## **THE A S NEILL SUMMERHILL TRUST** **Registered Charity No. 1089804** ## **Trustees’ Annual Report** **For the year ending 31 August 2025** ## **Objectives and Public Benefit** The objects of The A S Neill Summerhill Trust are to advance public education in the educational philosophy, ideas, life and writings of Alexander Sutherland Neill and Zoë Neill Readhead, with particular emphasis on supporting educational approaches that encourage children to become happy, sincere, balanced and sociable individuals. The Trust exists to preserve and promote the educational legacy associated with A.S. Neill and the wider Summerhill tradition, while supporting practical educational access through bursaries and related initiatives. In doing so, the Trust seeks to provide meaningful public benefit through educational support, archival preservation, and the dissemination of ideas that continue to contribute to educational debate in the UK and internationally. During the year, trustees had regard to the Charity Commission’s public benefit guidance when reviewing activities, expenditure and future planning. ## **Activities and Achievements** ## **Educational Support and Bursaries** The Trust continued its long-standing commitment to widening access to education through direct bursary support. Supporting children and families who may otherwise find access difficult remains a central practical expression of the Trust’s charitable purpose. During the reporting period, bursaries totalling **£16,500** were awarded. These funds directly assisted educational participation and access. Additional educational support included: - **£525.28** for educational extras and lessons - **£400** towards Class 2 educational accommodation connected with an educational Italy trip These expenditures directly furthered the Trust’s charitable objectives by reducing barriers to educational opportunity and supporting enriching learning experiences. 1 ## **Archive Preservation and Educational Heritage** The Trust continued to support the preservation of archive materials connected with A.S. Neill, Summerhill School, and the wider educational legacy associated with democratic and child-centred learning. Archive-related expenditure totalled **£83.80** for preservation materials and associated archive expenses. Although modest in financial scale during this reporting period, trustees recognise the long-term significance of preserving educational records, documents and materials that may support future research, scholarship and public understanding. The Trust considers this archive work an important public benefit activity, ensuring historically significant educational material remains available to researchers, educators and interested members of the public. ## **Outreach and Public Awareness** The Trust undertook limited but purposeful promotional activity designed to raise awareness of its charitable mission and encourage wider public engagement with its educational aims. This included: - **£240** spent on social media promotion Trustees considered this expenditure proportionate and aligned with the Trust’s public benefit objectives, helping to maintain awareness of its educational and charitable work. ## **Financial Review** ## **Income** Total income for the year amounted to **£63,955.52** . Income sources included: |Source|Amount| |---|---| |General donations|£5,805.07| |Archive/research donations|£1,100.00| |Royalties / contracts|£5,746.36| |Bequest (Mr Forrest)|£50,000.00| |Zoë Barefoot sales|£734.46| |Auction proceeds|£254.60| |PayPal income|£315.03| 2 The most significant contribution was a legacy bequest of **£50,000** , which substantially strengthened the Trust’s financial position and will help support future charitable activities. Trustees remain grateful for all donor support, whether through individual giving, legacy support, royalties or other fundraising activity. ## **Expenditure** Total expenditure for the year was **£18,044.86** . The majority of expenditure was directly applied to charitable purposes, particularly bursary support, demonstrating the Trust’s continued focus on practical educational benefit. Trustees monitor expenditure carefully to ensure charitable resources are used efficiently and in accordance with the Trust’s objectives. ## **Surplus and Reserves** The Trust recorded a net surplus of **£45,910.66** , increasing reserves from **£28,353.10** at the beginning of the year to **£74,263.76** at year end. Trustees consider this reserve level prudent and appropriate, particularly given the variable nature of charitable income and the importance of maintaining financial resilience. Reserves may support: - future bursary commitments - archive preservation work - educational initiatives - charitable outreach - continuity of operations during periods of reduced income ## **Governance** The Trust continues to operate under its governing Declaration of Trust. Trustees met during the year to oversee: - charitable activities - expenditure approvals - financial management - bursary awards - compliance obligations - strategic planning No trustee received remuneration for acting as a trustee. 3 Where appropriate, trustees may be reimbursed for legitimate out-of-pocket expenses incurred in carrying out trustee duties. Trustees remain committed to good governance, transparency and responsible stewardship of charitable resources. ## **Risk Management** Trustees regularly consider the principal risks affecting the Trust and the measures required to manage them. ## **Financial Risk** The Trust remains partially reliant on donations and irregular larger gifts such as legacies. Mitigation includes: - maintaining prudent reserves - reviewing expenditure carefully - monitoring income patterns ## **Governance Risk** Trustees recognise the importance of maintaining effective governance and regulatory compliance. Mitigation includes: - regular trustee oversight • independent financial examination • documented decision-making ## **Reputational Risk** Trustees recognise that charitable credibility depends upon activities remaining clearly aligned with charitable purposes. Mitigation includes: - scrutiny of expenditure decisions - oversight of outreach activity - maintaining clear public benefit focus ## **Safeguarding** The Trust supports the charitable and educational objectives associated with Summerhill School through bursaries, archive preservation and related educational initiatives. However, the Trust does not directly 4 provide services to children, does not operate educational provision, and does not interact operationally with pupils. Responsibility for safeguarding, child protection procedures, DBS compliance, welfare monitoring and direct duty of care in relation to children rests entirely with Summerhill School as the regulated educational provider. Trustees nevertheless remain mindful of safeguarding principles as part of good governance. No safeguarding incidents relating to the Trust’s own activities were reported during the reporting period. ## **Overseas Activity** The Trust did not undertake direct charitable operations outside the United Kingdom during the reporting period. Any incidental international educational relevance associated with supported activities did not amount to formal overseas charitable delivery. ## **Trustee Benefits and Related Party Transactions** No trustee received payment for acting in their role as trustee. No material related party transactions requiring additional disclosure were identified during the reporting period. ## **Independent Examination** The accounts were independently examined by **Martin Fuller, CRASL Accounting Services** . The independent examiner confirmed that no material matters came to attention during the examination and that the Trust ended the year with reserves of **£74,263.76** . ## **Plans for 2025–26** Trustees intend to continue developing the Trust’s charitable work in line with its objectives. Planned priorities include: - continuation of bursary support - further archive preservation activity - strengthening public awareness of the Trust’s mission - supporting educational and research initiatives consistent with the Trust’s purposes - maintaining prudent financial stewardship 5 Trustees remain committed to preserving and advancing the educational legacy of A.S. Neill in ways that provide meaningful and lasting public benefit. 6 ## **The A S Neill Summerhill Trust** ACCOUNTS FOR THE YEAR ENDING 31 AUGUST 2025 ## Donations General £5,805.07 Donations Archive/research £1,100.00 Royalties/contract £5,746.36 Bequest - Mr Forrest £50,000.00 Zoë Barefoot Sales £734.46 Mander – Auction £254.60 Paypal £315.03 TOTAL INCOME: £63,955.52 **EXPENDITURE** Bursaries Paid £16,500.00 Extras/Lessons £525.28 Archive £83.80 Social Media Promotion £240.00 Class 2 Italy Accommodation £400.00 Paypal return cheque £157.51 General Expenses £138.27 TOTAL EXPENSES: £18,044.86 ## **BALANCES** Opening balance 01.09.2024 £28,353.10 Income £63,955.52 Expenditure £18,044.86 **Closing Balance 31.08.2025 £74,263.76** ## **Accounts prepared from bank records** Lynn Kersey Date: 09.09.2025 Accounting Services The A S Neill Summerhill Trust I planned and performed my examination so as to satisfy myself that the objectives of the independent examination are achieved and before finalising the report l obtained written assurance5 from the Trustees of all material matters. Independent Examlnerfs Statement, Report and Opinion Subject to the limitations upon the scope of my work as ¢Jetalled above. I have completed my examination: and ¢an confirm that:_ This is a report in respect of an examination carried out under 145 of the Act and in accordance with the directions given by the Charity Commission under section 14515llbl of the Art which may be applicable; and that no material matters have come to my attention in connection with the examination giving me cause to belleve that in any material respect:_ accounting records were not kept in respect of the charity as required by with Section 130 of The Charitles Act 2011- the financial ststements do not accord with those records- or the flnanclal statements do not comply with the applicable requirements conceming the form and content of accounts set out in the Charities (Accounts and Reports) Regulations 2008 other than any requirement that the accounts give and 'true and fairf view, which 15 not a matter considered as part of an independent examination. have not been prepaTed in accordance with the rnethods and principals set out in the FRS 102 SORP (Statement of Recommended Pr3Ctice for Actounting and Reporting by Charities) 2015. las amended by the Bulletin issued in February 20161, lThe SORPI. I have no concern5 and have come acros5 no other matters in connettion with the examination to which attention should be drawn in this report in order to enable a proper understanding of the financial statements to be reached. For the year ending 31° August 2025 l ag¥ee to the trust ended with a surplu5 of £45,910.66, leaving a reserves balance of 74263.76 as of 31° August 2025. Martin Fuller Signed on I" April 2026 Reyi$terÈd Offic¢.. Chapel Road Accounting Seryic85 Limited Carfton Park House Carfton Park Industrial Estate Saxmundham Suffolk IP17 2NL ContsGt Detsil$- Email.. inlo@era81.co.uk payroll Tel.. 01728 6B7000 Website.. www.¢wl.¢o.uk Licensed ' Accountsnt ra51.co.uk Ma￿n Anthony Fuller and Stephèn David Kirk are licensed and regulated by AAT under licence number8 2913 and 1000869 Rogtsterad In England And Wales Under No. 4717829 VAT No. 922072650