2025-08-31-accounts

Westminster Cathedral Choir School

Annual Report and Accounts

31 August 2025

Charity Registration Number 1063761

Contents

Reports

Reference and administrative details of	the
charity and its Corporate Trustee	1
Report of the directors of the Corporate
Trustee	3
Independent auditor’s report	12
Accounts
Statement of financial activities	16
Balance sheet	17
Statement of cash flows	18
Principal accounting policies	19
Notes to the accounts	23

Westminster Cathedral Choir School

Reference and administrative details of the charity and its Corporate Trustee

Trustee of the charity The charity is controlled by the “Westminster Roman Catholic Diocese Trustee” (WRCDT), a company limited by guarantee. The company does not conduct any trade or business for its own account and has no assets or liabilities. Its sole purpose is to act as trustee for a number of trusts and funds. The principal of these is the Westminster Roman Catholic Diocesan Trust.

The Directors of Westminster Roman Catholic Diocese Trustee (herein referred to as Trustees) are: Archbishop Richard Moth (appointed 14 February 2026) His Eminence Cardinal V Nichols (retired 14 February 2026) Rt Rev J Sherrington (Resigned 16 May 2025) Rt Rev N Hudson (Resigned 28 November 2025) Rt Rev P McAleenan Rev Mgr M Hayes Rt Rev J Curry Mr A Ndoca Baroness N O’Loan Dame C Bowe Mr K Ingram Mr E Craston President of the School Archbishop Richard Moth (appointed 14 February 2026) His Eminence Cardinal V Nichols (retired 14 February 2026) The Board of Governors Chairman Mr David Heminway Mr Robert Enserro Mrs Kate Finch Martin Hattrell (Resigned July 2025) Father Alexander Master (Private Secretary to the Archbishop) Mr James O’Brien Ms Laura Pigorini Mr Nick Robinson Father Stuart Seaton Mr Nicholas Seed (Chief Financial Officer for the Diocese) Ms Maria Strauss Rev Sławomir Witoń (The Dean of Westminster Cathedral)

Westminster Cathedral Choir School 1

Reference and administrative details of the charity and its Corporate Trustee

In attendance at	The Head Master – Mr Neil McLaughlan
Governors’ meetings	The Bursar – Mrs Joanna Stephens
	The Deputy Head (Pastoral) – Miss Emily Auger
	The Director of Admissions – Mrs Lucy Freeman (nee Auger)
Clerk to the Governors	Mrs Joanna Stephens
Principal address	Westminster Cathedral Choir School
	Ambrosden Avenue
	London
	SW1 1QH
Charity registration	1063761
number
Auditor	Buzzacott Audit LLP
	130 Wood Street
	London
	EC2V 6DL
Bankers	HSBC Bank plc
	69 Pall Mall
	London
	SW1Y 5EY
Solicitors	Farrer & Co LLP
	66 Lincoln’s Inn Fields
	London
	WC2A 3LH

Westminster Cathedral Choir School 2

Report of the Directors of the Corporate Trustee Year to 31 August 2025

Introduction

The Directors of the Corporate Trustee (hereafter referred to as the Trustees) present their statutory report together with the accounts of Westminster Cathedral Choir School (the charity or School or WCCS) for the year ended 31 August 2025.

The accounts have been prepared in accordance with the accounting policies set out on pages 19 to 22 of the attached accounts and comply with the charity’s trust deed, applicable laws and Accounting and Reporting by Charities: Statement of Recommended Practice applicable to charities preparing their accounts in accordance with the Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland (FRS 102).

Structure, governance and management

Constitution

Westminster Cathedral Choir School is governed by a trust deed dated 8 July 1997 and is registered with the Charity Commission, Charity Registration No 1063761.

Status

Westminster Cathedral Choir School was founded by Cardinal Herbert Vaughan in 1902 to provide boarding Choristers and Exhibitioners to sing the daily capitular liturgy in the then new Cathedral. In 1976 day boys were introduced and in 2017 a Pre-Prep was added. There were 282 boys, aged 4-13 at the start of the 2024/25 year. The School is divided into nine year groups (National Curriculum Years Reception to Year 8). There are approximately 30 boys in each year group.

WCCS is situated within the precincts of Westminster Cathedral and is Roman Catholic by foundation. The Head Master is a member of the Incorporated Association of Preparatory Schools (IAPS), the Catholic Independent Schools’ Conference (CISC) and the Choir Schools’ Association (CSA).

Organisation

Ultimate responsibility for the charity lies with the Directors of Westminster Roman Catholic Diocese Trustee (WRCDT) (the Trustees).

Trustees and Governors

The Trustees i.e. the Directors of the Corporate Trustee are appointed by the Archbishop of Westminster.

Westminster Cathedral Choir School 3

Report of the Directors of the Corporate Trustee Year to 31 August 2025

Structure, governance and management (continued)

Trustees and Governors (continued)

The Trustees who have been in office since 1 September 2024 are as follows:

Archbishop Richard Moth Appointed 14 February 2026 His Eminence Cardinal V Nichols Retired 14 February 2026 Rt Rev J Sherrington Resigned 16 May 2025 Rt Rev N Hudson Resigned 28 November 2025 Rt Rev P McAleenan Rt Rev J Curry Mr A Ndoca Dame C Bowe Baroness N O’Loan Mr K Ingram Mr E Craston

On agreeing to become a Director of the Corporate Trustee, the Trustees are thoroughly briefed by their co-Trustees on the history of the charity, the day-to-day management, the responsibilities of the Trustees, the current objectives and future plans. The Trustees are also encouraged to attend any courses which they feel are relevant to the development of their role and to keep up-to-date on any changes in legislation.

The Trustees are ultimately responsible for the policies, activities and assets of the charity. The Archbishop appoints a Chairman of the Board of Governors who appoints other governors for a fixed term in consultation with the Archbishop. The Governors work with the Trustees in determining the general direction of the School and operate within powers set out in an Instrument of Government. They meet during the year to review the developments with regard to the charity, its activities and make any important decisions. When necessary, the Trustees and/or Governors seek advice and support from the charity’s professional advisers including solicitors and accountants. The Bursar undertakes the day-to-day management of the charity’s activities, the implementation of policies, administers payments and keeps the books and records of the charity.

The names of the Governors who have served since 1 September 2024 are given on page 1 of this report and accounts.

At their meetings, the Governors review the latest management accounts including budget forecasts.

Trustees’ and Governors’ remuneration

No Trustee or Governor received any remuneration from the charity in connection with his/her duties as a Trustee or Governor during the year. Three Governors received reimbursement of travel and accommodation expenses totalling £1,901 (2023/24 - £2,187 for two Governors) from the charity in connection with their duties as a Governor during the year. No Trustee or Governor had any beneficial interest in any contract with the charity.

Westminster Cathedral Choir School 4

Report of the Directors of the Corporate Trustee Year to 31 August 2025

Structure, governance and management (continued)

Responsibilities of the Trustees

The Trustees are responsible for preparing the Annual Report and Accounts in accordance with applicable law and United Kingdom Accounting Standards (United Kingdom Generally Accepted Accounting Practice).

The law applicable to charities in England and Wales requires the Trustees to prepare accounts for each financial year which give a true and fair view of the state of affairs of the charity and of the income and expenditure of the charity for that period. In preparing these accounts, the Trustees are required to:

• select suitable accounting policies and then apply them consistently;

• observe the methods and principles in 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);

• make judgements and estimates that are reasonable and prudent;

• state whether applicable United Kingdom Accounting Standards have been followed, subject to any material departures disclosed and explained in the accounts; and

• prepare the accounts on the going concern basis unless it is inappropriate to presume that the charity will continue in operation.

The Trustees are responsible for keeping proper accounting records that disclose with reasonable accuracy at any time the financial position of the charity and enable them to ensure that the accounts comply with the Charities (Accounts and Reports) Regulations 2008, and the provisions of the trust deed. They are also responsible for safeguarding the assets of the charity and hence for taking reasonable steps for the prevention and detection of fraud and other irregularities.

Key management personnel

The Trustees and Governors consider that they, together with the Senior Management Team (SMT), comprise the key management of the charity in charge of directing and controlling, running and operating the School.

As noted above, neither the Trustees nor the Governors receive any remuneration in respect of their services. The Governors meet at least once a term and there is regular formal and informal communication between the Governors, the Trustees and members of the SMT.

Day to day management of the School is the responsibility of the Senior Management Team. This consists of the Head Master, Deputy Head (Pastoral), Head of Pre-Prep, Deputy Head (Academic) (also Head of Boarding), Director of Studies, Director of Admissions and Bursar. The SMT meets weekly to discuss any operational, safeguarding or staff matters.

Westminster Cathedral Choir School 5

Report of the Directors of the Corporate Trustee Year to 31 August 2025

Structure, governance and management (continued)

Key management personnel (continued)

The remuneration of members of the SMT is reviewed annually by the Governors’ Remuneration Committee. This Committee considers market pay levels (using external survey data where available), individual performance over the year and any changes in responsibilities. Those members of the SMT that also teach will have a portion of their salary determined by the main teaching pay scale.

Risk management

The Trustees delegate risk management to the School’s Governing Body – principally through its Pastoral and Finance Committees, which meet termly. The School is also represented at the Health, Safety and Fire Committee of the Westminster Roman Catholic Diocesan Trust. Risks are identified and assessed, and controls established throughout the year.

The key controls used by the School include:

• Formal agendas for all committee meetings

• Strategic planning, budgeting and management accounting

• Established organisational structure and lines of reporting

• Formal written policies, including safeguarding and child protection

• Clear authorisation and approval levels

• Maintenance of a risk register

Through the risk management processes established for the School, the Governors are satisfied that the major risks identified have been mitigated. It is recognised that systems can only provide reasonable but not absolute assurance that major risks have been adequately managed.

Principal risks and uncertainties

The principal risks and uncertainties facing the charity are detailed in a risk register. The principal risks and the strategies applied by the Trustees and Governors for managing these are outlined below.

Westminster Cathedral Choir School 6

Report of the Directors of the Corporate Trustee Year to 31 August 2025

Structure, governance and management (continued)

Principal risks and uncertainties (continued)

• Safeguarding: Compliance with safeguarding regulation is a key management concern because of the associated reputational risk for non-compliance. The School has a Designated Safeguarding Lead and a Safeguarding Governor who is responsible for ensuring the policies and procedures comply with the latest Independent Schools Inspectorate (ISI) regulations and Keeping Children Safe in Education , and are implemented in all aspects of the School's operation. Advice is sought from Westminster Local Authority Designated Officer (LADO) as appropriate. All staff are subject to an enhanced DBS check. Each member of staff receives safeguarding training at induction and this is repeated annually at staff INSET training. The Senior Management Team receives additional training on safer recruitment. The Deputy Head (Pastoral) and Designated Safeguarding Lead report any pastoral or safeguarding matters to the SMT weekly, and to the Governors’ Pastoral Committee and full Governors’ meetings termly.

• Fall in pupil numbers: A reduction in pupil numbers would result in a fall in income which, over the long term, could affect the overall financial security of the School. The School benefits from a strong market position, and demand for places is high. The School carefully monitors registration numbers to ensure any deterioration of this position is quickly identified and addressed. The existence of the Pre-Prep substantially reduces the School’s reliance on a small, and dwindling, number of Pre-Prep feeder schools, and affords the School greater control of its pupil intake. Future market changes are expected to result in a rise of 11+ exits. This is a particular risk for the School that needs a provision in Year 7 and 8 to support the choristers in these year groups. The Governors’ Strategy committee is monitoring the market closely and the Trustees receive regular updates from the School on this risk.

• Financial risk: The charity opened a Pre-Prep for boys aged 4 to 8 in September 2017. Whilst this reduces the risk of falling pupil numbers, it increases the financial risk as substantial rent payments must be met to occupy the Pre-Prep building. The rent payments are linked to bank base rate so the School is exposed to interest rate risk. The annual budget and five-year cash flow are reviewed regularly by the Finance Committee to ensure affordability of rent. There is total confidence in the charity’s ability to meet the projected rent levels and cash flow remains strong. VAT on School fees was introduced in January 2025 and resulted in the loss of a small number of pupils. Further impact may be seen in admission numbers and is being carefully monitored. The loss of business rate relief and increase in employer National Insurance contributions has significantly increased the School’s costs and will be factored into the annual budgets.

• Political risk: Further political changes could impact the School’s charitable status. This is a significant risk to the School. The School continues to actively support the local and national community through the Choir and its support of the choristers.

Westminster Cathedral Choir School 7

Report of the Directors of the Corporate Trustee Year to 31 August 2025

Structure, governance and management (continued)

• Reputational risk: The School may attract media interest. Inaccurate media coverage of the School or the Westminster Cathedral Choir creates a potential reputational risk for the School. The School will seek professional advice where necessary to reduce this risk and closely monitors pupil registrations to ensure that any link between adverse press coverage and pupil registrations is noted and addressed.

Connected charity

The Trustees are also responsible for Westminster Roman Catholic Diocesan Trust, a registered charity, Charity Registration Number 233699.

Objectives and activities

The charity exists to advance the Roman Catholic faith and education in the Catholic tradition. It does this through Westminster Cathedral Choir School (WCCS). The School trains boys in church choral music and gives them a traditional academic education within a caring and wellorganised community.

When planning its work, the Trustees and Governors consider the Charity Commission’s guidance on public benefit.

Pupil numbers

At the start of the 2024/25 academic year there were 282 boys in the School (2023/24: 269) of whom 23 were choristers (2023/24: 23) and 259 were day boys (2023/24: 246).

Fees

Termly fees, excluding VAT, for 2024/25 were:

Day boys (Reception–Year 3): £7,183 (2023/24: £6,974)

Day boys (Years 4–8): £8,180 (2023/24: £7,942)

Choristers: £3,777 (2023/24: £3,667)

The Governors’ Finance committee reviews fees each year to cover the cost of teaching, care and maintenance of the buildings.

Academic life

The School continues to strengthen its traditional academic education. Teachers use materials developed within the School for every subject from Reception to Year 8. Small class sizes and individual attention allow every boy to flourish.

The School prepares boys for 13+ Common Entrance and other senior school exams. The 2025 leavers’ list was one of the strongest in the School’s history, with boys gaining places and scholarships at Eton, Harrow, Dulwich, St Paul’s, Westminster, Radley, Tonbridge and other leading schools.

Westminster Cathedral Choir School 8

Report of the Directors of the Corporate Trustee Year to 31 August 2025

Academic life (continued)

The School met all inspection standards in June 2023. Inspectors praised the quality of teaching, learning and pastoral care.

Music and choristers

Music remains at the heart of the School. The Choir sings six times a week at Westminster Cathedral and also performs in concerts, tours and recordings. In 2025 the choristers sang at the Festival of St Cecilia, the Cathedral Christmas Celebration, toured the USA and Germany and made a new recording.

Recruiting new choristers remains a key focus. The School has appointed two consultants to develop a chorister marketing plan. New initiatives include online sessions for families, outreach to Catholic primary schools and parishes, and clear communication about the life and work of the Choir.

Community and public benefit

The School’s main public benefit is its support for Westminster Cathedral’s world-class Choir. The Choir sings free to the public six times a week, offering sacred music of the highest quality. All choristers receive generous scholarships and bursaries so that any boy with musical talent can apply, whatever his background.

The School and parents also raised £15,000 for charity this year, divided between the Cardinal Hume Centre, which helps young homeless people, and Eyehope, which funds treatment for eye disease in Tanzania.

Catholic identity

The Catholic faith remains central to the School’s life. In 2025/26, 67% of pupils were Catholic, one of the highest proportions among Catholic independent schools in the country. Daily worship, service and respect are part of the School’s routine and ethos.

The School’s blend of faith, music and traditional academic education continues to make it a distinctive and respected institution within Catholic education.

Financial review

Financial position

The charity had income during the year of £7,126,537 (2024 - £6,569,155). Income from tuition fees and similar charges, net of bursaries, totalled £6,800,854 (2024 - £6,288,895). Donations and legacies during the year amounted to £191,589 (2024 - £152,152). Included within this total was £105,000 (2024 - £105,000) received by way of a grant from the Westminster Cathedral Choir School Fund (Registered Charity Number 276878). Bank interest was £134,094 (2024 - £128,108).

Westminster Cathedral Choir School 9

Report of the Directors of the Corporate Trustee Year to 31 August 2025

Financial review (continued)

Financial position (continued)

Total expenditure amounted to £6,664,092 (2024 - £6,319,147) with staff costs, rent for the Pre-Prep building and premises expenditure accounting for a significant proportion of this total. The accounts incorporate expenditure on refurbishment of the facilities and buildings to improve the quality of education provided to the boys.

The charity had net income for the year of £462,445 (2024 - £250,008).

At 31 August 2025, the charity had total net funds of £4,716,326 (2024 - £4,253,881). This includes restricted funds at 31 August 2025 of £411,410 (2024 - £414,174), principally being monies to be applied towards meeting the fees of those choristers who apply for a bursary.

Reserves policy

The Trustees and Governors have examined the requirement for free reserves i.e. those unrestricted funds not invested in tangible fixed assets, designated or otherwise committed. The requirement for free reserves is affected by the amounts held in respect to fee deposits (most of which will not be repayable for several years), and an accrual for rent that arises from the requirement to account for payments under the lease on a straight line basis instead of when payable. Therefore, the nature of the charity’s activities is such that the key performance indicator is cash flow rather than the level of free reserves. Cash flow will vary over the course of each term, with high levels of cash being held at the start of each term and then being used over the course of the term to meet expenditure on staff, premises and the operation of the School.

The Trustees and Governors are of the opinion that at all times the charity should have sufficient cash flow to enable it to meet its costs, that the cash flow should be sufficient to enable the School to continue to invest in the premises, facilities and equipment, to provide sufficient flexibility to cover temporary shortfalls in income due to falls in pupil numbers, and to cover the other risks and uncertainties of operating as an independent educational establishment. To this end cash flow is monitored regularly against budget and there is tight control over debt collection and expenditure.

At 31 August 2025 the charity had net current assets of £3,515,104 (2024 - £2,986,907) with cash at bank and short term deposits amounting to £5,490,447 (2024 - £4,970,229). Free reserves were £2,602,194 (2024 - £2,041,235). The Trustees and Governors believe that the financial position of the School at this date was acceptable and that the cash flow, which is monitored closely, was adequate but not excessive.

Fundraising statement

The charity aims to achieve best practice in the way in which it communicates with donors and other supporters. It takes care with both the tone of its communications and the accuracy of its data to minimise the pressures on supporters. It applies best practice to protect supporters’ data and never sells data; it never swaps data and ensures that communication preferences can be changed at any time. The charity manages its own fundraising activities and does not employ the services of professional fundraisers. The charity undertakes to react to and investigate any complaints regarding its fundraising activities and to learn from them and improve its service. During the year, the charity received no complaints about its fundraising activities.

Westminster Cathedral Choir School 10

Report of the Directors of the Corporate Trustee Year to 31 August 2025

Future plans

The Trustees’ main aim is to keep the School strong and forward-looking while remaining faithful to its Catholic and musical mission and to its tradition of academic excellence.

Plans for the coming years include:

1. Delivering the new chorister marketing plan to attract more families from across the country

2. Expanding digital communication and outreach to promote the School’s strengths

3. Maintaining close links with senior schools to support scholarship and entrance success

4. Updating the curriculum to promote both strong academic learning and personal wellbeing

5. Offering more training and mentoring for teachers to help them grow and develop

6. Expanding bursary support to widen access and opportunity

7. Continuing careful stewardship of resources to support the long-term growth of the School

8. Ensuring that Westminster Cathedral Choir School continues to offer boys a traditional academic education supported by outstanding music and grounded in the Catholic faith.

9. Completing the third floor of the Pre-Prep to enable the School to rationalise its administrative functions while providing much-needed meeting space for parents in the Prep School.

In a challenging educational climate, the School remains well run, well staffed and well regarded.

The Trustees remain committed to protecting the School’s Catholic and musical heritage and to helping Westminster Cathedral Choir School serve pupils, families and the wider community for many years to come.

Signed on behalf of the Directors of Westminster Roman Catholic Diocese Trustee by:

Trustee

Approved by the Trustees on: 13 March 2026

Westminster Cathedral Choir School 11

Independent auditor’s report Year to 31 August 2025

Independent auditor’s report to the Directors of the Westminster Roman Catholic Diocese Trust (‘the Trustees’)

Opinion

We have audited the accounts of the Westminster Cathedral Choir School (the ‘charity’) for the year ended 31 August 2025 which comprise the statement of financial activities, the balance sheet, the statement of cash flows, the principal accounting policies and notes to the accounts. 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 accounts:

•  give a true and fair view of the state of the charity’s affairs as at 31 August 2025 and of its incoming resources and application of resources 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 Charities Act 2011.

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 accounts section of our report. We are independent of the charity in accordance with the ethical requirements that are relevant to our audit of the accounts in the UK, including the FRC’s Ethical Standard, and we have fulfilled our other ethical responsibilities in accordance with these requirements. We believe that the audit evidence we have obtained is sufficient and appropriate to provide a basis for our opinion.

Conclusions relating to going concern

In auditing the accounts, we have concluded that the Trustees’ use of the going concern basis of accounting in the preparation of the accounts 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 charity’s ability to continue as a going concern for a period of at least twelve months from when the accounts 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.

Westminster Cathedral Choir School 12

Independent auditor’s report Year to 31 August 2025

Other information

The other information comprises the information included in the Annual Report and Accounts, other than the accounts and our auditor’s report thereon. The Trustees are responsible for the other information contained within the Annual Report and Accounts. Our opinion on the accounts does not cover the other information and 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 accounts 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 accounts 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.

Matters on which we are required to report by exception

In the light of the knowledge and understanding of the charity and its environment obtained in the course of the audit, we have not identified material misstatements in the Trustees’ report.

We have nothing to report in respect of the following matters in relation to which the Charities (Accounts and Reports) Regulations 2008 requires us to report to you if, in our opinion:

•  the information given in the Trustees’ report is inconsistent in any material respect with the accounts; or

•  sufficient accounting records have not been kept; or

•  the accounts are not in agreement with the accounting records; or

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

Responsibilities of Trustees

As explained more fully in the statement of the responsibilities of the Trustees, the Trustees are responsible for the preparation of the accounts and for being satisfied that they give a true and fair view, and for such internal control as the Trustees determine is necessary to enable the preparation of accounts that are free from material misstatement, whether due to fraud or error.

In preparing the accounts, the Trustees are responsible for assessing the charity’s ability to continue as a going concern, disclosing, as applicable, matters related to going concern and using the going concern basis of accounting unless the Trustees either intend to liquidate the charity or to cease operations, or have no realistic alternative but to do so.

Westminster Cathedral Choir School 13

Independent auditor’s report Year to 31 August 2025

Auditor’s responsibilities for the audit of the accounts

We have been appointed as auditor under section 144 of the Charities Act 2011 and report in accordance with the Act and relevant regulations made or having effect thereunder.

Our objectives are to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the accounts 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 accounts.

Irregularities, including fraud, are instances of non-compliance with laws and regulations. We design procedures in line with our responsibilities, outlined above, to detect material misstatements in respect of irregularities, including fraud. The extent to which our procedures are capable of detecting irregularities, including fraud is detailed below.

Our approach to identifying and assessing the risks of material misstatement in respect of irregularities, including fraud and non-compliance with laws and regulations, was as follows:

•  we identified the laws and regulations applicable to the charity through discussions with those charged with governance and other management, and from our knowledge and experience of the sector;

•  we focused on specific laws and regulations which we considered may have a direct material effect on the accounts or the operations of the charity, including the Charities (Accounts and Reports) Regulations 2008, the Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland (FRS 102), 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 (Charities SORP FRS 102), and safeguarding regulations; and

•  we assessed the extent of compliance with the laws and regulations identified above through making enquiries of management and inspecting legal correspondence. We corroborated our enquiries through our review of Trustees’, Governors’ and committee minutes.

We assessed the susceptibility of the charity’s accounts to material misstatement, including obtaining an understanding of how fraud might occur, by:

•  making enquiries of management as to their knowledge of actual, suspected and alleged fraud; and

•  considering the internal controls in place to mitigate risks of fraud and non-compliance with laws and regulations.

To address the risk of fraud through management bias and override of controls, we:

•  performed analytical procedures to identify any unusual or unexpected financial relationships;

Westminster Cathedral Choir School 14

Independent auditor’s report Year to 31 August 2025

Auditor’s responsibilities for the audit of the accounts (continued)

•  performed substantive testing of expenditure including testing the authorisation thereof; and

•  tested journal entries to identify unusual transactions.

In response to the risk of irregularities and non-compliance with laws and regulations, we designed procedures which included, but were not limited to:

•  agreeing financial statement disclosures to underlying supporting documentation;

•  reading the minutes of meetings of those charged with governance;

•  reviewing legal expenses incurred in the year; and

•  enquiring of management as to actual and potential litigation and claims.

There are inherent limitations in our audit procedures described above. The more removed that laws and regulations are from financial transactions, the less likely it is that we would become aware of non-compliance. Auditing standards also limit the audit procedures required to identify non-compliance with laws and regulations to enquiry of the Trustees and other management and the inspection of regulatory and legal correspondence, if any.

Material misstatements that arise due to fraud can be harder to detect than those that arise from error as they may involve deliberate concealment or collusion.

A further description of our responsibilities for the audit of the accounts is located on the Financial Reporting Council’s website at www.frc.org.uk/auditorsresponsibilities. This description forms part of our auditor’s report.

Use of our report

This report is made solely to the charity’s Trustees, as a body, in accordance with Part 4 of the Charities (Accounts and Reports) Regulations 2008. Our audit work has been undertaken so that we might state to the charity’s Trustees 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 charity and the charity’s Trustees as a body, for our audit work, for this report, or for the opinions we have formed.

Buzzacott Audit LLP Statutory Auditor 130 Wood Street London EC2V 6DL

Date: 18 March 2026

Buzzacott Audit LLP is eligible to act as an auditor in terms of section 1212 of the Companies Act 2006

Westminster Cathedral Choir School 15

Statement of financial activities Year to 31 August 2025

Notes	Un- restricted funds £	Restricted funds £	Total 2025 £	Un- restricted funds £	Restricted funds £	Total 2024 £
Income from: Donations and legacies 1 Bank interest Charitable activities . Provision of education 2 Total income Expenditure on: Charitable activities . Provision of education 3 . Charity donations Total expenditure Net income (expenditure) and net movement in funds Reconciliation of funds Balances brought forward at 1 September Balances carried forward at 31 August	123,722 120,863 6,800,854	67,867 13,231 —	191,589 134,094 6,800,854	120,788 120,988 6,288,895	31,364 7,120 —	152,152 128,108 6,288,895
	7,045,439	81,098	7,126,537	6,530,671	38,484	6,569,155
	6,580,230 —	83,862 —	6,664,092 —	6,257,992 —	54,384 6,771	6,312,376 6,771
	6,580,230	83,862	6,664,092	6,257,992	61,155	6,319,147
	465,209 3,839,707	(2,764) 414,174	462,445 4,253,881	272,679 3,567,028	(22,671) 436,845	250,008 4,003,873
	4,304,916	411,410	4,716,326	3,839,707	414,174	4,253,881

All of the charity’s activities derived from continuing operations during each of the above two financial periods.

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Balance sheet 31 August 2025

		2025	2025	2024	2024
	Notes	£	£	£	£
Fixed assets
Tangible assets	7	1,702,722	1,702,722	1,798,472	1,798,472
Current assets
Debtors	8	149,473	149,473	122,062	122,062
Short term deposits		3,850,000	3,850,000	1,800,000	1,800,000
Cash at bank and in hand		1,640,447	447	3,170,229	229
		5,639,920	5,639,920	5,092,291	5,092,291
Creditors: amounts falling due
within one year	9	(2,124,816)	(2,124,816)	(2,105,384)	(2,105,384)
Net current assets		3,515,104	3,515,104	2,986,907	2,986,907
Total assets less current liabilities		5,217,826	5,217,826	5,217,826 4,785,379	4,785,379
Creditors: amounts falling due
after more than one year	10		(501,500)		(531,498)
Total net assets		4,716,326	4,716,326	4,253,881	4,253,881
The funds of the charity:
Funds and reserves
Restricted funds	11		411,410		414,174
Unrestricted income funds
. General fund
..Tangible fixed assets		1,702,722	1,702,722	1,798,472	1,798,472
..Free reserves		2,602,194	2,602,194	2,041,235	2,041,235
		4	4,304,916	3	3,839,707
		4,716,326	4,716,326	4,253,881	4,253,881

Approved by the Directors of Westminster Roman Catholic Diocese Trustee and signed on their behalf by:

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Trustee
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Approved on: 13 March 2026

Westminster Cathedral Choir School 17

Statement of cash flows Year to 31 August 2025

cash flowsYear to 31 August 2025
Notes	2025 £	2024 £
Cash flows from operating activities: Net cash provided by operating activities A Cash flows from investing activities: Increase in short term deposits Purchase of tangible fixed assets Net cash used in investing activities Change in cash and cash equivalents in the year Cash and cash equivalents at 1 September B Cash and cash equivalents at 31 August B	719,933	973,794
	(2,050,000) **(199,715) **	(300,000) (644,845)
	**(2,249,715) **	(944,845)
	(1,529,782) 3,170,229	28,949 3,141,280
	1,640,447	3,170,229

Notes to the statement of cash flows for the year to 31 August 2025

A Reconciliation of net movement in funds to net cash provided by operating activities

	2025 £	2024 £
Net movement in funds (as per the statement of financial activities) Adjustments for: Depreciation charge Loss on disposal of fixed assets (Increase) decrease in debtors Increase in creditors (excluding fixed asset creditors) Net cashprovided by operating activities	462,445 224,117 867 (27,411) 59,915	250,008 212,130 — 19,497 492,159
	719,933	973,794
Analysis of cash and cash equivalents	2025 £	2024 £
Total cash and cash equivalents:Cash at bank and in hand	1,640,447	3,170,229

B Analysis of cash and cash equivalents

C Analysis of changes in net (debt) funds

Analysis of changes in net (debt) funds
	At 1 September 2024 £ 3,170,229 1,800,000 4,970,229	Cash flows £	At 31 August 2025 £
Cash and cash equivalents Short term deposits Total		(1,529,782) 2,050,000	1,640,447 3,850,000
		520,218	5,490,447

Westminster Cathedral Choir School 18

Principal accounting policies Year to 31 August 2025

The principal accounting policies adopted, judgements and key sources of estimation uncertainty in the preparation of the accounts are laid out below.

Basis of preparation

These accounts have been prepared for the year to 31 August 2025 with comparative information given in respect to the year to 31 August 2024.

The accounts 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 (Charities SORP FRS 102), the Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland (FRS 102) and the Charities (Accounts and Reports) Regulations 2008.

The accounts have been prepared under the historical cost convention with items recognised at cost or transaction value unless otherwise stated in the relevant accounting policies below or the notes to these accounts.

The charity constitutes a public benefit entity as defined by FRS 102.

The accounts are presented in sterling and are rounded to the nearest pound.

Critical accounting estimates and areas of judgement

Preparation of the accounts requires the Trustees, in consultation with the Governors and Senior Management Team, to make significant judgements and estimates.

The items in the accounts where these judgements and estimates have been made include:

•  Estimating the useful economic life of tangible fixed assets for the purposes of determining an annual depreciation charge; and

•  Assessing the level of any necessary bad debt provision.

Assessment of going concern

The Trustees, in consultation with the Governors, have assessed whether the use of the going concern assumption is appropriate in preparing these accounts. They have made this assessment in respect to a period of at least one year from the date of approval of these accounts.

The Trustees and Governors of the charity have concluded that there are no material uncertainties related to events or conditions, including the current macroeconomic and geopolitical climate, that may cast significant doubt on the ability of the charity to continue as a going concern although maintaining pupil numbers remains essential to financial security (see principal risks set out in the Report of the Directors of the Corporate Trustee). The Trustees and Governors are of the opinion that the charity will have sufficient resources to meet its liabilities as they fall due.

Westminster Cathedral Choir School 19

Principal accounting policies Year to 31 August 2025

Income

Income is recognised in the period in which the charity has entitlement to the income, the amount of income can be measured reliably and it is probable that the income will be received.

Donations and grants are recognised when the charity has confirmation of both the amount and settlement date. In the event of donations or grants pledged but not received, the amount is accrued for where the receipt is considered probable. In the event that a donation or grant is subject to conditions that require a level of performance before the charity is entitled to the funds, the income is deferred and not recognised until either those conditions are fully met, or the fulfilment of those conditions is wholly within the control of the charity and it is probable that those conditions will be fulfilled in the reporting period.

Legacies are included in the statement of financial activities when the charity is entitled to the legacy, the executors have established that there are sufficient surplus assets in the estate to pay the legacy, and any conditions attached to the legacy are within the control of the charity.

Interest receivable on bank deposits is credited to the statement of financial activities on an accruals basis.

Fees for the provision of education comprise tuition and related fees paid in accordance with agreements between the School and individual pupils’ parents. Such income is stated after deducting bursaries and is recognised when the School is entitled to receipt under the relevant contractual agreements. This is usually at the point at which the School has commenced the provision of education in respect to the relevant student at the start of each academic term.

Expenditure

Expenditure is recognised as soon as there is a legal or constructive obligation committing the charity to make a payment to a third party, it is probable that a transfer of economic benefits will be required in settlement and the amount of the obligation can be measured reliably.

All expenditure is accounted for on an accruals basis. Expenditure comprises direct costs and support costs and is stated inclusive of irrecoverable VAT.

Expenditure on charitable activities includes all direct and indirect costs associated with furthering the charitable purposes of the charity i.e. the provision of education and the training of children in church choral music through the operation of Westminster Cathedral Choir School. Such costs include:

• Teaching costs i.e. the cost of teaching and support staff salaries, including pension and national insurance costs, books and other tuition expenses, and the cost of games and activities.

• Welfare costs i.e. all domestic costs associated with the School including employment costs, consumables and catering.

Westminster Cathedral Choir School 20

Principal accounting policies Year to 31 August 2025

Expenditure (continued)

• Premises costs i.e. costs associated with the premises, grounds and estate used by the charity for the purposes of education.

• Support costs i.e. administrative costs incurred in connection with the School.

• Governance costs, i.e. costs directly attributable to the legal procedures necessary for compliance with statutory requirements.

Tangible fixed assets

Assets costing in excess of £1,000 and with an expected useful life exceeding one year are capitalised.

All tangible fixed assets are stated at cost. Depreciation is provided at the following annual rates in order to write off each asset over its estimated useful life:

• Furniture, equipment and minor improvements 10% - 20% per annum based on cost

• Major improvements to property 4% per annum based on cost

Debtors

Debtors are recognised at their settlement amount, less any provision for non-recoverability. Prepayments are valued at the amount prepaid.

Cash at bank and in hand

Cash at bank and in hand represents such accounts and instruments that are available on demand or have a maturity of less than three months from the date of acquisition. Deposits for more than three months but less than one year have been disclosed as short term deposits.

Creditors and provisions

Creditors and provisions are recognised when there is an obligation at the balance sheet date as a result of a past event, it is probable that a transfer of economic benefit will be required in settlement, and the amount of the settlement can be estimated reliably. Creditors and provisions are recognised at the amount the charity anticipates it will pay to settle the debt.

Fund structure

The general fund comprises the net book value of tangible fixed assets and free reserves i.e. those monies which may be used towards meeting the charitable objectives of the charity and which may be applied at the discretion of the Trustees.

The restricted funds comprise monies raised for, or their use restricted to, a specified purpose or amounts subject to donor imposed conditions as to use.

Westminster Cathedral Choir School 21

Principal accounting policies Year to 31 August 2025

Leased assets

Operating leases are defined as those leases where substantially all of the benefits and risks of ownership remain with the lessor. The rental applicable for the period from the commencement of such a lease until the end of the lease is charged to the statement of financial activities on a straight line basis spread over the entirety of the lease term, including over any rent free period or period of reduced rent.

Pension costs

Contributions in respect to defined contribution schemes are charged to the statement of financial activities in the year in which they become payable to the schemes.

The charity contributes to a defined benefit pension scheme. Under the definitions set out in FRS 102, the scheme is a multi-employer pension scheme. The School is unable to identify its share of the underlying assets and liabilities of the scheme and accordingly, the School has taken advantage of the exemption in FRS 102 and has accounted for its contributions to the scheme as if it were a defined contribution scheme.

Westminster Cathedral Choir School 22

Notes to the accounts Year to 31 August 2025

1 Income from: Donations and legacies

	Un- restricted funds £	Restricted funds £	Total 2025 £	Un- restricted funds £	Restricted funds £ — 31,364 31,364	Total 2024 £
Grants receivable from Westminster Cathedral Choir School Fund (note 17) Other donations, gifts and sundry receipts Total funds	105,000 18,722	— 67,867	105,000 86,589	105,000 15,788		105,000 47,152
	123,722	67,867	191,589	120,788		152,152

2 Income from: Provision of education

	Un- restricted funds £	Restricted funds £	Total 2025 £	Un- restricted funds £	Restricted funds £	Total 2024 £
Gross fees Less: Bursaries Total funds	6,903,316 (102,462)	— —	6,903,316 **(102,462) **	6,368,929 (80,034)	— —	6,368,929 (80,034)
	6,800,854	—	6,800,854	6,288,895	—	6,288,895

Choristers’ fees only partially cover the costs associated with the provision of education for choristers. The shortfall is in part made up by a grant of £105,000 (2024 - £105,000) receivable from Westminster Cathedral Choir School Fund (see note 1).

3 Expenditure on: Provision of education

	Un- restricted funds £	Restricted funds £	Total 2025 £	Un- restricted funds £	Restricted funds £	Total 2024 £ 2,571,349 672,785 78,791 135,814 86,966 3,545,705 317,241 178,950 35,209 531,400
Teaching and music Personnel costs Books, equipment and educational supplies Scholarships and prizes Depreciation Advertising, travel and related costs Welfare Personnel costs Provisions Miscellaneous expenses	2,892,400 500,551 24,666 135,800 145,836	— — 83,862 — —	2,892,400 500,551 108,528 135,800 145,836	2,571,349 672,785 24,407 135,814 86,966	— — 54,384 — —
	3,699,254	**83.862 **	3,783,116	3,491,321	54,384
	353,769 185,381 34,503	— — —	353,769 185,381 34,503	317,241 178,950 35,209	— — —
	573,653	—	573,653	531,400	—

Westminster Cathedral Choir School 23

Notes to the accounts Year to 31 August 2025

3 Expenditure on: Provision of education (continued)

	Un- restricted funds £	Restricted funds £	Total 2025 £	Un- restricted funds £	Restricted funds £	Total 2024 £
Premises Personnel costs Maintenance and repairs Rent and property charges payable to Westminster Roman Catholic Diocesan Trust (note 14) Depreciation Fuel, light and water Cleaning Staff accommodation Loss on disposal of fixed assets Miscellaneous Support Personnel costs Printing, postage, stationery and telephone Computers and related maintenance Bank charges Bad debts Governance Auditor’s remuneration Other legal and professional fees Total funds	180,417 180,954 918,604 85,860 163,953 20,041 78,875 867 35,298	— — — — — — — — —	180,417 180,954 918,604 85,860 163,953 20,041 78,875 867 35,298	160,532 149,014 1,000,787 76,316 150,525 12,698 78,104 — 26,639	— — — — — — — — —	160,532 149,014 1,000,787 76,316 150,525 12,698 78,104 — 26,639
	1,664,869	—	1,664,869	1,654,615	—	1,654,615
	421,992 58,564 73,790 7,470 26,796	— — — — —	421,992 58,564 73,790 7,470 26,796	365,295 57,894 69,641 6,589 —	— — — —	365,295 57,894 69,641 6,589 —
	588,612	—	588,612	499,419	—	499,419
	15,150 38,693	— —	15,150 38,693	12,580 68,657	— —	12,580 68,657
	53,843	—	53,843	81,237	—	81,237
	6,580,230	83,862	6,664,092	6,257,992	54,384	6,312,376

4 Staff costs

Staff costs
	2025 £	2024 £
Staff costs during the period were as follows: Wages and salaries Social security costs Other pension costs Other staff costs	2,911,372 327,772 543,548	2,639,535 273,686 445,848
	3,782,692 65,886	3,359,069 55,348
	3,848,578	3,414,417

Included in staff costs are termination payments of £16,152 (2024- £nil).

Westminster Cathedral Choir School 24

Notes to the accounts Year to 31 August 2025

4 Staff costs (continued)

The number of employees who earned more than £60,000 (including taxable benefits but excluding employer’s national insurance and pension contributions) during the year was as follows:

	Total 2025	Total 2024
£60,001 - £70,000 £70,001 - £80,000 £80,001 - £90,000 £90,001 - £100,000 £100,001 - £110,000 £170,001 - £180,000 £180,001 - £190,000	6 1 2 2 1 — 1	5 2 3 2 — 1 —

The average number of employees during the period, analysed by function, was as follows:

	2025 No.	2024 No.
Teaching and music Welfare Support	49 18 6	46 18 5
	73	69

5 Remuneration of Trustees, Governors and key management personnel

No Trustee or Governor received any remuneration from the charity in connection with their duties as a Director of the Corporate Trustee or Governor during the year or in respect of their role as key management personnel (2024 – £nil). Three Governors received reimbursement of travel and accommodation expenses totalling £1,901 from the charity in connection with their duties as a Governor during the year (2024 – £2,187 reimbursed to two Governors). No Trustee or Governor had any beneficial interest in any contract with the charity during the year (2024 – none).

The key management personnel of the charity in charge of running and operating the charity on a day-to-day basis are the Directors of the Corporate Trustee, Governors, Head Master, Deputy Head (Pastoral), Head of Pre-Prep, Deputy Head (Academic) (also Head of Boarding), Director of Studies, Director of Admissions and Bursar. The total remuneration (including taxable benefits, employer’s national insurance and pension contributions) of the key management personnel for the year was £992,437 (2024 – £917,481).

The School provides a discount on school fees of up to 85% for senior management and up to 25% for all other School staff. In line with this policy, the Head of Pre-Prep receives an 85% discount on School fees for her son, who joined the School in September 2020.

6 Taxation

Westminster Cathedral Choir School is a registered charity and, therefore, is not liable to income tax or corporation tax on income derived from its charitable activities, as it falls within the various exemptions available to registered charities.

Westminster Cathedral Choir School 25

Notes to the accounts Year to 31 August 2025

7 Tangible fixed assets

Tangible fixed assets
	Major improvements to property £	Furniture, equipment and minor improvements £	Total £
Cost At 1 September 2024 Additions Disposals At 31 August 2025 Depreciation At 1 September 2024 Charge for year Eliminated in respect of disposals At 31 August 2025 Net book values At 31 August 2025 At 31 August 2024	2,136,690 9,801 —	2,099,323 119,566 (262,583)	4,236,013 129,367 (262,583)
	2,146,491	1,956,306	4,102,797
	856,933 85,860 —	1,580,608 138,257 (261,583)	2,437,541 224,117 (261,583)
	942,793	1,457,282	2,400,075
	1,203,698	499,024	1,702,722
	1,279,757	518,715	1,798,472

8	Debtors	2025 £	2024 £ 38,161 83,901 122,062
	Tuition and other fees receivable Prepayments and sundry debtors	70,693 78,780
		149,473

9 Creditors: amounts falling due within one year

Creditors: amounts falling due within one year
	2025 £	2024 £ 91,972 303,087 130,162 1,379,144 60,500 98,884 41,635 2,105,384
Amounts due to Westminster Roman Catholic Diocesan Trust (note 14) Accrued rent (see below) PAYE, National Insurance and employer’s pension contributions Fees in advance Returnable fee deposits Additions to tangible fixed assets Accruals	99,190 278,348 173,713 1,326,006 54,000 28,402 165,157
	2,124,816

The accrued rent of £278,348 (2024 – £303,087) represents the cumulative charge to the statement of financial activities required in order to spread the rent applicable to the lease of the charity’s premises over the entire period of the lease on a straight line basis, after. adjusting for an initial three year period of reduced rent and a further 6 month period of reduced rent.

Westminster Cathedral Choir School 26

Notes to the accounts Year to 31 August 2025

10 Creditors: amounts falling due after more than one year

Creditors: amounts falling due after more than one year
	2025 £ 501,500	2024 £ 531,498
Returnable fee deposits

11 Restricted funds

The income funds include restricted funds comprising the following unexpended balances of donations and grants to be applied for specific purposes.

	At 1 September 2024 £	Income £	Expenditure £	At 31 August 2025 £
Basil Hume Fund Neil McLaughlan Fund Total restricted funds	412,505 1,669	71,098 10,000	(83,862) —	399,741 11,669
	414,174	81,098	(83,862)	411,410
	At 1 September 2023 £	Income £	Expenditure £	At 31 August 2024 £
Basil Hume Fund Neil McLaughlan Fund Other funds Total restricted funds	434,926 1,919 —	31,713 — 6,771	(54,134) (250) (6,771)	412,505 1,669 —
	436,845	38,484	(61,155)	414,174

The purposes for which the funds must be used are as follows:

•  Basil Hume Fund Although choristers are required to pay only a small proportion of the full fees by virtue of the grant received annually from the Westminster Cathedral Choir School Fund (note 1), further assistance is also available on application to this fund.

•  Neil McLaughlan Fund

The Neil McLaughlan Fund comprises donations from parents to establish a fund from which ad-hoc awards award will be made, usually annually, to recognise an outstanding contribution from a member of academic teaching staff (excluding SMT members).

Westminster Cathedral Choir School 27

Notes to the accounts Year to 31 August 2025

12 Analysis of net assets between funds

Analysis of net assets between funds
	Unrestricted general fund £	Restricted funds £	2025 Total £
Fund balances at 31 August 2025 are represented by: Tangible fixed assets Net current assets Creditors: amounts falling due after more than one year Total net assets	1,702,722 3,103,694 (501,500)	— 411,410 —	1,702,722 3,515,104 (501,500)
	4,304,916	411,410	4,716,326
	Unrestricted general fund £	Restricted funds £	2024 Total £
Fund balances at 31 August 2024 are represented by: Tangible fixed assets Net current assets Creditors: amounts falling due after more than one year Total net assets	1,798,472 2,572,733 (531,498)	— 414,174 —	1,798,472 2,986,907 (531,498)
	3,839,707	414,174	4,253,881

13 Connected charity

The charity is connected to Westminster Roman Catholic Diocesan Trust (Charity Registration Number 233699) which has the same Corporate Trustee, namely Westminster Roman Catholic Diocese Trustee.

14 Transactions with connected charity

A licence agreement exists between the School and Westminster Roman Catholic Diocesan Trust in relation to the School’s share of the heating and hot water costs.

During the year to 31 August 2025, rent and property related charges of £918,604 (2024 – £1,000,787) were payable to Westminster Roman Catholic Diocesan Trust. This includes a rent payment for the use of 47 Francis Street, London, SW1P 1QR by Westminster Cathedral Choir School as a Pre-Prep School. The property is owned by the Westminster Roman Catholic Diocesan Trust and is rented to the charity.

As at 31 August 2025, an amount of £99,190 (2024 - £91,972) was due to Westminster Roman Catholic Diocesan Trust (note 9).

Westminster Cathedral Choir School 28

Notes to the accounts Year to 31 August 2025

15 Commitments under operating leases

At 31 August 2025, the total of the charity’s future minimum lease payments under noncancellable operating leases was as follows:

Land and buildings	2025 £	2024 £
Amount due within one year Amounts due between two and five years Amounts due after five years	834,087 3,109,771 8,668,039	938,251 3,488,662 9,962,524
	12,611,897	14,389,437

The above lease is for a 30 year period from July 2017 with an initial three year period of reduced rent and a further 6 months of reduced rent from April 2020.

The rent payable is variable and depends on the Bank Rate set by the Bank of England.

16 Pension commitments

The charity’s teaching staff belong to the Teachers’ Pension Scheme (TPS). The total pension cost for the TPS for the period was £491,768 (2024 – £400,122). For non-teaching staff, contributions are made to defined contribution pension schemes. The total pension costs for the year payable to these schemes was £51,761 (2024 – £45,726).

Teachers’ Pension Scheme (TPS)

The Teachers' Pension Scheme (TPS) is a statutory, contributory, defined benefit scheme, governed by the Teachers’ Pension Scheme Regulations 2014. These regulations apply to teachers in schools, colleges and other educational establishments. Membership is automatic for teachers and lecturers at eligible institutions. Teachers and lecturers are able to opt out of the TPS.

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 under arrangements governed by the above Act. Retirement and other pension benefits are paid by public funds provided by Parliament.

Under the definitions set out in FRS 102 (28.11), the TPS is a multi-employer pension plan. The School is unable to identify its share of the underlying assets and liabilities of the plan.

Accordingly, the School has taken advantage of the exemption in FRS 102 and has accounted for its contributions to the scheme as if it were a defined-contribution plan. The School has set out below the information available on the plan and the implications for the School in terms of the anticipated contribution rates.

The valuation of the TPS is carried out in line with regulations made under the Public Service Pension Act 2013. Valuations credit the teachers’ pension account with a real rate of return assuming funds are invested in notional investments that produce that real rate of return.

Westminster Cathedral Choir School 29

Notes to the accounts Year to 31 August 2025

16 Pension commitments (continued)

Teachers’ Pension Scheme (TPS) (continued)

The latest actuarial review of the TPS was carried out as at 31 March 2020. The valuation report was published by the Department for Education (DfE) in October 2023. The valuation reported total scheme liabilities (pensions currently in payment and the estimated cost of future benefits) for service to the effective date of £262 billion, and notional assets (estimated future contributions together with the notional investments held at the valuation date) of £222 billion, giving a notional past service deficit of £40 billion.

As a result of the valuation, new employer contribution rates have been set at 28.68% of pensionable pay from April 2024 onwards (compared to 23.68% since September 2019).

A full copy of the valuation report and supporting documentation can be found on the Teachers’ Pension Scheme website.

17 Related party transactions

A total of £27,090 (2024 – £34,321) was paid to Farrer & Co LLP, the School’s legal advisers, of which Maria Strauss, a Governor, is a partner.

A grant of £105,000 (2024 - £105,000) was received from Westminster Cathedral Choir School Fund (Registered Charity Number 276878) of which Mrs Joanna Stephens, Bursar at the School, is a trustee.

Other than the relationships and transactions disclosed in notes 5, 14 and 15, there were no other related party transactions requiring disclosure (2024 – none).

Westminster Cathedral Choir School 30