2025-08-31-accounts

Ambitious aboutAutism Annual report and accounts 2024-25

Contents

Ourpurpose,missionandvalues	3	A huge thanks to our partners
		and supporters	37
Foreword: Welcome from the chair
of trustees and chiefexecutive	5	Our fundraising approach	40
Foreword: A meesage from our		Ourpeople	42
YouthCouncil	7
		Lookingtothefuture	44
Our impact	8
		Financial review	47
Excellenteducation	10
		Legalstructures and governance	53
Employmentand enterprise	17
		Trustees, advisers and seniorstaff	62
Healthandwellbeing	21
		The statement of
Active citizenship in		trustees’ responsibilities	66
the community	24
		Independent auditor's report to the
Family andrelationships	26	members of Ambitious about Autism	68
Ourpartners and supporters	30	Financialstatements	73

2

Our purpose, vision, mission and values

Ambitious about Autism is the national charity standing with autistic children and young people.

Our purpose

We help autistic children and young people to be themselves.

Our vision

Our vision is for a future where every autistic child and young person can be themselves and realise their ambitions.

We believe every autistic child and young person has the right to be themselves and realise their ambitions.

We started as one school and

have become a movement for change. We champion rights, campaign for change and create opportunities.

Our mission

We stand with autistic children and young people, champion their rights and create opportunities.

Our values

Autistic children and young people are at the heart of everything that we do.

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We are ambitious

for autistic children and young people and our work.

We love learning

and commit to learn from our successes and mistakes; sharing knowledge, expertise and resources.

We celebrate difference creating a world where everyone belongs.

We are open

to new approaches, in how we make decisions and engage with our community.

We work together

with autistic children and young people, parents and carers, our partners and staff to maximise impact and reach.

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Foreword: Welcome from the chair of trustees and chief executive

Our mission is clear at Ambitious about Autism – we stand with autistic children and young people, champion their rights and create opportunities. In an ever more challenging world, where misinformation and disinformation about autism is on the rise, our work has never been more vital.

As skilled specialist providers and national influencers of policy and practice, we play a leading role in enabling autistic children and young people to be themselves and realise their ambitions. This report provides an opportunity for us to reflect on our progress and key learnings from the last year, as we fulfil the goals of our Time for Ambition strategy.

Sadly, it has been another challenging year for our community. Unhelpful and inaccurate rhetoric about autism from across the globe has created confusion and fear. In the UK, thousands of autistic young people are waiting months, if not years, for an assessment and diagnosis. They face barriers to accessing a full and rewarding education. Their journey to

employment is arduous. Ultimately, wholesale system change is needed to enable autistic children and young people, and their families, to have the hope of living a rewarding and fulfilling life.

We are determined to make this change and lead by example to show the world how to create a better future for the people we stand with.

This year, our schools and colleges continued to grow and develop to provide vital, specialist education to enable autistic children and young people to learn, thrive and achieve. This included launching new supported internship programmes and developing further partnerships to create new and innovative provision.

Our impact

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Foreword

Financial review

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Through Employ Autism, our national employability programme, we reached over 5,000 autistic young people, employers, and educators, providing support, training and guidance. Autistic and OK, our national preventative mental health programme, was rolled out to over 1,000 mainstream and specialist schools and youth groups nationally.

Our Ambitious Youth Network continued to grow, enabling young people from across the UK to connect and influence decisions about their lives and national policy and practice.

We welcomed a new government and worked with them to influence policy and practice to improve the special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) system. This included a parliamentary event attended by nearly 90 MPs and Peers, and the launch of our Lost Learning report.

We can only achieve our ambitions by working together with autistic children and young people, their parents and carers, our generous partners, supporters, staff and volunteers. We are so grateful for all your invaluable support as, together, we create a future where all autistic children and young people can be themselves and realise their ambitions.

Jolanta Lasota Chief Executive

Bob Bishop Chair of Trustees

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Foreword: A message from our Youth Council

My confidence started to build, as I had the chance to take part in a range of different opportunities. Within a year of joining the Youth Network, I had taken part in the Understanding You, Discovering You post-diagnosis support programme; interacted with MPs at the My Vote Matters Parliamentary Reception; provided feedback on the Ambitious about Autism manifesto; and co-created an audio documentary entitled Autistically Me. It had been fantastic, but I wanted to do more!

After being diagnosed as autistic at 17, I felt lost and overwhelmed. I was given a reading list, assured that there was a ‘wealth of support’ and sent on my way.

Then, I came across Ambitious about Autism. I could not believe it – a national organisation dedicated to supporting not just autistic children, but young adults as well. Through online peer support sessions, I began to realise that I was far from alone.

Joining the Youth Council was the perfect opportunity and platform to advocate further for the needs of autistic young people and to be part of ensuring that every autistic young person has access to the support they need to thrive and not feel isolated or unheard because of their diagnosis.

Niamh Member of the Ambitious about Autism Youth Council

This year, our Youth Council – supported by the fantastic Ambitious staff – has contributed to several important discussions and initiatives, including shaping language for the new organisational strategy; collaborating with the Policy team on a proposed education campaign; and consulting on new ideas for fundraising events.

Through the Youth Council, I have been provided with a unique opportunity and platform to share my lived experience, advocate for the needs of autistic young people, and make positive and lasting change. This has helped me to feel more confident and comfortable with my own autistic identity and I look forward to working with the Youth Council to continue to support autistic children and young people.

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Our impact Foreword Our impac Our partners and supporters Our people Financial review Financial statements

Our key achievements this year

Over 500

autistic children and young people were supported to meet their educational aspirations and goals through our network of schools and colleges .

The Ambitious Youth Network

helped autistic young people feel less isolated, with over 70% saying they feel more connected to others.

Talk about Autism

created a trusted online space for autistic people and their families, supporting over 5,500 active members , with more than 80% recommending it to others seeking understanding and advice.

Employ Autism

enabled autistic young people to gain paid work experience, while equipping employers to build inclusive and supportive workplaces.

Supported internships

As our supported internship programme expanded, we partnered with four employers across London and the South East to increase pathways into employment for autistic young people.

Autistic and OK

strengthened mental health support in education – reaching over 1,000 UK secondary schools with the tools to help autistic pupils understand, manage and maintain their wellbeing.

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Excellent education

We believe in the right of all autistic children and young people to have an excellent and inclusive education that prepares them for the future of their choosing.

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The Rise School

As The Rise School marked its 10-year anniversary, its pupils celebrated another successful year of achievement. Year 11 pupils sat over 300 external examinations to achieve GCSEs, iGCSEs and BTech qualifications. This was also the first year that some pupils achieved their Gold Duke of Edinburgh Award.

The Rise Sixth Form celebrated successful onward destinations for 10 pupils coming to the end of their studies. These young people are moving on to university, apprenticeships, supported internships, further college courses and work.

Spring School

Spring School continued to grow, with 57 pupils registered at its temporary location in Kingston, supported by a thriving parent community. The curriculum was developed and Spring School’s oldest pupils started to consider their next steps and aspirations for life as adults.

Ambitious College and St. John’s College

This year, both Ambitious College and St. John’s College began a curriculum review to identify areas to enhance learning, engagement and outcomes for learners. St. John’s College also partnered with further education college, Brighton MET, to create an integrated studies course that launched in September 2025. The course aims to give young people with SEND the opportunity to experience learning in a mainstream college, while accessing specialist support.

TreeHouse School

TreeHouse School also implemented a review of its Sixth Form curriculum this year, structured around four pathways – employment, independent living, community inclusion and health. This highly personalised framework embeds functional skills and vocational learning in real-life contexts, ensuring progress in independence, employability and community participation.

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Alice’s story

Alice*, 19, joined TreeHouse School when she was 10 years old. She has a vibrant personality and a love of flowers, colour and food. With support from her family and school team, Alice’s personalised learning plan focuses on building skills for future employment.

Change can be challenging for Alice, and she sometimes feels anxious in new environments. Initially, she was hesitant to join horticulture sessions at the Saplings project, TreeHouse School’s outdoor learning environment.

To improve her confidence, instructors began with classroom-based activities like seed planting and propagating herbs. Gradually, she wanted to transplant her seedlings outdoors and discovered a love for watering plants – her favourite part of every session.

Five years later, Alice works almost independently, confidently following written instructions and managing a variety of horticultural tasks. She has also learned to tolerate mess and complete every job with pride.

Alice enjoys cookery and craft sessions, linking the produce she grows to making products like apple cake, lavender soap and candles. In July 2025, she sold these items at a local pop-up sale, engaging warmly with customers and handling payments independently.

*Name changed.

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Supported internships

Both Ambitious College and St. John’s College announced new supported internship programmes this year, starting in September 2025. Ambitious College partnered with Amazon to offer work placements at one of the company’s warehouses in Surrey. St. John’s College is working with a national catering company, Chartwells Universities, to offer placements at the University of Sussex.

Meanwhile, Ambitious College also continued to run successful internship programmes at the Whittington Hospital and Chessington World of Adventures, supporting young people to transition into paid employment at the host employers and beyond.

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Eddy’s story

Eddy

I’m Eddy. I’m 23 and I recently graduated from Ambitious College’s supported internship programme at the Whittington Hospital in north London.

During the 12-month placement I worked in two hospital departments. In the pharmacy department I helped fill up and store medication, making sure that shelves were stocked and expired medication was disposed of correctly. In the endoscopy department I worked directly with patients after their procedures, removing cannulas, offering refreshments and doing observations. I also arranged escorts for patients following their discharge.

Throughout my placement I had lots of support from the Supported Internship team. When I started, I wouldn’t initiate any conversations, but my teacher and job coach helped me grow in confidence, so I can now speak to people I’m not familiar with. They always came to visit me on placements to check in and see how I was doing. At the end of each working day, we would have a 30-minute review to discuss what had happened that day and whether there were any challenges to overcome. It made me feel very secure that they were always there caring for us.

Before my internship, I did odd jobs of babysitting or helping my neighbours, but I never thought I could get a job working in a hospital, which is what I have always wanted to do. I’ve grown a lot and I am much more confident in the workplace. Before I started the placement, I couldn’t even travel by myself, and now I am confident doing so. The next step for me is to start working as a

bank healthcare assistant

in the endoscopy department at the Whittington Hospital. If you’d told me 12 months ago I would be standing here in scrubs, I wouldn’t have believed you.

The supported internship programme has been a great stepping stone into work. I’ve had a lot of ups and downs in my life, and I needed some stability and a programme that was tailored to me so I could reach my full potential. It’s helped me to achieve things I never thought I’d be able to achieve.

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Ambitious Academy

The Ambitious Academy was launched, marking the beginning of a three-year funded project to establish a new, sustainable model for learning and development across our education settings.

This year, we appointed dedicated learning and development leads across all schools and colleges, and established a knowledge and skills framework to guide their work. With an accessible and sustainable learning offer now in place, the Ambitious Academy is well positioned to deliver its strategic aims through a growing team of expert practitioners.

National education campaigning

Campaigning is central to our mission and we work to make the education system more inclusive, supportive and effective for autistic children and young people.

As a new Labour government took charge we hosted a parliamentary event for newly elected decision-makers in the House of Commons. Nearly 90 parliamentarians from across all main parties attended and met with autistic young people and parents, received a personalised briefing and engaged with experts from our team. The event was funded by our partner Reckitt, who was also in attendance to talk about our More Than Just Clothes campaign.

We continued to engage with a range of key policymakers, including (then) Minister for School Standards, Catherine McKinnell MP, who visited TreeHouse School to see first-hand the important work of our specialist settings. Chris Ward, newly elected MP for Brighton Kemptown and Peacehaven, visited St John’s College, and Seema Malhotra, MP for Feltham and Heston, visited The Rise School.

Liberal Democrat Leader Sir Ed Davey also paid a visit to Spring School. Nationally, we participated in a round table with Stephen Kinnock MP, (then) Minister of State (Department of Health and Social Care).

Also this year, we published a researchbased report on the scale and impact of lost learning among autistic young people. The When will we learn: Lost Learning report and Ending Lost Learning briefng drew on the voices of over 1,300 autistic young people and families, insights from a national workshop and an extensive review of existing evidence and literature.

In addition, we held an Autism in Education roundtable event for autistic young people, parents and carers and education experts, resulting in a report that we shared with government officials and MPs.

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SEND reforms

The much-anticipated SEND reforms gave us an important opportunity to share evidence and insights with a wide network of supportive MPs and engage directly with government officials to inform current thinking. Members of our Ambitious Youth Network gave evidence to the Education Select Committee, and our chief executive, along with other charity heads, and had a meeting with Bridget Phillipson MP, Secretary of State for Education, to discuss the proposed reforms.

Hannah Steadman Autistic Youth Network member

As part of our leadership in the Disabled Children’s Partnership, we also supported the development and publication of an open letter to the prime minister from Hannah, a member of our Youth Network. The letter urged the government to protect Education, Health and Care (EHC) plans. Hannah formally delivered her letter to 10 Downing Street in July.

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Employment and enterprise

We want every autistic young person to have access to good careers education, including experience of work, relevant to their aspirations, strengths and abilities.

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Our Employ Autism programme, funded by Pears Foundation, seeks to remove the barriers to employment that autistic young people face.

We work closely with employers to connect them directly with a pool of uniquely talented autistic employees. We also provide training and support to young people, careers professionals and employers.

Our impact

We had a record-breaking applications for 1,400 100 places on the Civil Service internship programme – our largest ever cohort.

In partnership with the charity Catch 22, we established a new programme for autistic young people not in education, employment or training, which was aimed at improving their digital skills.

We provided training, support and guidance to over 5,000 employers, educators and career and employment professionals.

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James’s story

James

After initially applying for an Employ Autism internship with Capgemini, the talent acquisition manager asked to share my details with the team behind their graduate programme, as they felt this was better suited to my skills and experience.

Following conversations with the Recruitment team, I was delighted to receive a full-time job offer as a cloud operations engineer at Capgemini, which I started in April 2025.

I’m aiming to follow a long-term career path in software engineering, as it’s what I am most passionate about, and I plan to stay at Capgemini for the foreseeable future. I would recommend applying for an internship through the Employ Autism programme. The application process and support offered by Ambitious about Autism has been amazing. It has been an incredibly accessible gateway into employment as an autistic person. It has also helped me to explain my skills and experience in detail to help show what I can offer.

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Careers Education Framework

Our free, online resources help careers education leaders provide autistic young people with informed, tailored advice about their journey from education to employment. This year, we piloted a training course to support education professionals to embed the Careers Education Framework (CEF) within their settings.

Evaluation findings showed a strong positive impact, with participants recommending the training, and reporting greater understanding and confidence in supporting autistic learners. In response, we launched an openaccess course and annual network meeting to extend the CEF’s reach and impact.

Careers education in our education settings

We want every autistic young person to have a good careers education at school and in further and higher education. Our focus this year was on increasing engagement with local employers to offer work experience opportunities for our pupils and learners.

National Careers Week took place during March. Each education setting organised its own timetable of activities for the week, engaging over 180 pupils and learners and involving more than 14 employers.

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Health and wellbeing

We work to make sure autistic children and young people have timely access to the support and care that will enable their good physical and mental health and wellbeing.

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Autistic and OK

Launched in early 2024 with Zurich and the Z Zurich Foundation, Autistic and OK empowers autistic pupils to understand and manage their mental health and wellbeing. At the programme’s heart are autistic young people, whose voices guide and shape the work.

Over 1,000 schools, including mainstream and specialist, have now downloaded the co-produced toolkit, offering practical resources and peer-led workshops. Through events, case studies and implementation frameworks, we’ve shared learning and supported sustainable change across the education system. National media coverage, including Sky News and ITV News Meridian, has highlighted the programme’s impact.

“

One of the best things about the sessions was meeting other autistic students from different year groups. It made me realise that I’m not alone in my experiences, and there are other people who understand what it’s like to mask, struggle with anxiety or feel overwhelmed by certain situations.”

“

These formative years at school should offer every child the opportunity to thrive, not just survive. This toolkit not only helps autistic young people, it also educates everyone around them about the challenges they face on a day-to-day basis. It’s this education that will destigmatise autism in schools. Giving these young people the right support during these school years can serve to avoid many of the challenges that they could go on to face at university or in the workplace.”

Gary Shaughnessy, Chair of Z Zurich Foundation

Year 9 pupil

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Post-diagnostic support programme

This programme supports autistic young people aged 16–25 after diagnosis and during their transition to adulthood. This year, we completed a feasibility study funded by the National Institute of Health and Care Research (NIHR). With all feasibility criteria met, our aim is for a larger-scale trial to test whether the groups are effective in improving wellbeing for autistic young people as they transition to adulthood.

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Active citizenship in the community Autistic children and young people are at the heart of everything we do. We work to ensure they are empowered to influence decisions that affect their lives.

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Ambitious Youth Network

Our nationwide Ambitious Youth Network provides a safe online community for autistic young people seeking to connect and access information and content produced by other autistic young people. Members also have the opportunity to participate in our wider work.

Ambitious Youth Network impact

Youth Advisors

Our Youth Advisors are supported and remunerated to use their expert lived experience to embed autistic youth voice across our work. They provide valuable advice and feedback on internal projects and campaigns. They also contribute to external partnerships and projects, ensuring that autistic young people’s perspectives shape meaningful change. This year, our Youth Advisors were offered 300 hours of influencing and participation opportunities.

92%

of autistic children and young people engaging in Ambitious Youth Network activities have greater confidence in talking about autism with their peers.

82%

of autistic young people say they have more influence in the “ decisions about their lives. Being a member of the Ambitious Youth Network has really helped me advocate for autistic young people in 73% a way that I have always wanted to. of autistic young people feel There are so many opportunities like more connected. skill sessions, job opportunities and work placements. It’s such an easy way to form a community and it’s a lot of fun.”

Hannah, Ambitious Youth Network member

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Family and relationships

We influence for change by enabling and supporting autistic children and young people and their families to make decisions and break barriers themselves, and by ensuring that their voices are heard in decisions that affect their lives.

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Learner and family support service

The Learner and Family Support team supports the autistic children and young people who attend our schools and colleges on their journey through education and beyond. They ensure families have increased knowledge, skills and confidence by providing timely direct information, advice and support.

This year, the team provided vital support and advocacy to nearly 70 parents and carers on a range of complex issues. They ran a monthly support group for parents and carers as well as transition events across our network of schools and colleges. Meanwhile, our Admissions team supported over 1,400 enquiries and applications to our education settings.

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Ina’s story

Ina, a residential learner at St. John’s College, initially struggled to be part of her community, limiting outings to a single shop for snacks visits. This isolation prompted staff at St. John’s College to create a structured support plan to enhance her independence, confidence and quality of life.

To expand Ina’s community experiences, staff developed visual media resources to help her understand daily activities, including her schedule in a picture-based format. Supported in this way, she walked to a nearby bus stop and then on to a local pizza restaurant.

To broaden her experiences further, staff introduced minibus travel, again using visual prompts and clear communication. Ina now enjoys positive interactions with staff and peers on her journeys.

Today, Ina confidently visits a range of community locations, using different modes of transport. Her enthusiasm and enjoyment mark a remarkable transformation from her earlier reluctance. One standout moment was attending a disco at a local pub – an event she once found overwhelming. Her journey highlights the power of consistent, person-centred support and the value of celebrating every step of progress.

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Talk about Autism

Talk about Autism is our online community for parents and carers of autistic children and young people. It’s a source of informative resources such as webinars and blogs.

Talk about Autism now has 5,500 members nationally, with membership increasing by over one-third in the last year. It has proven to be an invaluable resource, with 80% of users saying they were likely to recommend the network to other parents and carers.

“ We have had no support since my son’s diagnosis, and having resources like Talk about Autism helps make me feel less alone and more able to cope. It feels like someone cares.”

Parent and Talk about Autism member

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Our partners and supporters

Our incredible partners and supporters continue to help us transform the lives of autistic children and young people. We’re so grateful to everyone who supports our work, from those who lend their time or services, to those who donate or raise money on our behalf.

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Our partners and supporters

Thanks to our passionate and committed partners and supporters, we’re able to stand with autistic children and young people, help them be themselves and realise their ambitions.

In 2024–25, with the generous support of members of the public, philanthropists, companies, trusts and foundations, we raised £2.5m.

Events and fundraising challenges

It was an incredible year for our fundraising events and challenges. We’re grateful to everyone who ran, cycled, supported or donated.

Night of Ambition

We’re hugely grateful to our long-term partner PXC for their ongoing support of our longstanding and much loved annual gala. Our host for this year’s Night of Ambition was renowned actor Christopher Eccleston. Over 350 people attended this year’s event, held at Raffles London at The OWO in Whitehall, and helped us raise nearly £340,000 – a tremendous sum. We partnered with headline sponsor CGI, alongside other event sponsors, including Tech Mahindra, Pega, Openreach, CityFibre, MDS Global and NICE.

Manchester to London ride

This year’s Manchester to London ride, in partnership with Rapha, was our biggest and best yet, with 193 riders taking part – one of the largest groups of participants in the event’s history. Led by Rapha founder and Ambitious about Autism Ambassador, Simon Mottram, we raised a record-breaking £410,000.

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Our partners and supporters

London Marathon

This year, our team of 36 inspiring runners, our biggest team to date, took on the iconic London Marathon on a hot April day. Many of our fundraisers were autistic or were running on behalf of autistic family members. Their incredible efforts raised an astounding total of £155,000.

Community and challenge events

Thanks to our individual supporters, we raised over £80,000 through a wide range of activities. Live gaming streams, running, trekking and skydiving were just some of the different ways that people chose to stand with autistic children and young people.

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Our partners and supporters

Our strategic partners

Pears Foundation

We are deeply grateful to everyone at Pears Foundation for their exceptional partnership since 2006. Most recently, their unwavering support has been pivotal in creating meaningful work opportunities for autistic young people and fostering more inclusive workplaces. With their help, we have successfully completed our Employ Autism pilot, widened access to our training services for employers and educators, and developed new initiatives to support autistic young people into work.

Marsh McLennan

This year, we concluded our groundbreaking partnership with Marsh McLennan. Over the course of four years, Marsh McLennan became the first employer to achieve Autism Confidence status and won seven industry awards. Through colleague-led fundraising and company matching, they raised more than £1m towards our Employ Autism programme. They also hired 22 autistic interns, half of whom would go on to secure full-time roles in the business.

As well as fundraising, Marsh McLennan added significant value to Ambitious about Autism through pro bono work, clocking up 26,000 volunteer hours and bringing the total value of the partnership to £2m.

This pioneering partnership leaves a lasting impact at Marsh McLennan, where 98% of colleagues surveyed said our achievements made them proud to work there.

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Our partners and supporters

TalkTalk, TalkTalk Business and PXC

We have proudly partnered with TalkTalk Group and PXC since 2006. Following the demerger of TalkTalk, we’re happy to say that we have continued our relationships with all three branches of the devolved TalkTalk Group: TalkTalk Consumer, TalkTalk Business and PXC.

PXC continues to be the generous key partner of Night of Ambition and provides key pro-bono support, enabling our organisation to stay connected and supporting autistic young people in our educational settings.

Rapha

Thanks to the support of its founder Simon Mottram, and CEO Fran Millar, Rapha Racing Ltd has raised close to £2m since its first cycling challenge in aid of Ambitious about Autism in 2014.

Through its fantastic innovation, support and friendship, Rapha continues to stand with autistic children and young people through its commitment to co-producing a first-class cycling challenge, raising much-needed funds and building awareness of autism.

Zurich UK and the Z Zurich Foundation

This year saw the culmination of the first three-year phase of the Autistic and OK programme in partnership with Zurich UK and Z Zurich Foundation.

Zurich UK and Z Zurich Foundation remain committed to supporting the mental health of autistic children and young people across the UK. Internally, they continue to promote a series of e-learning modules for staff to complete to develop their autism-confident practice, as we look to expand employee engagement opportunities together.

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Our partners and supporters

Reckitt Benckiser UK

In the third year of our partnership with its brand Vanish, Reckitt Benckiser UK helped to facilitate an event at the Houses of Parliament following the general election. This event was also a chance to showcase our More Than Just Clothes campaign with Vanish. It provided an opportunity to introduce Ambitious about Autism to a new parliament, broaden parliamentary understanding of autism and build relationships that can support the charity’s policy goals in the future. We’re looking forward to continuing our work together into next year as the partnership continues to evolve.

Lead funding partners

Susan Tobbell OBE and Graham Tobbell

We are deeply grateful to Susan and Graham for their unwavering support. Over the last decade, their generosity and active involvement have been instrumental in expanding our supported internships programme, creating greater employment opportunities for autistic young people.

As much-valued Vice Presidents of Ambitious about Autism, Susan and Graham have strengthened the foundations of our work. Their commitment ensures we can reach more autistic children and young people and continue building a society where every autistic person has the opportunity to be themselves and realise their ambitions.

City Bridge Foundation

City Bridge Foundation enables autistic young Londoners to access the support they need once they move on from Ambitious College. Our Learner and Family Services team work with young people, their parents and carers, staff and the onward settings to ensure the transition is as smooth as possible. The Foundation’s generosity is helping autistic young people to get the support they need and pursue their dreams as they move into adulthood.

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Our partners and supporters

MariaMarina Foundation

MariaMarina Foundation has been a lead funding partner and ally of Ambitious about Autism for nearly 10 years. The Foundation was key to helping to realise our vision for Ambitious College and supported the implementation of a cross-organisational employability strategy, successfully providing meaningful work experience and careers guidance to hundreds of autistic young people across our educational settings.

The Thompson Family Charitable Foundation

The Thompson Family Charitable Trust has been a valued funding partner of Ambitious about Autism for over 10 years. Their longstanding support of Ambitious College has made a huge difference to the lives of autistic children and young people. Through their generosity, our learners receive specialist education and have the chance to participate in supported activities that they simply wouldn’t be able to access elsewhere. Our joint partnership with Snowbility gives learners the chance to take part in ski lessons. These structured, yet nurturing lessons go beyond the development of physical skills, providing a vehicle for emotional regulation, confidencebuilding and social connection.

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Our partners and supporters

A huge thanks to our partners and supporters

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Our partners and supporters

Ambitious partners	Lead funding partners	Ambitious supporters
Pears Foundation	Susan Tobbell OBE and Graham Tobbell	Andy Daniell
Rapha Racing Ltd	City Bridge Foundation	Automated Analytics Ltd
Marsh McLennan	MariaMarina Foundation	Bernard Sunley Foundation
Z Zurich Foundation	Reckitt Benckiser	Beatrice Laing Trust
Zurich UK	The Thompson Family Charitable Foundation	Bob Bishop
PXC		Cadent Gas
TalkTalk Consumer		Chapman Charitable Trust
TalkTalk Business		Charlotte Grobien OBE, Give it Away
		Charlotte Warner and Bruno Paulson
		Compass Wellbeing CIC
		CSDS Foundation
		Curve Workspaces
		Daniel Lloyd
		Duke of Newcastle 1986 Charitable Trust
		Health Education England
		Henley Insights Group
		Hornsey Parochial Charities
Our impact Foreword	Hospital Saturday Fund 38 Our people Financial review Financial statements Our partners and supporters

Inspire Hounslow	Red Brick Road
James Mitchell	Sally Cairns
Jean Carter*	Salt
Joanna Healey	Simon Hillson
Koral Anderson	Simon and Lucy Mottram
Laurie Edmans CBE	Snowbility
Lesley Longstone	Sue Adkins
The Lord Tim Clement-Jones CBE	Teneo UK
Lucy Nutt	The Harebell Centenary Fund
Magnus Schoeman	The Thompson Family Charitable Trust
Malcolm Harrison	Tottenham Grammar School Foundation
Mark Naughton	Dame Tristia Harrison DBE
Martyn Craddock	Variety Children’s Charity
Matt Davis and Eliza Mishcon	Dr Virginia Bovell OBE
Michael Clark	Vodafone
Morrisons Foundation	Will Hawkins
The Mulberry Trust	Wooden Spoon Society
Neil Goulden
Nick and Pippa Medd

And all our other supporters, including those who have chosen to remain anonymous.

*Signifies a legacy gift.

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Our fundraising approach Foreword Our impact Our people Financial review Financial statements 40

Fundraising practices

We adhere to the highest fundraising standards, which we recognise to be essential in retaining the trust and support of our much-valued donors.

We pay the voluntary levy to register with the Fundraising Regulator and ensure that our practices comply with the Code of Fundraising Practice and the Fundraising Promise. We’re also a member of the Chartered Institute of Fundraising.

We maintain up-to-date policies for: our fundraising code of conduct; fundraising ethics; compliments and complaints; and whistleblowing. We ensure that all team members understand and comply with these policies.

Our Board of Trustees reviews these policies annually, alongside our compliance with fundraising regulations.

Our privacy policy recognises data protection legislation and regulation, and ensures that we continue to comply. This is accessible to all on our websites.

We also ensure that we’re compliant with the UK General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR), the EU GDPR, the Data Protection Act 2018 and Privacy and Electronic Communications Regulations (PECR).

In the year under review, there have been no known instances of non-compliance with the requirements of the Code of Fundraising Practice (2023–24: 0).

We echo organisational values in our fundraising practice. Through our close adherence to fundraising regulations, scrutiny by the Executive Leadership team and transparency with supporters, we ensure that: we do not unreasonably intrude on a person’s privacy: we are not unreasonably persistent; and do not place undue pressure on any person to give money or other property.

We also value difference, continually seek to increase the diversity of our supporters and demonstrate inclusivity in all we do. Our fundraising committees proudly include many autistic and neurodiverse members, alongside those with lived experience.

Our fundraising work

Most of our fundraised income is generated through partnerships with trusts, foundations and corporate partners, as well as individuals who have an interest in our cause.

We have also benefited from the generosity of community members and individuals participating in events and challenges.

We use third parties to support our fundraising when specific digital platforms are required for fundraising events, e.g. JustGiving, Funraising and Givergy.

We do not engage in face-to-face or telephone direct marketing. Our regular giving programme is conducted primarily with our close community. We do not conduct street or public site collections and nor do we have any mass participation activities in place.

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Diverse and inclusive

One of our core values is that we celebrate difference. We strive to live by this value every day in all that we do. We want autistic children and young people, our staff, volunteers and supporters to feel they belong and can bring their whole professional selves to work.

This year we refreshed our staffing diversity profile, enabling us to critically review where we have opportunities to increase the diversity of the workforce and opportunities for progression.

Our well-established networks focusing on ethnic diversity, LGBTQ+ and disability sponsored a range of external speakers and activities throughout the year.

Our Equity, Diversity and Inclusion Committee and networks developed plans to launch a reverse mentoring and confidence-building programme to prepare staff for opportunities and progression. Across our schools and colleges, we continued to develop our curriculums to ensure they reflect the diverse interests, needs and experiences of the autistic children and young people we stand with. Our Learner and Family Services team ran a programme of workshops for parents and carers from a range of backgrounds.

Great place to work

We love learning at Ambitious about Autism and this has been reflected through our refreshed induction training and our wellreceived Ambitious Managers programme. We strive to ensure that our learning and development offer not only supports our core work, but also offers a development path for staff careers. We welcomed the opportunity and investment to create the Ambitious Academy (see page 15).

We invested in skills and training for the future through our leadership development programmes, including Aspiring Leaders and Strategic Leadership.

We’re open and we work together. This was reflected in the values and behaviours framework developed during the year, which enables recognition and feedback for staff. Our Staff Council continued to represent the views of staff throughout the year and selected the winners for our Staff Awards in July. The ceremony set a high bar this year, with nominations and a fantastic appreciation event for staff to celebrate their achievements. Our staff pulse survey results closed out the year, with 75% of our staff feeling proud to be part of Ambitious about Autism.

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Looking to the future

We extended our Time for Ambition strategy for the period 2024–26. This report reflects the end of the first year of our extended strategy cycle.

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Our extended strategy enabled us to grow our impact, reach more autistic children and young people, their parents and carers, and build our evidence base to influence positive change. The strategy was built on thorough internal and external analysis, listening to the views of autistic young people, their parents and carers, our partners and other key stakeholders.

Our strategy at a glance

Excellent education

We’ll make sure all autistic children and young people have an excellent and inclusive education and improve policy and practice nationally by:

• expanding our specialist schools and colleges

• developing a plan to launch our Ambitious Academy to support workforce development and share best practice with others.

Employment and enterprise

We’ll ensure more autistic young people can benefit from inclusive workplaces by:

• developing new online careers information and guidance, and creating internship opportunities reaching 5,000 autistic young people

• launching a new e-learning offer for employers on understanding autism and creating more inclusive workplaces.

Health and wellbeing

We’ll ensure autistic children and young people have improved physical and mental health by:

• refreshing and relaunching our Know Your Normal resource, in partnership with key mental health charities

• completing the pilot of our post-

• diagnostic programme Understanding You, Discovering You, with the NIHR – and sharing the findings to inform wider policy and practice.

Active citizenship in the community

We’ll make sure autistic young people feel less isolated and more empowered by:

• continuing to expand our Ambitious Youth Network to reach 5,000 autistic young people

• creating opportunities for autistic young people’s voices and experiences to be heard by decision-makers at the highest levels.

Family and relationships

We’ll help families feel more confident, empowered and less isolated by:

• providing families and the children and young people in our schools and colleges with specialist support, guidance and advocacy, during their education and beyond

• launching a new national digital information service to support struggling families, providing advice on topics such as benefits.

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Influencing policy and practice nationally

We’re passionate about making a difference to the lives of autistic children and young people. We’ll improve policy and practice nationally by drawing on our experience within our schools and colleges and across our national networks. We’ll develop campaigns based on the priorities of autistic children and young people and their families, and make practical decisions about the areas in which we can make the most difference.

Strong foundations

Achieving our objectives would not be possible without the strong foundations that underpin our strategic plan. We’ll develop and align our governance, leadership, people, culture, fundraising, infrastructure, systems and processes to support the implementation of our strategy.

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Financial review Foreword Our impact Our partners and supporters Our people Financial review Financial statements 47

Our total income for the year was £42.8m and our overall expenditure £42.3m. Our net assets are £33.5m, compared with net assets of £33.1m at 31 August 2024.

Income £42.8 million

£39.5m

charitable activities: education services

£2.4m

gifts and donated service

£0.6m trading income

Expenditure £42.3 million

£38.5m

charitable activities: education services

£2.5m

charitable activities: external affairs

£1.3m raising funds

£0.3m

investments and other income

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Financial performance

The 2024–25 year showed strong financial performance, with income of £42.8m, reflecting growth in the services provided to autistic children and young people. Total expenditure for the year is £42.3m.

Free reserves increased to £3.6m (2024: £3.1m), which is slightly above the reserves target range of £2.4m–£3.5m. These funds are available for future development in line with the Time for Ambition strategy, while also providing resilience against financial pressures.

During the year, the charity invested £0.9m in freehold and leasehold improvements, £0.2m on furniture and equipment, £0.1m on vehicles and £0.4m on computer equipment and software.

Ambitious about Autism is using an interest rate cap to manage its exposure to interest rate movements, with the interest rate fixed at 4% for the NatWest Loan of £1.1m. Our investment portfolio was valued at £1.9m, a £0.1m increase compared to 31 August 2024, despite challenging market conditions.

Investment policy

The charity’s investment policy was approved by the Board of Trustees in July 2025.

It aims to produce the best financial return at an acceptable level of risk. The risk profile is agreed with the investment manager and is regarded as medium. The policy is reviewed at least once a year. The trustees have set a target to grow the portfolio by inflation +3% per annum (after fees) over the long term. This was not achieved in the year.

The trustees have stated within the investment policy their commitment to responsible investing, and aim to make a positive difference on society through the charity’s investment holdings. Over the last three years, investments have increased from £1,833k to £1,866k, which is a increase of 2% driven by movements in the valuation of investment holdings and reflective of wider investment markets.

Investment risk management

The investment portfolio is diversified across a range of instruments to reduce the risk of overexposure to one type of asset. We hold the following instruments: fixed interest, direct UK and overseas equities, cash, alternatives including property, and managed funds. Note 12 (see page 89) provides further analysis of these assets. The investments are managed by investment managers appointed by the charity, currently Rathbones Group Plc. The risk profile is agreed with the investment manager and is regarded as medium risk.

Risk management practices

Members of the investment committee meet the investment manager twice a year to review performance and discuss market risks. The investment committee reports to the trustees on the risk profile, selection of investment managers and returns achieved.

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Reserves policy and going concern

Free reserves exclude restricted funds and designated funds. At Ambitious about Autism, we hold free reserves to mitigate against risks resulting from unexpected drops in fundraising or fee income, a downturn in pupil/learner numbers or unexpected short-term increases in expenditure.

Our reserves policy is reviewed by the trustees annually and was last reviewed in December 2025. Based upon an evaluation of income and expenditure risks and working capital requirements, the trustees have agreed that free reserves should be in the range of £2.6m–£3.8m for 2025–26. As at 31 August 2025, free reserves were £3.6m, which falls within the free reserves range. The 2025–26 budget shows a year end free reserves position that is within the agreed range. The trustees will continue to monitor the reserves position closely throughout the year.

These are:

• Fixed assets, valued at £11.6m. Depreciation expenditure will be funded from this fund on an annual basis.

• Buildings maintenance and development fund, which is based on projected 30year life cycle costs and was established for major repairs to our group and other premises. As at 31 August 2025, there was £1.0m in this fund.

• Service development fund, with a balance of £5.0m, which will be used to support the future growth and development of activities across the organisation, in alignment with the Time for Ambition strategy.

The policy of the Ambitious about Autism Schools Trust is to hold sufficient reserves to provide a working balance to mitigate the impact of uneven cash flows; provide a contingency in respect of unexpected events; and plan for potential major items of expenditure, including continued expansion.

Ambitious about Autism Schools Trust funds balance as at 31 August 2025 totalled £11.3m. This comprised £nil unrestricted funds, £4.8m of restricted funds and £6.5m of restricted fixed asset funds. The funds balance at 31 August 2024 was £11.1m.

The actuarial reports received in relation to the two Local Government Pension Schemes showed a total net asset of £1,386k in 2024–25 (£340k in 2023–24), as a result of unrealised gains in the underlying assets. Due to the risk of these gains reversing in the future, the balance of the pension asset within the accounts has been restricted to £nil, on the basis that there is no recoverable asset to the Trust.

In addition to the free reserves, Ambitious about Autism has a number of designated funds totalling £17.5m as at 31 August 2025.

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In accordance with the arrangements for a multi-academy trust, any deficit relating to the Local Government Pension Scheme (LGPS) is underwritten by the Department for Education.

After making appropriate enquiries, the trustees have a reasonable expectation that the charity has adequate resources to continue in operational existence for the foreseeable future. For this reason,

it continues to adopt the going concern basis in preparing the financial statements. Further details regarding the adoption of the going concern basis can be found in the Statement of Accounting Policies.

Risks and uncertainties

Risks are managed in accordance with the risk policy approved by the Board of Trustees.

The aim of the policy is to:

• understand as fully as possible the risks being faced

• take appropriate action to manage those risks

• minimise the risk of new initiatives adversely affecting existing work

• accept a higher level of uncertainty, if appropriate, when taking advantage of new opportunities.

The table on the next page identifies the four key strategic risks that have been identified by the Board of Trustees and explains how these risks are being managed.

Ambitious about Autism has a risk register, which is reviewed on a termly basis by the Finance and Resources Committee and the Board of Trustees. Risks are scored according to likelihood and impact. The changes to risks are reviewed termly by the Finance and Resources Committee and Board, alongside the actions being taken or proposed to mitigate the risks.

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	Risk	Mitigation
Pupil and learner numbers	Within an uncertain policy environment in times of austerity, there is an increased risk to pupil and learner numbers in our education services, and this uncertainty impacts our ability to plan.	To manage the risk, we monitor pupil and learner numbers so that we can carefully manage admissions and increase our admission numbers as required. We maintain good relationships with commissioners, ensuring timely assessment dates to enable a fast turnaround of consultations, and support parents and carers through the admissions process.
Recruitment and retention	The failure to recruit and retain the quantity and quality of specialist staff required poses a signifcant risk to services operating as planned.	Recruiting and retaining skilled and committed staff is fundamental to the quality of support provided by Ambitious about Autism and our Schools Trust. We have devised our People Strategy and have several key projects focused on creating a compelling offer to work at Ambitious about Autism, improving our reward offer, supporting our career and developmental pathways for staff as well as maintaining ongoing recruitment to ensure pipelines of talent.
Financial risk	The fnancial impact of an uncertain economic outlook, and high-cost infation, may negatively affect the fnancial position.	Regular management reporting and fnancial re-forecasting is undertaken to understand an up-to-date picture of the group’s fnancial outlook and is available to senior management and trustees. Cash fow forecasting is prepared to assess the organisation’s ability to meet fnancial obligations. Reserves balances are maintained to support fnancial sustainability.
	Fee negotiations with local	Annual fee uplifts are communicated to Local Authorities in March each year, enabling
Pupil and	authorities placing pupils and	fee related discussions to take place over the fve months prior to the start of the academic
learner related	learners could cause cash	year to which they relate. An internal fee and debt working group meets regularly to
fee income	fow issues and/or have	maintain focus on fees and move forward discussions. Meetings with local authority
	a negative impact on	contacts are scheduled to discuss queries in a timely manner. Additional information
	fnancial sustainability.	requested by local authorities is provided promptly with clear explanations.

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Legal structures and governance

Governance

Ambitious about Autism (the Company) is a charitable company limited by guarantee, incorporated on 23 May 1997 per Companies House (company number 03375255) and registered as a charity on 2 July 1997 (charity number 1063184). The Company was established under a memorandum of association, which established the objects and powers of the charitable company and is governed under its articles of association.

Ambitious about Autism is governed by a Board of Trustees who also act as the directors of the Company for the purposes of company law.

Ambitious about Autism Schools Trust (the Trust) is a multi-academy trust, a company limited by guarantee and an exempt charity. It was founded and incorporated on 18 December 2012 (company number 08335297) to support the development and running of The Rise School

and further free schools. In September 2023, a second free school, Spring School, opened within the Trust.

The charitable company’s memorandum and articles of association are the primary governing documents of the Trust. The Trust is governed by a Board of Trustees who also act as the directors of the charitable company for the purposes of company law, and it has members whose duty is to ensure that the board is effectively discharging its responsibilities. Ambitious about Autism is the sole corporate member of the Trust along with three individual members.

A formal governance review was conducted in 2019 supported by an external facilitator with a focus on streamlining and strengthening governance arrangements across the group. The board, committee structure and membership, articles of association, members’ agreements, scheme of reservation and delegation, and terms of references were all updated and are now reviewed annually. All changes in relation to

the Trust were approved by the Department for Education.

The trustees of Ambitious about Autism and the trustees of Ambitious about Autism Schools Trust are all members of the Joint Group Board Committee. The respective Ambitious about Autism and Ambitious about Autism Schools Trust boards retain responsibility for all matters and delegate a number of appropriate decisions to the Joint Group Board Committee and its subcommittees. This maximises efficiency and impact between the two boards. For example, where joint policies exist, they are reviewed and approved, where appropriate, by the Joint Group Board Committee. Clear schemes of reservation and delegation are in place for both boards.

Both Boards of Trustees follow a regular cycle of termly meetings and have at least one away day with the Executive Leadership team each year, as well as holding additional meetings when required.

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The boards are supported by several joint subcommittees as set out below:

• The Nominations and Remuneration Committee oversees governance planning and policy, including trustee recruitment, support and review. It also reviews and agrees remuneration and terms and conditions of employment for the Executive Leadership team and staff across the Company and the Trust. It meets termly in advance of board meetings.

• The Finance and Resources Committee meets termly in advance of board meetings and is responsible for the general oversight and scrutiny of systems, planning, financial and resource management, and reviewing internal controls and risk management for the charity and the Trust.

• The Education and Care Committee meets termly and is responsible for oversight of education services. It also oversees the governing bodies and advisory groups in each service for both the charity and the Trust.

• The Investment Committee, an Ambitious about Autism committee, reports to the Finance and Resources Committee, monitoring the performance of the charity’s investment portfolio. It meets twice a year.

• The Trust Audit Committee meets termly to oversee the annual report and accounts, the audit, the programme of internal scrutiny and compliance with Department for Education legislation for the Trust.

All matters related to the educational performance of TreeHouse School, The Rise School, Spring School, Ambitious College and St. John’s College are examined by their governing bodies. Safeguarding is discussed and considered at every level of our governance.

Management of the charity and the Trust is delegated to the chief executive, who is also the accounting officer for the Trust, and the Executive Leadership team, whose members attend board and subcommittee meetings.

The Ambitious about Autism Youth Council comprised seven autistic young people aged 18–25 as of 31 August 2025. Members of the Youth Council are encouraged to shape and

influence our work and make presentations to the Board of Trustees. Two Youth Council Link Trustees ensure a strong link exists between the board and the Youth Council.

Trustee recruitment, induction and training

The aim of the charity and the Trust is to build a diverse board that has the optimum range of skills, experience and perspectives to ensure that we have the appropriate level of support, scrutiny and oversight.

People with lived experience of autism are involved in the governance and decisionmaking of the charity and the Trust, including on the Board of Trustees, the governing bodies and advisory groups

The recruitment and induction policy works to promote this goal. New trustees are recruited openly through a variety of channels, including search, advertising and through networks. Once recruited, trustees are supported with an induction programme and handbook in the first few months. As part of the induction

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process, trustees receive training on issues such as safeguarding, health and safety, and data protection.

The charity also runs a termly training programme for trustees, covering topics such as equity, diversity and inclusion, exclusions and unconscious bias.

The recruitment, induction and appraisal of trustees is overseen by the Nominations and Remuneration Committee. All trustees give their time voluntarily and receive no benefits from the charity or the Trust. Any expenses reclaimed are set out in note 6 to the accounts (see page 84).

Charity Governance Code

The principles and recommended practice set out in the Charity Governance Code are regularly discussed by the trustees. We commissioned an external governance review, which we will report on in 2025–26.

Engagement with suppliers,

customers and others in a business relationship

We have a strong commitment to paying all suppliers within agreed terms.

Our Executive Leadership team prioritises achieving the best possible outcomes for our pupils, learners and stakeholders. Open engagement with parents and carers, and our local communities is vital to building successful and long-term relationships.

We continued to work closely and collaboratively with local authorities to ensure that outcomes are mutually beneficial, with our pupils, learners and stakeholders continuing to be our core focus. We worked hard to establish and maintain good relationships with our wider stakeholders, including our funders and supporters.

S172 statement

The board has identified the following key stakeholders based on the nature of their interactions with the charity and with reference to the charitable objectives:

• the autistic children and young people who attend education settings run by Ambitious about Autism, and their parents and carers

• the autistic young people who access the national programmes and activities run by Ambitious about Autism, and their parents and carers

• funders, supporters and partners of Ambitious about Autism’s national programmes of activities

• current and potential employers of autistic young people, professionals working in the field of autism education

• our employees, suppliers and contractors.

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The Executive Leadership team and the board make assessments and decisions in good faith, considering the potential consequence for stakeholders. In addition, they consider the expected outcomes most likely to promote the success of Ambitious about Autism. The benefits to our pupils, learners and stakeholders are always paramount.

The Executive Leadership team and the board consider the following:

• The consequences of any decision in the long term, including a regular review of our risk register, departmental operational plans and overall strategic plan.

• The interests of our employees, through regular feedback from all-staff meetings, team meetings and individual monthly supervisions.

• The need to foster business relationships with suppliers, customers and others, through prompt supplier payments, regular meetings and communication with local authorities, including weekly updates to local authorities with respect to our pupils and learners.

• The impact of the operations of the charity and the Trust on the community and the environment. We have a community representative on all our governing bodies and continue to review our fleet management to achieve further cost savings in terms of running costs and our impact on the environment.

• The desirability of the charity and the Trust in maintaining a reputation for high standards of business conduct. We lead by example and build a culture of excellence through good recruitment choices and practices, and excellent training.

• The need to act fairly as members of the charity and the Trust. We have combined most of our policies across the group.

• Board oversight and challenge – the Board of Trustees receives regular updates on stakeholder engagement at its termly meetings through the management reporting pack developed by the Senior Management team. For example, recent/ planned engagement moments with employees are outlined in the termly and annual People report and KPIs, and recent/planned engagement moments

with funders are outlined in the

termly and annual Fundraising reports. The board engages directly with autistic young people through the Youth Council, who are represented at board meetings either in person or through pre-recorded messages. The trustees are encouraged to question and challenge the senior management team to ensure the input of key stakeholders is taken into account when developing organisational strategy.

• Board training – the Board of Trustees receives regular training on a range of subjects, including compliance matters related to safeguarding and governance, and on topics more widely related to the areas in which the charity operates. Bi-annual seminars are held to focus on areas of current interest for the trustees, including topics relevant to stakeholder engagement. Trustees are also regularly invited to attend events with external stakeholders, and to visit the educational settings, in order to gain a first-hand insight into the needs and interests of key stakeholder groups.

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• Our Time for Ambition Strategy was extended for a further two years in 2023–24. Next year we’ll be engaging with key stakeholders and inviting input to develop a new strategy from 2026 onwards.

During the year, our Service Development team met with a number of key external stakeholders, including the Department for Education and a range of local authorities, to explore options for the further growth and development of the organisation. There was also a high level of engagement with key government policymakers (see pages 15–16).

The Youth Council is an important group of volunteers, providing a link between the Board of Trustees and autistic young people to ensure their voice is heard and reflected at a strategic level. See page 7 for more information about the Youth Council’s activities during 2024–25.

Remuneration policy for key management personnel

The Board of Trustees of Ambitious about Autism and the Trust is responsible for defining the executive pay policy. This includes deciding on the salaries of the chief executive and the Executive Leadership team. The Board delegates this responsibility to the Nominations and Remuneration Committee. The committee reviews executive pay and our total reward strategy for staff.

The committee meets each term and makes recommendations to the Board of Trustees for approval. We have an executive pay policy that sets out our approach to pay for our Executive Leadership team, how pay is determined and reviewed, and the relative impact on pay across the organisation.

Our approach to pay is underpinned by our principle to: “Pay a fair salary and reward package to attract and retain skilled and expert senior leaders for Ambitious about Autism and Ambitious about Autism Schools Trust.

Salaries and benefits should be competitive within the charity, education and public sectors, proportionate to the complexity of each role and responsibility, and in line with our objectives and affordable.”

The executive pay policy aims to follow a robust, evidence-based process to achieve this principle:

• Take account of pay in similar organisations in the UK charity and public sector markets, but do not compete with salaries in the private sector.

• Monitor salary trends in the charity sector through surveys produced by providers such as XpertHR, Croner and ACEVO, as well as the Department for Education’s financial benchmarking reports for academy schools and, where necessary, commission external benchmarking exercises.

• Ensure performance is reviewed and reported to the Nominations and Remuneration Committee on an annual basis. Apply performance-related pay elements only where required by the relevant market sector.

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• Mirror the national standards for professional groups, such as headteachers.

• Take account of the Academy Trust Handbook.

• Take account of the difference between Executive Leadership team pay and the lowest-paid roles, and median and average pay across the organisation.

Our approach to safeguarding

Safeguarding is everyone’s responsibility within the charity and the Trust. This means our trustees, governors, employees and volunteers are required to ensure that Ambitious about Autism is a safe space. Our policies and procedures also apply to extended and off-site activities, managed by the charity and the Trust, such as community access programmes, residential visits and work experience placements.

All staff members undertake safeguarding and adult protection training during induction, including whistleblowing procedures, to ensure they understand our safeguarding systems and their responsibilities.

This training is regularly updated, at least annually, and is in line with advice from our local safeguarding adult partnerships. All staff receive training on the government’s anti-radicalisation strategy, PREVENT, to enable them to identify young people at risk of being drawn into terrorism and to challenge extremist ideas.

Staff also receive regular safeguarding and adult protection updates (e.g. through emails, newsletters and staff meetings).

All trustees and governors receive training and updates about safeguarding, to make sure they have the knowledge and information needed to perform their functions and understand their strategic responsibilities as outlined in Part 2 of the Department for Education’s statutory safeguarding guidance, Keeping Children Safe in Education 2024 (KCSiE).

Safeguarding is embedded in our recruitment processes, with at least one person on any interview/appointment panel for a post required to have completed Safer Recruitment in Education training.

All staff who have contact with children, young people and families have regular supervisions, and some have access to external clinical supervisions. These provide staff with support, coaching and training, promote the interests of young people and allow for confidential discussions of sensitive issues.

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Streamlined Energy and Carbon Reporting (SECR)

Energy and carbon consumption

SECR is a legislative reporting requirement that took effect on 1 April 2019. It mandates that all companies that meet the thresholds must report on their operational energy consumption and associated emissions. The high-level breakdown is as follows:

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kWh Mileage tCO2e
2024–25 1,616,519 n/a 296
Gas
2023–24 987,547 n/a 180
2024–25 898,827 n/a 159
Electricity
2023–24 928,264 n/a 193
2024–25 74,955 20,789 18
Transport
2023–24 118,748 31,501 28
2024–25 2,590,301 20,789 473
Total
2023–24 2,034,559 31,501 401
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Intensity metric

An intensity metric gives us an indicator of carbon performance based on an operational figure of the number of service users (pupils and learners), with 441 users emitting on average 0.75kg CO2e each. This is measured annually and compared with previous years to show progress in reducing our carbon intensity.

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2024–25 2023–24
Number of service users 446 441
tCO2e 473 401
Average 1.06 0.91
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Sustainability action plan

At Ambitious about Autism, we understand the important role that we play in responding to climate change. We’re committed to reducing our carbon emissions and have already made excellent progress on our sustainability action plan. Through our new three-year strategy, we’re raising better awareness, reshaping our activities and developing solutions to ensure that our organisation is environmentally, economically and socially sustainable.

Our achievements in 2024–25 included:

• new electric vehicle and charging point installed at Ambitious College’s Tottenham campus and two new electric minibuses provided to St. John’s College

• lighting audit undertaken and LED replacement plan in place for St. John’s College

• rollout of energy efficient and autismfriendly electric hand dryers in washrooms

• new chemical-free cleaning contracts for St. John’s College, TreeHouse School and Ambitious College’s Tottenham campus

• carbon footprint baseline established for long-term performance monitoring

• new print contract with more energy efficient devices rolled out across all settings

• voluntary, community and social enterprise (VCSE) Energy Efficiency Scheme audit completed at TreeHouse School and energy saving action plan developed

• revision of the procurement policies to ensure that sustainability and the environment are considered in all procurement decisions

• sustainability strategy and action plan refreshed for another three years.

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We’re really proud of our journey so far and, despite the economic challenges, there have been some substantive and impactful achievements. As we move forward with our strategy, we’ll continue to review and further develop our plans, while also exploring new opportunities that contribute to a sustainable future.

The following figures were used to convert energy (kWh) to tCO2e figures:

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Litre CO2e
2024–25 2023–24 2024–25 2023–24
0.1830 0.1829
Gas n/a n/a tonnes tonnes
per MWh per MWh
0.1770 0.2071
Electricity n/a n/a tonnes tonnes
per MWh per MWh
Petrol: Petrol: Petrol: Petrol:
9.421 9.4690 0.2196 0.2201
kWh kWh tonnes tonnes
per litre per litre per MWh per MWh
Fuel
Diesel: Diesel: Diesel: Diesel:
10.5314 10.5129 0.2441 0.2390
kWh per kWh per tonnes tonnes
litre litre per MWh per MWh
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Keeping data safe

We take the security and confidentiality of personal and organisational data extremely seriously. Protecting the information entrusted to us is fundamental to maintaining the trust of our pupils and learners, supporters, and partners.

Our approach includes:

• compliance with UK GDPR and Data Protection Act 2018 to ensure lawful and transparent processing

• robust technical and organisational measures, including secure systems, encryption, and controlled access

• regular staff training to promote best practice and reduce risk

• continuous monitoring

and improvement of our data protection policies and procedures.

Public benefit

Ambitious about Autism works to support autistic children and young people and their families throughout the UK:

• TreeHouse School, The Rise School and Spring School support pupils aged 4–19.

• Ambitious College and St. John’s College support learners aged 16–25, based on their needs.

Placements for pupils and learners are funded by a combination of funding from the Department for Education and local authorities. Other activities are funded through voluntary income or fees earned from providing a service, e.g. providing specialist training or support to parents, teachers and other professionals.

In overseeing the provision of education and the support of children, young people and their families, the trustees have complied with their duty regarding the guidance on public benefit published by the Charity Commission in exercising their powers and duties.

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The trustees have referred to the guidance contained in the Charity Commission’s general guidance on public benefit when reviewing the aims and objectives of the charity and in planning its future activities.

Ambitious about Autism’s principal object is to advance, for the public benefit, education in the UK by developing schools to make special educational provisions for pupils with special educational needs, or 16–19 academies offering curricula appropriate to the needs of their students.

Connected organisations

Ambitious about Autism is an active member of the Autism Alliance, British Institute of Learning Disabilities (BILD), Care and Support Alliance, Challenge Partners, Confederation of School Trusts (CST), Council for Disabled Children, Disabled Children’s Partnership, Digital Services Consortium, National Association for Non-Maintained and Independent Special Schools (NASS), Natspec and the Special Educational Consortium.

Our education provisions are co-located at Springwest Academy (part of the Tudor Park Education Trust), West Thames College, The College of Haringey, Enfield and North East London, Whittington Hospital and Chessington World of Adventures Resort.

Ambitious about Autism

Schools Trust

The Ambitious about Autism Schools Trust is a separate exempt charity.

Ambitious about Autism is the sole corporate member of the Trust. Therefore, the results of Ambitious about Autism Schools Trust are consolidated into these group financial statements.

The Trust is actively seeking further partnerships to develop more special schools to address a growing need for more specialist education provision for autistic children and young people.

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Trustees, advisers and senior staff

Our leadership team and advisers

The trustees of Ambitious about Autism are directors and members of the charitable company. They each guarantee to contribute an amount not exceeding £1 to the assets of the charitable company in the event of winding up.

The total number of such guarantees on 31 August 2025 was seven. The trustees have no beneficial interest in the charitable company.

Trustees of Ambitious about Autism

Bob Bishop

(Chair from 13 December 2024)

Neil Goulden

(Chair until 13 December 2024)

Michael Clark

(Chair of the Nominations and Remuneration Committee, Vice Chair of the Board of Trustees)

Eduardo Gutierrez-Garcia

(Treasurer, Chair of the Finance and Resources Committee and Chair of the Investment Committee)

Andy Forbes

(Chair of the Education and Care Committee)

Trustees of Ambitious about Autism Schools Trust

Bob Bishop

(Chair from 13 December 2024)

Neil Goulden

(Chair until 13 December 2024)

Michael Clark

(Vice Chair)

Eduardo Gutierrez-Garcia

(Treasurer and Chair of the Finance and Resources Committee)

Angela Buxton

Mary Fawcett

Jack Welch

Andy Forbes

Anna Thatcher

Joanna Healey (Until 13 December 2024)

Ian Caplan

Helen Jeffries

Anastasia Klein

Mark O’Kelly

Laura Palmer

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Members of Ambitious about Autism Schools Trust

Ambitious about Autism

Ian Caplan Martyn Craddock Elizabeth Stanton Jack Welch

The trustees are supported in their work by the president and vice presidents, who all support the work of our charity.

President

The Lord Tim Clement-Jones CBE

Vice presidents

Nick Baldwin CBE Virginia Bovell OBE Peter Carroll John Constantine Katharine Doré OBE Karen Edwards Neil Goulden Dame Tristia Harrison DBE Alex Hatter Richard Hatter Nick Hornby Bruno Paulson Sir Trevor Pears CMG Matthew Punshon Graham Tobbell Susan Tobbell OBE Charlotte Warner Sid Wells

Expert advisers

Our team of expert advisers are leading academics, clinicians, lawyers and communications professionals, all with an interest in autism and a passion to raise awareness and understanding. They provide advice and guidance on specific projects and campaigns, all as volunteers. We’re honoured to be able to draw on the expertise of:

Judith Barnard Steve Broach Leo Capella Prof Tony Charman Prof Richard Hastings Prof Patricia Howlin Jonathan Meth Dr Emran Mian OBE David Nicholson Nick Peacey Mark Schmid Dr Rowie Shaw OBE Fiona Slomovic Su Thomas Richard Townley Gaby Zein

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Parent patrons

Ambassadors

Our team of parent patrons are all people whose lives have been touched by autism:

Our ambassadors come from all walks of life, but all share an interest in autism and a passion to raise awareness and understanding. Our ambassadors are:

Nicky Clark and understanding. Our ambassadors are: Clare Coombe-Tennant Jon Snow John Coombe-Tennant Sam Holness Matt Davis Travis George Eliza Mishcon David Mitchell Keith Duffy Kathy Lette Charlotte Moore Jules Robertson Claire Ryan Lucy Mottram Sophie Walker Simon Mottram Hayley Ronson Luke Treadaway Niamh Cusack

Employ Autism development board

The Lord Tim Clement Jones CBE (Chair) Bob Bishop

Laurie Edmans CBE (resigned) Steve Woodhouse (newly appointed) Chris Pond Alistair MacCallum Sue Adkins Matt Hutnell (resigned) Sally Cairns (resigned) Nick Medd Kathryn Stringer (newly appointed)

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Executive Leadership team

The trustees delegate day-to-day management of the charity to the Executive Leadership team:

Lindsay Taylor

Director of Finance and Planning, and Company Secretary (from 22 April 2025)

Paul Van Walwyk

Director of Education (to 31 August 2025)

Solicitors

Stone King LLP

13 Queen Square, Bath BA1 2HJ

Farrer & Co LLP

66 Lincoln’s Inn Fields, Holborn, London WC2A 3LH

Jolanta Lasota

Chief Executive

Paul Breckell

Deputy Chief Executive

Louise Honeysett

Director of Finance and Planning, and Company Secretary (to 14 March 2025)

Danae Leaman-Hill

Independent auditor

Crowe LLP

4th Floor, St James House St James Square Cheltenham GL50 3PR

Bankers

Investment managers

Rathbone Brothers Public

Limited Company

8 Finsbury Circus, London EC2M 7AZ

Director of External Affairs and Development

National Westminster Bank Plc

Michael Michaelides

Director of Property and IT

Sam Newton

Director of Education and Care (from 4 August 2025)

Mark Ospedale

13 Market Place, Reading RG1 2EP

Nationwide Building Society

Nationwide House, Pipers Way, Swindon SN38 1NW

CAF Bank Limited

25 Kings Hill Avenue, Kings Hill, West Malling ME19 4JQ

Director of People and Culture

Barclays Bank Plc

1 Churchill Place, London E14 5HP

Helen Spice

Director of Finance and Planning (to 9 May 2025)

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The statement of trustees’ responsibilities

The trustees (who are also directors of Ambitious about Autism for the purposes of company law) are responsible for preparing this 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, which give a true and fair view of the state of affairs of the charitable company and group as at the balance sheet date, and of the incoming resources and application of resources, including the income and expenditure, of the group for that period. In preparing these financial statements, the trustees are required to:

• select suitable accounting policies and then apply them consistently

• observe the methods and principles in the Charities Statement of Recommended Practice (SORP)

• state whether applicable UK Accounting Standards have been followed, subject to any material departures disclosed and explained in the financial statements and prepare the financial statements on the going concern basis unless it is inappropriate to presume that the charity will continue in operation.

The trustees are responsible for maintaining proper 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.

• make judgements and estimates that are reasonable and prudent

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Statement as to disclosure of information to auditor

In so far as the trustees are aware:

• there is no relevant audit information of which the charitable company’s auditor is unaware

• the trustees have taken all 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.

The Trustees’ Annual Report is approved by order of the Board of Trustees and the Strategic Report and the Directors’ Report required by company law (included therein) are approved by the Board of Trustees in their capacity as the directors at a meeting on 20 March 2026 and signed on their behalf by:

Bob Bishop

Chair of the Board of Trustees

The trustees are also responsible for safeguarding the assets of the charitable company and the group, 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 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.

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Independent auditor’s report to the members of Ambitious about Autism

Opinion

We have audited the financial statements of Ambitious About Autism (‘the charitable company’) and its subsidiaries (‘the group’) for the year ended 31 August 2025 which comprise the Consolidated statement of financial activities, Balance sheets, Consolidated statement of cash flows and notes to the financial statements, including 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 the charitable company’s affairs as at 31 August 2025 and of the group’s 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 Auditor’s responsibilities for the audit of the financial statements section of our report. We are independent of the group 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.

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Conclusions relating to going concern

In auditing the financial statements, we have concluded that the 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 charitable company's or the group’s ability to continue as a going concern for a period of at least 12 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 trustees are responsible for the other information contained within the annual report. The other information comprises the information included in the annual report, other than the financial statements and our auditor’s report thereon. 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 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.

Opinions on other matters prescribed by the Companies Act 2006

In our opinion based on the work undertaken in the course of our audit:

• the information given in the Trustees’ Annual Report, which includes the directors’ report and the strategic 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’ Annual Report have been prepared in accordance with applicable legal requirements.

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Matters on which we are required to report by exception

In light of the knowledge and understanding of the group and charitable company and their environment obtained in the course of the audit, we have not identified material misstatements in the strategic report or the directors’ report included within the Trustees' Annual Report.

We have nothing to report in respect of the following matters in relation to which the Companies Act 2006 requires us to report to you if, in our opinion:

• adequate and proper accounting records have not been kept; or

• the 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

Auditor’s 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.

Details of the extent to which the audit was considered capable of detecting irregularities, including fraud and noncompliance with laws and regulations are set out below.

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 auditor’s report.

Extent to which the audit was considered capable of detecting irregularities, including fraud

Irregularities, including fraud, are instances of non-compliance with laws and regulations. We identified and assessed the risks of material misstatement of the financial statements from irregularities, whether due to fraud or error, and discussed these between our audit team members. We then designed and performed audit procedures responsive to those risks, including obtaining audit evidence sufficient and appropriate to provide a basis for our opinion.

• we have not received all the information and explanations we require for our audit.

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We obtained an understanding of the legal and regulatory frameworks within which the charitable company and group operates, focusing on those laws and regulations that have a direct effect on the determination of material amounts and disclosures in the financial statements. The laws and regulations we considered in this context were the Companies Act 2006, taxation legislation, employment legislation, together with the Charities SORP (FRS 102). We assessed the required compliance with these laws and regulations as part of our audit procedures on the related financial statement items.

In addition, we considered provisions of other laws and regulations that do not have a direct effect on the financial statements but compliance with which might be fundamental to the charitable company’s and the group’s ability to operate or to avoid a material penalty. We also considered the opportunities and incentives that may exist within the charitable company and the group for fraud. The laws and regulations we considered in this context were Ofsted and the Care Quality Commission (CQC).

Auditing standards limit the required audit procedures to identify non-compliance with these laws and regulations to enquiry of the trustees and other management and inspection of regulatory and legal correspondence, if any.

We identified the greatest risk of material impact on the financial statements from irregularities, including fraud, to be within grant income and the override of controls by management. Our audit procedures to respond to these risks included enquiries of management, and the Finance and Resources Committee about their own identification and assessment of the risks of irregularities, sample testing on the posting of journals, designing audit procedures over grant income, reviewing accounting estimates for biases, reviewing regulatory correspondence with the Charity Commission, Ofsted, CQC and reading minutes of meetings of those charged with governance.

Owing to the inherent limitations of an audit, there is an unavoidable risk that we may not have detected some material misstatements in the financial statements, even though we have properly planned and performed our audit in accordance with auditing standards. For example, the further removed non-compliance with laws and regulations (irregularities) is from the events and transactions reflected in the financial statements, the less likely the inherently limited procedures required by auditing standards would identify it. In addition, as with any audit, there remained a higher risk of non-detection of irregularities, as these may involve collusion, forgery, intentional omissions, misrepresentations, or the override of internal controls. We are not responsible for preventing noncompliance and cannot be expected to detect noncompliance with all laws and regulations.

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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.

Guy Biggin Senior Statutory Auditor

For and on behalf of Crowe U.K. LLP Statutory Auditor

Date: 19 May 2026

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Consolidated statement of financial activities

(incorporating an income and expenditure account) For the year ended 31 August 2025

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Ambitious about Autism For the year ended
Ambitious about Autism Schools Trust 31 August 2024
Note Unrestricted Restricted Subtotal Restricted Total Total
£’000 £’000 £’000 £’000 £’000 £’000
Income from:
Donations and legacies:
Gifts and donated services 2 1,589 836 2,425 28 2,453 3,039
St. John’s donation - - - - - - 11,986
Charitable activities:
Educational services 3 29,523 302 29,825 9,628 39,453 36,530
External affairs 3 - 36 36 - 36 40
Other income
Trading income 414 20 434 209 643 569
Investment income 252 - 252 - 252 207
Total income 31,778 1,194 32,972 9,865 42,837 52,371
Expenditure on:
Raising funds
Fundraising activities 1,316 - 1,316 - 1,316 1,194
Investment management costs 13 - 13 - 13 13
1,329 - 1,329 - 1,329 1,207
Charitable activities:
Educational services 29,614 436 30,050 8,428 38,478 36,392
External Affairs and Development 1,631 844 2,475 - 2,475 2,727
Total expenditure 4 32,574 1,280 33,854 8,428 42,282 40,326
Net (expense)/income before other gains/(losses) (796) (86) (882) 1,437 555 12,045
Net gains on FA investments 12 81 - 81 - 81 137
Net gains on defined benefit pension schemes 17 - - - (188) (188) (158)
Net (expenditure)/income (715) (86) (801) 1,249 448 12,024
Transfers between funds 19 1,355 (313) 1,042 (1,042) - -
Net movement in funds 640 (399) 241 207 448 12,024
Reconciliation of funds:
Total funds brought forward 19 20,457 1,479 21,936 11,116 33,052 21,028
Total funds carried forward 19 21,097 1,080 22,177 11,323 33,500 33,052
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Balance sheets

As at 31 August 2025

Company number: 03375255

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Group Ambitious about Autism
Note 31 August 2025 31 August 2024 31 August 2025 31 August 2024
£’000 £’000 £’000 £’000
Fixed assets:
Tangible assets 10 19,651 19,421 13,227 13,156
Investments 12 1,866 1,833 1,866 1,833
Intangible assets 11 328 216 320 198
21,845 21,470 15,413 15,187
Current assets:
Debtors 13 15,978 13,553 11,522 9,462
Assets held for sale 13a 4,500 5,420 4,500 5,420
Cash at bank and in hand 3,092 5,004 2,434 4,272
Short-term deposits 8,164 5,603 4,664 2,064
31,734 29,580 23,120 21,218
Liabilities:
Creditors: amounts falling due within one year 14,15 (16,810) (14,225) (13,087) (10,696)
Net current assets 14,924 15,355 10,033 10,522
Total assets less current liabilities 36,769 36,825 25,446 25,709
Creditors: amounts falling due after one year 16 (3,269) (3,773) (3,269) (3,773)
Defined benefit pension scheme liability 17 - - - -
Total net assets 18 33,500 33,052 22,177 21,936
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Balance sheets

As at 31 August 2025

Company number: 03375255

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Group Ambitious about Autism
Note 31 August 2025 31 August 2024 31 August 2025 31 August 2024
£’000 £’000 £’000 £’000
Funds
Restricted funds:
Ambitious about Autism 1,080 1,479 1,080 1,479
Ambitious about Autism Schools Trust 11,323 11,116 - -
Total restricted funds 12,403 12,595 1,080 1,479
Unrestricted funds:
Designated funds 17,516 17,371 17,516 17,371
General funds 3,581 3,086 3,581 3,086
Total unrestricted funds 21,097 20,457 21,097 20,457
Total funds 19 33,500 33,052 22,177 21,936
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The financial statements on pages 73 to 76 were approved and authorised for issue by the trustees on 20 March 2026 and signed on their behalf by

Bob Bishop Chair of the Board of Trustees

The notes on pages 77 to 107 form an integral part of these financial statements.

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Consolidated statement of cash flows

For the year ended 31 August 2025

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For the year ended For the year ended
31 August 2025 31 August 2024
Note £’000 £’000 £’000 £’000
Cash flows from operating activities
Net cash provided by operating activities 20 2,805 5,008
Cash flows from investing activities
Dividends and interest from investments 252 207
Interest payable (238) (305)
Purchase of tangible and intangible fixed assets (1,734) (1,771)
Proceed from sale of tangible fixed asset - 975
Proceeds from the sale of investments 236 389
Change on cash held for investment 10 (52)
Purchase of investments (178) (436)
Net cash (used in) investing activities (1,652) (993)
Cash flows from financing activities
Repayment of St. John’s Loans (733)
Repayments of borrowing (504) (384)
Net cash (used in) financing activities (504) (1,117)
Change in cash and cash equivalents 649 2,898
Cash and cash equivalents at the beginning of the year 10,607 7,709
Cash and cash equivalents at the end of the year 11,256 10,607
Cash and cash equivalents consists of:
Cash at bank and in hand 3,092 5,004
Short-term deposits 8,164 5,603
11,256 10,607
At the start of Cash flows At the end of
the year the year
£’000 £’000 £’000
Net debt reconciliation
Cash 5,004 (1,912) 3,092
Cash equivalents 5,603 2,561 8,164
Loans falling due within one year (409) (34) (443)
Loans falling due after more than one year (3,699) 504 (3,195)
6,499 1,119 7,618
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Notes to the financial statements For the year ended 31 August 2025

1. Accounting policies

Ambitious about Autism is a private charitable group limited by guarantee and is incorporated in England and Wales. The registered office address is Woodside Avenue, London, N10 3JA.

a. Basis of preparation

The financial statements have been prepared in accordance with 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 Republic of Ireland (FRS 102) – (Charities SORP FRS 102), the Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland (FRS 102) (March 2018) the Companies Act 2006 and the Charities Act 2011.

The financial statements are presented in Sterling (£) which is also the functional currency of the group.

The accounts are rounded to the nearest thousand (£’000). Assets and liabilities are initially recognised at historical cost or transaction value unless otherwise stated in the relevant accounting policy or note.

• b. Basis of consolidation

Ambitious about Autism is the sole corporate member of AaAST. Therefore the consolidated financial statements of the charity incorporate the financial statements of the trust, a UK private company limited by guarantee (company registration number 8335297) that is also an exempt charity. Ambitious about Autism Schools Trust’s results and net assets at 31 August 2025 are consolidated within these accounts on a line by line basis. Intercompany transactions and balances between charitable companies are eliminated. Consistent accounting policies have been adopted across the group.

The charity has also taken advantage of the exemption available to a qualifying entity in FRS 102 from the requirement to present a charity only Statement of Cash Flows and certain disclosures about the charity's Financial instruments within the consolidated financial statements.

No separate Statement of Financial Activities (''SOFA'') has been prepared for the charity alone as permitted by Section 408 of the Companies Act 2006.

• c. Public benefit entity The charitable company meets the definition of a public benefit entity under FRS 102.

d. Going concern The trustees consider that there are no material uncertainties about the charitable company’s ability to continue as a going concern. A 12-month detailed budget is prepared from year-end as well as a higher level five-year finance model. The trustees have a reasonable expectation that Ambitious about Autism and the Ambitious about Autism Schools Trust has available cash to settle liabilities as they fall due and has adequate resources to continue in operational existence for the foreseeable future.

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 for a period of at least 12 months from sign off.

• e. Income

• Income is recognised when the group has entitlement to the funds, any performance conditions attached to the income have been met, it is probable that the income will be received and that the amount can be measured reliably.

Income from government and other grants, whether ‘capital’ grants or ‘revenue’ grants, is recognised when the group has entitlement to the funds, any performance conditions attached to the grants have been met, it is probable that the income will be received and the amount can be measured reliably and is not deferred. Fees are recognised as soon as services are rendered and Ambitious about Autism defers any income until the criteria has been met.

School and college fee income received in advance of the provision of a specified service is deferred until the criteria for income recognition are met.

• f. Donations of gifts, services and facilities Donated professional services and donated facilities are recognised as income when the group has control over the item or received the service, any conditions associated with the donation have been met, the receipt of economic benefit from the use by the group of the item is probable and that the economic benefit can be measured reliably.

On receipt, donated gifts, professional services and donated facilities are recognised on the basis of the value of the gift to the group, which is the amount the group would have been willing to pay to obtain services or facilities of equivalent economic benefit on the open market; a corresponding amount is then recognised in the expenditure in the period of receipt.

• g. Interest receivable

Interest on funds held on deposit is included when receivable and the amount can be measured reliably by the group; this is normally upon notification of the interest paid or payable by the bank.

• h. Fund accounting

• Restricted funds are to be used for specific purposes as laid down by the donor. Expenditure which meets these criteria is charged to the fund.

Unrestricted funds are donations and other income received or generated for the charitable purposes.

Designated funds are unrestricted funds earmarked by the Trustees for particular purposes.

• i. Expenditure and irrecoverable VAT

• Expenditure is recognised once there is a legal or constructive obligation to make a payment to a third party, it is probable that settlement will be required and the amount of the obligation can be measured reliably. Expenditure is classified under the following activity headings:

• Costs of raising funds relate to the costs incurred by the charitable company in inducing third parties to make voluntary contributions to it, as well as the cost of any activities with a fundraising purpose.

• Expenditure on charitable activities includes the costs of delivering services and other educational activities undertaken to further the purposes of the group, and their associated support costs.

Ambitious about Autism is VAT registered. As the charity provides a mixture of taxable and exempt supplies, VAT on expenditure that cannot be directly attributed to either type of supply is partially recovered.

Irrecoverable VAT is charged as a cost against the activity for which the expenditure was incurred.

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Notes to the financial statements For the year ended 31 August 2025

j. Allocation of support costs

• Resources are expended and allocated to the particular activity where the cost relates directly to that activity. However, the cost of overall direction and administration of each activity, comprising the salary and the overhead costs of the central function, is apportioned on the following bases which are estimates, based on staff time, of the amount attributable to each activity.

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Central function Main basis for allocation
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Leadership	Time spent
Finance	Staff head count
Human resources	Staff head count
IT	Staff head count
Facilities management	Area occupied
General administration	Staff head count
Premises and offce costs	Area occupied

Where information about the aims, objectives and projects of the group is provided to potential beneficiaries, the costs associated with this are allocated to charitable expenditure.

Governance costs are the costs associated with the governance arrangements of the group. These costs are associated with constitutional and statutory requirements and include any costs associated with the strategic management of the group’s activities.

The management charge for the Ambitious about Autism support provided to Ambitious about Autism Schools Trust is eliminated on consolidation of the group accounts.

k. Operating leases

Rental charges are charged on a straight line basis over the term of the lease.

l. Tangible fixed assets

• Items of equipment or groups of items are capitalised where the purchase price exceeds £5,000. Depreciation costs are allocated to activities on the basis of the use of the related assets in those activities. Assets are reviewed for impairment if circumstances indicate their carrying value may exceed their net realisable value and value in use. Both land and assets under

construction are not depreciated.

Depreciation is provided at rates calculated to write down the cost of each asset except freehold land to its estimated residual value over its expected useful life. The useful lives are as follows:

Freehold land building at Woodside Avenue	10-50 years
Long leasehold	50 years
Short and long leasehold improvements	over the lease term
Computer equipment	3 years
Educational, offce furniture and equipment	3-10 years
Motor vehicles	5 years

m. Intangible fixed assets

Intangible assets are measured at cost less accumulated amortisation and any accumulated impairment losses.

Software development costs are recognised as an intangible asset when all of the following criteria are demonstrated:

• the technical feasibility of completing the software so that it will be available for use or sale

• the intention to complete the software and use or sell it

• the ability to use the software or to sell it

• how the software will generate probable future economic benefits

• the availability of adequate technical, financial and other resources to complete the development and to use or sell the software

• the ability to measure reliably the expenditure attributable to the software during its development

• the ability to measure reliably the expenditure attributable to the software during its development.

Amortisation is charged so as to allocate the cost of intangibles less their residual values over their estimated useful lives, using the straight-line method. The intangible assets are amortised over the following useful economic lives:

Software development costs

3 years

n. Listed investments

Investments are a form of basic financial instrument and are initially recognised at their transaction value and subsequently measured at their fair value as at the balance sheet date using the closing quoted market price. Any change in fair value will be recognised in the statement of financial activities. Investment gains and losses, whether realised or unrealised, are combined and shown in the heading ‘Net gains/(losses) on investments’ in the statement of financial activities.

o. Debtors

Trade and other debtors are recognised at the settlement amount due after any trade discount offered. Prepayments are valued at the amount prepaid net of any trade discounts due.

p. Cash and cash equivalents

Cash and cash equivalents includes cash and short term highly liquid investments with a short maturity of three months or less from the date of acquisition or opening of the deposit or similar account.

q. Short-term deposits

Short-term deposits include liquid investments with a maturity of three to 12 months from the date of acquisition or opening of the deposit or similar account.

r. Creditors and provisions

Creditors and provisions are recognised where the group 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.

s. Financial instruments

The group has elected to apply the provisions of Section 11 ‘Basic Financial Instruments’ and Section 12 ‘other Financial Instruments Issues’ of FRS 102 in full to all of its financial instruments. Basic financial instruments are initially recognised at their transaction value and subsequently measured at their settlement value. Other financial instruments are recognised at fair value with the change in fair value recognised as a gain or loss in the statement of financial activities.

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Notes to the financial statements For the year ended 31 August 2025

Ambitious about Autism holds a derivative in the form of an interest rate cap which provides protection against rising interest rates. This cap which is set at 4% requires an upfront premium payment, which is paid quarterly. Derivatives are initially recognised at fair value on the date a derivative contract is entered into and are subsequently re-measured to fair value, at each reporting date. Fair value gains and losses are recognised in profit or loss. This has been recognised as expenditure under finance costs.

Borrowings are initially recognised at the transaction price, including transaction costs and subsequently measured at amortised cost using the effective interest method. Interest expense is recognised on the basis of the effective interest method and is included in interest payable and other similar expenses.

A financial asset is derecognised only when the contractual rights to cash flows expire or are settled, or substantially all the risks and rewards of ownership are transferred to another party, or if some (but not substantially all) risks and rewards of ownership are retained but control of the asset has transferred to another party that is able to sell the asset in its entirety to an unrelated third party. A financial liability (or part thereof) is derecognised when the obligation specified in the contract is discharged, cancelled or expires.

t. Pensions

Ambitious about Autism has a defined contribution pension scheme available to all staff.

Pension costs and any related liabilities are allocated to activities on the same basis as the staff costs to which they relate. Staff members’ time is recorded through the charity’s cost allocation methodology, and pension costs follow this allocation across charitable activities, support activities and fundraising activities. Where staff are funded wholly or partly by restricted income, the associated pension expense and any outstanding contributions are allocated to restricted funds in proportion to the salary costs charged to those funds. Pension costs relating to staff working on unrestricted activities are charged to unrestricted funds.

On 1 July 2014, and in compliance with Government legislation on Auto Enrolment, a defined contribution group personal pension scheme was opened. Employees were able to join on inception or under the rules of auto enrolment with a deferred period of three months.

Ambitious about Autism also contributes to the Teachers' Pension Scheme. The pension available to teaching staff is a defined benefit, multi employer scheme and the assets and liabilities of the scheme cannot be split out for individual employers. Further information is given in note 17.

The pension costs charged in the statement of financial activities represent the contributions payable by the group in the year to all pension schemes.

Retirement benefits to employees of the Ambitious about Autism Schools Trust are provided by the Teachers’ Pension Scheme (‘TPS’) and the Local Government Pension Scheme (‘LGPS’). These are defined benefit schemes.

The TPS is an unfunded scheme and contributions are calculated so as to spread the cost of pensions over employees’ working lives with the trust in such a way that the pension cost is a substantially level percentage of current and future pensionable payroll. The contributions are determined by the Government Actuary on the basis of quadrennial valuations using a prospective unit credit method. TPS is a multi-employer scheme and there is insufficient information available to use defined benefit accounting. The TPS is therefore treated as a defined contribution scheme for accounting purposes and the contributions recognised in the period to which they relate.

The LGPS is a funded scheme and the assets are held separately from those of Ambitious about Autism Schools Trust in separate trustee-administered funds. Pension scheme assets are measured at fair value and liabilities are measured on an actuarial basis using the projected unit credit method and discounted at a rate equivalent to the current rate of return on a high-quality corporate bond of equivalent term and currency to the liabilities. The actuarial valuations are obtained at least triennially and are updated at each balance sheet date. The amounts charged to operating surplus are the current service costs and the costs of scheme introductions, benefit changes, settlements and curtailments. They are included as part of staff costs as incurred. Net interest on the net defined benefit liability is also recognised in the Statement of Financial Activities and comprises the interest cost on the defined benefit obligation and interest income on the scheme assets, calculated by multiplying the fair value of the scheme assets at the beginning of the period by the rate used to discount the benefit obligations. The difference between the interest income on the scheme assets and the actual return on the scheme assets is recognised in other recognised gains and losses. Actuarial gains and losses are recognised immediately in other recognised gains and losses. A surplus on the defined benefit pension scheme is not recognised because

the charity does not have an unconditional right to recover the surplus, in accordance with FRS 102. The terms of the scheme and relevant legislation restrict the charity’s ability to access or realise any excess assets, meaning the surplus is not considered recoverable. As a result, no asset is recognised on the balance sheet, and the measured position is limited to the extent that the surplus can be used to reduce future contributions.

u. Redundancy payments

Redundancy payments are accounted for in the period in which they become an obligation on the Charity or Group.

v. Judgements and key sources of estimation uncertainty

• In the application of the group's accounting policies, the directors are required to make judgements, estimates and assumptions about the carrying amount of assets and liabilities that are not readily apparent from other sources. The estimates and associated 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 where the revision affects only that period, or in the period of the revision and future periods where the revision affects both current and future periods.

Key sources of estimation uncertainty

The estimates and assumptions which have a significant risk of impairment to assets and liabilities are as follows:

• Depreciation: fixed assets are depreciated over the assets, expected useful life.

• Pensions: the pension liability is sensitive to movements in actuarial assumptions such as discount rate, mortality and inflation. Further details are set out in Note 17.

• Interest Rate Cap: the financial impact on Ambitious about Autism varies with market volatility.

w. Asset held for sale

Assets are classified as held for sale when their value will be recovered mainly through sale rather than use, and when sale is highly probable within 12 months. The asset must be available for immediate sale and management must be committed to the plan. Assets held for sale are measured at the lower of carrying amount and fair value less costs to sell, with depreciation stopping on classification. Impairments are recognised in the SoFA, and any subsequent reversals are limited. Assets are shown separately on the balance sheet. If plans change, the asset is reclassified and remeasured accordingly.

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Notes to the financial statements For the year ended 31 August 2025

2. Income from donations and legacies

For the year ended 31 August 2025

2. Income from donations and legacies	For the year ended 31 August 2025	For the year ended 31 August 2025	For the year ended 31 August 2025	For the year ended 31 August 2025	For the year ended 31 August 2025
	Ambitious about Autism Ambitious about Autism Schools Trust
	Unrestricted £’000 Restricted £’000 Subtotal £’000 Restricted £’000 Total £’000
Gifts	1,529	836	2,365	28	2,393
Donated services	60	-	60	-	60
	1,589 836 2,425 28 2,453

For the year ended 31 August 2024

	Ambitious about Autism Ambitious about Autism Schools Trust	Ambitious about Autism Ambitious about Autism Schools Trust	Ambitious about Autism Ambitious about Autism Schools Trust	Ambitious about Autism Ambitious about Autism Schools Trust	Ambitious about Autism Ambitious about Autism Schools Trust
	Unrestricted £’000 Restricted £’000 Subtotal £’000 Restricted £’000 Total £’000
Gifts	1,503	1,375	2,878	105	2,983
Donated services	56	-	56	-	56
	1,559 1,375 2,934 105 3,039

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Notes to the financial statements For the year ended 31 August 2025

3. Income from charitable activities

3. Income from charitable activities	For the year ended 31 August 2025
	Ambitious about Autism Ambitious about Autism Schools Trust
	Unrestricted £’000 Restricted £’000 Subtotal £’000 Restricted £’000 Total £’000
Local authorities	25,848	-	25,848	6,754	32,602
Education Skills Funding Agency	3,675	302	3,977	2,874	6,851
Sub-total for educational services	29,523 302 29,825 9,628 39,453
Autism Education Trust	-	36	36	-	36
Sub-total for External Affairs and Development	- 36 36 - 36
Total income from charitable activities	29,523 338 29,861 9,628 39,489

	For the year ended 31 August 2024	For the year ended 31 August 2024	For the year ended 31 August 2024	For the year ended 31 August 2024	For the year ended 31 August 2024
	Ambitious about Autism Ambitious about Autism Schools Trust
	Unrestricted £’000 Restricted £’000 Subtotal £’000 Restricted £’000 Total £’000
Local authorities	24,575	-	24,575	5,944	30,519
Education Skills Funding Agency	3,532	275	3,807	2,204	6,011
Sub-total for educational services	28,107 275 28,382 8,148 36,530
Autism Education Trust	-	40	40	-	40
Sub-total for External Affairs and Development	- 40 40 - 40
Total income from charitable activities	28,107 315 28,422 8,148 36,570

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Notes to the financial statements For the year ended 31 August 2025

4. Analysis of expenditure

----- Start of picture text -----
Staff Finance Premises For the year For the year
costs Direct (incl loan Human Information and office Support Governance ended ended
(note 6) costs interest) resources technology costs Leadership costs costs 31 August 2025 31 August 2024
£’000 £’000 £’000 £’000 £’000 £’000 £’000 £’000 £’000 £’000 £’000
Ambitious about Autism:
Cost of generating funds 657 409 - - - 27 - 204 19 1,316 1,194
Educational services 18,707 1,517 (29) - 112 972 - 8,318 466 30,063 29,339
External affairs and Development 1,667 293 (3) - - 86 - 391 41 2,475 2,727
Ambitious about Autism 21,031 2,219 (32) - 112 1,085 - 8,913 526 33,854 33,260
Support costs 3,633 672 1,514 803 387 1,853 51 (8,913) - - -
Governance costs 466 - - - - - 60 - (526) - -
Allocated costs 4,099 672 1,514 803 387 1,853 111 (8,913) (526) - -
Ambitious about Autism sub-total 25,130 2,891 1,482 803 499 2,938 111 - - 33,854 33,260
Ambitious about Autism Schools Trust 6,548 1,071 - - 809 - - - 8,428 7,066
Total expenditure 2025 31,678 3,962 1,482 803 499 3,747 111 - - 42,282 40,326
----- End of picture text -----

Resources expended are allocated to the particular activity where the cost relates directly to that activity. However, the cost of overall direction and administration of each activity, comprising the salary and the overhead costs of the central function, is apportioned based on staff time, of the amount attributable to each activity.

All Ambitious about Autism Schools Trust support costs are paid through management fees, which are eliminated on consolidation, any other costs are allocated directly to Ambitious about Autism Schools Trust.

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Notes to the financial statements For the year ended 31 August 2025

5. Net income for the year

----- Start of picture text -----
This is stated after charging: For the year ended For the year ended
31 August 2025 31 August 2024
£’000 £’000
Depreciation 1,280 1,134
Amortisation 112 61
Interest payable 238 305
Ambitious about Autism 40 38
Ambitious about Autism Schools Trust 27 25
Ambitious about Autism Teachers Pension audit 4 7
Ambitious about Autism Schools Trust Teachers Pension audit 3 6
Ambitious about Autism other services 3 3
Property 131 142
Equipment 30 18
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Notes to the financial statements

For the year ended 31 August 2025

6. Analysis of group staff costs, Trustee remuneration and expenses, and the costs of key management personnel

Staff costs were as follows:

Staff costs were as follows:
	For the year ended	For the year ended
	31 August 2025	31	August 2024
	£’000		£’000
Salaries and wages	26,448		24,590
Social security costs	2,862		2,356
Employer's contribution to defned contribution pension schemes	704		1,395
Employer's contribution to defned beneft pension schemes	1,664		551
	31,678		28,892

The 2025 figures for AaAST include all costs of the defined benefit pension scheme in pension costs, not just employer contributions.

Redundancy and termination costs (excluding payment in lieu of notice) of £215k were paid in the year (2024 restated: £64k).

The following number of employees received employee benefts (excluding employer pension and National Insurance costs) during the year to 31 August 2025, between:	For the year ended 31 August 2025 No.	For the year ended 31 August 2024 No.
£60,000–£69,999	19	9
£70,000–£79,999	9	8
£80,000–£89,999	3	3
£90,000–£99,999	5	6
£100,000–£109,999	4	2
£110,000–£119,999	3	2
£120,000–£129,999	1	1

The total employee benefits including Employer pension and national insurance contributions of the key management personnel were £1,193k for the 12 month period to 31 August 2025 (2024: £1069k).

The charity Trustees were not paid and did not receive any other benefits from employment with the charity in the year (2025: £nil). No charity Trustee received any payment for professional or other services supplied to the charity (2024: £nil).

One Trustee made an expense claim of £1,264 for travel and subsistence costs in 2025 (One Trustee in 2024: £2,627).

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Notes to the financial statements For the year ended 31 August 2025

7. Staff numbers

The average number of employees (headcount based on number of staff employed) during the year was as follows:

7. Staff numbers The average number of employees (headcount based on number of staff employed) during the year was as follows:
For the year ended	For the year ended
31 August 2025	31 August 2024
No.	No.
Raising funds 16	12
Educational services 676	639
External affairs 31	42
Support 87	84
810	777

The increase of staff numbers is due to the planned growth across educational services.

The full time equivalent of staff employed during the year was as follows:	For the year ended	For the year ended
	31 August 2025	31 August 2024
	No.	No.
Raising funds	14	11
Educational services	580	574
External affairs	38	40
Support	73	71
	705	696

8. Related party transactions

During the year trustees either personally donated or donated through entities where they have significant control a total of £17,683 (2024: £18,038) to the charity. Of these, no gifts (2024: nil) were restricted donations.

Services were provided to AaAST at a cost of £1,042k from September 2024 to August 2025 (2024: £999k). These services include Finance, Education, HR, Communications, Facilities and IT support. These are provided at cost and would otherwise need to be procured commercially. The increase is due to the growth in the Spring School. At year end £76k (2024: £39k) was reported under amounts owed by group undertakings (creditors).

9. Taxation

The group is exempt from corporation tax as all its income is charitable and is applied for charitable purposes.

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Notes to the financial statements For the year ended 31 August 2025

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10. Tangible fixed assets
Freehold Educational,
land and Long Leasehold office furniture Computer Motor
buildings leasehold improvements and equipment equipment vehicles Total
Group £’000 £’000 £’000 £’000 £’000 £’000 £’000
Cost
At the start of the year 14,817 6,898 1,943 2,099 2,055 482 28,294
Additions 408 38 423 201 411 29 1,510
At the end of the year 15,225 6,936 2,366 2,300 2,466 511 29,804
Depreciation
At the start of the year 3,826 1,136 1,323 821 1,476 291 8,873
Charge 314 147 263 191 306 59 1,280
At the end of the year 4,140 1,283 1,586 1,012 1,782 350 10,153
At the end of the year 11,085 5,653 780 1,288 684 161 19,651
At the start of the year 10,991 5,762 620 1,278 579 191 19,421
----- End of picture text -----

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Notes to the financial statements For the year ended 31 August 2025

10. Tangible fixed assets (continued)

----- Start of picture text -----
Educational,
Freehold land Leasehold office furniture Computer Motor
and buildings improvements and equipment equipment vehicles Total
Ambitious about Autism £’000 £’000 £’000 £’000 £’000 £’000
Cost
At the start of the year 14,817 1,795 1,778 1,511 423 20,324
Additions 408 109 189 282 29 1,017
At the end of the year 15,225 1,904 1,967 1,793 452 21,341
Depreciation
At the start of the year 3,826 1,249 651 1,151 291 7,168
Charge 314 249 154 182 47 946
At the end of the year 4,140 1,498 805 1,333 338 8,114
At the end of the year 11,085 406 1,162 460 114 13,227
At the start of the year 10,991 546 1,127 360 132 13,156
----- End of picture text -----

Land (AaA) with a cost of £834,000 (2024: £834,000) is included within freehold property and is not depreciated.

The long leasehold (125 years) refers to The Rise School building.

All of the above assets are used for charitable purposes.

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Notes to the financial statements For the year ended 31 August 2025

11. Intangible fixed assets

----- Start of picture text -----
Assets under
Computer software construction Total
Group £’000 £’000 £’000
Cost
At the start of the period 325 110 435
Transfer 110 (110) -
Additions in the period 100 124 224
At the end of the period 535 124 659
Amortisation
At the start of the period 219 - 219
Charge for the period 112 - 112
At the end of the period 331 - 331
At the end of the period 204 124 328
At the start of the period 106 110 216
----- End of picture text -----

----- Start of picture text -----
Assets under
Computer software construction Total
Ambitious about Autism £’000 £’000 £’000
Cost
At the start of the period 294 110 404
Transfer 110 (110) -
Additions in the period 100 124 224
At the end of the period 504 124 628
Amortisation
At the start of the period 206 - 206
Charge for the period 102 - 102
At the end of the period 308 - 308
At the end of the period 196 124 320
At the start of the period 88 110 198
----- End of picture text -----

Amortisation charge is reflected in the SOFA.

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Notes to the financial statements

For the year ended 31 August 2025

12. Investments

----- Start of picture text -----
31 August 2025 31 August 2024
Group and Ambitious about Autism £’000 £’000
Market value at the start of the year 1,800 1,608
Additions at cost 178 444
Disposal proceeds (236) (389)
Net gain on change in fair value 81 137
Market value at the end of the year 1,823 1,800
Cash held in investments 43 33
Total investments held 1,866 1,833
31 August 2025 31 August 2024
Investments comprise £’000 £’000
Listed securities
Fixed interest 283 284
Direct UK equities 330 439
Direct overseas equities 1,006 874
Alternatives - property and managed funds 204 203
Cash held for re-investment 38 26
Cash 5 7
Market value at the end of the year 1,866 1,833
----- End of picture text -----

The historical cost of investments is £1,597k (2024: £1,642k).

13. Debtors	Group Ambitious about Autism	Group Ambitious about Autism	Group Ambitious about Autism	Group Ambitious about Autism
	31 August 2025 £’000 31 August 2024 £’000 31 August 2025 £’000 31 August 2024 £’000
Trade debtors	13,963	11,507	10,624	8,434
Amounts owed by groupundertakings	-	-	-	-
Other debtors	921	950	184	101
Prepayments	480	354	453	332
Accrued income	614	742	261	595
	15,978 13,553 11,522 9,462

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Notes to the financial statements

For the year ended 31 August 2025

For the year ended 31 August 2025
13a. Assets Held for Sale	Group Ambitious about Autism
	31 August 2025 £’000 31 August 2024 £’000 31 August 2025 £’000 31 August 2024 £’000
Framfeld Old	-	817	-	817
Framfeld New	-	103	-	103
Seaford	4,500	4,500	4,500	4,500
	4,500 5,420 4,500 5,420

14. Creditors: amounts falling due within one year	Group Ambitious about Autism	Group Ambitious about Autism	Group Ambitious about Autism	Group Ambitious about Autism
	31 August 2025 £’000 31 August 2024 £’000 31 August 2025 £’000 31 August 2024 £’000
Bank loans	443	409	443	409
Amounts owed to group undertakings	-	-	76	39
Trade creditors	998	737	529	343
Taxation and social security	1,829	617	1,588	531
Other creditors	1,217	933	1,001	926
Accruals	1,026	897	741	760
Deferred income (note 15)	11,297	10,632	8,709	7,688
	16,810 14,225 13,087 10,696

15. Deferred income	Group Ambitious about Autism	Group Ambitious about Autism	Group Ambitious about Autism	Group Ambitious about Autism
	31 August 2025 £’000 31 August 2024 £’000 31 August 2025 £’000 31 August 2024 £’000
Balance at the beginning of the year	10,632	6,941	7,688	4,976
Amount released to income in the year	(10,632)	(6,941)	(7,688)	(4,976)
Amount deferred in the year	11,297	10,632	8,709	7,688
Balance at the end of the year	11,297 10,632 8,709 7,688

Deferred income as at 31 August 2025 relates to autumn 2025 term fees that were invoiced in advance of the new academic year.

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Notes to the financial statements For the year ended 31 August 2025

16. Creditors: amounts falling due after one period

Group and Ambitious about Autism 31 August 2025 £’000 31 August 2024 £’000	Group and Ambitious about Autism 31 August 2025 £’000 31 August 2024 £’000	Group and Ambitious about Autism 31 August 2025 £’000 31 August 2024 £’000
Loans to fnance the freehold property	2,386	2,790
Loan to fnance Ambitious College	809	909
Derivative Liability	74	74
Balance at the end of the year 3,269 3,773

The charity has a loan from Futurebuilders which commenced in October 2008 and is repayable over 25 years. Interest is chargeable at 1.25% above the BoE base rate. The loan is secured over the freehold land and buildings at Woodside Avenue.

The charity also has a loan from NatWest, in tranches of £1.1m and £1.9m, which commenced in November 2008 and April 2012 respectively. Interest is chargeable at 0.75% above LIBOR and 1.25% above LIBOR respectively until 31st January 2022. From 1st February 2022, both loans are moved to the SONIA rate. One tranche of the loan (£1.1m) is capped at an interest rate of 4%. The loan is repayable from November 2013 over 22 years. At 31 August 2025, assets pledged as security comprised freehold land and buildings at Woodside Avenue with a carrying amount of £7m (prior year £7.2m) and listed investments of £1.9m.

Two new loans were acquired in August 2020, £500k from Rathbones and the other £500k from NatWest with both loans charging interest of 2.5% over base rate. The NatWest loan is repayable over 20 years and the Rathbones loan is repayable in 5 years. The Nat West loan is secured over the freehold land and buildings at Woodside Avenue. The Rathbones loan is secured over the investments.

The charity is using an interest rate cap option to manage its exposure to interest rate movements on its £1.1m bank loan with NatWest. The agreement was entered into a variable to fixed interest rate cap in February 2011. The option caps the variable rate of interest for a fixed rate of 4% per annum for the period up to August 2033.

----- Start of picture text -----
Within 1 year 1–5 years Over 5 years
The capital amounts repayable under each loan are: £’000 £’000 £’000
Futurebuilders 266 1,224 233
NatWest £1.1m tranche 60 269 260
NatWest £1.9m tranche 100 422 387
NatWest £500k 17 72 328
443 1,987 1,208
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Notes to the financial statements For the year ended 31 August 2025

17. Pension schemes

Ambitious about Autism makes contributions to the Aegon Pension Scheme, NEST, The People’s Pension and into one employee’s private pension scheme. Both Ambitious about Autism and Ambitious about Autism Schools Trust pay into the Teachers' Pension Scheme. Ambitious about Autism Schools Trust also make contributions to the Local Government Pension Scheme.

Contributions to these schemes were £2,477k (2024: £1,946k).

Defined Contribution Schemes

The assets of the schemes are held separately from those of Ambitious about Autism. Pension costs charged in the statement of financial activities represent the contributions payable by Ambitious about Autism for the year.

Teachers’ Pension Scheme

Introduction

The Teachers' Pension Scheme (TPS) is a statutory, contributory, defined benefit scheme, governed by the Teachers' Pensions Regulations (2010) and, from 1 April 2014, by the Teachers’ Pension Scheme Regulations 2014. Membership is automatic for full-time teachers in academies and, from 1 January 2007, automatic for teachers in part-time employment following appointment or a change of contract, although they are able to opt out.

The TPS is an unfunded scheme and members contribute on a 'pay as you go' basis - these contributions along with those made by employers are credited to the Exchequer. Retirement and other pension benefits are paid by public funds provided by Parliament.

Valuation of the Teachers’ Pension Scheme

The Government Actuary, using normal actuarial principles, conducts a formal actuarial review of the TPS in accordance with the Public Service Pensions (Valuations and Employer Cost Cap) Directions 2014 published by HM Treasury every 4 years. The aim of the review is to specify the level of future contributions. Actuarial scheme valuations are dependent on assumptions about the value of future costs, design of benefits and many other factors. The latest actuarial valuation of the TPS was carried out as with the valuation as at 31 March 2020. The 2020 valuation report was published by the Department for Education on 26 October 2023. The key elements of the valuation and subsequent consultation are:

• employer contribution rates set at 28.68% of pensionable pay (including a 0.08% administration levy)

• total scheme liabilities (pensions currently in payment and the estimated cost of future benefits) for service to the effective date of £262,000 million and notional assets (estimated future contributions together with the notional investments held at the valuation date) of £222,200 million, giving a notional past service deficit of £39,800 million.

A copy of the valuation report and supporting documentation is on the Teachers’ Pensions website.

Under the definitions set out in FRS 102, the TPS is a multi-employer pension scheme. The Trust is unable to quantify its share of liabilities under the scheme and therefore, in accordance with FRS 102, has accounted for its contributions to the scheme as if it were a defined contribution scheme. The Trust has set out above the information available on the scheme.

The employer’s pension costs paid to TPS by AaA in the year amounted to £730k (2024: £469k).

The employer’s pension costs paid to TPS AaAST in the year amounted to £539k (2024: £467k), for both schools.

158 AaA employees were members of the scheme at 31 August 2025 (2024: 60).

37 employees were members of the scheme at 31 August 2025 (2024: 31), for both schools.

Local Government Pension Scheme

The LGPS is a funded defined benefit pension scheme, with the assets held in separate Trustee-administered funds. The total contributions made for the year ended 31 August 2025 were £742k (2024: £574k) for both schools, of which employer’s contributions totalled £579k (2024: £443k) and employees’ contributions totalled £163k (2024: £131k). Contribution rates for employees increase with salary and during the year ended 31 August 2025, the average employer contribution rates were 22.1% (2024 : 22.1%) for the Rise School and 21.0% for Spring School, and for employees a minimum of 5.5% to a maximum of 12.5% of pensionable salary. During the year ended 31 August 2025 no employees took advantage of the 50/50 option, where employees can pay 50% of normal contributions to build up half the normal pension.

Parliament has agreed, at the request of the Secretary of State for Education, to a guarantee that, in the event of academy closure, outstanding Local Government Pension Scheme liabilities would be met by the Department for Education. The guarantee came into force on 18 July 2013 and on 21 July 2022 the Department for Education reaffirmed its commitment to the guarantee, with a parliamentary minutes published on gov.uk.

93 employees were members of the scheme at 31 August 2025 (2024: 98), for both schools.

The following information is based upon a full actuarial valuation of the fund at 31 March 2019 updated to 31 August 2025 by a qualified independent actuary.

The following assumptions relate to the Rise School.

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Principal actuarial At 31 August 2025 At 31 August 2024
assumptions
Rate of increase in
3.60% 3.80%
salaries
Rate of increase for
pensions in payment/ 2.60% 2.80%
inflation
Discount rate for scheme
6.20% 5.15%
liabilities
Inflation assumption (CPI) 2.60% 2.80%
Commutation of pensions
50.00% 50.00%
to lump sums
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Notes to the financial statements For the year ended 31 August 2025

17. Pension schemes (continued)

Sensitivity analysis £’000 £’000 £’000	Sensitivity analysis £’000 £’000 £’000	Sensitivity analysis £’000 £’000 £’000	Sensitivity analysis £’000 £’000 £’000
Adjustment to discount rate	+0.1%	0.0%	-0.1%
Present value of total obligation	1,944	2,000	2,058
Projected service cost	145	153	160
Adjustment to long term salary increase	+0.1%	0.0%	-0.1%
Present value of total obligation	2,001	2,000	1,999
Projected service cost	153	153	153
Adjustment to pension increases and deferred revaluation	+0.1%	0.0%	-0.1%
Present value of total obligation	2,059	2,000	1,943
Projected service cost	161	153	145
Adjustment to life expectancy assumptions	+ 1 Year	None	- 1 Year
Present value of total obligation	2,047	2,000	1,955
Projected service cost	159	153	146

The current mortality assumptions include sufficient allowance for future improvements in mortality rates. The assumed life expectations on retirement age 65 are:

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At 31 August 2025 At 31 August 2024
£’000 £’000
Retiring today
Males 21.0 20.7
Females 23.7 23.3
Retiring in 20 years
Males 22.7 22.0
Females 25.5 24.7
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Notes to the financial statements For the year ended 31 August 2025

17. Pension schemes (continued)

The estimated asset allocation for the Rise School as at 31 August 2025 is as follows:

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At 31 August 2025 At 31 August 2024
Employer asset share – bid value £’000 % £’000 %
Equities 2,249 66% 1,693 63%
Fixed income 857 25% 745 28%
Infrastructure 65 2% 51 2%
Property 127 4% 101 4%
Cash 88 3% 91 3%
Total market value of assets 3,386 100% 2,681 100%
Present value of scheme liabilities - funded (2,000) (2,344)
Restrictions on recoverable surplus (1,386) (337)
- -
Asset/(deficit) in the scheme
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The Trust’s share of the assets of the fund is less than 1%.

Amounts recognised in the statement of fnancial activities 31 August 2025 £’000 31 August 2024 £’000	Amounts recognised in the statement of fnancial activities 31 August 2025 £’000 31 August 2024 £’000	Amounts recognised in the statement of fnancial activities 31 August 2025 £’000 31 August 2024 £’000
Current service cost (including employee contributions)	(265)	(205)
Net interest cost	28	11
Administration	(3)	(3)
Total operating charge (240) (197)

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Notes to the financial statements For the year ended 31 August 2025

17. Pension schemes (continued)

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2025 2024
Changes in the present value of defined benefit obligations were as follows: £’000 £’000
At 1 September 2,344 1,971
Current service cost 265 205
Interest cost 123 105
Actuarial (gain) (812) (14)
Benefits paid (35) (16)
Employee contributions 115 93
At 31 August 2,000 2,344
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2025 2024
Changes in the fair value of the academy’s share of scheme assets: £’000 £’000
At 1 September 2,681 2,002
Interest on assets 151 116
Return on plan assets (excluding net interest on the defined pension liability) 53 161
Other actuarial losses - -
Employer contributions 424 328
Employee contributions 115 93
Administration expenses (3) (3)
Benefits paid (35) (16)
At 31 August 3,386 2,681
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Notes to the financial statements For the year ended 31 August 2025

17. Pension schemes (continued)

The following assumptions relate to Spring School.

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At 31 August 2025 At 31 August 2024
Principal actuarial assumptions % p.a. % p.a.
Pension Increase/Revaluation Rate (CPI) 2.70% 2.65%
Salary Increase Rate 3.20% 3.15%
Discount Rate 6.10% 5.00%
Approximate % increase Approximate monetary
Sensitivity analysis to Defined Benefit amount
Change in assumptions at 31 August 2025 Obligation £'000
0.1% decrease in Real Discount Rate 3% 7
1 year increase in member life expentancy 4% 11
0.1% increase in the Pension Increase/Revaluation Rate (CPI) 3% 7
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Demographic assumptions, based on these assumptions, the average future life expectancies at age 65 for the employer are summarised below:

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Males Females
Current Pensioners 22.1 years 24.7 years
Future Pensioners 22.9 years 25.9 years
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The major categories of plan assets as a percentage of total plan assets Period ended At 31 August 2025 At 31 August 2024	The major categories of plan assets as a percentage of total plan assets Period ended At 31 August 2025 At 31 August 2024	The major categories of plan assets as a percentage of total plan assets Period ended At 31 August 2025 At 31 August 2024
Equities	45%	50%
Bonds	41%	35%
Property	12%	11%
Cash	2%	4%

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17. Pension schemes (continued)

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As at 31 August 2025 As at 31 August 2025 At 31 August 2024 At 31 August 2024
Employer asset share £'000 % £'000 %
Equity 169 45% 80 50%
Bonds 154 41% 56 35%
Property 45 12% 17 11%
Cash 7 2% 6 4%
375 100% 159 100%
Present Value of scheme liability - funded (271) (156)
Restrictions on recoverablilty surplus (104) (3)
- -
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Amounts recognised in the statement of fnancial activities As at 31 August 2025 £'000 As at 31 August 2024 £'000	Amounts recognised in the statement of fnancial activities As at 31 August 2025 £'000 As at 31 August 2024 £'000	Amounts recognised in the statement of fnancial activities As at 31 August 2025 £'000 As at 31 August 2024 £'000
Current Service Cost (Incl employee contributions and excl Admin Cost)	(143)	(106)
Net Interest Cost	13	4
Administration	(7)	(5)
Total Operating Charge	(137)	(107)

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Notes to the financial statements For the year ended 31 August 2025

17. Pension schemes (continued)

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Changes in the present value of defined benefit obligaions As at 31 August 2025 As at 31 August 2024
were as follows: £'000 £'000
At 1 September 156 8
Current Service Cost 150 111
Interest Cost 13 4
Actuarial (gain)/loss (92) 1
Employee Contributions 44 32
271 156
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As at 31 August 2025 As at 31 August 2024
Changes in the fair value of the academy's share of scheme assets: £'000 £'000
At 1 September 159 7
Current Service Cost 5 7
Interest Cost 13 4
Actuarial (gain)/loss 44 32
Employee Contributions 154 109
375 159
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Notes to the financial statements For the year ended 31 August 2025

18. Analysis of net assets between funds

Fund balances as at 31 August 2025 are represented by:

Group	Ambitious about Autism Ambitious about Autism Schools Trust General unrestricted £’000 Designated £’000 Restricted £’000 Restricted £’000 Total funds £’000	Ambitious about Autism Ambitious about Autism Schools Trust General unrestricted £’000 Designated £’000 Restricted £’000 Restricted £’000 Total funds £’000	Ambitious about Autism Ambitious about Autism Schools Trust General unrestricted £’000 Designated £’000 Restricted £’000 Restricted £’000 Total funds £’000	Ambitious about Autism Ambitious about Autism Schools Trust General unrestricted £’000 Designated £’000 Restricted £’000 Restricted £’000 Total funds £’000	Ambitious about Autism Ambitious about Autism Schools Trust General unrestricted £’000 Designated £’000 Restricted £’000 Restricted £’000 Total funds £’000
Tangible fxed assets	-	13,227	-	6,424	19,651
Investments	1,866	-	-	-	1,866
Intangible fxed assets	-	320	-	8	328
Net current assets	1,716	7,237	1,080	4,891	14,924
Long term liabilities	-	(3,269)	-	-	(3,269)
	3,582 17,515 1,080 11,323 33,500

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General unrestricted Designated Restricted Total funds
Ambitious about Autism £’000 £’000 £’000 £’000
Tangible fixed assets - 13,227 - 13,227
Investments 1,866 - - 1,866
Intangible fixed assets - 320 - 320
Net current assets 1,716 7,237 1,080 10,033
Long term liabilities - (3,269) - (3,269)
3,582 17,515 1,080 22,177
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Notes to the financial statements For the year ended 31 August 2025

18. Analysis of net assets between funds (continued)

Fund balances as at 31 August 2024 are represented by:

Group	Ambitious about Autism Ambitious about Autism Schools Trust General unrestricted £’000 Designated £’000 Restricted £’000 Restricted £’000 Total funds £’000	Ambitious about Autism Ambitious about Autism Schools Trust General unrestricted £’000 Designated £’000 Restricted £’000 Restricted £’000 Total funds £’000	Ambitious about Autism Ambitious about Autism Schools Trust General unrestricted £’000 Designated £’000 Restricted £’000 Restricted £’000 Total funds £’000	Ambitious about Autism Ambitious about Autism Schools Trust General unrestricted £’000 Designated £’000 Restricted £’000 Restricted £’000 Total funds £’000	Ambitious about Autism Ambitious about Autism Schools Trust General unrestricted £’000 Designated £’000 Restricted £’000 Restricted £’000 Total funds £’000
Tangible fxed assets	-	13,156	-	6,265	19,421
Investments	1,833	-	-	-	1,833
Intangible fxed assets	-	198	-	18	216
Net current assets	1,253	7,790	1,479	4,833	15,355
Long term liabilities	-	(3,773)	-	-	(3,773)
	3,086 17,371 1,479 11,116 33,052

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General unrestricted Designated Restricted Total funds
Ambitious about Autism £’000 £’000 £’000 £’000
Tangible fixed assets - 13,156 - 13,156
Investments 1,833 - - 1,833
Intangible fixed assets - 198 - 198
Net current assets 1,253 7,790 1,479 10,522
Long term liabilities - (3,773) - (3,773)
3,086 17,371 1,479 21,936
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Notes to the financial statements

For the year ended 31 August 2025

19a. Movement in funds

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19a. Movement in funds Income At the end
At the start including of the
of the year Gains/Losses Expenditure Transfers year
For the year ended 31 August 2025: £’000 £’000 £’000 £’000 £’000
Restricted funds:
a) Ambitious about Autism
Ambitious College 209 191 (177) (92) 131
St. John's 75 49 (18) (76) 30
Education Services projects 564 345 (456) (25) 428
Autism Exchange 130 - - - 130
Family Support 139 29 (77) - 91
Participation 72 346 (358) - 60
TreeHouse School 178 191 (128) (121) 120
Online Youth Support 24 16 (39) - 1
IT Equipment 26 29 (26) - 29
Other 62 (1) (1) - 60
Total Ambitious about Autism restricted funds 1,479 1,195 (1,280) (314) 1,080
b) Ambitious about Autism Schools Trust 11,116 9,865 (8,616) (1,042) 11,323
Total group restricted funds 12,595 11,060 (9,896) (1,356) 12,403
Ambitious about Autism unrestricted funds:
Designated funds
Fixed assets 11,366 - (1,048) 1,258 11,576
Covid Recovery fund 185 - - (185) -
Service Development 4,914 - (213) 276 4,977
Buildings Maintenance and Development fund 906 - - 57 963
Total designated funds 17,371 - (1,261) 1,406 17,516
General funds 3,086 31,858 (31,313) (50) 3,581
Total Ambitious about Autism unrestricted funds 20,457 31,858 (32,574) 1,356 21,097
-
Total group funds 33,052 42,918 (42,470) 33,500
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Transfers

£1,258k has been designated to the Fixed Asset funds to cover the depreciation of fixed assets acquired during the year. This includes £288k of fixed assets funded from restricted income, £403k funded from the Service Development fund. £243k funded from the Repairs and Maintenance fund and £324k of fixed assets funded from unrestricted funds. £500k has been designated to the Service Development fund and £300k has been designated from unrestricted funds to the Buildings Maintenance and Development fund. £1,042k was transferred from AaAST to general funds to reflect the intercompany management charge. £185k has been transferred and consolidated to the Service Development fund.

The charity is using an interest rate cap option to manage its exposure to interest rate movements on its £1.1m bank loan with NatWest. The agreement was entered into a variable to fixed interest rate swap in February 2011. The option swaps the variable rate of interest for a fixed rate of 4% per annum for the period up to August 2033.

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Notes to the financial statements

For the year ended 31 August 2025

19a. Movement in funds (continued)

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Incoming Outgoing At the end
At the start of resources resources of the
the year and gains and losses Transfers year
For the year ended 31 August 2024: £’000 £’000 £’000 £’000 £’000
Restricted funds:
a) Ambitious about Autism
Ambitious College 353 278 (247) (175) 209
St. John's - 89 (14) - 75
Education Services projects 331 749 (459) (57) 564
Autism Exchange 130 - - - 130
Family Support 204 81 (146) - 139
Participation 155 359 (442) - 72
TreeHouse School 109 235 (147) (19) 178
Online Youth Support 98 12 (86) - 24
IT Equipment 28 18 (20) - 26
Other 62 - - - 62
Total Ambitious about Autism restricted funds 1,470 1,821 (1,561) (251) 1,479
b) Ambitious about Autism Schools Trust 10,892 8,447 (7,224) (999) 11,116
Total group restricted funds 12,362 10,268 (8,785) (1,250) 12,595
Ambitious about Autism unrestricted funds:
Designated funds:
Fixed assets 3,683 4,060 (683) 4,306 11,366
School development 5 - - (5) -
Transformation fund 885 - (60) (825) (-)
Covid Recovery fund 483 - - (298) 185
Service Development 78 - - 4,836 4,914
St John's Designated Fund - 145 - (145) -
Buildings Maintenance and Development fund 756 - - 150 906
Total designated funds 5,890 4,205 (743) 8,019 17,371
General funds 2,776 38,036 (30,957) (6,769) 3,086
Total Ambitious about Autism unrestricted funds 8,666 42,241 (31,700) 1,250 20,457
-
Total group funds 21,028 52,509 (40,485) 33,052
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Notes to the financial statements For the year ended 31 August 2025

19b. Summary movement in funds

Purpose of restricted funds:

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Ambitious College The charity continues its work to develop Ambitious College, London’s first
specialist day college for autistic young people aged 16–25 including those
with learning disabilities. Ambitious College has two campuses co-located
within the College of Haringey, Enfield and North East London and West
Thames College.
Education This fund includes developing and embedding a competency framework for
Services projects the Ambitious Approach. The Ambitious Approach is our model of education
practice, which was designed to be used in our education settings to support
autistic children and young people. At its heart, the approach is centred around
improving the quality of life of autistic young people while they are in education
and ensuring this quality of life continues into adulthood. The framework is
being embedded in the charity, and in partner schools and colleges, and
includes audit tools, implementation guidance, evaluation protocols, parent
toolkits and training materials.
Employ Autism Employ Autism’s mission is to ensure that more autistic people can become
and Autism part of the workforce. The programme acts as a bridge to employment for
Exchange autistic people by working with employers and careers and employability
professionals to increase confidence in autism and neurodiversity, and as a
result create opportunities in the workplace. We deliver training, resources and
ongoing mentorship to a wide network of partners across the UK and together
drive a collective movement for change. The programme comprises the
Employ Autism network, the Employ Autism Higher Education network and
Autism Exchange.
Learner and Our specialist Learner and Family Support team helps the parents and carers
Family Support of autistic children and young people attending our educational settings
throughout their journey with us. We ensure that families have increased
knowledge, skills and confidence to support autistic children and young people
in their care by providing timely direct advice and support. This includes
support at times of transition such as from school to further education, training
or other placement, and to adulthood; and advocacy for families to try and
secure statutory services such as respite care or social care support.
Participation Young people are at the heart of everything we do. We listen to them to ensure
our work reflects their views and needs. We stand with them and ensure their
voices are heard and considered by policymakers and decision-makers, the
media and the general public. Through our Ambitious Youth Network, online
peer support and project work we bring autistic young people together to
tackle isolation and loneliness, understand their autistic identity and have their
voices heard.
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TreeHouse School Funding provided to support a range of specific activities across the school.
Online A project to provide vital information online for parents and carers, and
Information empowerment to connect and support each other.
Support
Online Youth A project to provide vital information online for autistic young people, including
Support through a new online community platform for the Ambitious Youth Network.
IT Equipment This fund supports additional IT equipment and resources for 300 autistic
children and young people in our schools and college, so they can access
education and support.
Other Other funds represent a number of small funds.
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Purpose of designated funds:

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Fixed Assets This fund represents the net book value of the charity’s tangible fixed assets.
Expenditure from this fund arises through the annual depreciation charge,
which is expected to continue over the useful economic lives of the
assets (ranging from 3 to 50 years) in line with the charity’s fixed asset
accounting policies.
Buildings The fund has been allocated to provide for any repairs to and
maintenance and development of the building based on 30-year life cycle costings prepared by
development external consultants.
fund
Covid Recovery This fund has been established to support the organisation in managing the
fund risks and impact of the coronavirus pandemic.
Service This fund has been established to support the growth of existing and
development new services, most of the funds will be spent in the next two years on
planned activities.
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Notes to the financial statements

For the year ended 31 August 2025

20. Net cash (used in)/provided by group operating activities

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2025 2024
£’000 £’000
Net income 448 12,024
Less St. John's Donation - (7,317)
St. John's Cash - 1,292
Depreciation and amortisation charges 1,392 1,195
Gains on investments (81) (137)
(Gain)/ loss on Current assets 920 (4,060)
Dividends, interest and rent from investments (461) (207)
Interest payable 239 305
Increase in debtors (2,425) (4,907)
St. John's Debtors as at 2025 - 5,266
Increase in derivative liability - 25
Increase in creditors 2,585 5,016
St. John's Creditors as at 2025 - (3,645)
Decrease in pension fund 188 158
Net cash provided by operating activities 2,805 5,008
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22. Legal status of the charity

The charity is a company limited by guarantee and has no share capital. The liability of each member in the event of winding up is £1.

21. Operating lease commitments

21. Operating lease commitments
The group's total future minimum lease payments under non-cancellable operating leases is as follows for each of the following periods:	Property Equipment Motor Vehicle
	2025 £’000 2024 £’000 2025 £’000 2024 £’000 2025 £’000 2024 £’000
Less than one year	177	143	22	10 4 -
One to fve years	269	317	22	4 - -
Over fve years	-	-	-	- - -
	446 460 44 14 4 -

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Notes to the financial statements For the year ended 31 August 2025

23. Ambitious about Autism Schools Trust

On 1 April 2017, Ambitious about Autism became the sole member of Ambitious about Autism Schools Trust, a company limited by guarantee and an exempt charity (company number 08335297).

Ambitious about Autism Schools Trust operates independently from Ambitious about Autism and as such Ambitious about Autism has no right or access to the assets (cash and non-cash) of Ambitious about Autism Schools Trust. In the group accounts all income and reserves of Ambitious about Autism Schools Trust are treated as restricted. While both entities operate independently the accounts are consolidated on the basis that Ambitious about Autism Schools Trust is the sole corporate member of Ambitious about Autism.

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2025 2024
Balance sheet £’000 £’000
Fixed Assets
Tangible assets 6,424 6,265
Intangible assets 8 18
6,432 6,283
Current Assets
Debtors 4,532 4,130
Cash at bank and in hand 658 732
Short-term deposit 3,500 3,539
8,690 8,401
Liabilities
Creditors: amounts falling due within one year (3,799) (3,568)
Net current assets 4,891 4,833
Net assets excluding pension liability 11,323 11,116
Defined benefit pension scheme liability - -
Total net assets 11,323 11,116
Funds of the Academy Trust:
Restricted funds
Fixed asset fund 6,545 6,449
Restricted income fund 4,778 4,667
Pension Reserve - -
Total restricted funds 11,323 11,116
Unrestricted income funds - -
Total funds 11,323 11,116
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Notes to the financial statements For the year ended 31 August 2025

23. Ambitious about Autism Schools Trust (continued)

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Restricted
A summarised extract of Ambitious about Autism Schools Unrestricted Restricted Fixed Asset
SoFA for the year: Funds Funds Fund Total
£’000 £’000 £’000 £’000
Income from:
Donations and capital grants - 68 (40) 28
Charitable activities - 9,262 366 9,628
Other income - 209 - 209
- 9,539 326 9,865
Expenditure on:
Charitable activities - (9,126) (344) (9,470)
Net surplus/(deficit) - 413 (18) 395
Transfer Between Funds - (114) 114 -
Actuarial gains on defined benefit pension schemes - (188) - (188)
Net movement in funds - 111 96 207
Funds brought forward - 4,667 6,449 11,116
Funds carried forward - 4,778 6,545 11,323
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Notes to the financial statements

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24. Consolidated statement of financial activities

For the year ended 31 August 2024

(incorporating an income and expenditure account)

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Ambitious about
Ambitious about Autism Autism Schools Trust
Note Unrestricted Restricted Subtotal Restricted Total
£’000 £’000 £’000 £’000 £’000
Income from:
Donations and legacies:
Gifts and donated services 2 1,559 1,375 2,934 105 3,039
St. John's Donation 11,949 37 11,986 - 11,986
Charitable activities:
Educational services 3 28,107 275 28,382 8,148 36,530
External affairs 3 - 40 40 - 40
Other income
Trading income 282 93 375 194 569
Investment income 207 - 207 - 207
Total income 42,104 1,820 43,924 8,447 52,371
Expenditure on:
Raising funds
Fundraising activities 1,194 - 1,194 - 1,194
Investment management costs 13 - 13 - 13
1,207 - 1,207 - 1,207
Charitable activities:
Educational services 28,712 614 29,326 7,066 36,392
External affairs 1,781 946 2,727 - 2,727
Total expenditure 4 31,700 1,560 33,260 7,066 40,326
Net (expenditure)/income before other gains/(losses) 10,404 260 10,664 1,381 12,045
Net gain / (losses) on FA investments 137 - 137 - 137
Net gain / (losses) on CA investments - - - - -
Net losses on pension deficit - - - (158) (158)
Net (expenditure)/income 10,541 260 10,801 1,223 12,024
Transfers between funds 19 1,250 (251) 999 (999) -
Net movement in funds 11,791 9 11,800 224 12,024
Reconciliation of funds:
Total funds brought forward 19 8,666 1,470 10,136 10,892 21,028
Total funds carried forward 19 20,457 1,479 21,936 11,116 33,052
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Foreword

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107

We are Ambitious about Autism

Ambitious about Autism is the national charity standing with autistic children and young people.

We believe every autistic child and young person has the right to be themselves and realise their ambitions.

We started as one school and have become a movement for change. We champion rights, campaign for change and create opportunities.

Contact us

The Pears National Centre for Autism Education Woodside Avenue, London N10 3JA

020 8815 5444

[e-mail] ambitiousaboutautism.org.uk

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Ambitious about Autism is a registered charity in England and Wales: 1063184 and a registered company: 03375255.

Ambitious about Autism Schools Trust is an exempt charity in England and Wales and a registered company: 08335297.

Published – April 2026

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