REGISTERED CHARITY NUMBER: 1124890
REPORT OF THE TRUSTEES AND
UNAUDITED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2024
FOR
THE ENGLISH ASSOCIATION
Mark J Rees LLP Chartered Accountants Granville Hall Granville Road Leicester Leicestershire LE1 7RU
THE ENGLISH ASSOCIATION
CONTENTS OF THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2024
----- Start of picture text -----
Page
Report of the Trustees 1 to 14
Independent Examiner's Report 15
Statement of Financial Activities 16
Balance Sheet 17
Notes to the Financial Statements 18 to 24
Detailed Statement of Financial Activities 25 to 26
----- End of picture text -----
THE ENGLISH ASSOCIATION
REPORT OF THE TRUSTEES FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2024
The trustees present their report with the financial statements of the charity for the year ended 31 December 2024. The trustees have adopted the provisions of 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) and the obligations of their Royal Charter.
OBJECTIVES AND ACTIVITIES Objectives and aims
The objectives of the English Association are to benefit the public by promoting the knowledge and appreciation of the English language and its literatures and to foster good practice in its teaching and learning at all levels. The Association has pursued and will pursue its objectives by any one or more of the methods set out below.
-
Affording opportunities for professional and other co-operation amongst all those interested in English language and literature.
-
Furthering the due recognition of English as an essential element in education at all levels and participating publicly in any national debate on the teaching of the subject at any level.
-
Providing a forum for the discussion of practice and principle in the teaching and learning of English in all sectors of education from primary to university level.
-
Encouraging and facilitating advanced study in English language and literature.
-
Holding conferences, lectures and other meetings to respond to the professional needs of teachers and lecturers in all educational areas and to further the objects of the Association.
-
Publishing a range of journals, books, papers and leaflets to promote the study and appreciation of English.
-
Forming local branches to carry out the objects of the Association.
-
Establishing relations with kindred bodies and co-operating with such bodies but only in furtherance of the objects of the Association.
-
Enrolling members, collecting subscriptions from members and donations from any person interested in the objects of the Association.
-
Engaging in any other activity which shall be conducive to the objects of the Association.
The Association reviews its aims, objectives and achievements each year and this report summarises activities and achievements during 2024. In undertaking the review, the trustees have paid due regard to guidance issued by the Charity Commission on public benefit in deciding what activities the Association should undertake.
The charitable status of the English Association substantially enhances its ability to pursue its aims for the public benefit in a number of ways:
-
Publishing a broad range of journals, books and other materials to inform and enlighten all readers concerned with English language and its literatures, and to offer those in education at all levels a forum for sharing best practice.
-
Organising conferences and other events to address the needs of students of all ages, education professionals and members of the public interested in an appreciation of the English language and its literatures.
-
Offering prizes and awards to recognise and encourage creativity and achievement.
-
Contributing to the public debate about the teaching of English at all levels.
-
Promoting student recruitment to English courses in schools, colleges and universities.
-
Collaborating with other bodies to further engagement with our literary and linguistic inheritance.
-
Encouraging trustees and a large number of volunteers to give their time and expertise without charge in pursuance of the above.
Page 1
THE ENGLISH ASSOCIATION
REPORT OF THE TRUSTEES FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2024
OBJECTIVES AND ACTIVITIES Activities and achievements during 2024
Publications
English is the flagship higher-education journal of the Association and is dedicated to new developments in English studies. Published four times per year by Oxford University Press on behalf of the Association, English provides a forum for discussion on all aspects of English literature and language, and on professional topics. It includes scholarly essays and reviews on all periods of literary history, alongside new work by contemporary poets. It publishes work that speaks to the discipline as a whole, including reflections on pedagogy and on the place of English literature and language in the world beyond academia. The journal is edited by a team based at the University of East Anglia, led by Dr Rebecca Pinner and Dr Will Rossiter.
The Use of English is the longest-standing of journals for teachers, including trainee teachers, of secondary and further English. Published three times a year, it brings together vigorous, independent comment on theory, policy and practice. It carries a substantial section of reviews of important books on the teaching of the subject, plus works of literary criticism and anthologies and editions. The journal is edited by Chris Green and Kayte Haselgrove.
English 4-11 supports literacy in the primary classroom and is for teachers, including trainee teachers, of primary English. Accessible and lively, the magazine is packed with articles, covering Early Years Education to the end of Key Stage 2. Published three times a year, the magazine includes accounts of innovative practice and successful projects, reports of classroom research, reviews of books, software and other resources, interviews with authors, and articles to spark discussion. It is a joint publication of the English Association, the National Association for the Teaching of English, and the United Kingdom Literacy Association and is edited by a joint Editorial Board, led by Dr Sally Wilkinson.
The English Association Newsletter encourages conversation about topics important to the subject community, and is published three times per year. It is edited by Dr Rebecca Fisher, the CEO of the English Association, in collaboration with guest editors.
Essays and Studies is a series of annual themed volumes, each edited by a distinguished academic. The series is published on behalf of the Association by Boydell & Brewer.
The Year's Work in English Studies is a qualitative narrative bibliographical review of scholarly work on English language and on literatures written in English. The volume includes a detailed overview from Old English to contemporary critical works for a given year and is published annually on behalf of the Association by Oxford University Press.
The Year's Work in Critical and Cultural Theory is a companion volume to The Year's Work in English Studies and is also published annually for the Association by Oxford University Press. It provides a narrative bibliography of work in the field of critical and cultural theory, recording significant debates and issues of interest in a broad field of research in the humanities and social sciences. The series is of interest to scholars working in many areas of literary and critical and cultural studies as well as in media, visual arts, history and political theory.
Issues in English is a series of occasional publications exploring current issues of debate in English at all levels.
English at the Interface is a series comprising one or two monographs annually, published on behalf of the Association by Liverpool University Press. Monographs can be on any field of English Studies - Literature and Language - from the mediaeval period to the present.
Bookmarks are a series of pamphlets intended to supplement the enthusiasm of the literature teacher and to provide additional independent resources for readers wanting to broaden their engagement with literature. They are downloadable free of charge from the Association's website.
Page 2
THE ENGLISH ASSOCIATION
REPORT OF THE TRUSTEES FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2024
OBJECTIVES AND ACTIVITIES
The following were published during the year:
-
English, Nos. 279 - 281, edited by Nonia Williams/Rebecca Pinner and Will Rossiter
-
The Use of English, Volume 75 Nos. 2-3 and Volume 76 No. 1, edited by Malcolm Hebron/Kayte Haselgrove and
-
Chris Green
-
English 4-11, No. 80-82, edited by Sally Wilkinson
-
Newsletter, Nos. 235 - 237, edited by Rebecca Fisher and Susie Nicklin (235), Tom F. Wright and Arlene Holmes
-
Henderson (236), and Elizabeth Draper and Hollie Barnes-Lomax (237)
-
Essays and Studies 2024, 'Literature and Institutions of Welfare', edited by Jess Cotton
-
The Year's Work in English Studies Volume 103, edited by William Baker and Kenneth Womack
-
The Year's Work in Critical and Cultural Theory Volume 32, edited by Emelia Quinn and Ranjan Ghosh
-
English at the Interface, 'Proximities: Literature, Mobility and the Politics of Displacement' by John Culbert
Page 3
THE ENGLISH ASSOCIATION
REPORT OF THE TRUSTEES FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2024
OBJECTIVES AND ACTIVITIES Conferences, key meetings, and events
----- Start of picture text -----
|||
|---|---|
|January|Meeting of the English 4-11 Editorial Board|
|Event: Opening Doors to Ambitious English|
|Event: Analysing Adaptations: a digital approach to introducing C19th texts for Y9 students|
|February|Meeting of the Primary and Early Years Education Committee|
|Meeting of the Secondary and Further Education Committee|
|Meeting of the Higher Education Committee|
|Meeting of the Finance Committee|
|Meeting of the Publications Committee|
|CEO and Deputy Chair attended AQA discussion forum|
|Meeting of the Common English Forum|
|Event: Reading in the primary school: reading for empathy in the classroom|
|Event: Speaking for English - Policy|
|March|Meeting of the Board of Trustees|
|Meeting of the English 4-11 Editorial Board|
|Event: Creative Writing and English: collaboration, crossovers, connection|
|April|Meeting of the Primary and Early Years Education Committee|
|Meeting of the Secondary and Further Education Committee|
|Meeting of the Higher Education Committee|
|Meeting of the Finance CommitteeCEO presented with Connecting Maths and English working|
|group at the Joint Mathematical Associations Conference|
|CEO attended OCR discussion forum|
|Event: What does it mean to have a diverse curriculum?|
|Event: FE Gathering Voices|
|May|Winners of the English 4-11 Picture Book Awards announced|
|Awards Ceremony and AGM held in Senate House|
|Meeting of the Secondary and Further Education Committee|
|Meeting of the Finance Committee|
|Meeting of the Learned Societies network|
|Event: The interface between trade publishing and creative writing in education|
|Event: Opening Doors: stepping stones from KS2 to KS3/4|
|June|Meeting of the Board of Trustees|
|Meeting of the Common English Forum|
|#EnglishCreates campaign week|
|Events: What is a reader anyway?|
|Event: Reading Lessons: Carol Atherton and Bob Eaglestone in conversation|
|Event: The Poetry By Heart 14+ timeline anthology|
|Event: Building confidence with diverse text|
|Event: FE Gathering Voices|
|Event: Thinking Forwards: English and Neuroscience|
|Event: Reading aloud in the primary classroom|
|July|CEO presented the Teacher Award at the Poetry By Heart Finals|
|CEO keynote at the National English Teaching Leads conference|
|Meeting of the Management Group|
|Meeting of the Finance Group|
|Meeting of the Finance Committee|
|Event: Talking about human rights in the classroom|
----- End of picture text -----
Page 4
THE ENGLISH ASSOCIATION
REPORT OF THE TRUSTEES FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2024
OBJECTIVES AND ACTIVITIES
----- Start of picture text -----
|||
|---|---|
|August|
|September|Meeting of the English 4-11 Editorial Board|
|Meeting of the Board of Trustees|
|Event: FE Gathering Voices|
|Event: Oracy education: perspectives from research, policy and practice|
|Event: Developing a spoken language curriculumEvent: Opening Doors to richer English for|
|teachers and pupils|
|Event: Thinking Forwards - empathy, narrative and cultural values|
|Event: AI for English students|
|Event: Connecting poetry and maths for National Poetry Day|
|October|Meeting of the Finance Committee|
|Meeting of the Fellowship Committee|
|Event: Speaking Citizens, connecting communities conference|
|Event: Opening Doors to ambitious English: a forum for new approaches conference|
|Event: What does it mean to teach context in a English lesson?|
|Event: FE Gathering Voices|
|Event: PEYE summit|
|Event: Writing for pleasure - teachers and children as writers and bookmakers|
|Event: Diversifying text in English|
|Event: Thinking Forwards: Challenge Labs|
|November|Meeting of the Higher Education Committee|
|Meeting of the Primary and Early Years Education Committee|
|Meeting of the Secondary and Further Education Committee|
|Meeting of the Finance Committee|
|Meeting of the Fellowship Committee|
|CEO attended the OCR discussion forum|
|Event: Action On...AI|
|Event: Member briefing|
|Event: Technology in the classroom: policy, practice, pedagogy|
|Event: Thinking Forwards - Bee-ing Human|
|December|Meeting of the Board of Trustees|
|CEF met with Department for Education English Curriculum Policy Team|
|Event: What does it mean to have a diverse curriculum? II|
----- End of picture text -----
Committee reports
Higher Education Committee
----- Start of picture text -----
|||
|---|---|
|Members:|
|Jenny Richards|Chair (to April 2024) - Newcastle University/University of Cambridge|
|Joe Barber|Manchester Metropolitan University|
|Alex Thomson|University of Edinburgh|
|Antony Rowland|Manchester Metropolitan University|
|Claire Jowitt|University of East Anglia|
|Clare Lees|Institute of English Studies, School of Advanced Studies, University of London|
|Greg Walker|University of Edinburgh|
|Martin Halliwell|University of Leicester|
|Nicole King|University of London|
|Rick Rylance|School of Advanced Studies, University of London|
|Robert Eaglestone|Deputy Chair - Royal Holloway, University of London|
----- End of picture text -----
Page 5
THE ENGLISH ASSOCIATION
REPORT OF THE TRUSTEES FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2024
OBJECTIVES AND ACTIVITIES
----- Start of picture text -----
|||
|---|---|
|Anshuman Mondal|University of East Anglia|
|Andrea Macrae|Oxford Brookes University|
|Katherine Baxter|Chair (from April 2024) - Northumbria University|
|Jerome de Groot|University of Manchester|
|Elspeth Jajdelska|Strathclyde University|
|Suzy Joinson|Chichester University|
|Gail Marshall|University of Reading|
|Bronwen Price|Independent scholar|
|Lynda Pratt|University of Nottingham|
|Richard Stacey|Glasgow University|
|Nathan Waddell|University of Birmingham|
|John Wrighton|Kingston University|
----- End of picture text -----
Highlight of activities:
-
The Chair of the HEC, JR, met with new Director of REF in February 2024
-
RRy stepped down from the HEC in April 2024
-
AT stepped down from the HEC in February 2024
-
JR stepped down as Chair of the HEC in April 2024, and was replaced by KB
-
HEC welcomed the new leads for EA workstreams: (RE: lead for cross-sector educational policy; Cathy Shrank: lead for Skills for the Future of English; Tom F. Wright: Lead for Oracy)
HEC continued to support the SUMS project, UE's #EnglishCreates campagin and the work of Decolonising the Discipline
-
LP and JR continued to lead the Thinking Forwards programme
-
CS has led the development of a suite of Skills for the Future English Flyers with HEC and SFEC
-
The HEC, UE, and IES continued to provide support for departments under threat
-
AR undertook a new state of the discipline survey and will share findings in April with members
-
CS and RE met with Pearson (exam board) in May
Secondary and Further Education Committee
----- Start of picture text -----
|||
|---|---|
|Members:|
|Elizabeth Draper|Chair (to November 2024) - independent consultant|
|Hollie Barnes Lomax|Deputy Chair - Cambridge Regional College|
|Joan Foley|University of the West of England/Open University|
|Tracey Maloney|Consultant|
|Brenda Marshall|Primary-Secondary Education Committee liaison|
|Sarah Mullin|Sunderland University|
|Angela Rodrigues|The Cotswold School|
|Joe Barber|Manchester Metropolitan University|
|Freddie Baveystock|Harris Westminster Sixth Form|
|Chris Green|Perse School Cambridge|
|Matt Carnaby|Chair (from November 2024) - Astrea Academy Trust|
|Ella Taylor|Harris Westminster Sixth Form|
|Jo Heathcote|English curriculum and assessment consultant|
|Kirsty Haughton|Nottingham College|
|Helen Thomson|Doctoral student and experienced teacher|
|Jo Hill|Treasurehouse London|
----- End of picture text -----
Change in membership: The SFEC welcomed new members KHau, JHi and HT. Malcolm Hebon and Rob Penman stepped down.
Page 6
THE ENGLISH ASSOCIATION
REPORT OF THE TRUSTEES FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2024
OBJECTIVES AND ACTIVITIES
Highlights of activities:
-
ED stepped down as Chair in November 2024, and was succeeded by MC
-
SFEC explored AQA's marking of English GCSEs.
-
SFEC welcomed AQA to talk through proposed changes to GCSE English.
-
SFEC interrogated the Ofqual marking report for comment.
-
SFEC continues to look to provide support for teaching colleagues to understand proposed changes to assessment in English.
-
SFEC conducted an expertise directory.
-
Maths and English collaborative work - the SFEC continues to develop this work, supporting several events in 2024.
-
Newsletter - Autumn 2024 issue on technology (Sept 2024) issue co-edited by chair and deputy chair, focus on Secondary and FE provision and a follow up online event.
-
Use of English - co-editors on the committee and members continue to support, contribute and actively engage in increasing participation from teachers in Secondary and FE sectors.
-
FE Gathering Voices - teach meet online series facilitated and developed by the deputy chair : planned and presented 30th April, June 18th on GCSE resit curriculum in FE settings; Oct 2024 on FE GCSE resits - collaborative approaches bringing FE teachers together.
-
Oracy Commission - the SFEC Chair participated in the consultative process, bringing ideas from the SFEC - attended GCSE Roundtable in May 2024 with the Oracy Education Commission, supporting the launch in October 2024 at Westminster of the We Need To Talk report.
-
Striking The Balance OCR 11-16 Curriculum and Assessment in England Review. Contributions from members of the committee; launch attended 3rd Sept 2024
-
Speaking Citizens/connecting communities - the committee supported this work, including the event on October 7th 2024 at Europe House
-
Exam Boards - Chair and CEO presented at OCR consortium Autumn Forum on the work of the EA and the SFEC; attended AQA consortium events
-
GCSE reform - SFEC members contributed to the event on GCSE reform at the Globe on 25th Sept 2024
-
Poetry By Heart - the SFEC continues to actively engage in this consortium, chair attends meetings
-
London Association of the Teaching of English - member of the committee attended a conference/making links/representing the EA
-
Data tracking contributions - new development in committee providing info/data on current trends on exam entries and results for GCSEs and A-levels to the EA data page in August 2024
-
Collecting Case studies from English teachers to contribute to new development of Thinking Forwards from across the regions - eg Secondary school in Derby, Harrow, Richmond and Uxbridge Colleges, North Shields secondary school, Barking and Dagenham College of Further Education, Birmingham Sixth Form College - online sessions - FE Literacy movement - the committee has supported the development of this movement, event in June 2024 at the University of Derby on the subject of 'literacy, English and the subject specialist teacher' attended by deputy chair of committee, movement effective in impact: the NLT annual literacy survey to be inclusive of those studying on vocational programmes, presented work at the Westminster Policy Forum. We now have Kirsty Haughton who is one of the founding members on the committee.
Primary and Early Years Education Committee
Members:
----- Start of picture text -----
|||
|---|---|
|Kirstie Hewett|Chichester University - School Improvement Specialist|
|Sonia Carvell|Primary Teacher|
|Brenda Marshall|Primary-Secondary Education Committee liaison|
|Megan Dixon|Consultant|
|Jake Hope|Reading development & children's book consultant|
|Suzanne Hughes|Primary Teacher|
|Lorna Watson|Primary Teacher|
----- End of picture text -----
Changes to membership: Nicky Potter, Rebecca Smith and Chris Brown stepped down from the Committee.
Page 7
THE ENGLISH ASSOCIATION
REPORT OF THE TRUSTEES FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2024
OBJECTIVES AND ACTIVITIES
Highlights of activities:
-
Member of the PEYEC continued to support the aim of generating interest in the work of the EA and attracting new members by leading a number of events as detailed on the events list.
-
We contributed to the EA's drive to contribute to the public debate about the teaching of English by responding to changes in policy and practice (e.g. the Curriculum and Assessment Review Call for evidence, Ofsted's Telling the Story, the Primary Education Reform Summit and the changes to KS1 assessment).
-
We began to establish smaller working groups in line with the different strands of the National Curriculum for English (2013) with a view to enabling us to be better positioned to respond in a timely way to relevant publications, to identify organisations whose vision and goals align with our own, and to provide effectively for our EA membership base. These will be bedded in over 2025 as we welcome several new members.
-
We continued to hold a space in the monthly email so that EA members with a particular interest in the primary and early years phase receive regular communication.
-
We represented the EA at the Festival of Education 2024 by chairing a panel on reading for pleasure for Love Reading 4 Kids.
Page 8
THE ENGLISH ASSOCIATION
REPORT OF THE TRUSTEES FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2024
OBJECTIVES AND ACTIVITIES Fellowships
The new Fellows of the English Association were honoured at the Awards Ceremony following the Annual General Meeting on 25 May 2024:
Anne Fine Daljit Nagra Rob Penman Michael Schmidt Rosario Arias Joe Barber Catherine Bates Luisa Cale Ivan Callus Gerard Carruthers David Cooper James Corby Stevie Davies Emma Depledge Thomas Duggett Christine Ferguson Frank Ferguson Jo Heathcote Lorna Huston Darryl Jones Lucy Juckes Vassiliki Kolocotroni Chris Laoutaris Andrea Macrae John McAuliffe Sylvia Mieszkowski Dafydd Moore Joe Moshenska Lisa Mullen Marianne O'Doherty Paul Poplawski Ruth Robbins Rachel Roberts Jo Robinson Molly Rosenberg Jill Rudd Sarah Satha Michelle Sheehan Lorna Smith Tiago Sousa Garcia Jane Stabler Louise Sylvester Paul Whickman
Page 9
THE ENGLISH ASSOCIATION
REPORT OF THE TRUSTEES FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2024
OBJECTIVES AND ACTIVITIES Awards and prizes
The following were awarded at the Awards Ceremony on 25 May 2024:
The Betty Haigh Shakespeare Prize
Lara Solie-Tuluie, for her essay 'We Need Shakespeare Now More Than Ever: How She's The Man Sheds Light on The Relevance of Twelfth Night Today'
The Beatrice White Prize
Dr Kerstin Majewski, for her publication The Ruthwell Cross and its Texts: A New Reconstruction and an Edition of The Ruthwell Crucifixion Poem (De Gruyter, 2022)
Michael Murphy Memorial Poetry Prize
Jay Gao for his collection Imperium (Carcanet)
English 4-11 Picture Book Awards Non-fiction 7-11
Brilliant Black British History by Atinuke and Kingsley Nebechi (Bloomsbury Children's Books)
Non-fiction 4-7
LIFESIZE Deadly Animals by Sophy Henn (Farshore)
Fiction 7-11
The Panda's Child by Jackie Morris and Cathy Fisher (Otter-Barry Books)
Fiction 4-7
Holey Moley by Bethan Clarke and Anders Frang (Little Tiger)
The Margaret Mallett Award for Children's Non-Fiction Saving H'Non - Chang and the Elephant by Trang Nguyen and Jeet Zdung (Kingfisher)
Page 10
THE ENGLISH ASSOCIATION
REPORT OF THE TRUSTEES FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2024
FINANCIAL REVIEW
Financial position
The statement of financial activities for the year ended 31 December 2024 shows a surplus of incoming resources over resources expended for the year of £148,379 (2023: £91,262). Both 2024 and 2023 were significantly impacted by a revaluation of the pension scheme resulting in a credit of £100,555 in 2024 and a credit of £20,508 in 2023, as detailed in note 7. The Association's total reserves increased during the year from £222,952 to £371,331. Cash at bank and in hand at the end of the year was £353,132 (2023: £284,405).
Risk management
Trustees have identified the major risks to which the Association is exposed and put in place mitigations and policies to manage and control risk. In the areas of operational, governance, financial and compliance risk, trustees are confident that the quality of the Association's staff and professional advisors minimises the exposure to risk.
Reserves policy
The balance sheet at 31 December 2024 shows unrestricted reserves of £370,182. Restricted reserves relating to the various prize funds amount to £1,149. The Association's reserves therefore stood at £371,331 on 31 December 2024.
The unrestricted fund includes tangible assets, debtors, cash in the bank and in hand.
It is the Association's policy to try to maintain reserves equivalent to six months' estimated expenditure, together with monies sufficient to protect the EA from identified future operational risks such as volatility arising from the revaluation of the Universities Superannuation Scheme (USS) and the effect on the Association's income from potential developments in the publication industry.
In addition, under its arrangements with the University of London the Association is required to hold reserves of no less than £50,000 in respect of the membership of the Association's employees in the USS.
Therefore, members of council have resolved to target reserves of not less than £350,000 to ensure the continuing operation of the Association, including contractual commitments to its employees and to publishers, during any periods of economic uncertainty.
STRUCTURE, GOVERNANCE AND MANAGEMENT
Governing document
The charity is controlled by its governing document, a deed of trust and constitutes a charitable company, incorporated by Royal Charter.
Page 11
THE ENGLISH ASSOCIATION
REPORT OF THE TRUSTEES FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2024
STRUCTURE, GOVERNANCE AND MANAGEMENT
Organisational structure
The management of the Association is carried out by the Board of Trustees, whose members are the council of the Royal Charter entity and trustees of the registered charity. Trustees give their time to the Association voluntarily and receive no benefits for the work they do on its behalf. Expenses reclaimed by trustees for their attendance at meetings of the Association are set out in a note to the accounts.
The Finance Committee is responsible for the financial and administrative operations of the Association, including risk management, and reports directly to the Board of Trustees.
The Secondary and Further Education Committee reports to the Board of Trustees and is responsible for and responding to national issues regarding secondary and further education; the committee also advises the editors of The Use of English.
The Primary and Early Years Education Committee reports to the Board of Trustees and is responsible for responding to national issues regarding primary education; the English 4-11 Editorial Board is responsible for editing English 4-11 and administering the annual English 4-11 Picture Book awards.
The Higher Education Committee responds to national issues regarding higher education and reports to the Board of Trustees.
The Fellowship Committee is responsible for all matters pertaining to the Fellowship and its special interest groups, and reports to the Board of Trustees.
The Publications Committee is responsible for the publications portfolio.
In 2024 the Association was staffed as follows: Chief Executive Officer, 0.8 FTE (1.0 FTE from July 2024) Administration Officer, 0.5 FTE (1.0 FTE in Jan, Feb, Nov, and Dec) Finance Officer, 0.4 FTE
History of The English Association
The English Association was founded in 1906. On 1 January 2001 its activities, assets and liabilities were transferred to a newly incorporated company limited by guarantee, in accordance with a scheme approved by the Charity Commission. On 1 December 2006 the Association was incorporated by Royal Charter.
In accordance with an order of the Charity Commission, on 1 January 2009 all of the activities, assets and liabilities of the existing registered charity (number 1078935) were transferred to a new registered charity (number 1124890). This transfer was necessary following the incorporation of the Association by Royal Charter. From 1 January 2009 the Association ceased to transact its affairs through the medium of the company limited by guarantee and from that date the affairs of the Association have been carried out through the new registered charity and the entity incorporated by Royal Charter. During 2010 the old registered charity was dissolved and the company limited by guarantee was removed from the Register of Companies.
Page 12
THE ENGLISH ASSOCIATION
REPORT OF THE TRUSTEES FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2024
REFERENCE AND ADMINISTRATIVE DETAILS Registered Company number RC000811 (England and Wales)
Registered Charity number 1124890
Principle address Senate House Malet Street London WC1E 7HU
Trustees
Prof G Walker Prof P Shaw (stepped down May 2024) Prof M Halliwell R Penman (stepped down May 2024) S Nicklin (stepped down May 2024) Prof D Duff Dr N King E Draper L Lamb (stepped down May 2024) T Maloney Dr F M Douglas Prof A J P Thomson Prof A Mondal
Dr R Fisher is the Charity's Chief Executive Office.
Independent Examiner
Phillip Bott FCA BSc (Hons) The Institute of Chartered Accountants Mark J Rees LLP Chartered Accountants Granville Hall Granville Road Leicester Leicestershire LE1 7RU
BANKERS
Barclays Bank plc 2 Victoria Street London SW1H 0ND
Scottish Widows Bank PO Box 883 Leeds LS1 9TY
Page 13
THE ENGLISH ASSOCIATION
REPORT OF THE TRUSTEES FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2024
Approved by order of the board of trustees on ............................................. and signed on its behalf by: 25 April 2025
........................................................................ Prof D Duff - Trustee
Page 14
INDEPENDENT EXAMINER'S REPORT TO THE TRUSTEES OF THE ENGLISH ASSOCIATION
Independent examiner's report to the trustees of The English Association
I report to the charity trustees on my examination of the accounts of The English Association (the Trust) for the year ended 31 December 2024.
Responsibilities and basis of report
As the charity trustees of the Trust you are responsible for the preparation of the accounts in accordance with the requirements of the Charities Act 2011 ('the Act').
I report in respect of my examination of the Trust's accounts carried out under Section 145 of the Act and in carrying out my examination I have followed all applicable Directions given by the Charity Commission under Section 145(5)(b) of the Act.
Independent examiner's statement
I have completed my examination. I confirm that no material matters have come to my attention in connection with the examination giving me cause to believe that in any material respect:
-
accounting records were not kept in respect of the Trust as required by Section 130 of the Act; or
-
the accounts do not accord with those records; or
-
the accounts do not comply with the applicable requirements concerning the form and content of accounts set out in the Charities (Accounts and Reports) Regulations 2008 other than any requirement that the accounts give a true and fair view which is not a matter considered as part of an independent examination.
I have no concerns and have come across no other matters in connection with the examination to which attention should be drawn in this report in order to enable a proper understanding of the accounts to be reached.
Use of our report
This report is made solely to the charity's members. To the fullest extent permitted by law, we do not accept or assume responsibility to anyone other than the charity and the charity's members as a body, for our work, for this report, or for the opinions we have formed.
Phillip Bott FCA BSc (Hons) The Institute of Chartered Accountants Mark J Rees LLP Chartered Accountants Granville Hall Granville Road Leicester Leicestershire LE1 7RU
Date: .............................................
Page 15
THE ENGLISH ASSOCIATION
STATEMENT OF FINANCIAL ACTIVITIES FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2024
| Unrestricted fund Notes £ INCOME AND ENDOWMENTS FROM Donations and legacies 2 1,826 Charitable activities 4 Advancing English 225,701 Investment income 3 3,185 Total 230,712 EXPENDITURE ON Charitable activities 5 Advancing English 82,293 NET INCOME/(EXPENDITURE) 148,419 RECONCILIATION OF FUNDS Total funds brought forward 221,763 TOTAL FUNDS CARRIED FORWARD 370,182 |
Restricted funds £ - - - - 40 (40) 1,189 1,149 |
2024 Total funds £ 1,826 225,701 3,185 230,712 82,333 148,379 222,952 371,331 |
2023 Total funds £ 963 237,092 2,117 240,172 148,910 91,262 131,690 222,952 |
|---|---|---|---|
The notes form part of these financial statements
Page 16
THE ENGLISH ASSOCIATION
BALANCE SHEET 31 DECEMBER 2024
| Notes FIXED ASSETS Tangible assets 9 CURRENT ASSETS Debtors 10 Cash at bank and in hand |
Unrestricted Restricted fund funds £ £ 1,200 - 48,801 - 351,783 1,349 |
2024 2023 Total Total funds funds £ £ 1,200 399 48,801 56,141 353,132 284,405 |
|---|---|---|
| CREDITORS Amounts falling due within one year 11 |
400,584 1,349 (31,602) (200) |
401,933 340,546 (31,802) (17,273) |
| NET CURRENT ASSETS | 368,982 1,149 |
370,131 323,273 |
| TOTAL ASSETS LESS CURRENT LIABILITIES |
370,182 1,149 |
371,331 323,672 |
| NET ASSETS | 370,182 1,149 |
371,331 222,952 |
| FUNDS 12 Unrestricted funds Restricted funds |
370,182 221,763 1,149 1,189 |
|
| TOTAL FUNDS | 371,331 222,952 |
The financial statements were approved by the Board of Trustees and authorised for issue on ............................................. and were signed on its behalf by: 25 April 2025
............................................. Prof D Duff - Trustee
The notes form part of these financial statements
Page 17
THE ENGLISH ASSOCIATION NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2024
1. ACCOUNTING POLICIES
Basis of preparing the financial statements
The financial statements of the charity, which is a public benefit entity under FRS 102, have been prepared in accordance with the Charities SORP (FRS 102) 'Accounting and Reporting by Charities: Statement of Recommended Practice applicable to charities preparing their accounts in accordance with the Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland (FRS 102) (effective 1 January 2019)', Financial Reporting Standard 102 'The Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland' and the Charities Act 2011 and its Royal Charter. The financial statements have been prepared under the historical cost convention.
Financial reporting standard 102 - reduced disclosure exemptions
The charity has taken advantage of the following disclosure exemption in preparing these financial statements, as permitted by FRS 102 'The Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland':
- the requirements of Section 7 Statement of Cash Flows.
Income
All income is recognised in the Statement of Financial Activities once the charity has entitlement to the funds, it is probable that the income will be received and the amount can be measured reliably. The exception to this is Subscription and Publication income which is recognised in the period to which it relates.
Expenditure
Liabilities are recognised as expenditure as soon as there is a legal or constructive obligation committing the charity to that expenditure, it is probable that a transfer of economic benefits will be required in settlement and the amount of the obligation can be measured reliably. Expenditure is accounted for on an accruals basis and has been classified under headings that aggregate all cost related to the category. Where costs cannot be directly attributed to particular headings they have been allocated to activities on a basis consistent with the use of resources.
Tangible fixed assets
Depreciation is provided at the following annual rates in order to write off each asset over its estimated useful life.
Fixtures and fittings - 5% on cost Office equipment - 20% on cost Computer equipment - 33% on cost
Taxation
The charity is exempt from tax on its charitable activities.
Fund accounting
Unrestricted funds can be used in accordance with the charitable objectives at the discretion of the trustees.
Restricted funds can only be used for particular restricted purposes within the objects of the charity. Restrictions arise when specified by the donor or when funds are raised for particular restricted purposes.
Further explanation of the nature and purpose of each fund is included in the notes to the financial statements.
Pension costs and other post-retirement benefits
The charity operates both a defined contribution scheme and a defined benefit scheme.
Defined contribution scheme: Contributions payable to the charity's pension scheme are charged to the statement of financial activities in the period to which they relate.
continued...
Page 18
THE ENGLISH ASSOCIATION
NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS - continued FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2024
1. ACCOUNTING POLICIES - continued
Pension costs and other post-retirement benefits
Defined benefit scheme: An actuarial valuation of the scheme is carried out by an independent professionally qualified actuary every three years.
Debtors
Short term debtors are measured at transaction price, less any impairment. Loans receivable are measured initially at fair value, net of transaction costs, and are measured subsequently at amortised cost using the effective interest method, less any impairment.
Creditors
Short term creditors are measured at the transaction price. Other financial liabilities, including bank loans, are measured initially at fair value, net of transaction costs, and are measured subsequently at amortised cost using the effective interest method.
2. DONATIONS AND LEGACIES
| Gifts 3. INVESTMENT INCOME Deposit account interest 4. INCOME FROM CHARITABLE ACTIVITIES Activity Subscriptions Advancing English Publications Advancing English Conference Income Advancing English Other Advancing English |
2024 £ 1,826 2024 £ 3,185 2024 £ 96,513 119,574 - 9,614 225,701 |
2023 £ 963 2023 £ 2,117 2023 £ 92,552 139,934 2,206 2,400 237,092 |
|---|---|---|
continued...
Page 19
THE ENGLISH ASSOCIATION
NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS - continued FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2024
5. CHARITABLE ACTIVITIES COSTS
----- Start of picture text -----
|||||
|---|---|---|---|
|Direct|Support|
|Costs|costs|Totals|
|£|£|£|
|Advancing English|45,600|36,733|82,333|
----- End of picture text -----
6. TRUSTEES' REMUNERATION AND BENEFITS
There were no trustees' remuneration or other benefits for the year ended 31 December 2024 nor for the year ended 31 December 2023.
Trustees' expenses
There were trustees expenses of £1,260 (2023: £2,759) paid for the year ended 31 December 2024.
7. STAFF COSTS
----- Start of picture text -----
||||
|---|---|---|
|2024|2023|
|£|£|
|Wages and salaries|80,871|75,137|
|Social security costs|6,733|5,776|
|Other pension costs|(90,558)|(6,973)|
|(2,954)|73,940|
----- End of picture text -----
There was no remuneration or other benefits paid to the Key Management Personnel during the year ended 31 December 2024 nor for the year ended 31 December 2023.
The average monthly number of employees during the year was as follows:
----- Start of picture text -----
||||
|---|---|---|
|2024|2023|
|Charitable activities|3|3|
----- End of picture text -----
No employees received emoluments in excess of £60,000 in the year ended 31 December 2024 nor in the year ended 31 December 2023.
Pension costs
The total pension credit to the profit and loss account was £100,720 (2023: £20,508).
Previously The English Association operated on the basis that all staff are in academic and comparable roles and as such were enrolled in to the USS pension scheme. As at 25 November 2019, the charity proposed a change in agreement with USS to offer an alternative pension scheme whereby only employees in grade 6 and above will be classed as academic and comparable and therefore future employees in grade 5 and below are no longer eligible for USS membership and will be enrolled in an alternative scheme. There is currently one employee enrolled in NEST.
A deficit recovery plan was put in place as part of the 2020 valuation, which required payment of 6.2% of salaries over the period 1 April 2022 until 31 March 2024, at which point the rate would increase to 6.3%. No deficit recovery plan was required under the 2023 valuation because the scheme was in surplus on a technical provisions basis. The institution was no longer required to make deficit recovery contributions from 1 January 2024 and accordingly released the outstanding provision to the profit and loss account.
continued...
Page 20
THE ENGLISH ASSOCIATION
NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS - continued FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2024
7. STAFF COSTS - continued
The latest available complete actuarial valuation of the Retirement Income Builder from USS is at 31 March 2023 (the valuation date), which was carried out using the projected unit method.
Since the institution cannot identify its share of USS Retirement Income Builder assets and liabilities, the following disclosures reflect those relevant for those assets and liabilities as a whole.
The 2023 valuation was the seventh valuation for the scheme under the scheme-specific funding regime introduced by the Pensions Act 2004, which requires schemes to have sufficient and appropriate assets to cover their technical provisions (the statutory funding objective). At the valuation date, the value of the assets of the scheme was £73.1 billion and the value of the scheme’s technical provisions was £65.7 billion indicating a surplus of £7.4 billion and a funding ratio of 111%.
As the scheme was in surplus as at 31 March 2023, the pension commitments as at 31 December 2024 show a decrease in comparison to 31 December 2023 with a £100,720 change in expected contributions.
8.
| COMPARATIVES FOR THE STATEMENT OF FINANCIAL ACTIVITIES - 31 DECEMBER Unrestricted Restricted fund funds £ £ INCOME AND ENDOWMENTS FROM Donations and legacies 963 - Charitable activities Advancing English 237,092 - Investment income 2,117 - |
COMPARATIVES FOR THE STATEMENT OF FINANCIAL ACTIVITIES - 31 DECEMBER Unrestricted Restricted fund funds £ £ INCOME AND ENDOWMENTS FROM Donations and legacies 963 - Charitable activities Advancing English 237,092 - Investment income 2,117 - |
2023 Total funds £ 963 237,092 2,117 |
|---|---|---|
| Total | 240,172 - |
240,172 |
| EXPENDITURE ON Charitable activities Advancing English |
148,790 120 |
148,910 |
| NET INCOME/(EXPENDITURE) RECONCILIATION OF FUNDS Total funds brought forward |
91,382 (120) 130,381 1,309 |
91,262 131,690 |
| TOTAL FUNDS CARRIED FORWARD | 221,763 1,189 |
222,952 |
continued...
Page 21
THE ENGLISH ASSOCIATION
NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS - continued FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2024
----- Start of picture text -----
9. TANGIBLE FIXED ASSETS
Fixtures
and Office Computer
fittings equipment equipment Totals
£ £ £ £
COST
At 1 January 2024 2,597 3,572 50,837 57,006
Additions - - 1,299 1,299
At 31 December 2024 2,597 3,572 52,136 58,305
DEPRECIATION
At 1 January 2024 2,322 3,448 50,837 56,607
Charge for year 21 48 429 498
At 31 December 2024 2,343 3,496 51,266 57,105
NET BOOK VALUE
At 31 December 2024 254 76 870 1,200
At 31 December 2023 275 124 - 399
10. DEBTORS: AMOUNTS FALLING DUE WITHIN ONE YEAR
2024 2023
£ £
Trade debtors 2,303 -
Prepayments and accrued income 46,498 56,141
48,801 56,141
11. CREDITORS: AMOUNTS FALLING DUE WITHIN ONE YEAR
2024 2023
£ £
Trade creditors 8,014 6,334
Other creditors 23,788 10,939
31,802 17,273
----- End of picture text -----
continued...
Page 22
THE ENGLISH ASSOCIATION
NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS - continued FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2024
12. MOVEMENT IN FUNDS
| Unrestricted funds General fund Restricted funds Beatrice White fund Betty Haigh prize fund TOTAL FUNDS Net movement in funds, included in the above are as follows: Unrestricted funds General fund Restricted funds Betty Haigh prize fund TOTAL FUNDS Comparatives for movement in funds Unrestricted funds General fund Restricted funds Beatrice White fund Betty Haigh prize fund TOTAL FUNDS |
At 1.1.24 £ 221,763 1,099 90 1,189 222,952 Incoming resources £ 230,712 - 230,712 At 1.1.23 £ 130,381 1,199 110 1,309 131,690 |
Net movement At in funds 31.12.24 £ £ 148,419 370,182 - 1,099 (40) 50 (40) 1,149 148,379 371,331 Resources Movement expended in funds £ £ (82,293) 148,419 (40) (40) (82,333) 148,379 Net movement At in funds 31.12.23 £ £ 91,382 221,763 (100) 1,099 (20) 90 (120) 1,189 91,262 222,952 |
|---|---|---|
continued...
Page 23
THE ENGLISH ASSOCIATION
NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS - continued FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2024
12. MOVEMENT IN FUNDS - continued
Comparative net movement in funds, included in the above are as follows:
| Unrestricted funds General fund Restricted funds Beatrice White fund Betty Haigh prize fund TOTAL FUNDS |
Incoming resources £ 240,172 - - - 240,172 |
Resources Movement expended in funds £ £ (148,790) 91,382 (100) (100) (20) (20) (120) (120) (148,910) 91,262 |
|---|---|---|
PROFESSOR BEATRICE WHITE PRIZE FUND
The Professor Beatrice White Fund was established in 1988. The annual prize of £100 is awarded to the outstanding scholarly article in the field of English Literature before 1590, noted in the current volume of The Year's Work in English Studies.
As of 31 December 2024 £200 (2023: £200) of prizes were unpaid relating to the years 2018 and 2019.
BETTY HAIGH FUND
The Betty Haigh Fund was established in 1996 and is used to finance the Betty Haigh Shakespeare Prize Competition, an essay competition open to all A Level students of English Literature.
13. RELATED PARTY DISCLOSURES
There were no related party transactions for the year ended 31 December 2024.
Page 24
THE ENGLISH ASSOCIATION
DETAILED STATEMENT OF FINANCIAL ACTIVITIES FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2024
| INCOME AND ENDOWMENTS Donations and legacies Gifts Investment income Deposit account interest Charitable activities Subscriptions Publications Conference Income Other Total incoming resources EXPENDITURE Charitable activities Wages Social security Pensions Publication costs Events Prizes and awards Support costs Management Office costs Marketing Events Meeting expenses Office equipment depreciation Computer equipment Finance Bank charges Card processing charges Bookkeeping |
2024 £ 1,826 3,185 96,513 119,574 - 9,614 225,701 230,712 80,871 6,733 (90,558) 34,239 12,790 1,525 45,600 18,526 6,396 421 548 69 429 26,389 95 747 3,700 4,542 |
2023 £ 963 2,117 92,552 139,934 2,206 2,400 237,092 240,172 75,137 5,776 (6,973) 35,093 1,929 1,434 112,396 18,721 691 1,664 156 69 231 21,532 47 586 3,879 4,512 |
|---|---|---|
This page does not form part of the statutory financial statements
Page 25
THE ENGLISH ASSOCIATION
DETAILED STATEMENT OF FINANCIAL ACTIVITIES FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2024
| Finance Governance costs Legal and compliance fees Consultancy and advice Independent examiners remuneration Total resources expended Net income |
2024 £ 432 2,580 2,790 5,802 82,333 148,379 |
2023 £ 380 7,384 2,706 10,470 148,910 91,262 |
|---|---|---|
This page does not form part of the statutory financial statements
Page 26