administration and Professional Fees 330 830 5 STAFF COSTS 2024 £ The staff costs were: Wages and salaries 133,938 Social Security costs 2,709 Pension costs 3,249 139,896 The average number of staff employed by the charity during the year was: Business Manager 1 Director of Studies 1 Part time administrators 1 Full time teachers 2 Part time teachers 7 12 |
2023 £ 254,256 2,006 |
|---|---|
| 252,250 | |
| 2023 £ 671 |
|
| 671 | |
| 2023 £ 490 330 |
|
| 820 | |
| 2023 £ 113,588 1,378 2,577 |
|
| 117,543 | |
| 1 1 1 1 6 |
|
| 10 |
8
CENTRAL LANGUAGE SCHOOL CAMBRIDGE NOTES TO THE ACCOUNTS continued FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 AUGUST 2024
| 6 OPERATING COSTS Staff Costs Accommodation General Office Teaching Aids & Materials IT Equipment/Website Rent Furniture Stationery Telecoms Insurance Student Excursions Refreshments English UK Travelling & airport transfers Bank & Credit Charges Exam Fees Social Activities Misc 7 DEBTORS Students 8 CREDITORS Fees & Accommodation received in advance Accruals |
2024 £ 139,896 106,543 1,302 2,361 6,438 28,244 1,761 1,701 687 1,289 4,234 584 3,020 427 3,965 1,755 2,118 59 306,384 2024 £ 2,554 2,554 2024 £ 41,276 6,046 47,322 |
2023 £ 117,543 64,355 1,714 757 4,512 26,051 0 1,641 586 1,254 5,982 879 2,411 0 4,055 195 1,062 0 |
|---|---|---|
| 232,997 | ||
| 2023 £ 9,530 |
||
| 9,530 | ||
| 2023 £ 57,621 13,397 |
||
| 71,018 |
9 PAYMENTS TO TRUSTEES
An amount of £968 (2023 £594) was paid to David Farrer, a trustee of the charity, for the provision of accountancy services. No other payments were made to trustees nor were any expenses reimbursed to them.
10 RELATED PARTY TRANSACTIONS
There were no related party transactions in the year that required disclosure.
9
CENTRAL LANGUAGE SCHOOL CAMBRIDGE INDEPENDENT EXAMINER'S REPORT TO THE TRUSTEES OF THE CENTRAL LANGUAGE SCHOOL CAMBRIDGE
I report to the trustees on my examination of the accounts of the charity for the year ended 31 August 2024 set out on pages 2 to 9.
RESPECTIVE RESPONSIBILITIES OF TRUSTEES AND EXAMINER
As the charity's trustees you are responsible for the preparation of the accounts in accordance with the requirements of the Charities Acts 2011 ("the Act").
I report in respect of my examination of your charity's accounts carried out under section 145 of the Act, and in carrying out my examination I have followed 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:
the accounting records were not kept in respect of the charity as required by section 130 of the Act; or
the accounts do not accord with those records; or
the accounts do not comply with the applicable requirements concerning the form and content of accounts set out in the Charities (Accounts and Reports) Regulations 2008 other than any requirement that the accounts give a 'true and fair' view which is not a matter considered as part of an independent examination
I have no concerns and have come across no other matters in connection with the examination to which attention should be brought in this report in order to enable a proper understanding of the accounts to be reached.
Geoff Mann Geoff Mann Ltd Dee House Highworth Avenue Cambridge
23 June 2025
10