REGISTERED COMPANY NUMBER: 06611453 (England and Wales) REGISTERED CHARITY NUMBER: 1124463
REPORT OF THE GOVERNORS AND FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 AUGUST 2025 FOR NEWCASTLE-UNDER-LYME SCHOOL
NEWCASTLE-UNDER-LYME SCHOOL CONTENTS OF THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS YEAR ENDED 31 AUGUST 2025
| Page | |
|---|---|
| Report oftheGovernors | 2-14 |
| Reportof theIndependentAuditors | 15-19 |
| Statement of Financial Activities | 20 |
| Balance Sheet | 21 |
| CashFlow Statement | 22 |
| NotestotheFinancialStatements | 23-35 |
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NEWCASTLE-UNDER-LYME SCHOOL - GOVERNORS, OFFICERS AND ADVISERS YEAR ENDED 31 AUGUST 2025
GOVERNORS, DIRECTORS AND CHARITY TRUSTEES
The Governors of Newcastle-under-Lyme School are the School's charity trustees under charity law and the directors of the charitable company. The members of the Governing Body who served in office as Governors during the year and subsequently are detailed below.
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Education | Employmentand |
Committee Business Compliance
Ma Committee Committee
Mr Clews er
R Colclough (from January 2025)
Mr D R Holland MA
Mr V Jagadesham (from January 2025) e |
Mr AJ McGowan a ee ee
Mrs K A Miller BSc, ACA (Vice-Chair) ed |
Mr GE Neyt LL.B e |
Mr D P Wallbank BA (Chair) ° @ °
eeeMr D R Williams (from December 2024) @
During the year the activities of the Governing Body were carried out through three committees. The
membership of these committees is shown above for each Governor.
OFFICERS Miss N Crouch Clerk to the Governors
OFFICERS
(key management personnel currently MrM Getty Head
and throughout the year) Mr J Baines Director of Finance and Operations
MrI Bousfield Assistant Head — Pastoral and Co-Curricular_
Mr I Dicksee Deputy Head - Academic
Dr K Mair Assistant Head -Teaching and Learning
Mr A Poole Director of Sixth Form
MrsMrs J Simms Deputy Head- Pastoral
K Thomson Head of Prep School
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PRINCIPAL ADDRESS
INVESTMENT MANAGERS AUDITORS
BANKERS
Mount Pleasant, Newcastle-under-Lyme, Staffordshire, ST5 1DB
Rathbones Investment Management Ltd, 30 Gresham Street, London,EC2V 7QN Deans Chartered Accountants, Gibson House, Hurricane Court, Hurricane Close, Stafford, Staffordshire, ST16 1GZ NatWest Bank PLC, 75 High Street, Newcastle-under-Lyme, ST5 1PP
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NEWCASTLE-UNDER-LYME SCHOOL ANNUAL REPORT OF THE GOVERNORS YEAR ENDED 31 AUGUST 2025
The members of the Newcastle-under-Lyme School Governing Body present their Annual Report for the year ended 31 August 2025 under the Charities Act 2011, including the Directors’ and Strategic Reports, under the Companies Act 2006, together with the audited financial statements for the year.
REFERENCE AND ADMINISTRATIVE INFORMATION
Newcastle-under-Lyme School is constituted as a company limited by guarantee registered in England, No. 06611453, and is registered with the Charity Commission under Charity No. 1124463, and came into being on 01 July 2008 taking over all assets and liabilities from the former charity Newcastle-under-Lyme Endowed Schools Fund Registered Charity No. 52891.
The School educates boys and girls from ages 2 to 18 and consists of a nursery, preparatory school, senior school and sixth form, covered by one Governing Body. Details of the members of the Governing Body, together with the School's officers and principal advisors are given on page 2.
ACHIEVEMENTS AND PERFORMANCE
Despite challenging economic times Newcastle-under-Lyme School is extremely proud of its high level of academic attainment, as well as its co-curricular programme in which most pupils participate.
GCE “Advanced Level” performance 2025
Students at Newcastle-under-Lyme School were awarded another strong set of A Level results, 83% of entries have been awarded A* to B grades.
GCSE performance 2025
Students at Newcastle-under-Lyme School were also awarded a strong set of GCSE results this year with 68% grades7 to 9 pass rate.
Fundraising performance. Grants and donations totalled £1,000 (2023-24: £230)
Investment performance. At the end of the year the net value of the School’s investments in securities totalled £2,827,402 (2023-24: £2,690,057), an increase of 5%.
The investment strategy aims for the portfolio to look to produce dividend income of £45k to £50K per annum. In 2024-25 dividend income was £71,866 (2023-24: £67,072).
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NEWCASTLE-UNDER-LYME SCHOOL ANNUAL REPORT OF THE GOVERNORS (CONTINUED) YEAR ENDED 31 AUGUST 2025
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FINANCIAL REVIEW
Results for the year
The School’s net movement in funds for the year amounted to negative £453,921 (2023-24: £7,467). The net incoming funds from operations for the year were negative £611,572 (2023-24: negative £201,253) as shown in the Statement of Financial Activities.
Reserves Level and Policy and Financial Viability
The School's reserves policy is to maintain sufficient unrestricted income reserves to enable it to meet its short term financial obligations in the event of an unexpected revenue shortfall and to rely on the readily realisable securities investments as adequate cover for the School's longer term capital expenditure commitments and any longer term financial obligations.
The School's total reserves of £18,251,931(2023-24: £18,705,852) at the year-end included £3,026,506 (2023-24: £3,116,685) unspent restricted income, which does not affect the School's financial viability:
Future Plans
The School intends to continue improving the current estate.
STRUCTURE, GOVERNANCE AND MANAGEMENT
Governing documents
The School is governed by its Memorandum of Association and Articles of Association last amended on 08 May 2019 which corrected a few minor points from the previous version dated 05 December 2011.
The Governors approved a revised Scheme of Management and Delegation on 08 May 2019, the main changes being the creation of three new Committees (Education Committee, Remuneration Committee and, Governance and Nominations Committee). Matters that had previously been delegated by the Governors to the previous post of Bursar, are now delegated directly to the Head. The Scheme of Delegation also created a new post of Director of Finance and Operations/(Bursar) which was to be line managed by the Head rather than the Governors, a post which was filled on 19 April 2021.
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NEWCASTLE-UNDER-LYME SCHOOL ANNUAL REPORT OF THE GOVERNORS (CONTINUED) YEAR ENDED 31 AUGUST 2025
Governing body
The Governors are the company directors and charity trustees of the Charity, and have control of the Charity and its property and funds.
The board shall comprise no fewer than eight and no more than twelve Governors and each Governor will hold a term of office of five years.
Recruitment and training of Governors
Governors constantly review the balance of professional experience and strengths within the Governing Body, inviting new members to join to make up any perceived shortfalls. All prospective appointees are agreed by the Full Governing Body prior to appointment and on appointment undergo Induction Training which includes briefing by the Chair of Governors, Headmaster, Director of Finance and Operations (Bursar), and Clerk to the Governors. Additional training is provided where necessary as part of the Governing Body’s continued professional development.
Organisational management
The members of the Governing Body, as the charity’s trustees, are legally responsible for the overall management and control of the School. They meet at least four times a year.
The work of implementing their policies is carried out by three Committees.
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The Education Committee acts in a monitoring role to review the agreed academic, curricular and pastoral provision in the School.
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The Business Committee oversees all financial aspects of the School
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The Employment and Compliance Committee acts in an advisory role reviewing all systems and methods of control including risk analysis and risk management, and ensuring compliance with health and safety requirements.
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Inaddition, the Scheme of Management and Delegation has created two further committees which meet as required. The Remuneration Committee which is responsible for overseeing the remuneration of the Head and Senior Management Team, and the Governance and | Nominations Committee responsible for integrating and co-ordinating all aspects of corporate governance, legal and regulatory compliance and risk management to improve the quality of the School’s governance arrangements for the purpose of enhancing overall performance, and to conduct a regular skills audit of the Governing Body, identifying current or potential future gaps, seeking suitable applicants to fill those gaps and coordinating the appointment process.
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NEWCASTLE-UNDER-LYME SCHOOL ANNUAL REPORT OF THE GOVERNORS (CONTINUED) YEAR ENDED 31 AUGUST 2025
The Head has overall responsibility for the general management and running of the School and employment, discipline and dismissal of the staff subject always to the terms of the Scheme of Management and Delegation adopted by the Governors by a special resolution dated 08 May 2019.
The remuneration of key management personnel is set by the Board, with the policy objective of providing appropriate incentives to encourage enhanced performance and of rewarding them fairly and responsibly for their individual contributions to the School’s success.
The appropriateness and relevance of the remuneration policy is reviewed annually, including reference to comparisons with other independent schools to ensure that the School remains sensitive to the broader issues of pay and employment conditions elsewhere.
Delivery of the School’s charitable vision and purpose is primarily dependent on our key management personal and staff costs are the largest single element of our charitable expenditure.
Group structure and relationships
Castilian Enterprises Limited is a wholly owned non-charitable subsidiary of Newcastle-under-Lyme School which has remained dormant since incorporation on 10 November 2015. It is intended that Castilian Enterprises Limited will undertake future trading activities, and donate its annual profits to the School.
Employment policy
The School is an equal opportunities employer. Full and fair consideration is given to job applications from disabled persons and due consideration is given to their training and employment needs, Consultation with employees, or their representatives, has continued at all levels with the aim of taking the views of employees into account when decisions are made that are likely to affect their interests. Employees are made aware of the financial and economic performance of the School.
Communication with employees continues through normal management channels in a variety of forms and whenever appropriate through exceptional channels to apprise staff of current issues,
Investment policy and objective
The Governors’ investment strategy is for a portfolio made up of reserves that should be invested to grow at least in line with inflation. The portfolio is to target a balanced return over the medium to long term within a medium risk strategy. In order to achieve this, the portfolio is to be invested in real assets (equities and property) with bonds and alternatives to dampen down volatility. The portfolio will be invested directly in bonds and UK equities except for specialist areas whilst all other asset classes will be invested via collectives.
The investment strategy and policy is monitored by the Business Committee, as is investment performance, which is reported below, within the Strategic Report, and is due to be reviewed.
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NEWCASTLE-UNDER-LYME SCHOOL ANNUAL REPORT OF THE GOVERNORS (CONTINUED) YEAR ENDED 31 AUGUST 2025
OBJECTS, AIMS, OBJECTIVES AND ACTIVITIES
Charitable Objects
The School's objects, as set out in the Memorandum of Association, are to advance education and training by the provision and conduct in or near Newcastle-under-Lyme of a School for boys and/or girls and other associated activities for the benefit of the community.
In furtherance of these Objects for the public benefit the School has established and administers a programme of bursaries and other awards.
The Board is very mindful of the long-standing need to provide public benefit and of the requirements of the Charities Act 2011. To this end the Board has monitored closely the guidance on public benefit produced by the Charity Commission together with supplemental guidance on fee charging.
Our Mission:
From its establishment in 1602, Newcastle under Lyme School has acquired a reputation as one of the leading schools in the North of England. Today, our School’s aims reflect our immense history, and the traditions and values that have been evident throughout this time. NULS aims to provide an excellent education to children in our region, embracing our community’s diversity and facilitating access to children from a wide range of economic backgrounds. More specifically, we seek to...
Our Aims:
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Provide an excellent education to enable our pupils to explore their own individual academic potential;
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Create a vibrant and rich extracurricular environment, so our pupils are challenged and motivated with new opportunities so they may explore their own unique range of broader talents and interests;
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Develop in our pupils, the skills and qualities they require to successfully advance with their academic and professional careers beyond NULS;
4, Foster in our pupils, the values and sense of purpose that will enable them to be positive and successful contributors to their communities and broader society;
- Provide an outstanding campus, facilities and resources, to enable our pupils and staff to have the opportunities to enjoy and providea first class, holistic education;
Our Values:
We aim to embodying our four key values of Respect, Aspiration, Endeavour and Kindness in all that we do.
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NEWCASTLE-UNDER-LYME SCHOOL ANNUAL REPORT OF THE GOVERNORS (CONTINUED) YEAR ENDED 31 AUGUST 2025__
Aspiration — we want to encourage in our pupils an aspirational attitude in the broadest sense, where they are encouraged to explore their potential in academic and all-round terms.
Endeavour — we wish to encourage in our pupils a sense of commitment and an appreciation that qualities such as resilience and determination are significant and rewarding assets both individually and collectively.
Respect — we want our pupils to view themselves as a community, where respect for one another, and an appreciation of the wonderful diversity in our community, is embedded within our school. We also want our pupils to respect those beyond our school, in our local community and the broader global environment.
Kindness — we hope to encourage in our pupils an underpinning sense of kindness to one another and to all of those in our community, and to those beyond. We feel this quality is key to creating a happy school, where pupils feel they can thrive, individually and together.
Principal activity
The School's principal activity, as specified in the Memorandum of Association, is to advance education and training, and, in this, the School has again had a successful year.
The average number of pupils was:
| 2024-25 | 2023-24 | 2022-23 | 2021-22 | 2020-21 | 2019-20 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| SeniorSchool | 601 | 616 | 597 | 579 | 579 | 551 |
| _PreparatorySchool | 237 | 233 | 237 | 221 | 208 | 221 |
| Total | 838 | 849 | 834 | 800 | 787 | 772 |
Public Benefit
Newcastle-under-Lyme School remains committed to the aim of providing public benefit in accordance with its founding principles. Charity law has recently introduced a requirement to demonstrate that public benefit for charitable purposes where it has hitherto been presumed in the absence of evidence to the contrary. This calls in turn for more detailed disclosures concerning our aim.
The Governing Body takes the view that bursaries awarded to those who would not otherwise be able to afford the School's fees are important as a measurable means of providing public benefit, but not to the exclusion of the much wider benefit that the School provides within the community. Those pupils who attend our School and who receive financial support contribute to the School community in many ways, and so the benefit is not purely to these pupils but to the whole School, and more often than not to the wider community as well.
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NEWCASTLE-UNDER-LYME SCHOOL ANNUAL REPORT OF THE GOVERNORS (CONTINUED) YEAR ENDED 31 AUGUST 2025
This year the School awarded bursaries of £466,107 to 58 pupils (2023-24: £454,865 to 59 pupils) through a programme of means tested awards awarded on a sliding scale according to financial circumstances and short termly hardship awards.
In addition to bursaries, the School has engaged in many other activities that provide benefit to the public with the School’s objectives.
PUBLIC BENEFIT
Bringing pupils from state schools and our independent schools together:
As a School, we value the opportunities our pupils have to work with, to interact with and to compete against pupils from other schools.
Senior School Sport: Our Senior School Sports Department hosted a range of fixtures with local state schools as well as participating in local and regional competitions across a wide range of sports.
Debating: We took part in a range of competitions in which our pupils competed against pupils from local schools.
Our Prep School facilities were used by Hassell Street primary school for Cross Country training. Our classrooms are used by LAMDA (London Academy of Music and Dramatic Art) as an examination space for students in the local area.
Sharing our expertise and perspectives:
Our Headmaster is a trustee at Creative Learning Partnership Trust, and assists the MAT voluntarily with matters from education strategy to HR and financial control, whilst other members of our staff act as governors and trustees at local schools. A second member of our administrative team is also a member of this MAT at Trustee level.
Pre-Med: Students from local state schools were invited to attend our free annual Pre Med event which brought together guest speakers in Medicine to speak to students who were interested in pursuing Medicine as a career.
Examining: A number of staff work as examiners for GCSE and A-level working with colleagues from all sectors and sharing their expertise.
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NEWCASTLE-UNDER-LYME SCHOOL ANNUAL REPORT OF THE GOVERNORS (CONTINUED) YEAR ENDED 31 AUGUST 2025
Careers: Our Head of Careers developed links with a local secondary school multi academy trust to share best practice in organizing work experience visits, and also works extensively with local business and Keele University on the exchange of ideas and assistance. The school also provides employment to students at Keele University, as they seek financial assistance with their postgraduate study.
Working with the wider community, community service and charity:
Newcastle-under-Lyme School is a part of its local community, Our pupils and staff undertake a range of initiatives in support of our local community.
Sport: We work closely with local sporting organisations: North Staffs Hockey, Newcastle Staffs Swimming Club and Newcastle Town Netball Club sharing facilities including our new sports hall as well as staff expertise. Our sports hall is also used by Staffordshire County netball and the U15 Nottingham Forest Performance Development pathway. We operate NULS Swim School ~ which offers subsidised lessons so we can charge a cheaper rate compared to local providers. This is open to our pupils as well as external pupils. NULS Cricket Academy - Provides elite group and 1 to 1 coaching for those pupils striving to be selected for Staffordshire and academies. This is open to our pupils as well as external pupils. Our cricket facilities are also used by Little Stoke, Whitmore and Onneley to run their club sessions. Dominies Badminton Club use our facilities who provide junior and adult training sessions as well as entering local leagues, and local running clubs use our indoor spaces as well.
Combined Cadet Force (CCF): The CCF continues to expand in the school with participant numbers reaching 200 for the first time since pre-Covid. Alongside this we have the development of a new space for CCF activity, shared with DofE / Scouts / Prep Adventures, which should be fully completed during the current academic year.
We have seen an increase in the number of cadets completing qualifications through the CCF, such as BTECs in leadership, and adventurous training qualifications in sailing, hillwalking and paddling. For several students this has been the start of a journey into the Armed Forces, as they have secured bursaries and scholarships with the Army and Royal Air Force, as they go onto university.
We retain links with other local units based in schools and the community and take every opportunity to develop joint working events where possible and practical. We continue to remember our legacy through our Remembrance Parade, which brings the CCF and wider school together, alongside representatives of the local community and veterans.
Charity: Throughout the year the Charity Committee ran events in support of The Peter Pan Centre where nursery age children with complex special needs are supported. We held three Non-Uniform Days, Christmas, Easter and Summer Fairs, and a Valentine’s Day sweet sale. We hosted 50 Senior Citizens from our local community and various care homes, at our annual Senior Citizens Christmas Party. Guests were treated to a delicious Afternoon tea prepared by the Food and Nutrition department, and thoroughly enjoyed a game of Bingo before being entertained by musicians from our Jazz Band. Each guest was given a small gift by the pupils, who thoroughly enjoyed interacting with our guests. We also supported the MacMillan Biggest Coffee Morning by holding a coffee and cake sale for our Sixth Form pupils.
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NEWCASTLE-UNDER-LYME SCHOOL ANNUAL REPORT OF THE GOVERNORS (CONTINUED) YEAR ENDED 31 AUGUST 2025
Community Service: A number of Year 12 and 13 pupils engaged in a variety of activities throughout the year including supporting our own Prep School and Nursery, visiting residents in care homes, working in Charity shops, volunteering at the local hospital, assisting in local schools as well as supporting the ‘Our Space’ programme during the school holidays. The school also invited 50 elderly residents and their carers from local care homes to a Christmas afternoon tea party. Food was prepared by the Food and Nutrition department, pupils from years 8, 9, 10 and 11 hosted our guests, who were entertained by pupils from the Music department. The event was a most successful community project.
Our music rooms are used by a local Symphony Orchestra, and Pipe Band. The school musicians provide a free lunchtime concert for the local Penkhull Arts Festival in September, which includes an invitation to local primary schools, and local musicians and music groups use our spaces for rehearsals.
The school also provides access to its wood (Ekka’s Wood) to local outdoor groups and partners with the Scouts to provide excellent facilities for its young members to use at this location for outdoor education in the community.
Duke of Edinburgh (DofE): A successful year for DofE at school, with pupils completing awards at Bronze, Silver and Gold. Our completion rate at Gold was extremely high, far above the county and national average. With the start of the new academic year we have welcomed our largest Bronze cohort in the school’s history and look forward to supporting them in their endeavors. We have seen a wide range of both novel and exciting activities undertaken by our young people in order for them to complete their various DofE sections, including fundraising for charity, which saw one of our students recognized nationally by the DofE Award Charity, helping in the local community with the Scouts and Guides, through to innovative citizen science projects and some very demanding personal goals around fitness.
Drama Props and Equipment: We have ongoing arrangements to share props and lighting equipment with a local church and a local school. A local theatre group loaned staging equipment from us, this was limited this year.
MEL: Pupils took part in a Business Language Champions event across the independent and state sector schools.
PRINCIPAL RISKS AND UNCERTAINTIES
The Governors recognise that independent schools are currently facing a unique set of economic and political challenges. Inflation is affecting operational costs, and placing cost of living pressures on parents when considering fees. The imposition of VAT on fees has presented the single biggest economic shock to the sector in recent history and the school is pleased with how it has tried to absorb a significant amount of this increased cost burden without passing this on to parents. The school’s management of its role during this period and shock has been very encouraging with the school continuing to prove very popular however it is important to accept that the impact of the government's change to VAT will be felt in the sector for many years and the school must manage
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NEWCASTLE-UNDER-LYME SCHOOL ANNUAL REPORT OF THE GOVERNORS (CONTINUED) YEAR ENDED 31 AUGUST 2025
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this challenge prudently. The Governing Body remains confident that fees are still the best value for money in the area when the school’s academic results and all-round provision is considered
School fees were only increased by 1.8% from 01 September 2025 as the schools seeks to support families following the introduction of VAT on school fees and the Governing Body remains confident that fees are still the best value for the area, and receive the highest ratings in this regard of any school in Staffordshire by external parties.
The Governors continue to monitor the increasing cost of providing pensions through the Teachers’ Pension Scheme, but remain committed to the Scheme for the time being. This will be reviewed annually to ensure that the Governors are confident that this is the best option for the School and its teaching staff.
The Schoo] campus comprises a number of older buildings, spread out across the site, some of which is covered by the local Conservation Area. Maintaining and developing an ageing estate remains challenging, and our long term plan will be refreshed.
As ever, Health and Safety is a significant area for risk management, risks ranging from fire and infrastructure to personal risks (most notably when away from the School on trips and visits). The level and breadth of activity at the School is impressive and we minimise the associated risks through thorough planning and risk assessment. Governor sub-committees examine specific areas of risk relating to their function and report on these to the main Governing Body.
The Governors regularly review the effectiveness of current plans and strategies for managing all identified major risks for the School.
FUTURE PLANS
The School’s current Development Plan is subject to periodic review by the Governors, and was updated following the appointment of the current Head. The primary future aims for the School are set out in the core elements of the Development Plan, and are:
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¢ _ to provide value-added and results outcomes in excess of local independent schools by enriched, innovative learning, delivered by well led staff teams
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¢ continued excellence in pastoral care and safeguarding provision
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continued excellence in our co-curricular programme in participation and achievement levels
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e to provide excellent communications, recruit as many pupils who would benefit from what we offer as possible, secure funds to support our bursary provision and develop linkage with former pupils and staff as a ‘community for life’
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constructively link with our community beyond school and value our locality and region
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to provide an efficiently run School with careful deployment of staffing and stewardship of resources with a focus on meeting the needs of both current and future pupils
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NEWCASTLE-UNDER-LYME SCHOOL ANNUAL REPORT OF THE GOVERNORS (CONTINUED) YEAR ENDED 31 AUGUST 2025
BS
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e to provide collaborative and open leadership and effective management whilst recruiting, retaining and developing the best staff team
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® to provide a lively, enriching, nurturing Preparatory School experience built on strong pastoral support, academic progress and developing activity experiences which encourage a life-long relationship with NULS
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e to provide an aspirational, young adult, pre-university community which offers enriched opportunities which prepare for the world beyond School and which retains Year 11 and attracts and recruits students from other pre-16 provision.
A full and comprehensive outline of our ambitious goals are presented in the school’s Strategic Development Plan, A School for Life.
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NEWCASTLE-UNDER-LYME SCHOOL ANNUAL REPORT OF THE GOVERNORS (CONTINUED) YEAR ENDED 31 AUGUST 2025
STATEMENT OF ACCOUNTING AND REPORTING RESPONSIBILITIES
The Governors (who are also the Directors of Newcastle-under-Lyme School for the purposes of company law) are responsible for preparing the Report of the Governors and the financial statements in accordance with applicable law and United Kingdom Accounting Standards (United Kingdom Generally Accepted Accounting Practice).
Company law requires the Governors 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 of the income resources and application of resources, including the income and expenditure, of the charitable company for that period. In preparing those financial statements, the Governors are required to
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_ select suitable accounting policies and then apply them consistently
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observe the methods and principles in the Charity SORP 2019 (FRS102)
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- make judgements and estimates that are reasonable and prudent ¢ state whether applicable accounting standards have been followed, subject to any material departures disclosed and explained in the financial statements
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° prepare the financial statements on the going concern basis unless it is inappropriate to presume that the charitable company will continue in business.
The Governors are responsible for keeping proper accounting records which 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. They are also responsible for safeguarding the assets of the charitable company and hence for taking reasonable steps for the prevention and detection of fraud and other regularities.
STATEMENT AS TO DISCLOSE INFORMATION TO AUDITORS
In so far as the Governors are aware:
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¢ there is no relevant audit information of which the charitable company’s auditors are unaware; and
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e the Governors have taken all steps that they ought to have taken to make themselves aware of any relevant audit information and to establish that the auditors are aware of that information.
AUDITORS
The auditors, Deans, will be proposed for re-appointment at the forthcoming Annual General Meeting. Report of the Governors, incorporating a strategic report, approved by order of the Board of Governors, as the company directors, on 04 December 2025 and signed on the Board’s behalf by:
ae Mr D P Wallbank (Chair of Governors)
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REPORT OF THE INDEPENDENT AUDITORS TO THE GOVERNORS AND MEMBERS OF NEWCASTLE-UNDER-LYME SCHOOL
Independent Auditor’s Report to the Members of Newcastle-under-Lyme School
Opinion
We have audited the financial statements of Newcastle-under-Lyme School for the year ended 31 August 2025 which comprise the Statement of Financial Activities, the Balance Sheet, the Cash Flow Statement and notes to the financial statements, including a summary of 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:
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e give a true and fair view of the state of the charitable company’s affairs as at 31 August 2025, and of its incoming resources and application of resources, including its income and expenditure, for the period then ended;
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e have been properly prepared in accordance with United Kingdom Generally Accepted Accounting Practice; and
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e 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 charitable company 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.
Conclusions relating to going concern
In auditing the financial statements, we have concluded that the trustees’ 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 ability to continue as a going concern for a period of at least twelve 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.
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REPORT OF THE INDEPENDENT AUDITORS TO THE GOVERNORS AND MEMBERS OF NEWCASTLE-UNDER-LYME SCHOOL
Other information
The governors are responsible for the other information. The other information comprises the information included in the Annual Report of the Governors, 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.
In connection with our audit of the financial statements, 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 there is a material misstatement in the financial statements or a material misstatement of the other information. 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 the audit:
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¢ the information given in the Annual Report of the Governors incorporating the strategic report and the directors’ report for the financial year for which the financial statements are prepared is consistent with the financial statements; and
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¢ the strategic report and the directors’ report have been prepared in accordance with applicable legal requirements.
Matters on which we are required to report by exception
In the light of our knowledge and understanding of the charitable company and its environment obtained in the course of the audit, we have not identified material misstatements in the strategic report and the directors’ 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:
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e adequate accounting records have not been kept, or returns adequate for our audit have not been received from branches not visited by us; or
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¢ the financial statements are not in agreement with the accounting records and returns; or
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¢ certain disclosures of directors’ remuneration specified by law are not made; or
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¢ we have not received all the information and explanations we require for our audit.
Page 16
REPORT OF THE INDEPENDENT AUDITORS TO THE GOVERNORS AND MEMBERS OF NEWCASTLE-UNDER-LYME SCHOOL
Responsibilities of governors
As explained more fully in the governors’ responsibilities statement set out on page 14, the governors (who are also the directors of the charitable company for the purposes of company law) are responsible for the preparation of the financial statements and for being satisfied that they give a true and fair view, and for such internal control as the governors determine is necessary to enable the preparation of financial statements that are free from material misstatement, whether due to fraud or error.
In preparing the financial statements, the governors are responsible for assessing the charitable company’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 governors either intend to liquidate the charitable company or to cease operations, or have no realistic alternative but to do so,
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.
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:
-
e the engagement partner ensured that the engagement team collectively had the appropriate competence, capabilities and skills to identify or recognise non-compliance with applicable laws and regulations;
-
e we identified the laws and regulations applicable to the charitable company through discussions with governors and other management, and from our commercial knowledge and experience of the company's operating sector;
-
e we focused on specific laws and regulations which we considered may have a direct material effect on the financial statements or the operations of the charitable company, including the Companies Act 2006, the Charity Act 2011, taxation legislation, data protection, anti-bribery, employment, environmental and health and safety legislation;
-
® we assessed the extent of compliance with the laws and regulations identified above through making enquiries of management and inspecting legal correspondence; and
-
e identified laws and regulations were communicated within the audit team regularly and the team remained alert to instances of non-compliance throughout the audit.
Page 17
REPORT OF THE INDEPENDENT AUDITORS TO THE GOVERNORS AND MEMBERS OF NEWCASTLE-UNDER-LYME SCHOOL a
We assessed the susceptibility of the charitable company's financial statements to material misstatement, including obtaining an understanding of how fraud might occur, by:
-
making enquiries of management as to where they considered there was susceptibility to fraud, their knowledge of actual, suspected and alleged fraud;
-
® considering the internal controls in place to mitigate risk 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 balances, variances or unexpected relationships;
-
assessed whether judgements and assumptions made in determining the accounting estimates were indicative of potential bias;
-
° investigated the rationale behind significant or unusual transactions; and
-
specifically tested the controls around banking payments.
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;
-
° enquiring of management as to actual and potential litigation claims;
-
reviewing correspondence with HMRC and other relevant regulators.
There are inherent limitations in our audit procedures described above. The more removed those 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 noncompliance with laws and regulations to enquiry of the directors 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 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.
Page 18
REPORT OF THE INDEPENDENT AUDITORS TO THE GOVERNORS AND MEMBERS OF NEWCASTLE-UNDER-LYME SCHOOL
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.
Jeremy Hodgkiss (Senidt Statutory Auditor)
for and on behalf of Deans Chartered Accountants Statutory Auditor Gibson House Hurricane Court Hurricane Close Stafford ST16 1GZ fe 17h Decker dV
Page 19
STATEMENT OF FINANCIAL ACTIVITIES INCLUDING INCOME AND EXPENDITURE ACCOUNT FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 AUGUST 2025 ee"LE lL
| Note | Unrestricted | Restricted | 2025 | 2024 | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| funds | funds | Total | Total | |||
| £ | £ | £ | ra | |||
| Income and endowments from: | ||||||
| Charitable activities | ||||||
| School feesreceivable | 2 | 11,741,999 | - | 11,741,999 | 11,447,198 | |
| Ancillarytradingincome | 3 | 851,409 | - | 851,409 | 721,944 | |
| Othertrading activities | ||||||
| Non-ancillary tradingincome | 4 | 97,361 | - | 97,361 | 90,157 | |
| Investments Voluntaryincomingsources |
5 6 |
143,368 1,000 |
. - |
143,368 1,000 |
150,869 5,006 |
|
| Activitiesto generate funds | 7 | - | - | z | 230 | |
| Totalincomingresources | 12,835,137 | - | 12,835,137 | 12,415,404 | ||
| Expenditure on: | ||||||
| Raisingfunds | 8 | |||||
| Financingcosts Investment management |
61,705 20,306 |
- - |
61,705 20,306 |
69,542 19,826 |
||
| Totaldeductible costs | 82,011 | - | 82,011 | 89,368 | ||
| Charitable activities | ||||||
| Educationand grantmaking | 8 | - | 13,274,519 | 90,179 | 13,364,698 | 12,527,289 |
| Totalexpenditure | 13,356,530 | 90,179 | 13,446,709 | 12,616,657 | ||
| Net(outgoing)/incomingfundsfrom | ||||||
| operation: before transfers and | ||||||
| investmentgains | (521,393) | (90,179) | (611,572) | (201,253) | ||
| Gainoninvestments | 157,651 | - | 157,651 | 208,720 | ||
| Netmovementinfunds fortheyear Fund balancesbroughtforward at |
(363,742) | (90,179) | (453,921) | 7,467 | ||
| 1September2024 | 15,589,167 | 3,116,685 | 18,705,852 | 18,698,385 | ||
| Fund balances carried forward at | ||||||
| 31August2025 | 15,225,425 EESREY |
3,026,506 NEDO |
18,251,931 F9,L01, 791 |
18,705,852 10,200,092_ |
The notes form part of these financial statements
Page 20
NEWCASTLE-UNDER-LYME SCHOOL BALANCE SHEET AS ATOR AUGUST
| BALANCE SHEET AS ATOR AUGUSTATOR AUGUSTAUGUST |
|||
|---|---|---|---|
| Note | 31Aug2025 | 31Aug2024 | |
| Total | Total | ||
| £ | £ | ||
| FIXEDASSETS | |||
| Tangibleassets | 10 | 13,804,954 | 14,068,422 |
| Securities investments | 11 | 2,824,360 | 2,649,914 |
| 16,629,314 | 16,718,336 | ||
| CURRENTASSETS | |||
| Stock | 22,999 | 31,840 | |
| Debtors | 12 | 690,680 | 495,347 |
| Securities investments —cash balances | 11 | 3,042 | 40,143 |
| Cashanddeposits | 3,138,421 | 3,554,671 | |
| 3,855,142 | 4,122,001 | ||
| ____ | |||
| CURRENT LIABILITIES | |||
| Amounts fallingduewithin oneyear | 13 | (1,644,840) | (1,512,165) |
| NETCURRENTASSETS | ____2,210,302 | 2,609,836 | |
| TOTALASSETS LESS CURRENTLIABILITIES | 18,839,616 | 19,328,172 | |
| LONGTERM LIABILITIES | |||
| Creditors payable after oneyear | 14 | (587,685) | (622,320) |
| NETASSETS | 18,251,931 | 18,705,852 | |
| REPRESENTED BY: | |||
| Unrestricted funds | 15,225,425 | 15,589,167 | |
| Restricted funds | 3,026,506 | 3,116,685 | |
| 16 | 18,251,931 | 18,705,852 |
These financial statements were approved by the Governing Body on 04 December 2025 and were signed on its behalf by:
Mr D P Wallbank (Chair of Governors)
Page 21
NEWCASTLE-UNDER-LYME SCHOOL CASH FLOW STATEMENT FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 AUGUST 2025
==> picture [464 x 631] intentionally omitted <==
----- Start of picture text -----
||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|_|
|2025|2024|
|£|2|£|£5|
|Cash|flows|from|operating|activities|
|Net cash provided by operating activities|(120,578)|719,567|
|Cash|flows from investing|activities|
|Dividends|and|interest|from|investments|71,866|67,072|
|Bank|interest|71,502|83,797|
|Purchase|of property,|plant|and equipment|(441,101)|(1,090,204)|
|Sale of property,|plant|and|equipment|9,800|-|
|Investment management|fees|20,306|19,826|
|Net cash provided|(used|in)|investing activities|(267,627)|(919,509)|
|Cash|flows|from|financing|activities|
|Repayments|of borrowing|(28,045)|(24,873)|
|Net cash provided by (used|in)|financing|activities|(28,045)|(24,873)|
|Change in cash and|cash equivalents|(416,250)|(224,815)|
|Cash|in hand|at 01|September|2024|3,554,671|3,779,486|
|Cash in hand|at 31 August 2025|3,138,421|-|3,554,671|
|Reconciliation|of|net income|to|net cash flow from|operations|
|Net incoming funds|as per|the Statement of Financial|Activities|(611,572)|(201,253)|
|Adjustments|for:|
|Depreciation|charges|679,079|686,336|
|Loss on disposal of property,|plant and equipment|15,690|-|
|Dividends|and|interest from investments|(71,866)|(67,072)|
|Bank interest|(71,502)|(83,797)|
|(Increase)/decrease in stocks|8,841|(20,816)|
|Decrease/(increase)|in|debtors|(195,333)|95,565|
|Increase/(decrease)|in|creditors|126,085|310,604|
|490,994|920,820|
|Net cash provided by operating|activities|(120,578)|719,567|
|Analysis|of changes|in net debt|
|At|1 Sep 2024|Cashflow|At 31 Aug2025|
|Cash and|cash equivalents|
|Borrowings|3,554,671|(416,250)|3,138,421|
|Debts due within one year|(24,054)|(6,590)|(30,644)|
|Debts due after one year|(622,320)|34,635|(587,685)|
|Total|2,908,297|(388,205)|2,520,092|
|The notes|form|part|of|these|financial|statements|
----- End of picture text -----
Page 22
NEWCASTLE-UNDER-LYME SCHOOL NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 AUGUST 2025
1. ACCOUNTING POLICIES
Newcastle -under —Lyme School is a charitable company limited by guarantee in the United Kingdom. In the event of the charity being wound up, the liability in respect of the guarantee is limited to £10 per member of the charity. The address of the registered office is given in the charity information on page 2 of these financial statements.
The charity constitutes a public benefit entity as defined by FRS 102. 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) effective 1 January 2019, the Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the United Kingdom and Republic of Ireland (FRS 102), the Charities Act 2011, the Companies Act 2006 and UK Generally Accepted Practice as it applies from 1 January 2015.
The financial statements are prepared under the historical cost convention, modified to include certain items at fair value. The financial statements are prepared in sterling which is the functional currency of the charity and rounded to the nearest £. Having reviewed the funding facilities available to the School together with the expected ongoing demand for places and the School's future projected cash flows, the Governors have a reasonable expectation that the School has adequate resources to continue its activities for the foreseeable future. Accordingly, they continue to adopt the going concern basis in preparing the financial statements as outlined in the Statement of Accounting and Reporting Responsibilities on page 14
.
The significant accounting policies applied in the preparation of these financial statements are set out below. These policies have been consistently applied to all years presented unless otherwise stated.
-
1.1 Fees and similar earned income Fees receivable and charges for services and use of the premises, less any allowances, scholarships, and bursaries granted by the School against those fees, are accounted for in the period in which the service is provided and is shown net of VAT.
-
1.2 Investment income Investment income from dividends, bank balances and fixed interest securities is accounted for on an accruals basis.
-
1.3 Donations, legacies, grants and other voluntary resources Voluntary incoming resources are accounted for as and when entitlement arises, the amount can be reliably quantified and the economic benefit to the School is considered probable.
Voluntary income for the School’s general purposes is accounted for as unrestricted and is credited to the General Reserve. Where the donor or an appeal has imposed trust law restrictions, voluntary income is credited to the relevant restricted fund and income endowments are accounted for as permanent trust capital or expendable trust capital, according to whether the donor intends retention to be permanent or not. Gifts in kind are valued at estimated open market value at the date of the gift, in cases of assets for retention or consumption, or at the value to the School in the case of donated services or facilities.
Page 23
NEWCASTLE-UNDER-LYME SCHOOL NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (CONTINUED) FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 AUGUST 2025
ee
ACCOUNTING POLICIES (continued)
1.4 Expenditure
Expenditure is accrued as soon as a liability is considered probable, discounted to present value for longer-term liabilities. Expenditure attributable to more than one cost category in the Statement of Financial Activities is apportioned to them on the basis of the estimated amount attributable to each activity in the year, either by reference to staff time or the use made of the underlying assets, as appropriate. Irrecoverable VAT is included in expenditure.
Governance costs comprise the costs of complying with constitutional and statutory requirement.
1.5 Tangible fixed assets
Expenditure on the acquisition, construction or enhancement of land, vehicles, furniture, machinery and ICT infrastructure and other equipment are capitalised and carried on the balance sheet at historical cost
Other expenditure on equipment incurred in the normal day-to-day running of the School is charged to the Statement of Financial Activities as incurred.
1.6 Depreciation
Depreciation is provided to write off the cost of all relevant tangible fixed assets less estimated residual value based on current market prices, in equal annual instalments over their expected useful economic lives as follows:
==> picture [318 x 50] intentionally omitted <==
----- Start of picture text -----
School buildings, including major extensions 20 - 50 years
Alterations on change of use and minor extensions 5 - 15 years
Furniture, machinery and equipment 3 - 20 years
Motor vehicles 5 - 10 years
----- End of picture text -----
1,7 Investments
Listed investments are valued at market value as at the balance sheet date. Unrealised gains and losses arising on the revaluation of investments are credited or charged to the Statement of Financial Activities and are allocated to the appropriate Fund according to the “ownership” of the underlying assets.
1.8 Stock
Stock represents catering goods for resale and bulk purchases of paper stored by the supplier, and is valued at the lower of cost and net realisable value
Page 24
NEWCASTLE-UNDER-LYME SCHOOL NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (CONTINUED) FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 AUGUST 2025
ACCOUNTING POLICIES (continued)
1.9 Fund accounting
- The charitable trust funds of the School are accounted for as unrestricted or restricted income, or as endowment capital, in accordance with the terms of the trust imposed by the donors or any appeal to which they may have responded.
Unrestricted income belongs to the School's corporate services, spendable at the discretion of the Governors either to further the School’s Objects or to benefit the School itself. Where the Governors decide to set aside any part of their funds to be used in future for some specific purpose, this is accounted for by transfer to the appropriate designated fund.
Restricted funds are represented by capital grants received by the School in previous periods and are being written off through the Statement of Financial Activities in line with the economic life of the asset funded by the grant.
1.10 Pension costs
Retirement benefits to employees of the School are provided through a defined benefit pension scheme anda defined contribution pension scheme. The pension costs charged in the Statement of Financial Activities are determined as follows:
-
a) The Teachers’ Pension Scheme — This scheme is a multi-employer pension scheme. It is not possible to identify the School’s share of the underlying assets and liabilities of the Teachers’ Pension Scheme on a consistent and reasonable basis and therefore, as required by FRS102, accounts for the scheme as if it were a defined contribution scheme. The School’s contributions, which are in accordance with the recommendations of the Government Actuary, are charged in the period in which the salaries to which they relate are payable.
-
b) The Newcastle-under-Lyme School Group Personal Pension Plan - This is a defined contribution group personal pension plan with Friends Life. Employer’s pension costs are charged in the period in which the salaries to which they relate are payable.
Page 25
a
NEWCASTLE-UNDER-LYME SCHOOL NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (CONTINUED) FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 AUGUST 2025
==> picture [433 x 531] intentionally omitted <==
----- Start of picture text -----
||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|2.|SCHOOL FEES RECEIVABLE|2025|2024|
|£|£|
|Fees|receivable|consist|of:|
|School|fees|12,716,572|12,380,136|
|Less:|total scholarships,|bursaries|and|concessions|(974,573)|(932,938)|
|11,741,999|11,447,198|
|3,|ANCILLARY TRADING INCOME|2025|2024|
|£|£|
|Catering income|758,174|638,488|
|Out|of hours|school|care|28,962|36,393|
|Sundry income|64,273|47,063|
|851,409|721,944|
|4.|NON ANCILLARY TRADING INCOME|2025|2024|
|£|£|
|Rents and|lettings|97,361|90,157|
|5.|INVESTMENT INCOME|2025|2024|-|
|£|£|
|Investments|71,866|67,072|
|Bank interest|71,502|83,797|
|143,368|150,869|
|6. VOLUNTARY INCOMING RESOURCES|2025|2024|
|£|£|
|Bequests and|legacies|1,000|5,000|
|Other income,|donation and grants|-|6|
|Gifts|in kind for the School’s own use|1,000|5,006|
|2025|2024|
|£|£|
|7.|ACTIVITIES TO GENERATE FUNDS|
|Fundraising|proceeds|
|Sundry donations raised|:|230|
----- End of picture text -----
Page 26
NEWCASTLE-UNDER-LYME SCHOOL NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (CONTINUED) FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 AUGUST 2025
8. ANALYSIS OF EXPENDITURE
| Staffcosts | Staffcosts | Depreciation | Other | 2025 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| (note 9) | (note 10) | ||||
| £ | £ | £ | £ | ||
| (a) Total Expenditure | |||||
| Costofgenerating funds | |||||
| Financing costs | - | - | 61,705 | 61,705 | |
| Investmentmanagement | - | - | 20,306 | 20,306 | |
| Total costofgenerating funds | _le | - | 82,011 | 82,011 | |
| Charitable expenditure | |||||
| Education andgrantmaking | |||||
| Teaching Welfare |
8,360,571 22,248 |
123,945 - |
707,572 1,050,833 |
9,192,088 1,073,081 |
|
| Premises repair and maintenance | 375,968 | 185,890 | 1,124,793 | 1,686,651 | |
| Supportcostsand governance | ___ | 584,748 | 369,244 | 458,886 | 1,412,878 |
| Totalcharitable expenditure | ___ | 9,343,535 | 679,079 | 3,342,084 | 13,346,698 |
| Totalexpended | 9,343,535 | 679,079 | 3,424,095 | 13,446,709 | |
| 2024 | |||||
| £ | |||||
| Costofgenerating funds | |||||
| Financingcosts | - | - | 69,542 | 69,542 | |
| Investmentmanagement | - | - | an | 19,826 | 19,826 |
| Total costof generatingfunds | - | - | 89,368 | 89,368 | |
| Charitable expenditure | |||||
| Educationand grantmaking | |||||
| Teaching Welfare |
7,599,566 20,000 |
151,011 - |
769,019 1,090,182 |
8,519,596 1,110,182 |
|
| Premises repairandmaintenance | 344,156 | 166,081 | 1,092,644 | 1,602,881 | |
| Support costsandgovernance | 579,011 | 369,244 | 346,375 | 1,294,630 | |
| Total charitable expenditure | ___ | 8,542,733 | 686,336 | 3,298,220 | 12,527,289 |
| Totalexpended | 8,542,733 | 686,336 | 3,387,588 | 12,616,657 | |
| (b)Governanceincludedinsupport costs | 2025 | 2024 | |||
| £ | £ | ||||
| Remunerationpaidtoauditor forauditservices | 13,961 | 14,664 | |||
| Othergovernancecosts | _ | 4,972 | 4,135 |
Page 27
NEWCASTLE-UNDER-LYME SCHOOL NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (CONTINUED) FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 AUGUST 2025
| FOR THE YEAR ENDEDENDED 31 AUGUST 2025AUGUST 20252025 | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| . | |||
| 9. STAFFCOSTS | 2025 | 2024 | |
| £ | f; | ||
| Theaggregatepayroll costs fortheyear were: | |||
| Wages and salaries | 6,826,644 | 6,406,325 | |
| Benefits inkind | 292,339 | 266,763 | |
| Social security costs | 754,785 | 641,512 | |
| Otherpension costs | 1,441,135 | 1,228,133 | |
| Redundancy/terminationpayments | 28,632 | - | |
| 9,343,535 | 8,542,733 |
None of the Governors received any remuneration or other benefits from Newcastle-under-Lyme School or from any connected body.
Termination costs are charged in the period in which the termination is agreed.
| 2025 | 2024 | |
|---|---|---|
| Aggregateemployeebenefits ofkeymanagementpersonnel | £895,967 | £820,205 |
| Number ofhigherpaid employees inbands of: | ||
| £60,001 to£70,000 | 1 | 3 |
| £70,001 to£80,000 | 2 | 1 |
| £80,001 to£90,000 | 3 | 3 |
| £90,001 to£100,000 | 1 | - |
| £140,001 to£150,000 | 1 | 1 |
| Theaveragenumber of theSchool’s employeesduringtheyear,was | ||
| Teaching staff Administration |
95 15 |
93 14 |
| Supportstaff | 88 | 87 |
| 198 | 194 |
Page 28
NEWCASTLE-UNDER-LYME SCHOOL NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (CONTINUED) FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 AUGUST 2025
10, TANGIBLE FIXED ASSETS
| Educational | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Non- | books, | |||
| Freehold —educational | equipment | |||
| property | equipment | and furniture | Totals | |
| £ | £ | £ | £ | |
| Costor frozen valuation | ||||
| At01September2024 | 17,688,263 | 2,350,614 | 1,974,421 | 22,013,298 |
| Additions | - | 293,875 | 223,573 | 517,448 |
| Adjustments | - | (64,899) | (11,448) | (76,347) |
| Disposals | __* | (56,384) | - | (56,384)© |
| At31August2025 | 17,688,263 | _2,523,206 | 2,186,546 | 22,398,015 |
| Depreciation | ||||
| At01September2024 | 5,370,943 | 1,153,014 | 1,420,919 | 7,944,876 |
| Chargefor the year | 369,244 | 185,890 | 123,945 | 679,079 |
| Eliminated on disposal | - | (30,894) | - | (30,894) |
| At31August2025 | 5,740,187 | 1,308,010 | 1,544,864 | 8,593,061 |
| Net BookValue | ||||
| At31August2025 | 11,948,076 | 1,215,196 | 641,682 | 13,804,954 |
| At31August2024 | 12,317,320 | 1,197,600 | 553,502 | 14,068,422 |
The School has elected, in accordance with Section 35.10(d) of FRS102, to use the carrying value on 01 July 2014, the date of transition to FRS102, of any of the above freehold property previously carried at a valuation as their deemed cost.
Fixed asset cost values have been adjusted during the year to reflect pre-registration VAT reclaimable following the School's requirement to register for VAT.
All tangible fixed assets are held for use on charitable purposes.
Badminton Association of England has a legal charge on the existing sports hall, included in freehold property for £120,000 as a condition of monies granted to the School.
Page 29
NEWCASTLE-UNDER-LYME SCHOOL NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (CONTINUED) FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 AUGUST 2025
==> picture [422 x 205] intentionally omitted <==
----- Start of picture text -----
||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|2025|2024|
|11.|INVESTMENTS|£|£|
|Market Value 1|September|2024|2,690,057|2,501,163|
|Investment management|fees|(20,306)|(19,826)|
|(Decrease)/Increase|in the value|of investments|157,651|208,720|
|Market Value 31|August 2025|2,827,402|2,690,057|
|Investments|held|in|the|portfolio|are as|follows:|
|Stocks and|shares|2,824,360|2,649,914|
|Cash|3,042|40,143|
|2,827,402|2,690,057|
|Securities|investments|are managed|for|the School by Investec Wealth|
|and Management|Limited.|
----- End of picture text -----
12. DEBTORS: AMOUNTS FALLING DUE WITHIN ONE YEAR
==> picture [421 x 227] intentionally omitted <==
----- Start of picture text -----
||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
|2025|2024|
|£|£|
|Fees and|extras|420,125|208,104|
|Other debtors|10,159|4,324|
|Other prepayments and accrued|income|260,396|282,919|
|690,680|495,347|
|13. CREDITORS: AMOUNTS FALLING DUE WITHIN ONE YEAR|
|2025|2024|
|£|£|
|Bank loans|(note|15)|30,644|24,054|
|Trade creditors|1,046,565|870,292|
|Other creditors|567,620|617,808|
|Accruals and deferred income|11|11|
|1,644,840|1,512,165|
----- End of picture text -----
Although most fee deposits are only repaid at the end of a pupil’s period at the school, to reflect the usual terms that fee deposits are repayable to parents on demand if a pupil leaves the school, the fee deposits within creditors is shown as falling due within one year. This reflects the requirements in FRS102 that liabilities where the school does not have an unconditional right to defer settlement for at least 12 months after the balance sheet date should be included in current liabilities,
Page 30
NEWCASTLE-UNDER-LYME SCHOOL NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (CONTINUED) FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 AUGUST 2025
14, CREDITORS: AMOUNTS FALLING DUE AFTER ONE YEAR
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|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|2025|2024|
|£|£|
|Bank|loans|(note|15)|587,685|622,320|
|15. BANK LOANS|
|Loans|repayable,|included within|creditors,|are analysed|as|follows:|2025|2024|
|£|£|
|Bank loans repayable within one year|30,644|24,054|
|Bank|loans|repayable between one to two|years|35,356|26,551|
|Bank loans|repayable between two|to|five|years|71,679|57,512|
|Bank loans|repayable|after more than|five years|—__ 480,650|538,257|
|618,329|646,374|
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The School has one bank loan with National Westminster Bank Ple which is secured against the freehold property of the School. The loan is repayable over the period to 2039 with an interest rate of 2.06% above the bank base rate.
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|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|16.|MOVEMENT IN FUNDS|At|Net|At|
|01|September|movement|31 August|
|2024|in|funds|2025|
|£|£|£|
|Unrestricted|funds|
|General fund|15,589,167|(363,742)|15,225,425|
|Restricted|funds|
|General|3,116,685|(90,179)|3,026,506|
|TOTAL FUNDS|18,705,852|(453,921)|18,251,931|
|Net movement|in|funds,|included|in|the above|are:|
|Net|
|Incoming|Resources|Gainsand|movement|
|resources|expended|losses|in funds|
|£|£|£|£|
|Unrestricted|funds|
|General fund|12,835,137|(13,356,530)|157,651|(363,742)|
|Restricted|funds|
|General|_|-|(90,179)|-|(90,179)|
|TOTAL FUNDS|12,835,137|(13,446,709)|157,651|(453,921)|
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NEWCASTLE-UNDER-LYME SCHOOL NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (CONTINUED) FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 AUGUST 2025
17. ANALYSIS OF NET ASSETS BETWEEN FUNDS
| Restricted | Unrestricted | 2025 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| £ | £ | £ | |
| Tangible fixed assets Securities investments Netcurrentassets |
3,026,506 - - |
10,778,448 2,824,360 2,210,302 |
13,804,954 2,824,360 2,210,302 |
| Longterm liabilities | - 3,026,506 |
(587,685) 15,225,425 |
(587,685) _ 18,251,931 |
| Restricted | Unrestricted | 2024 | |
| £ | £ | £ | |
| Tangible fixed assets Securities investments Netcurrentassets Longterm liabilities |
3,116,685 ~ - : |
10,951,737 2,649,914 2,609,836 (622,320) |
14,068,422 2,649,914 2,609,836 (622,320) |
| 3,116,685 | 15,589,167 | 18,705,852 |
18, PENSION SCHEMES
Retirement benefits to employees of the School are provided through a defined benefit scheme and a defined contribution scheme, which are funded by contributions by the School and employees.
Defined benefit scheme: ,
The School participates in the Teachers’ Pension Scheme (“the TPS”) for its teaching staff. The pension charge for the year includes contributions payable to the TPS of £1,338,209 (2023-24: £1,136,746) and at the year-end £150,501 (2023-24: £140,603) was accrued in respect of contributions to this scheme.
The TPS is an unfunded multi-employer defined benefits pension scheme governed by The Teachers’ Pensions Regulations 2010 (as amended) and The Teachers’ Pension Scheme Regulations 2014 (as amended). Members contribute on a “pay as you go” basis with contributions from members and the employer being credited to the Exchequer. Retirement and other pension benefits are paid by public funds provided by Parliament.
The employer contribution rate is set by the Secretary of State following scheme valuations undertaken by the Government Actuary’s Department. The most recent actuarial valuation of the TPS was prepared as at 31 March 2020 and the Valuation Report was published in October 2023,
Following the McCloud judgement, the remedy proposed that when benefits become payable, eligible members can select to receive them from either the reformed or legacy schemes for the period 1 April 2015 to 31 March 2022. The actuaries have assumed that members are likely to choose the option that provides them with the greater benefits, and in preparing the 2020 valuation has valued the ‘greater value’ benefits for groups of relevant members,
The employer contribution rate for the TPS is 28.6%, and employers are also required to pay a scheme administration levy of 0.08% giving a total employer contribution rate of 28.68%.
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NEWCASTLE-UNDER-LYME SCHOOL NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (CONTINUED) FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 AUGUST 2025
18. PENSIONS SCHEMES (Continued)
Defined contribution scheme:
The Newcastle-under-Lyme Group Personal Pension Plan is a money purchase group personal pension scheme managed by Aviva. Basic contributions are 5% for the employee and 6% for the employer. The employer's contributions are charged in the Statement of Financial Activities in the period in which the salaries to which they relate are due. The employer's contributions in the period amounted to £102,925 (2023-24: £93,851) and at the year-end £18,157 (2023-24: £16,288) was accrued in respect of contributions to this scheme,
19, CAPITAL COMMITMENTS
There were no Capital Commitments to report.
| 20. OPERATING LEASE COMMITMENTS | ||
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 2024 | |
| £ | £ | |
| Futureminimum leasepaymentsdueatthe endof the periodwere | ||
| Withinoneyear | 51,800 | 41,512 |
| Between 1 and5years | _ 39,731 | 89,581 |
| 91,531 | 131,093 |
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NEWCASTLE-UNDER-LYME SCHOOL NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (CONTINUED) FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 AUGUST 2025
21. CONTINGENT LIABILITUES
The School has entered into a Catering Services Agreement with Thomas Franks Limited, which took effect on 01 February 2023.
The Caterer and the School have agreed that the Caterer will invest £190,000 toward the cost of certain works and the supply of certain equipment at the School’s premises. For the purpose of this agreement the investment is to be written down ona straight-line basis over a five-year period from 01 February 2023.
The Caterer shall retain ownership of all the assets purchased using this investment until the end of 31 January 2028 or earlier in the event of an early termination of the Catering Services Agreement, in which case the assets shall transfer to the School for consideration of £1.
22, RELATED PARTY DISCLOSURES
There were no related party disclosures to report.
23, ULTIMATE CONTROLLING PARTY
No one individual controls the charity.
24, SUBSIDIARIES
The School owns all of the issued share capital of Castilian Enterprises Limited (company number 9866298), a company incorporated in England that has its registered office at Mount Pleasant, Newcastle-under-Lyme, Staffordshire, ST5 1DB. This Company has been dormant since incorporation on 10 November 2015 and is intended to carry out trading activities on behalf of the School in the future,
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NEWCASTLE-UNDER-LYME SCHOOL NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (CONTINUED) FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 AUGUST 2025
24. STATEMENT OF FINANCIAL ACTIVITIES ~— Comparative figures by fund type
| Unrestricted | Restricted | 2024 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| funds | funds | ||
| £ | £, | £ | |
| Income and endowments from: | |||
| Charitable activities | |||
| School fees receivable | 11,447,198 | - | 11,447,198 |
| Ancillary tradingincome | 721,944 | - | 721,944 |
| Othertradingactivities | |||
| Non-ancillarytrading income | 90,157 | - | 90,157 |
| Investments | 150,869 | - | 150,869 |
| Voluntary incoming sources | 5,006 | - | 5,006 |
| Activities to generate funds | 230 | - | 230 |
| Total incomingresources | 12,415,404 | - | 12,415,404 |
| Expenditure on: | |||
| Raising funds | |||
| Financing costs | 69,542 | - | 69,542 |
| Investment management | —__19,826 | - | 19,826 |
| Total deductible costs | 89,368 | - | 89,368 |
| Charitable activities | |||
| Educationandgrantmaking | 12,437,110 | 90,17912,527,289 | |
| Total expenditure | 12,526,478 | 90,179 | 12,616,657 |
| Netincomingfundsfrom operation: | (111,074) | (90,179) | (201,253) |
| before transfers andinvestment gains | |||
| Lossoninvestments | 208,720 | - | 208,720 |
| Netmovementinfunds fortheyear | 97,646 | (90,179) | 7,467 |
| Fundbalances broughtforward at | |||
| 1September2023 | 15,491,521 | 3,206,864 | 18,698,385 |
| : | |||
| Fund balances carried forward at | |||
| 31August2024 | 15,589,167 | 3,116,685 | 18,705,852 |
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