2023-03-31-accounts

	Trustees' Annual Report for theperiod	Trustees' Annual Report for theperiod	Trustees' Annual Report for theperiod	Trustees' Annual Report for theperiod	Trustees' Annual Report for theperiod	Trustees' Annual Report for theperiod	Trustees' Annual Report for theperiod	Trustees' Annual Report for theperiod
	From	Period start date			To	Period end date
		1st	April	2022		31st	March	2023

Section A Reference and administration details

Charity name THE DOWNS SCHOOL TRUST

Registered charity number (if any) 1094239

Charity's principal address

The Downs School Compton Newbury Berkshire Postcode RG20 6AD

Names of the charity trustees who manage the charity

1 2 3	Trustee name	Office (if any)	Dates acted if not for whole year	Name of person (or body) entitled to appoint trustee (ifany)	Name of person (or body) entitled to appoint trustee (ifany)	Name of person (or body) entitled to appoint trustee (ifany)
	Mr C.Prosser
	Mr P Clark
	Mr A Tow
Sectio	n B Structure, governance and management

Description of the charity’s trusts

Trust Deed Type of governing document (eg. trust deed, constitution) Trust How the charity is constituted (eg. trust, association, company) Appointed by governing board of The Downs School Trustee selection methods (eg. appointed by, elected by)

Section C Objectives and activities

The main activity of the charity is fundraising for the benefit of educational objectives. Summary of the objects of the charity set out in its governing document Please note that all policies in place at The Downs School extend across the activities of The Downs School Trust. Summary of the main activities undertaken for the public Funds are raised in several ways including an annual Sponsored Walk benefit in relation to these and also a general appeal to parents for funds. This year specific

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fundraising was started for a site improvements including tarmac to areas around the field that has been an ongoing H&S concerns. The Trust also fundraises via the West Berkshire lottery, and this has produced a steady income stream. We have introduced some new fundraising events namely – The colour run, the pamper evening, a golf event, Bags2School and a objects (include within this Christmas pottery painting event, drinks at events and shows, golf days section the statutory which have all been successful. Gift Aid is recovered from the Inland declaration that trustees have Revenue on donations where possible. This year all such funds have had regard to the guidance been distributed for the benefit of students at The Downs School. issued by the Charity Commission on public benefit) The charitable status of the trust also enables it to make applications to a variety of grant making bodies when specific projects are identified. There has been 1 application for grant funding this year – Greenham Common Trust for improvements to our café 6 and sixth form common room)

Section D Achievements and performance

The grants we supply to The Downs School support the educational Summary of the main objectives of the school. The grants have supported the school in achievements of the charity engaging students and with projects that would otherwise not have been during the year possible.

Section E Financial review

Reserves are minimal, unless funds are restricted in which case reserves Brief statement of the are held until the project is undertaken. charity’s policy on reserves Details of any funds materially None in deficit

Section F Other optional information

None

Section G Declaration

The trustees declare that they have approved the trustees’ report above.

Signed on behalf of the charity’s trustees

Signature(s) Rebecca Brophy Full name(s) Rebecca Brophy

Position (eg Secretary, Chair, SECRETARY etc) Date 21/6/2023

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The Downs School Trust Accounts 2022/23

DRAFT Report

West Berkshire Council – Internal Audit

Independent Examiners Report – The Downs School Trust Accounts 2022/23 (registered charity number 1094239)

1. Introduction

• 1.1 Internal Audit was commissioned by the Trustees of The Downs School Trust to undertake an Independent Examination of the Trust’s accounts for the year 2022/23.

• 1.2 The examination took place between the 9[th] May and 11[th] May 2023. The scope was agreed before the work commenced, and the assurance provided was to be limited to confirming the accuracy of reported payments and receipts to the Trust, and the Trust balance at year end.

• 1.3 The examination was undertaken with regard to the good practice recommendations set out in the Charity Commission’s guidance on Independent examination of charity accounts: Directions and guidance for examiners (CC32).

• 1.4 We would like to thank the School Business Manager (SBM) and Finance staff for their help and hospitality shown to us. The audit was undertaken by Jen Brunning, Principal Auditor.

• 1.5 Where we have made a recommendation we have used the following to categorise the significance.

	Category of weakness Fundament al May result in a complete breakdown of the service and or fraud or other irregularity Signifcant May result in a breakdown in the service and or fraud or other irregularity Moderate May result in some impact on the service Minor Limited impact on the service

In addition, we may raise Points to Note (PTN) where:-

• a) the control(s) in place is satisfactory, but during our sample checks we identified an occasion/a couple of

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The Downs School Trust Accounts 2022/23

DRAFT Report

occasions where the control was not being complied with; and/or

• b) we wish to make an advisory point which does not relate to a control weakness.

In these circumstances we consider it sufficient to bring these points to your attention for information/future reference without making a recommendation.

2. Approach and Findings

• 2.1. The Downs Trust is a charitable organisation established by the School to receive money raised from sponsored events in order that advantage can be taken of the Gift Aid tax refund scheme. Income is also received from other activities including West Berkshire lottery and community funds. The money raised is then distributed as grant funding to the main Downs School account.

• 2.2. The Trust’s accounts are maintained by the SBM and her staff at The Downs School using FMS ledgers. The Trust accounts are maintained on the Downs School ledger (fund 95) under separate ledger codes. We confirmed the accuracy of the figures on the Ledger Code Summary report.

• 2.3. We confirmed the continuity of the Trust’s bank statements throughout the year and that they followed from the previous year end reconciliations. The monthly reconciliations as undertaken by The Downs School’s finance team had been completed by reconciling the bank statement balance with the Unreconciled Items reports from FMS. This gave us assurance that the transactions in FMS matched those made through the bank account.

• 2.4. We selected and reviewed samples of income receipts, tracing monies received by direct credit, or via SchoolGateway (provided by SchoolComms) through to the Trust’s bank account, verifying the source of the income and confirming that appropriate entries had been made in the ledgers for the relevant activity.

• 2.5. We reviewed payments from the Trust, comprising the grant made to the main school as set out in the Trustees Annual report, transaction fees to SchoolComms, and other payments made in relation to hosting events. We confirmed that payments were correctly approved and reported.

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DRAFT Report

• 2.6. Accounts are presented on a receipts and payments basis which is allowable under the applicable reporting guidelines. Therefore there was no examination required for accruals.

3. Conclusion

• 3.1. We conclude that the reported opening and closing balances, and payments and receipts are correctly stated in the statement of accounts.

• 3.2. The Downs Trust accumulated opening balance at 31[st] March 2022 was £8,930. Gross income was £74,732. The expenditure in the year was £73,425 primarily comprising funds distributed to the main school of £69,345. The closing balance at 31[st] March 2023 was £10,237, which was confirmed as the balance held in the bank account.

Jen Brunning, Principal Auditor Julie Gillhespey, Audit Manager July 2023

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