2025-08-31-accounts

Registered number: 07302696 Charity number: 1137481

Lichfield Cathedral School

(A company limited by guarantee)

GOVERNORS' REPORT AND FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 AUGUST 2025

Lichfield Cathedral School

(A company limited by guarantee)

CONTENTS

	Page
Reference and administrative details of the School, its Governors and advisers	1 - 2
Governors' report	3 - 15
Independent auditors' report on the financial statements	16 - 18
Statement of financial activities	19
Balance sheet	20
Statement of cash flows	21
Notes to the financial statements	22 - 38

Lichfield Cathedral School

(A company limited by guarantee)

REFERENCE AND ADMINISTRATIVE DETAILS OF THE SCHOOL, ITS GOVERNORS AND ADVISERS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 AUGUST 2025

Governors	Mr E Lunt BA MA AKC PGCE NPQH ARSM, Acting Chair
	Ms N Dawes OBE
	C M Abbott (appointed 24 June 2025)
	Mrs J Mason ABSM PGCE
	Mr R Oakley
	Mr C Rickart BA PGCE
	Mrs N Roy FCCA
	The Rev'd Canon A Stead MA
	Ms J McFarlane
	Mr J Neville
	Mr J Morris
	Ms C Evans
	Mr D Brown BA ACMA CGMA
	Ms A Smith
Company registered number 07302696 Charity registered number 1137481 Registered office The Palace The Close Lichfield Staffordshire WS13 7HL Head Mrs S E Hannam BA MA PGCE Independent auditors Bates Weston Audit Ltd Statutory Auditors Chartered Accountants The Mills Canal Street Derby DE1 2RJ Bankers Santander Corporate Banking 1 Cornwall Street Birmingham B3 2DX National Westminster Bank Plc 47 Market Street Lichfield Staffordshire WS13 6LE

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Lichfield Cathedral School

(A company limited by guarantee)

REFERENCE AND ADMINISTRATIVE DETAILS OF THE SCHOOL, ITS GOVERNORS AND ADVISERS (CONTINUED) FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 AUGUST 2025

Solicitors Pickerings Solicitors (Tamworth) Limited Etchell House Bonehill Road Tamworth Staffordshire B78 3HQ Insurance Brokers Hettle Andrews & Associates Ltd Eleven Brindley Place Birmingham B1 2LP

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Lichfield Cathedral School

(A company limited by guarantee)

GOVERNORS' REPORT FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 AUGUST 2025

The Governors present their annual report together with the audited financial statements of the School for the year 1 September 2024 to 31 August 2025. The annual report serves the purposes of both a Governors' report and a directors' report under company law. The Governors confirm that the annual report and financial statements of the charitable company comply with the current statutory requirements, the requirements of the charitable company's governing document and the provisions of the Statement of Recommended Practice (SORP) applicable to charities preparing their accounts in accordance with the Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland (FRS102).

The Choristers of Lichfield Cathedral have been provided with an education for many hundreds of years. The school was re-founded in 1942 as an Independent School. A Charity was established in 1981, registered with the Charity Commission under charity number 1078650, however that charity ceased to operate on 5th November 2010 and all the assets and liabilities were transferred into this Charitable Company on that date. The Governors and executive officers of the Charitable Company are listed on page 1 together with particulars of the professional advisers.

Objectives and activities

a. Policies and objectives

Charitable Objects

The Charity's Objects, as set out in its Articles of Association, are:

• To advance education in such ways as the Governors see fit, including in particular by the provision and conduct of a school for boys and girls which shall have a religious character in accordance with the tenets of the Church of England and which shall in particular (but without limitation) provide education for the Choristers of the Cathedral.

• To advance religion through worship according to the rites and ceremonies of the Church of England as offered from time to time in the Cathedral and elsewhere and the participation therein of the Choristers, other pupils at the School, families of the pupils, staff and other persons connected with the School.

• To further religious, educational and other charitable work in accordance with the principles of the Church of England in the diocese of Lichfield and the wider community.

In meeting these Objects, the School aims to create and maintain an educational environment which nurtures, nourishes and stimulates young minds and talents; one where the children may gain a thorough academic foundation and a wealth of experiences and challenges; and one where daily life is conducted according to Christian values. Furthermore, the School aims to provide a secure and ordered framework through which the children may develop their self-esteem and confidence, discover the riches of successful participation and achievement, and develop a spirit of generosity and service to others within the wider community.

Main Objectives

Our objectives are set to reflect our educational aims and the ethos of the School. It is important to us that we enhance the academic success of the School and continue to provide a wide range of co-curricular activities and enrichment opportunities for our pupils.

In the furtherance of these aims and planning our activities, the Governors have given careful consideration to the Charity Commission's public benefit guidance.

Main objectives for the year included:

• To increase pupil recruitment across all year groups, with a specific focus on Pre-School and Sixth Form.

• To improve pupil retention, particularly between Key Stage 2 and 3 and Key Stage 4 and 5.

• To raise achievement and value-added scores across all subjects.

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Lichfield Cathedral School

(A company limited by guarantee)

GOVERNORS' REPORT (CONTINUED) FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 AUGUST 2025

• To continue to improve the School's provision for sport, PE and games.

• To expand the physical space and resources available for learning with particular focus on Sixth Form provision.

• To further extend the co-curricular programme.

• To support all aspects of chorister life for all boy and girl choristers of the School.

• To further develop the programme of performance management and appraisal for all teaching and support staff.

• To extend the School's links with other educational, charitable and commercial organisations.

• To expand the School's musical and other outreach work with primary and secondary schools across the diocese.

• To provide continuing support for pupils already in receipt of fee assistance through bursaries.

• To increase the provision of means-tested bursary support.

• To continue participation in the cultural and social life of Lichfield.

In setting objectives and planning for activities, the Governors have given due consideration to general guidance published by the Charity Commission relating to public benefit, including the guidance 'Public benefit: running a charity (PB2)’

b. Strategies for achieving objectives

The Governors resolved to scrutinise and support the work of the Senior Management and Leadership Groups in shaping the new curriculum, appointing staff, implementing the admissions policy, resourcing and facilitating academic departments, increasing extra-curricular provision and developing links with the wider educational community within clear budgetary guidelines. It was reaffirmed that the appointment of high quality staff in all areas of the School's activities was the key to success.

c. Grant-making policies

The policy of reducing the financial resources provided for awards based on merit (scholarships) and allowing more funds to be provided for the assistance of those in financial need (bursaries) was sustained during the year. With no endowments or restricted funds, the School pays all such awards from income, necessarily requiring in this challenging economic environment that such awards are relatively small, but allowance has been made for the award of a 100% bursary should the appropriate circumstances present themselves.

Achievements and performance

Pupil Numbers and Fees

Recruitment across the school, and particularly into Year 7 was significantly affected by the introduction of VAT on schools fees (as detailed below) and recruitment into early years still showed signs of parents delaying entry to pre-school classes. In September 2024, the academic year began with 529 pupils enrolled, compared to 576 on roll at the end of 2023-2024.

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Lichfield Cathedral School

(A company limited by guarantee)

GOVERNORS' REPORT (CONTINUED) FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 AUGUST 2025

The termly fees for the year before the deduction of any means-tested bursaries and scholarships were increased mid-year due to the unexpected introduction of VAT on school fees in January 2025:

Michaelmas Term		From Lent Term onwards inc VAT
Nursery and Pre-Reception full day	£3,752	Nursery and Pre-Reception full day	£3,752
Reception	£3,752	Reception	£4,459
Years 1 and 2	£3,992	Years 1 and 2	£4,744
Years 3 and 4	£4,593	Years 3 and 4	£5,459
Years 5 and 6	£5,399	Years 5 and 6	£6,417
Years 7 to 9	£5,519	Years 7 to 9	£6,559
Years 10 to 13	£5,880	Years 10 to 13	£6,988

Overview

The most significant factors affecting all independent schools during the 2024-2025 academic year were the introduction of 20% VAT on fees in January 2025, the removal of 80% business rates relief and the increase in employer National Insurance contributions. This triple financial hit resulted in the closure of many smaller, specialised, faith and SEND-focused independent schools, the merger of others, and the movement of an estimated 26,000 pupils from independent schools to the state sector or home schooling by September 2025 (versus the Government estimate of 3,000). At LCS, the first impact was the immediate withdrawal of 10 pupils from planned entry to Year 7 in September 2024. There were other withdrawals by current pupils due to financial concerns, despite the offer of assistance from the school. However, the significant decrease in pupil numbers experienced by some local schools, resulting in their closure, did not affect LCS to the same degree. That is not to say there was no impact on enrolment, more that the impact was contained to specific year groups (e.g. Reception and Year 7), which created particular problems that the school will need to contend with during future years.

At LCS, these unexpected, involuntary financial pressures were compounded by the planned, voluntary purchase of Cathedral House, and the lease and refurbishment of the new performing arts space in Minster Hall. Several years in the planning and execution, securing both of these spaces was vital to the continuing success of the school and its ability to provide appropriate learning environments for students. Whilst many other schools took significant action in the form of staffing cuts to mitigate some of this damage, we believed that making cuts that would be to the detriment of our pupils at precisely the time when parents were being asked to pay 20% more was the wrong decision.

Together, these factors have led to a significant deficit in the year. The Governors are satisfied that this represents an adjustment period and the indications from the start to 2025-26 are very positive for the school with new enrolments at an all time high and a budget showing a significant recovery from the end position of 2024-25. As a result, Governors are confident that their strategy to maintain the highest level of provision possible was the correct path to take.

Academic Performance

The school was delighted with the outstanding GCSE results achieved in the summer of 2025. 30% of all grades were 9-7 (A-A), with 17% of all grades being 9-8 (A-A). 88% of all grades were 9-4 (A*-C) and the 100% pass rate was maintained. Demonstrating the value of a broad curriculum, students gained grade 9s in Art, Biology, Business, Chemistry, Drama, English Language, English Literature, French, German, History, Maths, Further Maths, Physical Education, Physics, and Spanish. There were some remarkable individual achievements, but as a non-selective school, it is particularly rewarding to see students reach and exceed challenging personal goals. An LCS education is fully rounded, with opportunities to develop important skills for life, thus the excellent academic outcomes achieved by our students should be read alongside their wider experience that cannot be captured by a set of results.

Sixth Form students also achieved significant success in A Level and BTEC examinations, with 83% of all

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Lichfield Cathedral School

(A company limited by guarantee)

GOVERNORS' REPORT (CONTINUED) FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 AUGUST 2025

grades being A-C and 24% of all grades A-A. Several students achieved outstanding results with all their grades either A* or A. Destinations included many Russell Group universities and prestigious degree apprenticeships, studying a wide range of academic, creative and vocational subjects, such as medicine, music, aerospace engineering, biochemistry, English literature, equine studies, and law.

As a non-selective school, it is particularly impressive to achieve such excellent public examination results, demonstrating the exceptional quality of teaching, the determination and resilience of students, and the value of high standards in a truly creative, supportive and happy learning environment. Post-result analysis of the A Level results placed LCS in the top 10% of schools nationally for value-added for the second year running - a remarkable achievement.

Co-curricular Programme

Embedded within the curriculum, co-curricular programme, enrichment projects and other School activities (e.g. assemblies, charitable work and services of worship) are creative ways to develop the whole individual, including the ‘soft skills’ of communication, presentation, public speaking, leadership, team working, coaching and mentoring of others, and interpersonal skills. These skills help students to quickly adapt to university life and in the workplace.

Music

Music remains a specialty of the school, with close to 300 individual music lessons taking place each week, along with a wide range of performance opportunities, including weekly lunchtime recitals, large scale concerts, a GCSE and A Level performance recital, a concerto concert, and three performances of the school musical. The School Orchestra and Jazz Band and smaller instrumental ensembles continued to rehearse weekly – Recorchestra, Brasshoppers, Pizzicato Strings, Guitar Ensemble, Stringtacular, Clarinuts, Jazzbytes, Flutata, Feel the Beat and Soul Knights. Choirs included Junior Choir, Harmonics, Sign Language Choir, School Choir, Barbershop and Cantorum.

The Wednesday at 1pm lunchtime recital series provided opportunities for soloists and ensembles to hone their performance skills in front a small audience. Cantorum and Harmonics sang evensong in the Cathedral and St Chad’s Church, as well as compline in the Cathedral alongside the soprano choral scholars. Several choristers took part in the RSCM residential course, expanding their skill set and repertoire while making friends with other choristers from around the country. In the autumn, senior choristers and the choral scholars participated in the RSCM Massed Choirs Festival, and in the spring sang pieces by Elgar, Dyson, Parry, and Mozart at the Organ Proms in Victoria Hall

The busiest times of year for the whole Foundation Choir are always the build-up to Christmas and Holy Week, when in addition to the normal pattern of weekly services, the choristers sing in concerts, carol services and other events across the diocese. Several choristers achieved Bronze and Silver RSCM Awards. In May, the choristers and choral scholars were invited to sing in St Paul’s Cathedral, London, as part of the 370th Festival of Clergy Support Trust, one of the oldest choral music events in the world. Bishop Michael attended the service later wrote his thanks to all involved: "I wanted to say how proud I felt to be Bishop of Lichfield last night at St Paul’s. The choir was magnificent, both in their singing and in their comportment, and I heard many, many appreciative comments from people at the dinner afterwards."

In February, the school staged three performances of Handel’s opera Semele in the new Performing Arts Centre at Minster Hall to great acclaim, with students in the main singing roles and semi-chorus, supported by an orchestra of professional and student musicians and an adult chorus. Students were also involved in the lighting and sound, stage management and videography.

Two Year 11 students launched a Ukelele Club with members of the Lichfield Friends 2 Friends group, a charity that supports adults with learning disabilities, other vulnerable adults, and their carers. A Year 8 chorister saw his original composition performed by the choral scholars at Compline, and had a lesson with world-renowned

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Lichfield Cathedral School

(A company limited by guarantee)

GOVERNORS' REPORT (CONTINUED) FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 AUGUST 2025

conductor John Lubbock OBE in Oxford, including the pupil conducting the Orchestra of St John’s Smith Square (commonly known as OSJ). Three pupils from Years 6 and 8 took part in the Cambridge Organ Experience involving Anna Lapwood, a private visit to King’s College Chapel, and a recital by Anna in Selwyn College Chapel.

Significant successes were achieved in ABRSM, Trinity, and Rockschool music exams, with examiners praising students’ musicality, preparation, and poise under pressure. A 100% pass rate across the boards was a testament to the hard work and commitment of the school’s young musicians. Nearly 50% of ABRSM and Trinity entries were awarded Merit and more than 25% achieved the top grade of Distinction.

Drama and Art

The school was delighted to achieve Artsmark Gold in November 2024, the creative quality standard for schools, accredited by Arts Council England. Headteacher Sue Hannam noted: “Our Artsmark journey has transformed our school by enabling us to fully understand how arts and culture are interwoven throughout the fabric of school life, and just how much joy and creativity they inspire.” Pre-Reception children enjoyed making decorations for the LCS entry in the Cathedral’s Christmas Tree Festival.

Drama remains extremely popular with pupils and everyone has the opportunity to take part in at least one performance. There were several small-scale productions by year groups prepared during curriculum lessons, such as the Year 2 production of Jonah and the Whale; the Year 3 production of a play about the life of Churchill, constructed around the idea of an appearance on Desert Island Discs, which they performed for their parents; and Year 4’s fantastic production of Shakespeare’s A Midsummer Night’s Dream that wowed their parents. A whole school production of the musical Back to the 80s took place in October at the Rose Theatre, Rugeley, a professional 160 seat venue. One hundred pupils took part in three performances on stage, in the band, backstage and in the lighting and sound gallery.

Of the 115 LAMDA examinations that were taken during the year by pupils in Years 2-13, every result across the whole school achieved either a Merit (24% of grades) or Distinction (74% of grades). A significant number of senior students excelled in Acting, Reading for Performance, and Public Speaking, achieving 11 Distinctions and 9 Merits at Gold, Silver and Bronze Medal grades (awarding students between 12 and 30 UCAS points each). Several students achieved 60 UCAS points each, with one student achieving a perfect 100% score in the Gold Medal Public Speaking examination, a rare accomplishment.

Pupils were able to enjoy professional theatrical productions, such as Year 4 visiting Stratford to see Shakespeare’s Twelfth Night and Pre-Reception watching Room on the Broom by Julia Donaldson performed by Tall Stories at the Tamworth Assembly Rooms. Drama Scholars and Ambassadors were involved in workshops at the Garrick Theatre and performed as part of the Ignite Festival. One Year 12 student had a lead role in the Lichfield Musical Youth Theatre production of Evita.

Sport

Sport for enjoyment and fitness forms a central part of the curriculum for all age groups and the co-curricular programme. Students benefit from the use of facilities within the school and professional facilities in the local area that enable them to take part in football, rugby, tennis, hockey, table tennis, cricket, netball, badminton, swimming, squash, gymnastics and athletics.

The Early Years, Junior and Senior Sports Days were enjoyed by pupils and parents alike. Senior PE students visited St George’s Park to experience the sophisticated facilities that support elite athletes. The Junior and Senior Sports Awards Evenings saw guest speakers Laura Sugar MBE (para-canoeing) and Sarah-Jane Perry (squash) deliver personal and inspirational talks to pupils, staff and parents, before pupils were awarded full and half sporting colours. A group of 25 Year 8 pupils took part in a sport residential weekend at Condover Hall, including football and netball tournaments, plus team-building activities such as rock climbing, abseiling and archery. The netball team secured the Plate Winner’s title, with one pupil named Player of the Tournament.

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Lichfield Cathedral School (A company limited by guarantee)

GOVERNORS' REPORT (CONTINUED) FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 AUGUST 2025

Pupils were encouraged to try new sports during PE lessons, including laser target shooting.

A series of successful cross country fixtures and competitions saw three LCS students selected for the Staffordshire Schools County Cross Country team at an inter-county competition. The U14 Girls’ Hockey team were runners up in Staffordshire County Championship, while the girls also won the ISA 7-a-side Hockey Tournament in Warwick. LCS became the Staffordshire Schools U15 Rugby 7s Champions. At the Vodaphone Play Your Way to Wimbledon Boys’ Singles event, all 4 semi-finalists were LCS pupils, with one pupil becoming the 2025 Boys’ Singles Champion and earning a place in the County Finals. LCS hosted the Tri-Golf Festival involving 5 local primary schools, with event organisation and management undertaken by Year 9 LCS students.

Significant success was achieved in athletics. At the Year 7 & 8 Cannock and District Athletics Competition, LCS pupils achieved six 1st places (shot put, long jump, hurdles, 800m, 1500m, and high jump) and fifteen podium places. The Year 8 girls’ team placed 1st. At the Year 9 & 10 Cannock and District Athletics Competition, LCS pupils achieved seven 1st places (javelin, discus, and high jump) and fifteen podium places. The Year 9 girls’ team placed first. At the Staffordshire Schools Combined Event, two Year 9 boys achieved Silver and Bronze overall. Eight LCS pupils were selected to represent Cannock and District Athletics at the Staffordshire Schools County Athletics Championships. At the Independent Schools Midlands Regional Athletics competition, LCS pupils achieved 26 medals and placed 3rd out of 24 schools overall. At the Staffordshire Schools County Athletics Championships in Stoke, one pupil achieved Gold in the U15 boys’ hammer. At the ISA National Athletics Finals, LCS pupils won 6 medals, doubling last year’s achievement.

There were some outstanding individual achievements, notably:

• A Year 8 pupil placed 2nd in pole vault at the National Indoor Athletics Championships in Sheffield, achieving a fantastic personal best of 3m 8cm, while being a year younger than the other competitors in her age group. She is now ranked 2nd in the UK in the U15 category. She also won Gold at the Staffordshire Schools County Athletics Championships, setting a new Championship record.

• A Year 9 student was selected by the British Judo Council to take part in the Irish Open and won Gold.

• A Year 8 pupil was runner up in the British Theatre Dance Association finals.

• A Year 10 student was selected for the British Eventing Talent Pathway.

• A Year 4 pupil was selected for the Lawn Tennis Association’s regional performance tennis camp in Nottingham, as part of the national pathway programme.

• A Year 10 student achieved Black Belt in Tae Kwon Do.

• A Year 10 student successfully qualified for the National Schools Equestrian Association Eventers’ Challenge at Hickstead.

• A Year 8 pupil qualified for the ISA National Cross Country Championships and the English Schools National Cross Country Championships.

• A Year 4 footballer was invited to join Derby County’s Emerging Talent Centre.

• A Year 7 pupil achieved 1st Dahn black belt in Kuk Sool Won and secured 4 silver medals at the European Championships.

Careers education

Careers continued through Personal, Social and Health Education lessons and a series of in-school and external events, such as guest speakers talking about routes into law, medicine and creative arts; the National Apprenticeship Show and the national What University? What Career? Show at the NEC. Year 11 students benefited from mock interviews with Bridge Builders, a network of volunteer professionals. A group of Year 8-12 girls took part in an exciting Female Lead event called Inspiring Careers of the Future at Amazon HQ in London. The event was dedicated to showcasing diverse career paths and empowering young women and featured an incredible line-up of speakers, including award-winning sports presenters, photographers, doctors and tech leaders, who shared their journeys and advice. The Managing Director of a digital marketing company worked with Year 12 Business Studies students to understand how theory is applied in real world campaigns.

Pupils and students used Morrisby, an online career education and planning tool for pupils that can be accessed

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Lichfield Cathedral School

(A company limited by guarantee)

GOVERNORS' REPORT (CONTINUED) FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 AUGUST 2025

at any time. In March, LCS hosted a careers fair at the Lichfield Guildhall for Year 9-12 students from local schools, featuring 21 employers and 4 universities. Nearly 300 students from LCS and neighbouring schools took part and feedback from the stall holders was extremely positive. Senior students were able to benefit from a range of virtual careers events offered by Lloyds’ Bank, St James’s Place and KPMG, for example.

Enrichment activities and personal development

Educational trips and visits followed their usual pattern during the academic year, with trips including residential trips for Year 3 to Ilam in Derbyshire; Year 6 (outward bound centre); Year 9 to Dearne Valley featuring multiple outdoor team-building activities; and Year 7 to York to focus on team-building as many new pupils had joined at the start of the year. Forty-four pupils from Years 7 and 8 undertook a four-day trip to northern France which included staying in a chateau, visiting an outdoor activity centre and a theme park, a scavenger hunt, a visit to a snail farm and time to explore a local village. Year 11-13 physicists visited CERN in Switzerland, while senior biologists completed a three-day residential course at FSC Margam in South Wales, researching succession across sand dunes; the effect of wave exposure on limpet size on a rocky shore; the effect of abiotic factors on the distribution of top shell snails; and the effect of water velocity on biodiversity in a local stream. A large group of students visited the Alpendorf Ski Resort in Austria for the annual ski trip.

Day trips included Year 1 pupils scaling the battlements of Tamworth Castle, and they were joined by Year 2 pupils to meet exotic animals such as a hissing cockroach, geckos, lesser tenrecs, pythons, owls and a skunk, cementing learning they had undertaken in Science and English lessons. Year 2 visited Blists Hill to transform into Victorians for the day, while Year 3 became Romans for a day and later visited Staffordshire Regiment Museum to learn about Anderson shelters, air raids and rationing, while Year 4 pupils enjoyed an Anglo-Saxon day and became Ancient Egyptians. Year 4 also visited the National Justice Museum, developing their understanding of history topic ‘crime through the ages’. A group of Year 7 and 8 pupils took part in the Young Teen Fiction Awards at RAF Cosford; while A Level Philosophy, Ethics and Theology students learned from renowned philosopher and theologian Dr Peter Vardy at the Candle Conference in Coventry Cathedral.

A wide range of educational and social activities took place around specific days, such as the European Day of Languages, World Book Day, Holocaust Memorial Day, Burns’ Night, Chinese New Year, Pi Day, Black History Month and Diversity Awareness Week. Tamworth-based poet Daniel Thompson hosted creative workshops for Reception to Year 6 children, while poet Brenda Read-Brown, worked with pupils in Years 7 to celebrate National Poetry Day. On St Chad’s Day, pupils from Years 5-7 completed a procession from St Chad’s Shrine in the Cathedral to the well at St Chad’s Church.

Leadership achievements included several pupils becoming Library Champions; a group of Year 7 pupils becoming buddies to Year 6 pupils, helping them prepare for the transition to secondary education; and Year 8 pupils developing their mentoring skills working with Year 2 pupils to improve Maths capabilities.

A Year 2 pupil was recognised for his efforts to improve child literacy by being named as this year's youngest recipient of the British Citizen Youth Award, Medal of Honour. The pupil was invited to receive the award at the House of Lords by Baroness Caroline Cox of Queensbury, and it was presented to him by Dame Mary Perkins, founder of Specsavers.

British Science Week was celebrated at the Longdon site with a focus on the work of different scientists and their discoveries, with hands-on workshops on gravitational forces (Sir Isaac Newton), space (Mae Jemison), materials (Ole Kirk Christiansen), liquid densities (Archimedes), fossils (Mary Anning), and genetic mutation (Charles Darwin). A STEM Challenge saw Year 5 pupils working with Year 3 to complete a series of activities based on improving problem-solving, engineering and computer coding skills, while Year 10 linguists participated in the online National Language Competition organised by GCHQ, which included some challenging code breaking. Year 8 pupils visited Aston University for a STEM Challenge Day including E-Fit profiling, robotics programming, a medical diagnostics activity, and a vehicle design and engineering activity. Year 4 visited the Thinktank Museum in Birmingham for a materials workshop and the ‘Earth and Beyond’ show in the planetarium.

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Lichfield Cathedral School

(A company limited by guarantee)

GOVERNORS' REPORT (CONTINUED) FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 AUGUST 2025

A popular new afterschool club was launched for pupils and parents – Stargazing. Held in the evening during the late autumn and winter months, this club benefits from telescopes provided by the parent-teacher association, The Friends of LCS.

Students undertaking the Bronze, Silver and Gold Duke of Edinburgh Award completed their expeditions. Forest School lessons ensured pupils continued to develop useful outdoor skills, whilst building self-confidence, resilience and an appreciation of the natural environment. Forest School pupils from Years 5 to 8 contributed to the Churches Count on Nature initiative to count the native flora and fauna found in churchyards across the nation, with the results accessible to those interested across the world.

Competition successes

The primary children continued their success in the national Times Tables Rock Stars competitions, in which schools and individual pupils compete to answer correctly as many maths questions as they can within a given time limit. In the all-through schools category, LCS placed 2nd in England, while one Year 5 pupil achieved 1st place out of 7,172 pupils, and Class 5C placed 1st out of 735 similar classes.

Two Year 12 students won two of the four awards available at the ISA National Public Speaking Competition 2025 at Cambridge University, with one placed 2nd overall and the other winning the Judges’ Award for Outstanding Reasoning and Evidence. One of the Year 12 students also achieved 3rd place in the Historical Association Great Debate, a national public speaking competition, by talking passionately and brilliantly about Francis Barber.

A Year 4 pupil won a world-wide poetry competition run by renowned children’s brand Forivor. A Year 7 pupil achieved a Commendation in the Anthea Bell Prize for Young Translators, a national competition run by the University of Oxford, for his English translation of a French poem. A Year 5 pupil was awarded 3rd place in the Classical Association’s national Mythology competition for her imaginative animation of The Trojan Horse story.

Improving the parent experience

A number of initiatives were introduced this year with the aim of improving the parent experience, ranging from workshops to help with managing exam preparation and stress, to the introduction of an online booking system for pupils using the school’s minibus service in the morning and/or afternoon. By partnering with Vectare, the school’s transport service now includes real-time seat availability and booking, the ability to track a minibus, and an online payment system.

After several years of being delivered by an external provider, the school took its wraparound care back inhouse, providing both breakfast club and afterschool club for children based at the Longdon campus. This also enabled the introduction of extended weeks of Holiday Club during half term, plus Christmas, Easter, and summer holidays for pupils in Nursery to Year 6.

Supporting mental health

A considerable amount of time by the Wellbeing Co-ordinator and other pastoral staff was spent supporting the mental health of pupils, ranging from individual sessions to PSHE lessons and topic-based work. Parents were provided with regular and detailed advice on how to protect their children online and support their general mental health. Staff were able to book confidential sessions with a professional counsellor.

Details of bursary and scholarship awards

Bursaries

This year the value of means-tested bursaries totalled £441,065 and represented 5.3% of our gross fees and provided assistance to 52 of our pupils.

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Lichfield Cathedral School (A company limited by guarantee)

GOVERNORS' REPORT (CONTINUED) FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 AUGUST 2025

The school has supported 4 pupils and students from Ukraine on large bursaries (up to 100%) to ensure their education can be continued, and to provide them with support for language learning.

Scholarships

In addition, the School awarded scholarships to 150 pupils, based on their educational merit and potential, totalling £276,472 and representing 5.03% of our gross fees. Of this number, 13 qualified for means-tested bursary support and are included in the figures relating to bursary awards. The progress of pupils receiving scholarships is reviewed at least annually to ensure their progress is in line with their abilities. No scholarships were withdrawn in the year as a result of reviews.

Service to the Community

Fundraising

A large amount of fundraising was undertaken throughout the year on behalf of several regularly-supported charities including the Royal British Legion; more than £4,300 raised for BBC’s Children in Need; Children’s Air Ambulance; Comic Relief; Staffordshire Search and Rescue; the Sebbie Hall Kindness Foundation; Asthma + Lung; Alzheimer’s Society; MIND; St Giles Hospice; the NSPCC; Cancer Research; the Retired Greyhound Trust; and the Guide Dogs Association. Operation Christmas Child saw 66 boxes fill with gifts, toys, books and stationery donated by Longdon families and staff, along with nearly £400 to cover shipping costs.

In addition, the school collected food for the Lichfield and Rugeley Foodbanks, as well as food and Christmas gifts for Helping Each Other Lichfield and Surrounding Areas. The Longdon pupils continued their close links with the We Love Lichfield charitable organisation, by raising funds through carol singing.

Music outreach

Music outreach activities enable the School to share its expertise with local schools and encourage children from across the region to engage with new forms of making music. The School’s award-winning MusicShare programme, which is supported by Lichfield Cathedral, Entrust (Staffordshire’s Music Service), the Music Partnership and the Arts Council, has continued to grow and reach more children across the Midlands. When it started, MusicShare worked with 3 schools per term, now it works with 150 schools per year in core projects and one-off workshops and has positively impacted the lives of 30,000+ children.

MusicShare offers a weekly parent and toddler music group Mini Voices for the under 5s - these valuable sessions enable children to build confidence and social skills, as well as developing the early phonics building blocks for literacy and numeracy. There are four weekly community choirs - Young Voices (ages 6-11), Youth Voices (ages 12-18), Ladies Who Lark (age 18+) and Ukrainian Voices – who work towards regular performances in Lichfield and beyond. MusicShare also provides a range of CPD training videos for nonspecialist teachers, and delivered a considerable number of live online training sessions, along with access to a wealth of new (royalty-free) songs for all key stages, complete with a full set of teaching videos, sheet music and lyrics, plus backing and performance tracks for schools to access free of charge.

The school has established a relationship with the local dementia charity, with Year 5 and 6 pupils supporting the dementia-friendly services in Lichfield Cathedral. Year 2 once again visited Bowbrook Care Home to sing Christmas carols for the residents.

Access to facilities and expertise

The school offered two free parent and toddler groups to the community: Toddler Rhyme Time on Tuesdays each week during term time and Forest Tots, a weekly outdoor session for under 5s and their parents learning about the natural environment on Fridays. Practical activities stimulate creative thinking, problem-solving and

Page 11

Lichfield Cathedral School

(A company limited by guarantee)

GOVERNORS' REPORT (CONTINUED) FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 AUGUST 2025

skill development, while fostering confidence, learning to co-operate and how to identify and manage risk. In addition, free Saturday workshops focused on STEM, creative, cooking and outdoor subjects were offered to children under 5 years of age.

A one-day singing workshop was held in conjunction with Lichfield Cathedral for children aged 6-11 years, introducing them to choral singing, good vocal health and the joy of performing in a choir. All vocal tuition (provided by highly qualified and experienced teachers), lunch, refreshments and activities were provided free of charge for around 60 children. The School continued to open its doors free of charge to community groups, such as providing venues for performance and fundraising dinners for the Lichfield Festival; The Johnson Society who hold their monthly meetings at the school; and The Guild of Stewards of Lichfield Cathedral to host dinners and social events at the School.

Volunteers

The School is fortunate to have a dedicated, experienced Board of Governors who have given their time and talents to the governance of the School during this academic year.

The Friends of the Cathedral School is run by a committee of highly enthusiastic and dedicated parents. Their principal twin aims are to provide good quality social events throughout the year for parents and pupils to enjoy, whilst also raising funds for the School in order to provide items that might not otherwise be afforded. Their policy for the allocation of funds is to provide for special items that would not naturally fall within the school’s budget, and to ensure that all children in the school, throughout the age range, benefit from the projects supported. The Friends hosted in-person events including a Bonfire Night, Christmas Fayre, film nights, discos and an Easter treasure hunt for the children, plus a Summer Ball for parents. In addition, the Friends continue to provide the school’s second-hand uniform shop. All proceeds were spent on projects that benefit pupils.

The Governors and Senior Leadership Team greatly appreciate the valuable contribution of all volunteers.

Sustainability

All activities of the Governing Body during the year have been dedicated to the sustainment, improvement and general development of a school which provides an education for a broader range of boys and girls aged 2 to 18, in particular the Cathedral choristers, within the context of its Christian ethos. The Governing Body expanded its number to broaden the representation of skills and experience, and will continue to fill any identified gaps.

Financial review

a. Going concern

The Governors assess whether the use of going concern is appropriate, that is, whether there are any material uncertainties related to events or conditions that may cast significant doubt on the ability of the school to continue as a going concern. The Governors make this assessment in respect of a period of at least one year from the date of authorisation for issue of the financial statements and have concluded that the school has adequate resources to continue as a going concern, thus they continue to adopt the going concern basis of accounting in preparing the financial statements.

The Governors have prepared cashflow forecasts and projections. These show that the school should be able to operate within the level of its current facility.

b. Reserves policy

The Governors have established a policy whereby the unrestricted funds held by the School should be enough to cover one school term of expenditure. At this level the Governors feel that they would be able to continue the current activities of the School. At 31 August 2025 the unrestricted free reserves of the School were in deficit by

Page 12

Lichfield Cathedral School

(A company limited by guarantee)

GOVERNORS' REPORT (CONTINUED) FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 AUGUST 2025

£3,362,232. The charity restricted funds are represented by fixed assets and current assets. The purposes of these funds are detailed in note 15 to the accounts.

c. Risk management objectives and policies

The Governors are responsible for the management of risks faced by the School. Detailed considerations of financial risk are undertaken by the Finance and General Purposes Committee, and that of children's welfare and workplace risk by the School's Health and Safety Committee which in turn reports to the Finance and General Purposes Committee. Risks are identified and assessed, and controls established, throughout the year. In all specialised areas, relevant qualified and experienced experts are employed to give advice. A formal financial audit by an external body is carried out each year and their report is considered by the Governors. The Charitable Company adopts a system of formal agendas and minutes for all committee and full meetings, as well as comprehensive strategic planning, budgeting and management accounting, clear organisational structure and lines of reporting, formal written policies, clear authorisation and approval systems, and vetting procedures as required by law for the protection of the vulnerable. Through the risk management processes established for the School, the Governors are satisfied that the major risks identified have been adequately mitigated.

d. Financial review

The accounting year of the Charitable Company has resulted in a deficit of funds for the year of £397,628.

The principal financial management policies adopted include:

• the production of regular termly management accounts which are scrutinised by the Finance and General Purposes Committee;

• the preparation of detailed annual budgets which include comparison to actual performance;

• a detailed audit carried out by a firm of Chartered Accountants who report their findings direct to the Governors at a formal Governors meeting;

• regular meetings between the Chair of the Finance and General Purposes Committee and the Director of Finance;

• the authorisation of all expenditure by either the Head Teacher or the Director of Finance; and

• regular weekly meetings between the Head Teacher and the Director of Finance.

Structure, governance and management

a. Constitution

Lichfield Cathedral School is registered as a charitable company limited by guarantee and was set up by a Memorandum of Association on 2 July 2010.

b. Methods of appointment or election of Governors

The management of the School is the responsibility of the Governors who are elected and co-opted under the terms of the Memorandum of Association.

c. Organisational structure and decision-making policies

The day to day running of the School is delegated to the Head Teacher and Senior Management Team. The Head Teacher attends all meetings of Governors.

The board of Governors meet at least once each term. It has two working committees: Finance and General Purposes and Education. Each committee meets formally every term in advance of the full governing body meeting, and holds further meetings as necessary.

Page 13

Lichfield Cathedral School

(A company limited by guarantee)

GOVERNORS' REPORT (CONTINUED) FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 AUGUST 2025

d. Policies adopted for the induction and training of Governors

The board of Governors consists of up to fifteen individuals, up to five are nominated by the Chapter of Lichfield Cathedral and of such five, at least two shall be members of Chapter; up to ten are nominated by the Governors. At the end of the last meeting of each academic year, the Governors appoint one of their number to act as Chairman to chair the meetings until the last meeting of the following academic year. The Governors may revoke at any time any such appointment.

All new Governors are inducted into the workings of the Charitable Company by the Head Teacher and the Clerk to Govenors. All Governors are welcome to visit the School and training is available through AGBIS and other organisations, as required.

e. Governors' indemnities

The School has taken out Professional Indemnity/Governors Liability insurance as part of the public liability policy. The insurance provides cover up to £2,000,000 (2024 - £2,000,000).

Funds held as custodian trustee on behalf of others

The School collects payments through our fee billing process on behalf of our Visiting Music Teachers and Peripatetic LAMDA staff which are passed on in their entirety to these staff. This means that the school acts as an agent and holds these funds as a Custodian Trustee before they are paid across.

Plans for future periods

In addition to continuing to meet the primary objectives of the School as itemised above, the key objectives for the next five years are to:

1. the quality of systems of governance and strengthen the accountability of management;

2. achieve the highest standards of learning throughout the School, particularly in preparation for public examinations;

3. ensure that the curriculum from Pre-school to Year 13 is balanced and effective;

4. continue the development of the Sixth Form by increasing the pupil numbers;

5. continue to develop a realistic longer term business strategy, which includes the improvement of the facilities at the School;

6. foster the relationship of the boy and girl choristers to the Cathedral Foundation;

7. continue to develop inspirational opportunities both within and beyond the curriculum including partnerships with the wider educational and Christian community.

Members' liability

The Members of the School guarantee to contribute an amount not exceeding £10 to the assets of the School in the event of winding up.

Statement of Governors' responsibilities

The Governors (who are also the directors of the School for the purposes of company law) are responsible for preparing the Governors' report including the strategic report 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. Under company law, the Governors must not approve the financial statements unless they are satisfied that they give a true and fair view of the state of affairs of the School and of its incoming resources and application of resources, including

Page 14

Lichfield Cathedral School

(A company limited by guarantee)

GOVERNORS' REPORT (CONTINUED) FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 AUGUST 2025

its income and expenditure, for that period, In preparing these financial statements, the Governors are required to:

• select suitable accounting policies and then apply them consistently;

• observe the methods and principles of the Charities SORP (FRS 102);

• make judgements and accounting estimates that are reasonable and prudent;

• state whether applicable UK Accounting Standards (FRS 102) have been followed, subject to any material departures disclosed and explained in the financial statements;

• prepare the financial statements on the going concern basis unless it is inappropriate to presume that the School will continue in business.

The Governors are responsible for keeping adequate accounting records that are sufficient to show and explain the School's transactions and disclose with reasonable accuracy at any time the financial position of the School 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 School and hence for taking reasonable steps for the prevention and detection of fraud and other irregularities.

Disclosure of information to auditor

Each of the persons who are Governors at the time when this Governors' report is approved has confirmed that:

• so far as that Governor is aware, there is no relevant audit information of which the charity's auditor is unaware, and

• that Governor has taken all the steps that ought to have been taken as a Governor in order to be aware of any relevant audit information and to establish that the charity's auditor is aware of that information.

Approved by order of the members of the board of Governors and signed on their behalf by:

Ms N Dawes OBE

Date: 29 April 2026

Page 15

(A company limited by guarantee)

Lichfield Cathedral School

INDEPENDENT AUDITORS' REPORT TO THE MEMBERS OF LICHFIELD CATHEDRAL SCHOOL

Opinion

We have audited the financial statements of Lichfield Cathedral School (the 'school') for the year ended 31 August 2025 which comprise the Statement of financial activities, the Balance sheet, the Statement of cash flows and the related notes, 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:

• 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 year then ended;

• have been properly prepared in accordance with United Kingdom Generally Accepted Accounting Practice; and

• have been prepared in accordance with the requirements of the 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 Auditors' 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 United Kingdom, including the Financial Reporting Council'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 Governors' 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 Governors with respect to going concern are described in the relevant sections of this report.

Other information

The other information comprises the information included in the Annual report other than the financial statements and our Auditors' report thereon. The Governors are responsible for the other information contained within the Annual report. 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. 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 course of the audit, or otherwise appears to be materially misstated. If we identify such material inconsistencies or apparent material misstatements, we are required to determine whether this gives rise to a material misstatement in the financial statements themselves. If, based on the work we have performed, we conclude that there is a material misstatement of this other information, we are required to report that fact.

We have nothing to report in this regard.

Page 16

Lichfield Cathedral School

(A company limited by guarantee)

INDEPENDENT AUDITORS' REPORT TO THE MEMBERS OF LICHFIELD CATHEDRAL SCHOOL (CONTINUED)

Opinion on other matters prescribed by the Companies Act 2006

In our opinion, based on the work undertaken in the course of the audit:

• the information given in the Governors' report including the Strategic report for the financial year for which the financial statements are prepared is consistent with the financial statements.

• the Governors' report and the Strategic 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 Governors' report including the Strategic report.

We have nothing to report in respect of the following matters in relation to which Companies Act 2006 requires us to report to you if, in our opinion:

• adequate accounting records have not been kept, or returns adequate for our audit have not been received from branches not visited by us; or

• the financial statements are not in agreement with the accounting records and returns; or

• certain disclosures of Governors' remuneration specified by law are not made; or

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

Responsibilities of trustees

As explained more fully in the Governors' responsibilities statement, 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.

Auditors' 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 Auditors' 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.

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

Based on our understanding of the charity and sector in which it operates, we considered those laws and regulations that have a direct impact on the preparation of the financial statements such as the Companies Act 2006. Audit procedures performed by the engagement team included:

• Enquiry of management around actual and potential litigation and claims;

Page 17

Lichfield Cathedral School

(A company limited by guarantee)

INDEPENDENT AUDITORS' REPORT TO THE MEMBERS OF LICHFIELD CATHEDRAL SCHOOL (CONTINUED)

• Reviewing financial statement disclosures and testing to supporting documentation to assess compliance with applicable laws and regulations;

• Performing audit work over the risk of management override of controls, including testing of journal entries and other adjustments for appropriateness, evaluating the business rationale of significant transactions outside the normal course of business and reviewing accounting estimates for bias.

Because of the inherent limitations of an audit, there is a risk that we will not detect all irregularities, including those leading to a material misstatement in the financial statements or non-compliance with regulation. This risk increases the more that compliance with a law or regulation is removed from the events and transactions reflected in the financial statements, as we will be less likely to become aware of instances of non-compliance. The risk is also greater regarding irregularities occurring due to fraud rather than error, as fraud involves intentional concealment, forgery, collusion, omission or misrepresentation.

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 Auditors' report.

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 Auditors' 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 its members, as a body, for our audit work, for this report, or for the opinions we have formed.

Wayne Thomas FCA (Senior Statutory Auditor)

for and on behalf of

Bates Weston Audit Ltd

Statutory Auditors Chartered Accountants The Mills Canal Street Derby DE1 2RJ

13 May 2026

Page 18

Lichfield Cathedral School

(A company limited by guarantee)

STATEMENT OF FINANCIAL ACTIVITIES (INCORPORATING INCOME AND EXPENDITURE ACCOUNT) FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 AUGUST 2025

Note Income from: Donations and legacies 2 Charitable activities 3 Investments Total income Expenditure on: Charitable activities 4 Total expenditure Net movement in funds Reconciliation of funds: Total funds brought forward Net movement in funds Total funds carried forward	Restricted funds 2025 £ 10,471 34,226 - 44,697 59,025 59,025 (14,328) 120,700 (14,328) 106,372	Unrestricted funds 2025 £ - 7,810,021 81,960 7,891,981 8,275,281 8,275,281 (383,300) 2,320,882 (383,300) 1,937,582	Total funds 2025 £ 10,471 7,844,247 81,960 7,936,678 8,334,306 8,334,306 (397,628) 2,441,582 (397,628) 2,043,954	As restated Total funds 2024 £ 24,316 7,898,180 82,182
				8,004,678
				7,630,269
				7,630,269
				374,409
				2,067,173 374,409
				2,441,582

The Statement of financial activities includes all gains and losses recognised in the year.

The notes on pages 22 to 38 form part of these financial statements.

Page 19

Lichfield Cathedral School (A company limited by guarantee) REGISTERED NUMBER: 07302696

BALANCE SHEET AS AT 31 AUGUST 2025

Note Fixed assets Tangible assets 9 Current assets Debtors 10 Cash at bank and in hand Creditors: amounts falling due within one year 11 Net current liabilities / assets Total assets less current liabilities Creditors: amounts falling due after more than one year 12 Total net assets Charity funds Restricted funds 15 Unrestricted funds 15 Total funds	2,431,238 981,993 3,413,231 (3,972,640)	2025 £ 5,314,878 5,314,878 (559,409) 4,755,469 (2,711,515) 2,043,954 106,372 1,937,582 2,043,954	2,204,299 2,976,757 5,181,056 (3,987,156)	2024 £ 2,638,552 2,638,552 1,193,900 3,832,452 (1,390,870) 2,441,582 120,700 2,320,882 2,441,582

The Governors acknowledge their responsibilities for complying with the requirements of the Act with respect to accounting records and preparation of financial statements.

The financial statements were approved and authorised for issue by the Governors and signed on their behalf by:

Ms N Dawes OBE

Date: 29 April 2026

The notes on pages 22 to 38 form part of these financial statements.

Page 20

Lichfield Cathedral School

(A company limited by guarantee)

STATEMENT OF CASH FLOWS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 AUGUST 2025

Note Cash flows from operating activities Net cash used in operating activities 18 Cash flows from investing activities Proceeds from the sale of tangible fixed assets Purchase of tangible fixed assets 9 Investment income Net cash used in investing activities Cash flows from financing activities Cash inflows from new borrowing Repayments of borrowing Bank and loan interest paid Net cash provided by/(used in) financing activities Change in cash and cash equivalents in the year Cash and cash equivalents at the beginning of the year Cash and cash equivalents at the end of the year 19 The notes on pages 22 to 38 form part of these financial statements	2025 £ (716,743) 6,600 (2,839,319) 81,960 (2,750,759) 1,800,000 (158,400) (168,862) 1,472,738 (1,994,764) 2,976,757 981,993	2024 £ 1,506,751 - (435,386) 82,182 (353,204) - (95,328) (60,436) (155,764) 997,783 1,978,974 2,976,757

Page 21

Lichfield Cathedral School

(A company limited by guarantee)

NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 AUGUST 2025

1. Accounting policies

1.1 Basis of preparation of financial statements

The financial statements 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), the Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland (FRS 102) and the Companies Act 2006.

Lichfield Cathedral School meets the definition of a public benefit entity under FRS 102. Assets and liabilities are initially recognised at historical cost or transaction value unless otherwise stated in the relevant accounting policy.

1.2 Income

All income is recognised once the School has entitlement to the income, it is probable that the income will be received and the amount of income receivable can be measured reliably.

For donations to be recognised the School will have been notified of the amounts and the settlement date in writing. If there are conditions attached to the donation and this requires a level of performance before entitlement can be obtained then income is deferred until those conditions are fully met or the fulfilment of those conditions is within the control of the School and it is probable that they will be fulfilled.

Investment income is earned through holding assets for investment purposes such as shares and property. It includes dividends, interest and rent. Where it is not practicable to identify investment management costs incurred within a scheme with reasonable accuracy the investment income is reported net of these costs. Investment management costs are included when the amount can be measured reliably. Interest income is recognised using the effective interest method and dividend and rent income is recognised as the School's right to receive payment is established.

Income tax recoverable in relation to investment income is recognised at the time the investment income is receivable.

1.3 Expenditure

Expenditure is recognised once there is a legal or constructive obligation to transfer economic benefit to a third party, it is probable that a transfer of economic benefits will be required in settlement and the amount of the obligation can be measured reliably. Expenditure is classified by activity. The costs of each activity are made up of the total of direct costs and shared costs, including support costs involved in undertaking each activity. Direct costs attributable to a single activity are allocated directly to that activity. Shared costs which contribute to more than one activity and support costs which are not attributable to a single activity are apportioned between those activities on a basis consistent with the use of resources.

Expenditure on charitable activities is incurred on directly undertaking the activities which further the School's objectives, as well as any associated support costs.

All expenditure is inclusive of irrecoverable VAT.

Page 22

Lichfield Cathedral School

(A company limited by guarantee)

NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 AUGUST 2025

1. Accounting policies (continued)

1.4 Taxation

The School is considered to pass the tests set out in Paragraph 1 Schedule 6 of the Finance Act 2010 and therefore it meets the definition of a charitable company for UK corporation tax purposes. Accordingly, the School is potentially exempt from taxation in respect of income or capital gains received within categories covered by Chapter 3 Part 11 of the Corporation Tax Act 2010 or Section 256 of the Taxation of Chargeable Gains Act 1992, to the extent that such income or gains are applied exclusively to charitable purposes.

1.5 Tangible fixed assets and depreciation

Tangible fixed assets are initially recognised at cost. After recognition, under the cost model, tangible fixed assets are measured at cost less accumulated depreciation and any accumulated impairment losses. All costs incurred to bring a tangible fixed asset into its intended working condition should be included in the measurement of cost.

Assets in the course of construction are included at costs incurred to date. Depreciation on these assets is not charged until they are brought into use.

At each reporting date the School assesses whether there is any indication of impairment. If such indication exists, the recoverable amount of the asset is determined to be the higher of its fair value less costs to sell and its value in use. An impairment loss is recognised where the carrying amount exceeds the recoverable amount.

Depreciation is charged so as to allocate the cost of tangible fixed assets less their residual value over their estimated useful lives.

Depreciation is provided on the following basis:

Freehold property	-	2.0% straight line
Long-term leasehold property	-	2.0% straight line
Short-term leasehold property	-	over the lease period
Motor vehicles	-	20.0% straight line
Furniture and fittings	-	12.5% straight line
Office equipment	-	20.0% straight line

1.6 Cash at bank and in hand

Cash at bank and in hand includes cash and short-term highly liquid investments with a short maturity of three months or less from the date of acquisition or opening of the deposit or similar account.

Page 23

Lichfield Cathedral School

(A company limited by guarantee)

NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 AUGUST 2025

1. Accounting policies (continued)

1.7 Liabilities and provisions

Liabilities are recognised when there is an obligation at the Balance Sheet date as a result of a past event, it is probable that a transfer of economic benefit will be required in settlement, and the amount of the settlement can be estimated reliably.

Liabilities are recognised at the amount that the School anticipates it will pay to settle the debt or the amount it has received as advanced payments for the goods or services it must provide.

Provisions are measured at the best estimate of the amounts required to settle the obligation. Where the effect of the time value of money is material, the provision is based on the present value of those amounts, discounted at the pre-tax discount rate that reflects the risks specific to the liability. The unwinding of the discount is recognised in the Statement of financial activities as a finance cost.

1.8 Hire purchase

Assets obtained under hire purchase contracts are capitalised as tangible fixed assets. Assets acquired by hire purchase are depreciated over their useful lives. Obligations under such agreements are included in creditors, net of the finance charge allocated to future periods. The finance element of the rental payment is charged to the Statement of financial activities so as to produce a constant periodic rate of charge on the net obligation outstanding in each period.

1.9 Lease of school premises

The School enjoys the benefit of having a long term lease from Lichfield Cathedral for the Palace and School House. The lease was taken out on 1 September 1981 for a period of 99 years of which 56 years remain. No lease premium was paid and as such this has not been capitalised.

Rental payments are charged to the Statement of Financial Activities in the period in which they relate.

On 28 August 2003, the School acquired a further long-term lease of 76 years for Dimble House, Beacon Street, Lichfield, from Lichfield Cathedral. The cost of the lease has been capitalised and is being amortised over the term of the lease. Lichfield Cathedral have agreed to an extension of the term of the lease to 125 years at no additional cost.

• The change in lease payments resulting in revised consideration for the lease that is less than the consideration for the lease immediately preceding the change;

• any reduction in lease payments affecting only payments originally due on or before 30 June 2022;

• there being no significant change to other terms and conditions of the lease.

1.10 Pensions

The School operates a defined contribution pension scheme for non-teaching staff. A defined contribution plan is a pension plan under which the School pays fixed contributions into a separate entity. Once the contributions have been paid the School has no further payment obligations.

The contributions are recognised as an expense in the Statement of Financial Activities when they fall due. Amounts not paid are shown in other creditors as a liability in the Balance Sheet. The assets of the plan are held separately from the School in independently administered funds.

Page 24

(A company limited by guarantee)

Lichfield Cathedral School

NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 AUGUST 2025

1. Accounting policies (continued)

1.10 Pensions (continued)

Retirement benefits to certain members of the teaching staff are provided by the Teachers' Pension Scheme ("TPS"). This is a defined benefit scheme.

The TPS is an unfunded scheme and contributions are calculated so as to spread the cost of pensions over employees' working lives with the School in such a way that the pension cost is a substantially level percentage of current and future pensionable payroll. The contributions are determined by the Government Actuary on the basis of quadrennial valuations using a prospective unit credit method. The TPS is a multi-employer scheme and there is insufficient information available to use defined benefit accounting. The TPS is therefore treated as a defined contribution scheme for accounting purposes and the contributions recognised in the period to which they relate.

1.11 Fund accounting

General funds are unrestricted funds which are available for use at the discretion of the Governors in furtherance of the general objectives of the School and which have not been designated for other purposes.

Designated funds comprise unrestricted funds that have been set aside by the Governors for particular purposes. The aim and use of each designated fund is set out in the notes to the financial statements.

Restricted funds are funds which are to be used in accordance with specific restrictions imposed by donors or which have been raised by the School for particular purposes. The costs of raising and administering such funds are charged against the specific fund. The aim and use of each restricted fund is set out in the notes to the financial statements.

Investment income, gains and losses are allocated to the appropriate fund.

2. Income from donations and legacies

	Restricted	Total	Total
	funds	funds	funds
	2025	2025	2024
	£	£	£
Donations	10,471	10,471	24,316

Page 25

(A company limited by guarantee)

Lichfield Cathedral School

NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 AUGUST 2025

3. Income from charitable activities

Fees receivable Other educational income Total 2024 as restated School Fees Receivable Fees receivable Less: Remissions	Restricted funds 2025 Unrestricted funds 2025 £ £ - 7,328,716 34,226 481,305 34,226 7,810,021 52,356 7,845,824	Total funds 2025 £ 7,328,716 515,531 7,844,247 7,898,180 2025 £ 8,517,837 (1,189,121) 7,328,716	As restated Total funds 2024 £ 7,344,768 553,412
			7,898,180
			2024 £ 8,459,132 (1,114,364)
			7,344,768

4. Analysis of expenditure on charitable activities

Summary by fund type

Teaching costs Welfare Premises Support costs of schooling Governance costs Total 2024 as restated	Restricted funds 2025 Unrestricted funds 2025 £ £ - 4,623,864 - 854,525 - 1,049,613 59,025 1,662,774 - 84,505 59,025 8,275,281 108,216 7,522,053	Total 2025 £ 4,623,864 854,525 1,049,613 1,721,799 84,505 8,334,306 7,630,269	As restated Total 2024 £ 4,207,964 739,618 1,042,594 1,544,368 95,725
			7,630,269

Page 26

Lichfield Cathedral School

(A company limited by guarantee)

NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 AUGUST 2025

5. Analysis of expenditure by activities

Teaching costs Welfare Premises Support costs of schooling Governance costs Total 2024 as restated	Activities undertaken directly 2025 Depreciation 2025 £ £ 4,332,588 - 276,864 - 274,115 101,712 828,828 55,127 - - 5,712,395 156,839 5,021,378 112,138	Other costs 2025 £ 291,276 577,661 673,786 837,844 84,505 2,465,072 2,496,753	Total funds 2025 £ 4,623,864 854,525 1,049,613 1,721,799 84,505 8,334,306 7,630,269	As restated Total funds 2024 £ 4,207,964 739,618 1,042,594 1,544,368 95,725
				7,630,269

6. Auditors' remuneration

	2025	2024
	£	£
Fees payable to the School's auditor for the audit of the School's annual
accounts	5,300	5,000
Fees payable to the School's auditor in respect of:
All non-audit services not included above	1,350	1,200

7. Staff costs

Wages and salaries Social security costs Contribution to defined contribution pension schemes	2025 £ 4,476,069 456,279 772,303 5,704,651	2024 £ 3,982,307 386,910 664,990
		5,034,207

Wages and salaries includes redundancy and termination payments of £22,480 (2024: £NIL), which were fully paid during the year and £1,696 (2024: £NIL) which were paid after the year end.

Page 27

Lichfield Cathedral School

(A company limited by guarantee)

NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 AUGUST 2025

7. Staff costs (continued)

The average number of persons employed by the School during the year was as follows:

Head and teachers Welfare and maintenance Bursary and administration	2025 100 32 19 151	2024 95 32 19
		146

The number of employees whose employee benefits (excluding employer pension costs) exceeded £60,000 was:

	2025	2024
In the band £60,001 - £70,000	-	2
In the band £70,001 - £80,000	3	1
In the band £130,001 - £140,000	1	1

The School considers its key management personnel to comprise the Head Teacher, the Director of Finance, the Deputy Head, the Head of Junior School, the Assistant Heads, the Director of Operations and the Director of Communications. The aggregate remuneration and benefits received by key management personnel was £818,079 (2024: £833,705).

8. Governors' remuneration and expenses

During the year, no Governors received any remuneration or other benefits (2024 - £NIL) .

During the year ended 31 August 2025, no Governor expenses have been incurred (2024 - £NIL) .

Page 28

Lichfield Cathedral School

(A company limited by guarantee)

NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 AUGUST 2025

9. Tangible fixed assets

Freehold property £ Cost or valuation At 1 September 2024 1,504,409 Additions 2,601,824 Disposals - Transfers between classes 163,557 At 31 August 2025 4,269,790 Depreciation At 1 September 2024 334,438 Charge for the year 25,088 On disposals - Transfers between classes 10,893 At 31 August 2025 370,419 Net book value At 31 August 2025 3,899,371 At 31 August 2024 1,169,971 10. Debtors Due within one year Outstanding fees Other debtors Prepayments and accrued income	Long-term leasehold property £ 1,450,715 56,878 - - 1,507,593 557,201 29,014 - - 586,215 921,378 893,514	Short-term leasehold property £ 465,738 54,226 (91,870) (163,557) 264,537 126,996 47,610 (85,716) (10,893) 77,997 186,540 338,742	Motor vehicles Furniture and fittings £ £ 10,350 1,284,463 - 126,391 - (12,959) - - 10,350 1,397,895 10,350 1,048,138 - 55,127 - (12,959) - - 10,350 1,090,306 - 307,589 - 236,325 2025 £ 2,167,646 26,283 237,309 2,431,238	Motor vehicles Furniture and fittings £ £ 10,350 1,284,463 - 126,391 - (12,959) - - 10,350 1,397,895 10,350 1,048,138 - 55,127 - (12,959) - - 10,350 1,090,306 - 307,589 - 236,325 2025 £ 2,167,646 26,283 237,309 2,431,238	Total £ 4,715,675 2,839,319 (104,829) - 7,450,165 2,077,123 156,839 (98,675) - 2,135,287 5,314,878 2,638,552 2024 £ 1,991,475 24,934 187,890 2,204,299

Page 29

(A company limited by guarantee)

Lichfield Cathedral School

NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 AUGUST 2025

11. Creditors: Amounts falling due within one year

Bank loans Pupil deposits Trade creditors Other taxation and social security Obligations under hire purchase contracts Other creditors Accruals and deferred income Deferred income at 1 September 2024 Resources deferred during the year Amounts released from previous periods	2025 £ 168,692 160,750 145,047 487,412 5,298 418,680 2,586,761 3,972,640 2025 £ 2,502,822 2,336,718 (2,502,822) 2,336,718	2024 £ 63,552 157,450 185,559 89,529 - 664,734 2,826,332
		3,987,156
		2024 £ 2,511,873 2,502,822 (2,511,873)
		2,502,822

Deferred income relates to the Michaelmas fees that are billed in advance.

12. Creditors: Amounts falling due after more than one year

Bank loans Net obligations under finance lease and hire purchase contracts Other creditors	2025 £ 2,477,819 21,409 212,287 2,711,515	2024 £ 941,359 - 449,511
		1,390,870

Security

National Westminster Bank PLC hold a first legal mortgage and first legal charge on the freehold property relating to the land and premises at Longdon Green, Longdon, Staffordshire, and the leasehold interest property relating to Dimble House, Beacon Street, Lichfield.

D.A.Worth Construction Limited hold a first legal mortgage and first legal charge on the freehold property relating to the land at 5 Beacon Street, Lichfield, Staffordshire and the leasehold interest contained within it.

Page 30

Lichfield Cathedral School

(A company limited by guarantee)

NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 AUGUST 2025

13. Agency arrangements

The school acts as an agent for visiting music and other performing arts teachers and operates a cash collection service with any income receipts over and above the teachers charges being commission income. Under these agreements school received and distributed £255,494 (2024: £206,171) and earned £36,583 (2024: £86,063) of commission income.

14. Prior year adjustments

A review of the visiting music and performing arts teachers’ scheme concluded that the Charity acts as an agent in collecting and passing on fees. Amounts previously recorded as income and expenditure in 2024, totalling £206,171, have therefore been removed from the Statement of Financial Activities and the comparative figures restated in accordance with FRS 102. The adjustment has no impact on net income or reserves.

The Charity earns a separate commission for administering the service. Commission income of £94,384 continues to be recognised within Income from charitable activities, as the Charity acts as principal for this element.

Page 31

(A company limited by guarantee)

Lichfield Cathedral School

NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 AUGUST 2025

15. Statement of funds

Statement of funds - current year

Unrestricted funds Designated funds Musicshare Core General funds General funds Total Unrestricted funds Restricted funds Head's Strategic fund Chorister fund Hardship Bursary fund Arts Council funding Prizes - Organ fund Friends of LCS Ukrainian Music fund John Heath Musical Endowment fund Jane Holmes restricted fund Total of funds	Balance at 1 September 2024 £ 6,923 2,313,959 2,320,882 2,589 896 8,081 17,734 450 - 288 90,662 - 120,700 2,441,582	Income £ 17,669 7,874,312 7,891,981 - - - 34,226 150 10,129 - - 192 44,697 7,936,678	Expenditure £ (23,902) (8,251,379) (8,275,281) - - - (48,896) - (10,129) - - - (59,025) (8,334,306)	Balance at 31 August 2025 £ 690
				1,936,892
				1,937,582
				2,589 896 8,081 3,064 600 - 288 90,662 192
				106,372
				2,043,954

Page 32

(A company limited by guarantee)

Lichfield Cathedral School

NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 AUGUST 2025

15. Statement of funds (continued)

Statement of funds - prior year

Unrestricted funds Designated funds Musicshare Core General funds General funds Total Unrestricted funds Restricted funds Head's Strategic fund Chorister fund Hardship Bursary fund Arts Council funding Prizes - Organ fund Friends of LCS Ukrainian Music fund John Heath Musical Endowment fund Ukrainian Music fund Jane Holmes restricted fund Total of funds	Balance at 1 September 2023 £ - 1,915,861 1,915,861 2,589 896 8,081 10,565 2,094 3,592 300 90,662 188 32,345 151,312 2,067,173	As restated Income £ 39,227 7,888,779 7,928,006 - - - 52,356 - 24,066 150 - 100 - 76,672 8,004,678	As restated Expenditure £ (42,107) (7,479,946) (7,522,053) - - - (48,213) - (27,658) - - - (32,345) (108,216) (7,630,269)	Transfers in/out £ 9,803 (10,735) (932) - - - 3,026 (2,094) - - - - - 932 -	Balance at 31 August 2024 £ 6,923
					2,313,959
					2,320,882
					2,589 896 8,081 17,734 - - 450 90,662 288 -
					120,700
					2,441,582

Page 33

(A company limited by guarantee)

Lichfield Cathedral School

NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 AUGUST 2025

15. Statement of funds (continued)

Musicshare Core

Monies received to run several of the Musicshare choirs.

Arts Council funding

Restricted funding from MusicShare Hub which is a partnership between LCS, Lichfield Cathedral and The Music Partnership with the aim of promoting participation in singing for local primary, secondary and special schools.

Tim Henman funding

Restricted funding received in relation to tennis coaching from the Tim Henman Foundation.

Friends of LCS

Friends are a parent association that fundraise on behalf of the School and kindly agree to fund specified expenditure.

John Heath Musical Endowment fund

The John Heath Musical Endowment fund is received for the purposes of covering school fees for students with serious musical commitments and outstanding attainment in music.

Ukrainian music fund

The Ukrainian music fund was received from an anonymous donor to be used to cover the music lessons of a Ukrainian pupil at LCS.

Jane Holmes fund

These funds were donated to cover the purchase of a new grand piano as well as the procurement of personalised hymn books for the School.

16. Summary of funds

Summary of funds - current year

Designated funds General funds Restricted funds	Balance at 1 September 2024 £ 6,923 2,313,959 120,700 2,441,582	Income £ 17,669 7,874,312 44,697 7,936,678	Expenditure £ (23,902) (8,251,379) (59,025) (8,334,306)	Balance at 31 August 2025 £ 690 1,936,892 106,372
				2,043,954

Page 34

Lichfield Cathedral School

(A company limited by guarantee)

NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 AUGUST 2025

16. Summary of funds (continued)

Summary of funds - prior year

Designated funds General funds Restricted funds	Balance at 1 September 2023 £ - 1,915,861 151,312 2,067,173	As restated Income £ 39,227 7,888,779 76,672 8,004,678	As restated Expenditure £ (42,107) (7,479,946) (108,216) (7,630,269)	Transfers in/out £ 9,803 (10,735) 932 -	Balance at 31 August 2024 £ 6,923 2,313,959 120,700
					2,441,582

17. Analysis of net assets between funds Analysis of net assets between funds - current year

Tangible fixed assets Current assets Creditors due within one year Creditors due in more than one year Total Analysis of net assets between funds - prior year Tangible fixed assets Current assets Creditors due within one year Creditors due in more than one year Total	Restricted funds 2025 Unrestricted funds 2025 £ £ - 5,314,878 106,372 3,306,859 - (3,972,640) - (2,711,515) 106,372 1,937,582 Restricted funds 2024 Unrestricted funds 2024 £ £ - 2,638,552 120,700 5,060,356 - (3,987,156) - (1,390,870) 120,700 2,320,882	Total funds 2025 £ 5,314,878 3,413,231 (3,972,640) (2,711,515)
		2,043,954
		Total funds 2024 £ 2,638,552 5,181,056 (3,987,156) (1,390,870)
		2,441,582

Page 35

Lichfield Cathedral School

(A company limited by guarantee)

NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 AUGUST 2025

18. Reconciliation of net movement in funds to net cash flow from operating activities

Net income/expenditure for the year (as per Statement of Financial Activities) Adjustments for: Depreciation charges Profit on the sale of fixed assets Increase in debtors Increase/(decrease) in creditors Bank interest received Bank and loan interest paid Net cash provided by/(used in) operating activities	2025 £ (397,628) 156,839 (447) (226,938) (335,471) (81,960) 168,862 (716,743)	2024 £ 374,409
		112,138 - (101,515) 1,143,465 (82,182) 60,436
		1,506,751

19. Analysis of cash and cash equivalents Cash in hand Total cash and cash equivalents 20. Analysis of changes in net debt	2025 £ 981,993 981,993	2024 £ 2,976,757
		2,976,757

Cash at bank and in hand Debt due within 1 year Debt due after 1 year Hire purchase contracts	At 1 September 2024 £ 2,976,757 (63,552) (941,359) - 1,971,846	Cash flows £ (1,994,764) (105,140) (1,536,460) 1,061 (3,635,303)	Hire purchase contracts At 31 August 2025 £ £ - 981,993 - (168,692) - (2,477,819) (27,768) (26,707) (27,768) (1,691,225)	Hire purchase contracts At 31 August 2025 £ £ - 981,993 - (168,692) - (2,477,819) (27,768) (26,707) (27,768) (1,691,225)
				(1,691,225)

Page 36

(A company limited by guarantee)

Lichfield Cathedral School

NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 AUGUST 2025

21. Pension commitments

The School's employees belong to three principal pension schemes: the Teachers' Pension Scheme England and Wales (TPS) or a defined contribution scheme for academic and related staff; and a defined contribution scheme for non-teaching staff.

In reference to the defined contribution pension schemes, the assets of the scheme are held separately from those of the School in independently administered funds. The pension cost charge represents contributions payable by the School to the fund and amounted to £141,612 (2024 - £40,620). Contributions totalling £24,353 (2024 - £9,559) were payable to the funds at the balance sheet date and are included in other creditors.

The TPS is an unfunded scheme and members contribute on a ‘pay as you go’ basis – these contributions along with those made by employers are credited to the Exchequer. Retirement and other pension benefits are paid by public funds provided by Parliament.

The pension charge for the year includes contributions payable to the TPS of £630,467 (2024 - £624,371).

Valuation of the Teachers' Pension Scheme

The Government Actuary, using normal actuarial principles, conducts a formal actuarial review of the TPS in accordance with the Public Service Pensions (Valuations and Employer Cost Cap) Directions 2014 published by HM Treasury every 4 years. The aim of the review is to specify the level of future contributions. Actuarial scheme valuations are dependent on assumptions about the value of future costs, design of benefits and many other factors. The latest actuarial valuation of the TPS was carried out as at 31 March 2020 and in accordance with the Public Service Pensions (Valuations and Employer Cost Cap) Directions 2014. The valuation report was published by the Department for Education on 27 October 2023, with the SCAPE rate, set by HMT, applying a notional investment return based on 1.7% above the rate of CPI. The key elements of the valuation and subsequent consultation are:

• employer contribution rates set at 28.68% of pensionable pay, including a 0.08% employer administration charge.

• total scheme liabilities (pensions currently in payment and the estimated cost of future benefits) for service to the effective date of £262,000 million, and notional assets (estimated future contribution together with the notional investments held at the valuation date) of £222,200 million giving a notional past service deficit of £39,800 million

The valuation for 2020 determined an employer rate of 28.68%, which was payable from 1 April 2024.

A copy of the valuation report and supporting documentation is on the Teachers’ Pensions website.

Under the definitions set out in FRS 102, the TPS is a multi-employer pension scheme. The trust has accounted for its contributions to the scheme as if it were a defined contribution scheme. The trust has set out above the information available on the scheme.

Page 37

(A company limited by guarantee)

Lichfield Cathedral School

NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 AUGUST 2025

22. Operating lease commitments

At 31 August 2025 the School had commitments to make future minimum lease payments under noncancellable operating leases as follows:

Not later than 1 year Later than 1 year and not later than 5 years Later than 5 years	2025 £ 258,924 601,996 2,668,163 3,529,083	2024 £ 189,399 497,026 2,719,925
		3,406,350

23. Members' liability

Each member of the charitable company undertakes to contribute to the assets of the company in the event of it being wound up while he/she is a member, or within one year after he/she ceases to be a member, such amount as may be required, not exceeding £10 for the debts and liabilities contracted before he/she ceases to be a member.

24. Related party transactions

Lichfield Cathedral contributed £122,475 (2024 - £106,161) towards the fees of the choristers during the year and provide an annual chaplaincy mentoring service at a cost of £6,000.

J E McFarlane is a director of Lichfield Festival and Lichfield Diocesan Board of Finance. £3,250 (2024 - £NIL) was paid to Lichfield Festival for advertisments and a strategic partnership. £3,600 (2024 - £NIL) was paid to Lichfield Diocesan Board of Finance for the rent of Stowe Field.

Clive Rickart is a director of the Independent Schools Council and the Independent Schools Teacher Induction Panel. £1,891 (2024 - £1,609) was paid to the Independent Schools Council for an annual membership subscription. £975 (2024 - £1,260) was paid to the Independent Schools Teacher Induction Panel for ECT registration fees.

Amanda Smith is a director of Eversheds Sutherland LLP. £8,500 (2024 - £NIL) was paid to Eversheds Sutherland LLP for legal services.

25. Controlling party

The School is controlled by the board of Governors.

Page 38