The Trustees of St Alban’s School
(A Charitable Company Limited by Guarantee) Report and Financial Statements for the period
1[st] September 2024 to 31[st] August 2025
Registered Company Number 7287734 Registered Charity Number 1139434
Trustees of St Alban’s School
Charity 1139434
Company 7287734
Directors and Trustees Amanda Mary Cadman – Secretary
(also known as Members) Joanne Lesley Dawson – Chair
serving during the period Muhammad Irfanullah Khan
covered by this report Philippa Helen Roberts
and until its adoption: Cynthia Jane Somerville
Dr Christopher Andrew Smith – Treasurer
Wade Edward Astle Taylor
Registered Office: 55 Wychall Lane
Kings Norton
Birmingham
B38 8TB
Company Registration: 07287734
Charity Registration: 1139434
Legal Entity Identifier: 213800I4BLBQX81RSP47
Independent Examiner: W T Cooper ACIB
70 Overbury Close
Northfield
Birmingham
B31 2HD
Bankers: Lloyds Bank plc
Colmore Row Branch
PO box 1000
BX1 1LT
Solicitors: Veale Wasbrough Vizards LLP
Second Floor, 3 Brindley Place,
Birmingham
B1 2JB
Investment Managers: EFG Harris Allday
33 Great Charles Street
Birmingham
B3 3JN
Index Report of the Directors and Trustees page 3
Financial Report of the Charitable Company
Statement of Financial Activities page 9
Balance Sheet page 10
Notes to the Financial Statements page 11
Independent Examiner’s Statement page 17
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Report and Financial Statements for 31 August 2025
Trustees of St Alban’s School
Charity 1139434
Company 7287734
Report of the Directors and Trustees for the period 1[st] September 2024 to 31[st] August 2025
Aims and Objectives
The Charity’s Objects are “To promote for the public benefit the religious, educational and
other charitable work of the Church of England in the ecclesiastical parish of St Alban the
Martyr and St Patrick, Highgate as the directors shall determine from time to time.”
Structure, Governance and Management
Governing Document
The organisation is a charitable company limited by guarantee, incorporated on 17[th] June
2010 and registered as a charity on 22[nd] December 2010. The company was established
under a Memorandum of Association establishing the objects and powers of the Charitable
Company and is governed under its Articles of Association. If the company is wound up
members may be required to contribute an amount not exceeding £10 to the costs.
By a Deed of Transfer dated 7[th] April 2011 the trustees of an unincorporated charity of the
same name transferred to the company all the transferrable assets of the unincorporated
charity, and by a Scheme dated 8[th] April 2011 the Charity Commission made the company
trustee of the residual unincorporated charity (number 1139434-1) and its endowments.
On 13[th] May 2014 the Trustees of the St Patrick’s Fund, formerly charity 517109, commonly known as the Trustees of St Patrick’s School, which had objects closely related to those of the Trustees of St Alban’s School: “to further the religious and other charitable work of the Church of England in the ecclesiastical parish of St Alban the Martyr and St Patrick, Bordesley [ now Highgate ] in the Diocese of Birmingham” resolved, with the agreement of the Charity Commission, to transfer the expendable assets of the St Patrick’s Fund to the charitable company. The charitable company was made a corporate trustee of the St Patrick’s Fund, and the individual Trustees of the St Patrick’s Fund resigned, making the charitable company sole trustee of the residual charity holding the endowment of the St Patrick’s Fund, now charity 1139434-2. The income from this endowment forms a restricted St Patrick’s Fund.
Appointment and Retirement of Directors
The Directors of the Charitable Company are also charity Trustees for the purposes of charity
law and under the company’s articles are also known as Members of the charity. All
members have equal voting rights. (All directors must be members and there can be no
members who are not directors of the charity.) Under the articles of association, at the first
meeting held in each calendar year, two directors must retire with effect from the end of the
meeting, although they are eligible for re-appointment by the other directors.
At the annual meeting held 17[th] October 2024 Muhammad Irfanullah Khan and Christopher
Smithretired as Directors and were re-elected unanimously by the other Directors present.
Joanne Dawson was reappointed by the meeting, but due to other commitments Dianne
Wainwright did not seek reappointment.
Directors of the Company
The Directors and Trustees who served during the period of and until the approval of these
financial statements are set out on page 2.
All the directors gave their time voluntarily and received no private benefit from the charity.
Report and Financial Statements for 31 August 2025
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Trustees of St Alban’s School
Charity 1139434
Company 7287734
Officers of the Company
The annual meeting on 17[th] October 2024 re-elected Joanne Dawson as Chair, re-elected
Christopher Smith as Treasurer, and re-elected Amanda Cadman as Secretary for the year.
Responsibilities of the Directors
Company law requires the Directors to prepare financial statements for each financial year
which give a true and fair view of the state of affairs of the Charitable Company as at the
balance sheet date and of its incoming resources and application of resources, including
income and expenditure, for the financial year. In preparing those financial statements the
Directors should follow best practice and:
Select suitable accounting policies and then apply them consistently;
Make judgements and estimates that are reasonable and prudent; and
Prepare the financial statements on the going concern basis unless it is not
appropriate to assume that the company will continue on that basis.
The Directors are responsible for maintaining proper accounting records which disclose with
reasonable accuracy at any time the financial position of the Charitable Company and enable
them to ensure that the financial statements comply with the Companies Act 2006. They are
also responsible for safeguarding the assets of the Charitable Company and hence for taking
reasonable steps for the prevention and detection of fraud and other irregularities.
Meetings of the Directors
The policies and activities of the Charity are established and controlled by the Board of
Directors/Trustees. The Board holds an annual meeting, normally in late September or early
October for consideration of the annual accounts of the Charity and the award of grants
from the income received during the year and any retained income from previous years. The
board holds other meetings during the year as necessary. In the period under review the
annual meeting was held on the 17[th] October 2024.
Accounting period
The period of the financial statements runs from 1[st] September 2024 to 31[st] August 2025.
Financial Review
Principal Funding Sources
The Charitable Company does not solicit donations from the public.
The source of the General Fund , which may be used for any of the charity’s objects, is the investment income from a Permanent Endowment. The endowment derived from the sale in the 1960s of the premises of a former church school in the parish, on the corner of Leopold Street and Dymoke Street, the site of the original mission chapel of 1865 and the church of 1871, each in turn later used as school rooms when a larger church of St Alban was opened.
Under a Charity Commission Scheme of 8[th ]April 2011, the Freehold of the land on which the
buildings inherited by Ark St Alban’s Academy from the former St Alban’s CE Engineering
College stood, designated WM877706 at the Land Registry, was transferred to the Charitable
Company. It has not been capitalised because it is leased at a peppercorn rent to Ark
Academies for use by Ark St Alban’s Academy. Following the construction of new Academy
buildings (adjacent to, but not on the Charitable Company’s land) the old school buildings
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Report and Financial Statements for 31 August 2025
Trustees of St Alban’s School
Charity 1139434
Company 7287734
have been demolished and the site has been landscaped for use by the Academy; part,
opposite St Alban’s Church, is accessible as a public amenity.
The Charitable Company also has three Restricted Funds .
The Former School Governors’ Fund and the Miss Rattey Bequest Fund are both derived from funds previously held by the governors of the former St Alban’s CE Engineering College, the successor to the original church school. Before they were dissolved when the College closed in 2009 to reopen as Ark St Alban’s Academy, the governors passed these funds to the Trustees to form restricted funds to be used only for the benefit of the Academy. The income of these funds is derived from investment. About one third of the income of the Former School Governors’ Fund is from a Permanent Endowment, the Bequest of Henry Spencer (died 1915) the income of which is “to be applied towards maintenance and support of the schools belonging to the churches of St Alban and St Patrick Highgate Birmingham”. At the time when the former governors transferred their funds to the Trustees, it was believed erroneously that the capital of the Spencer Bequest was an asset of the governors, held on their behalf by the Diocesan Trustees. Accordingly, the capital was shown as an Endowment asset in the financial statements of the Trustees from 2009 until 2021. In 2022, it was discovered that the Diocesan Trustees were also reporting the capital of this bequest as an Endowment asset. Examination of the will of Henry Spencer shows that his bequest was to the “Trustees of the Birmingham Diocesan Trust”, so the capital was not held by them on behalf of the former school governors or the Trustees. Accordingly, the capital of the Spencer Bequest is no longer shown as an asset in the financial statements. The remainder of the income is from long-term investment of part of expendable reserves built up by the former governors. Beatrice Katharine Rattey (died 1952) assigned her royalties as author of several religious books to the Governors of St Alban’s School. The royalties are now extinct, and the remaining small income of this fund is from the investment of a small expendable reserve. For clarity the expendable reserves of these two funds that are invested to provide continuing income for future distribution are shown in the financial statements as The Former School Governors’ Reserve Fund and the Miss Rattey Bequest Reserve Fund . The third restricted fund, the St Patrick’s Fund was transferred to the charitable company in May 2014 as described above. It derives its income from a Permanent Endowment from the sale in 1983 of the premises of a former church school in the parish, St Patrick’s School built on the site of St Patrick’s Mission, opened as a combined chapel and school room in 1873 on Highgate Street. Although Charity Commission rules require that it is reported as a Restricted Fund, its objectives cover the same purposes as the General Fund.
Return of Grant Money from the Dizzy Dancers
In January 2024, the Dizzy Dancers returned £900 to the Trustees. Because this represented
the unexpended balance of previous grants made by the Trustees it is shown as “other
income” rather than as a donation in the Financial Statements. The Dizzy Dancers were a
non-profit group providing dance classes for children in the parish, run by IDTA-trained
volunteers at Highgate Baptist Church in the parish. Following the break in activities due to
Covid-19, the number of children wishing to take part did not recover to a viable number
and classes could not be continued. The organisers expressed the wish that the money
returned should be used to help another community project. The money was assigned to the
St Patrick’s Fund, from which the most recent grants had been made to the Dizzy Dancers. At
the Annual Meeting in October 2024 £300 was allocated to Friction Arts Ltd to support after
school workshops and £600 to Highgate Community Support Ltd. for the purchase of books
Report and Financial Statements for 31 August 2025
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Trustees of St Alban’s School
Charity 1139434
Company 7287734
and board games. At the date of this report, Highgate Community Support Ltd books had not
yet used this grant, due to delays and uncertainties caused by the transfer of Stanhope Hall
Wellbeing Hub from Birmingham City Council to Legacy West Midlands, and the £600 is
shown as a liability on the balance sheet.
Reserves Policy
It is the policy of the Charity to allocate most of the General Fund income from the previous
year in grants at an annual meeting, normally in September or October, retaining a small
reserve for anticipated expenses. As income is spread through the year, funds are available
to cover unanticipated expenses before the next annual meeting for distribution of grants.
Two thirds of the Restricted Fund reserves received from the former school governors are
invested to provide a continuing income to use for the benefit of the Academy. The
remaining third was used to enable the Academy to install an all-weather pitch on the
Charity’s land and provide an outdoor exercise area outside the Academy.
Investment Policy
The St Alban’s Trustees’ Endowment is invested in a broad portfolio managed on a
discretionary basis by EFG Harris Allday. It is the view of the Trustees that these investments
should be managed to maintain their capital value over the medium-long term, accepting
the likelihood of short-medium term falls in value during periods of economic recession,
while maximising the income generated for distribution in accordance with the Charity’s
objectives. The Trustees note that it is any fall in income generated rather than any fall in
capital value that will affect the beneficiaries of the Charity.
The St Patrick’s Fund Endowment is invested in the CBF Church of England Short Duration
Bond (formerly Fixed Interest Securities), Investment, UK Equity and Property Funds, managed
by CCLA Investment Management Ltd.
Considered to be a long-term reserve to generate income, the Restricted Former School
Governors’ Reserve Fund is invested in the CBF Church of England Short Duration Bond and
Investment Funds managed by CCLA Investment Management Ltd. Likewise the Restricted
Miss Rattey Bequest Reserve Fund is invested in the CBF Short Duration Bond Fund.
Public Benefit
The Trustees take into consideration the Charity Commission’s general guidance on public
benefit when reviewing the Charity’s Aims and Objectives and setting its grant-making policy.
The Aims and Objectives fall within the charitable purposes in the Charities Act 2011, and
the geographical restriction is appropriate to the limited resources available and their origin
in donations raised in the nineteenth century to provide a church and school for the district.
The Charity operates in a parish that is an area of high social deprivation. Grants made
relate to the social as well as educational and religious work of the Church of England.
In the year from 1[st] September 2024 to 31[st] August 2025, the objectives of the Charity were
addressed from its unrestricted fund through grants totalling £9,039 as follows:
-
£2,500 to the Parochial Church Council of St Alban and St Patrick, Highgate, Birmingham to helpmaintain regular public worship open to allin the grade II* listed church of St Alban the Martyr. -
£5,000 to Birmingham Diocesan Board of Finance to support the provision of a Church of England Chaplain in Ark St Alban’s Academy. The Academy has a Church of England ethos
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Report and Financial Statements for 31 August 2025
Trustees of St Alban’s School
Charity 1139434
Company 7287734
but is non-selective and open to children of all abilities and faiths (in fact most of the students are Muslim) and is regarded as the successor to the original St Alban’s School. Due to the vacancy in the position of chaplain following the retirement of Fr Gerald Sykes as vicar and chaplain only £1,250 was invoiced by the diocese up to 31 August 2025. The remaining £3,750 remains available and is shown as a liability in the accounts together with a previous reserve of £5,283 making a total reserve of £9,033 for this purpose.
-
£1,500 to the Parochial Church Council towards the purchase of food for Highgate United Foodbank, operated from the Church by volunteers, to support continuingprovision of free weekly food parcels to needy people in the parish. -
£39 to the Parochial Church Council towards repairs to the church pipe organ.
A portion of the charity’s land adjacent to Stanhope Street, leased to Ark Academies, has been landscaped and is accessible as a public amenity .
The Charity’s restricted Former Governors’ Fund and Miss Rattey Bequest Fund are to be used in support of Ark St Alban’s Academy, a non-selective school open to children of all abilities and faiths , situated in the parish. During the year the Trustees made grants of £8,750 from the Former Governors’ Fund and £104 from the Miss Rattey Bequest Fund as follows:
-
£2,500 tosubsidise poor students’ participationin the Duke of Edinburgh’s Award Scheme. -
£2,400 tosubsidise UCAS registration of poor pupilsapplying for university places. -
£3,954 tosubsidise minority students’ participationin “The Brilliant Club”, a charity that exists to increase the number of pupils from under-represented backgrounds progressing to highly selective universities.
The restricted St Patrick’s Fund , like the unrestricted fund, is used to further the religious and other charitable work of the Church of England in the ecclesiastical parish of St Alban the Martyr and St Patrick. Grants made in the year under review totalled £8,442 (including the £900 returned from previous grants made to the Dizzy Dancers – see page 5):
-
£2,500 support to the Parochial Church Council tomaintain regular public worship open to all. -
£2,000 to Friction Arts Ltd. tosupport after school workshops with children in the parish. -
£600 to Highgate Community Support Ltd. to purchase books and board gamesto improve communication skills, turn-taking and teamwork in group activities with families for whom perhaps English is not a first language, where children are learning English within schools. -
£546 to Ark St Alban’s Academy tosubsidise minority students’ participationin “The Brilliant Club”. -
£2,796 to the Parochial Church Council towards repairs to the church pipe organ.
Risk Management
The Directors believe that they are mitigating the major risks to which the Charity is exposed:
-
By monitoring reserve levels; -
By allowing appropriate professional discretionary management of the investment portfolio that represents the endowment; -
By investing the major part of the restricted funds not required for immediate application in the investment funds of the Central Board of Finance of the Church of England, managed by CCLA Investment Management Ltd;
Report and Financial Statements for 31 August 2025
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Trustees of St Alban’s School
Charity 1139434
Company 7287734
-
By taking appropriate legal advice; -
By incorporation as a charitable company; -
By requiring new trustees to confirm that they are not debarred; -
By requiring the signature of two trustees for all expenditure.
The Directors will review their risk assessment annually.
Safeguarding Children, Young People and Vulnerable Adults
The Directors are mindful of the obligation to safeguard children, young people and vulnerable
adults, but do not deal directly with members of the public in their role as Directors.
Related Parties
Some Directors are also Trustees of the Aspinall Trust, Charity number 1061909, which has
objects overlapping those of the Trustees of St Alban’s School: “the general purposes of the
parish church of St Alban and St Patrick Highgate Birmingham”.
Some Directors are also members of the Parochial Church Council of the ecclesiastical parish of St Alban and St Patrick, Highgate (known as St Alban’s PCC), Charity number 1169941. The PCC is responsible for promoting the mission of the Church of England in the ecclesiastical parish and for the proper maintenance of the parish church of St Alban the Martyr (a grade II* listed building). The PCC regularly receives grants from the Trustees of St Alban’s School .
Some Directors are or have been Governors or employees of Ark St Alban’s Academy, which
receives grants from both restricted and general funds of the Trustees of St Alban’s School
and indirect support through part funding of the chaplain through grants to the Diocese of
Birmingham.
Some Directors are or have been Trustees of Highgate Community Support Ltd, Charity
1185938, (formerly Stanhope Hall Community Support), which supports the community of
Highgate through programmes at Stanhope Hall Wellbeing Hub or elsewhere in the parish.
Audit Exemption under the Companies Act 2006
The Charitable Company qualified for total audit exemption for the period 1[st] September
2024 to 31[st] August 2025, because it had annual turnover of no more than £10.2 million net
(income £32,655, expenditure £26,478), a balance sheet total of no more than £5.1 million
(£790,234) and 50 or fewer employees (none), and no members had called for an audit.
Audit Exemption but Requirement for Independent Examination under Charity Regulations
Because the gross assets and gross income of the Charity were less than £3.26 million and £1
million respectively, the financial statements of the Charity did not require full audit, but
because the gross income exceeded £25,000 independent examination was required.
Taxation
The Charity is exempt from tax on income and gains falling within section 505 of the Taxes
Act 1988 or section 256 of the Taxation of Chargeable Gains Act 1992 to the extent that
these are applied to its charitable objects.
Approved by the Directors and signed on their behalf by:
Philippa H. Roberts (Chair) Date:
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Report and Financial Statements for 31 August 2025
Trustees of St Alban’s School
Charity 1139434
Company 7287734
Statement of Financial Activities
for the period from 1[st] September 2024 to 31[st] August 2025
| Unrestricted Restricted Endowment Total Prior year Income and endowments from: Externally Managed Endowment Income from Spencer Bequest — 4,100 — 4,100 4,028 Investments Managed Investment Portfolio 15,172 — — 15,172 9,039 CBF Investments — 13,335 — 13,335 12,316 Deposit & Bank Interest — 47 — 47 52 Returned Grant — — — — 900 Total income 15,172 17,482 — 32,655 26,335 Expenditure on: Expenditure on charitable activities Grant to Diocese for Academy Chaplaincy 5,000 — — 5,000 5,000 Grants to St Alban's Academy (Other) — 9,400 — 9,400 12,500 Grants to St Alban's PCC (Maint Pub Worship) 2,500 2,500 — 5,000 5,000 Grants to St Alban’s PCC (Restoration) — — — — 4,633 Grants to St Alban’s PCC (Organ Fund) 39 2,796 — 2,835 — Grants to support Highgate United Food Bank — 1,500 — 1,500 1,500 Grants to Highgate Community Support Ltd. — 600 — 600 — Grants to Friction Arts Ltd. — 2,000 — 2,000 — Administrative Costs 139 — — 139 139 Total expenditure 9,173 17,305 — 26,478 28,772 Net income / (expenditure) 5,999 177 — 6,177 (2,437) Other recognised gains / (losses) Gains / (losses) on investment assets — (3,087) 2,902 (185) 69,951 Net movement in funds 5,999 (2,909) 2,909 5,992 67,514 Reconciliation of funds Total funds brought forward 8,886 208,836 566,519 784,241 716,727 Total funds carried forward 14,885 205,927 569,422 790,234 784.241 Represented by Unrestricted General fund 14,885 — — 14,885 8,886 Restricted Former School Governors' Income — 9,253 — 9,253 8,770 Former School Governors' Reserve — 183,777 — 183,777 186,971 Miss Rattey Bequest Income — 424 — 424 390 Miss Rattey Bequest Reserve — 4,126 — 4,126 4,019 St Patrick's Fund Income — 8,348 — 8,348 8,685 Endowment St Patrick's Fund Endowment — — 223,924 223,924 227,013 Trustees of St Alban's School Endowment — — 345,498 345,498 339,506 Total Funds of the charity 14,885 205,927 569,422 790,234 784,241 |
|
|---|---|
The notes on pages 11 to 16 form part of these financial statements.
Report and Financial Statements for 31 August 2025
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Trustees of St Alban’s School
Charity 1139434
Company 7287734
Balance Sheet as of 31[st] August 2025
| Unrestricted | Restricted | Endowment | Total | Prior year | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| funds | funds | funds | funds | total funds | ||
| Fixed assets | ||||||
| Investments | — | 187,903 | 568,930 | 756,833 | 757,018 | |
| Total fixed assets | — | 187,903 | 568,930 | 756,833 | 687,067 | |
| Current assets | ||||||
| Accounts Receivable | — | — | — | — | — | |
| Cash at bank and in hand | 23,952 | 19,624 | 491 | 44,068 | 33,545 | |
| Total current assets | 23,952 | 19,642 | 491 | 44,068 | 33,545 | |
| Creditors | 34 | — | — | 34 | 39 | |
| Grants awarded but not yet paid | 9,033 | 1,600 | — | 10,633 | 6,283 | |
| Total liabilities | 9,067 | 1,600 | — | 10,667 | 6,322 | |
| Net current assets less current liabilities | 14,885 | 18,024 | 491 | 33,401 | 27,224 | |
| Total assets less current liabilities | 14,885 | 205,927 | 569,422 | 790,234 | 784,241 | |
| Total net assets less liabilities | 14,885 | 205,927 | 569,422 | 790,234 | 784,241 | |
| Represented by: | Unrestricted | Restricted | Endowment | Total | Prior year | |
| funds | funds | funds | funds | total funds | ||
| Unrestricted | ||||||
| General fund | 14,885 | — | — | 14,885 | 8,886 | |
| Restricted | ||||||
| Former School Governors Income | — | 9,253 | — | 9,253 | 8,770 | |
| Former School Governors Reserve Fund | — | 183,777 | — | 183,777 | 186,971 | |
| Miss Rattey Bequest Income | — | 424 | — | 424 | 390 | |
| Miss Rattey Bequest Reserve Fund | 4,126 | 4,126 | 4,019 | |||
| St Patrick's Fund Income | — | 8,348 | — | 8,348 | 8,685 | |
| Endowment | ||||||
| St Patrick's Fund Endowment | — | — | 223,498 | 223,498 | 227,013 | |
| Trustees of St Alban's School Endowment | — | — | 345,498 | 345,498 | 339,506 | |
| Funds of the charity | 14,885 | 205,927 | 569,422 | 790,234 | 784,241 |
For the year ending 31[st] August 2025 the company was entitled to exemption from audit
under section 477 of the Companies Act 2006 relating to small companies.
The members have not required the company to obtain an audit in accordance with section
476 of the Companies Act 2006.
The Directors acknowledge their responsibilities for complying with the requirements of the
Companies Act 2006 with respect to accounting records and the preparation of accounts.
These accounts have been prepared in accordance with the provisions applicable to
companies subject to the small companies’ regime and the Accounting and Reporting by
Charities: Statement of Recommended Practice (FRS 102) as amended in July 2015.
Approved by the Directors and signed on their behalf by:
Philippa H. Roberts(Chair)
Date:
The notes on pages 11 to 16 form part of these financial statements.
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Report and Financial Statements for 31 August 2025
Trustees of St Alban’s School
Charity 1139434
Company 7287734
Notes to the Financial Statements for the period 1[st] September 2024 to 31[st] August 2025
1. Accounting Policies
a. Basis of Accounting
The financial statements have been prepared under the historical cost
convention as modified by the inclusion of investments at market value, in
accordance with the provisions of the Companies Act 2006 applicable to
companies subject to the small companies’ regime and the Accounting and
Reporting by Charities: Statement of Recommended Practice (FRS 102) as
amended in 2019.
-
b. Fund Accounting –
see notes 7 to 10. -
c. Income and Endowments
All income and endowments are included in the statement of financial
activities when the Charity is entitled to the income or endowment and the
amount can be quantified with reasonable accuracy.
Investment income is included when receivable.
d. Expenditure
Expenditure is recognised on an accrual basis as a liability is incurred. See
note 6 regarding grants awarded but not yet paid to recipients.
The Trustee’s Endowment is managed as an investment portfolio by EFG
Harris Allday. During the year in question EFG Harris Allday charged
management fees of £2,435.96, in addition to dealing costs of £264.97, which
were deducted from the investment account. The costs of management by
CCLA of the funds invested in CBF shares are internal to the operation of the
CBF funds and not reported as explicit expenditure.
Administrative costs include those associated with meeting the constitutional
and statutory requirements of the charity, including examination of the
accounts and costs linked to the strategic management of the charity.
e. Fixed Assets
See note 4 regarding tangible fixed assets.
Investment assets: Stocks and shares are valued at closing price on the
balance sheet date (or the last preceding trading day if that is not a trading
day). Investments with the CBF Church of England Fixed Income and
Investment Funds are valued at mid value (“net asset value”) on the balance
sheet date.
2. Charitable Activities
Grants made from the General Fund 1[st] September 2024 – 31[st] August 2025:
a.Chaplaincy at St Alban's Academy. £5,000 to replenish the reserve of £5,283 set aside to continue an annual contribution of £5,000 to the Diocese of Birmingham towards funding the half-time post of Chaplain at Ark St Alban’s Academy. £5,000 was paid over from the reserve during the year. (Because the post was vacant from
Report and Financial Statements for 31 August 2025
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Trustees of St Alban’s School
Charity 1139434
Company 7287734
June 2016 to October 2017 no allocation was made during the year 2017-2018; but
when the post was filled £4,717 was paid to the Diocese from a balance of £10,000
set aside in previous years, resulting in the balance currently set aside of £5,283.
The post was again vacant from 11 January 2025 to 29 September 2025 and only
£1,250 was claimed by the Diocese during the year, bringing the reserve for this
purpose to £9,033 at 31 August 2025.)
-
b.Maintenance of Public Worship at St Alban’s Church. £2,500 to St Alban’s PCC to help maintain public worship (increased in 2019-2020 from £2,000 annually). -
c.Highgate United Foodbank.£1,500 to the PCC to purchase food for the Food Bank, based at St Alban’s Church and operated by church volunteers to provide free weekly food parcels to needy people in the parish. -
d.Repairs to the pipe organ in St Alban’s Church.£39 to the Parochial Church Council towards repairs to the church pipe organ (towards a total grant of £2,835).
Grants made to Ark St Alban’s Academy from the Former School Governors’ Fund:
-
a.Ark St Alban’s Academy – Brilliant Club.£3,850 (towards a total grant of £4,500) to allow participation in The Brilliant Club, a charity that exists to increase the number of pupils from under-represented backgrounds progressing to highly selective universities. -
b.Ark St Alban’s Academy – DoE Awards Scheme.£2,500 to subsidise students’ participation in the Duke of Edinburgh’s Award Scheme. -
c.Ark St Alban’s Academy – UCAS Registration.£2,400 to pay for sixth form students’ registration with UCAS to apply for places at university.
Grant made to Ark St Alban’s Academy from the Miss Rattey Bequest Fund:
d.Ark St Alban’s Academy – Brilliant Club.£104 (towards a total grant of £4,500) to allow participation in The Brilliant Club.
Grants made from the St Patrick’s Restricted Fund:
-
a.Maintenance of Public Worship at St Alban’s Church. £2,500 to St Alban’s PCC to help maintain public worship, (increased in 2019-2020 from £2,000 annually). -
b.Friction Arts Ltd. – After School Workshops. £2,000 towards provision of after school workshops for children in the parish. -
c.Highgate Community Support Ltd. – Books and Board Games.£600 to purchase books and board games to improve communication skills, turn-taking and teamwork in group activities with families for whom perhaps English is not a first language, where children are learning English within schools. At 31 August 2025 this grant had not yet been spent or claimed, and so is shown as a liability. -
d.Ark St Alban’s Academy – Brilliant Club.£546 (towards a total grant of £4,500) to allow participation in The Brilliant Club. -
e.Repairs to the pipe organ in St Alban’s Church.£2,796 to the Parochial Church Council towards repairs to the church pipe organ (towards a total grant of £2,835).
Page 12 of 17
Report and Financial Statements for 31 August 2025
Trustees of St Alban’s School
Charity 1139434
Company 7287734
3. Administrative Costs
Examination of Financial Statements for 2023-2024, £100; Annual Companies’ House
Fee, £34. (Postage for accounts to Companies House waived.)
4. Tangible Assets
Under the Charity Commission Scheme of 8[th ]April 2011, the Freehold of the land on
which the St Alban’s School buildings stood, designated WM877706 at the Land
Registry, was transferred to the Charitable Company. It is not capitalised because it is
leased at a peppercorn rent to Ark Academies for use by St Alban’s Academy. The old
school buildings have been demolished and the site landscaped for use by the
Academy, which now stands on adjacent land owned by Birmingham City Council.
The part of the Trustees’ land adjacent to Stanhope Street is accessible as a public
amenity, with low, park-style railings provided by a grant from the Trustees in 2012-
13 and benches provided by a grant from the Trustees in 2016-17.
5. Investments
Restricted – Former School Governor’s Reserve Fund: £41,251 CCLA CBF Short Duration Bond Fund (formerly the Fixed Interest Securities Fund), £135,818 CCLA CBF Investment Fund; Miss Rattey Bequest: £4,126 CBF Short Duration Bond Fund.
Endowment – Trustees of St Alban’s School Endowment: £345,498 Investment Portfolio managed on a discretionary basis by EFG Harris Allday; St Patrick’s Fund Endowment: £29,129 CCLA CBF Short Duration Bond Fund (formerly the Fixed Interest Securities Fund), £88,555 CCLA CBF Investment Fund. £105.748 CCLA CBF Property Fund. and £491 CCLA CBF Deposit Fund (during the year the CCLA CBF UK Equities Fund was closed, and the 33,776.430 shares in this fund held by the St Patrick’s Fund, valued at £67,684.59 were converted to an additional 53,152.6543 shares in the CCLA CBF Property Fund). The charitable company is corporate trustee of the St Alban’s and St Patrick’s endowments.
6. Liabilities
General Creditors
This year refunds due to Treasurer of £43 Companies House fee; previous year refund
due to the Treasurer of £43 Companies House fee and £5 postage.
Grants already awarded but not yet drawn
At the start of the accounting period: £5,283 from the General Fund set aside for a
continuing annual contribution of £5,000 towards the provision by the Diocese of
Birmingham of a Chaplain for St Alban’s; £1,000 from the St Patrick’s Fund for
Maintenance of Public Worship at St Alban’s Church in the next calendar year. At the
end of the year £9,033 from the General Fund set aside for contributions towards the
provision by the Diocese of Birmingham of a Chaplain for St Alban’s; £1,000 from the
St Patrick’s Fund for Maintenance of Public Worship at St Alban’s Church in the next
calendar year, and £600 from the St Patrick’s Fund for Highgate Community Support
Ltd. to purchase books and board games.
- Unrestricted Funds
The General Fund is available for use at the discretion of the Directors/Trustees in furtherance of the general objectives of the charity.
Report and Financial Statements for 31 August 2025
Page 13 of 17
Trustees of St Alban’s School
Charity 1139434
Company 7287734
8. Restricted Funds
The Former School Governors’ Income , Former School Governors’ Reserve Fund, Miss Rattey Bequest Income and Miss Rattey Bequest Reserve Fund may only be used for the benefit of St Alban’s Academy as successor to St Alban’s School; the St Patrick’s Fund is to be used “to further the religious and other charitable work of the Church of England in the parish of St Alban the Martyr and St Patrick”.
9. Permanent Endowment Funds
The capital of Endowment Funds – the Trustees of St Alban’s School Endowment and the St Patrick’s Fund Endowment – cannot be expended; only the income from them is available for use. The income from the Trustees’ Endowment is the General Fund and the income from the St Patrick’s Fund Endowment is part of the St Patrick’s Fund.
In 2009 the governors of the former St Alban’s School, which closed to reopen as Ark
St Alban’s Academy, transferred their assets to the Trustees to be used for the
benefit of the new Academy. The Trustees erroneously believed that these assets
included the capital of the Spencer Bequest, an endowment to provide income “to be
applied towards maintenance and support of the schools belonging to the churches
of St Alban and St Patrick Highgate Birmingham” (of which Ark St Alban’s Academy is
now the sole representative). Consequently, the capital of this bequest was shown as
a Permanent Endowment in the Trustees’ Financial Statements from 31[st] August
2009 to 31[st] August 2021. This capital is held by Birmingham Diocesan Trustees, as is
normal for parochial endowments. Examination of the will of Henry Spencer has
shown his bequest was made directly to the “Trustees of the Birmingham Diocesan
Trust”. Accordingly, the capital of the Spencer Bequest is no longer shown as an asset
in the financial statements and income from the bequest is shown separately from
income from the Trustees own investments.
10. Comparative Figures
Paragraph 4.2 of the SORP FRS 102 requires that comparative information for the
previous year must be provided for all amounts provided in the SoFA. Comparative
information for the total funds of a charity must be provided on the face of the SoFA
and comparative information for each class of funds can be provided either on the
face of the SoFA or in a note to the accounts. To provide comparative information for
each class of funds the SoFA for the year ending 31[st] August 2024 is reproduced on
page 15 in corrected form to remove the capital of the Spencer bequest from figures
for the year ending 31[st] August 2021 and show the income as from an external source.
Paragraph 4.2 of the SORP FRS 102 also requires that comparative information must
be provided for all amounts provided in the balance sheet. Comparative information
for the total funds of a charity must be provided on the face of the balance sheet and
comparative information for each class of funds can be provided either on the face of
the balance sheet or in a note to the accounts. To provide comparative information
for each class of funds the balance sheet for the year ending 31[st] August 2024 is
reproduced on page 16, corrected to remove the capital of the Spencer bequest and
show the income from the bequest as income from a separate external source.
Page 14 of 17
Report and Financial Statements for 31 August 2025
Trustees of St Alban’s School
Charity 1139434
Company 7287734
Statement of Financial Activities for the period from 1[st] September 2023 to 31[st] August 2024
| Unrestricted Restricted Endowment Total Prior year Income and endowments from: Externally Managed Endowment Income from Spencer Bequest — 4,028 — 4,028 3,984 Investments Managed Investment Portfolio 9,039 — — 9,039 9,777 CBF Investments — 12,316 — 12,316 11,853 Deposit & Bank Interest — 52 — 52 30 Returned Grant — 900 — 900 — Total income 9,039 17,296 — 26,335 25,644 Expenditure on: Expenditure on charitable activities Grant to Diocese for Academy Chaplaincy 5,000 — — 5,000 5,000 Grants to St Alban's Academy (Other) 2,174 10,326 — 12,500 13,000 Grants to St Alban's PCC (Maint Pub Worship) 2,500 2,500 — 5,000 5,000 Grants to St Alban’s PCC (Restoration) — 4,633 — 4,633 — Grants to support Highgate United Food Bank — 1,500 — 1,500 500 Other Grants — — — — 300 Administrative Costs 139 — — 139 118 Total expenditure 9,813 18,959 — 28,772 23,918 Net income / (expenditure) (774) (1,663)— (2,437) 1,726 Other recognised gains / losses Gains / (losses) on investment assets — 13,228 56,723 69,951 (32,078) Net movement in funds (774) 11,565 56,723 67,514 (30,352) Reconciliation of funds Total funds brought forward 9,660 197,272 509,796 716,727 747,079 Total funds carried forward 8,886 208,836 566,519 784,241 716,727 Represented by Unrestricted General fund 8,886 — — 8,886 9,660 Restricted Former School Governors' Income — 8,770 — 8,770 8,564 Former School Governors' Reserve — 186,971 — 186,971 173,955 Miss Rattey Bequest Income — 390 — 390 376 Miss Rattey Bequest Reserve — 4,019 — 4,019 3,808 St Patrick's Fund Income — 8,685 — 8,685 10,569 Endowment St Patrick's Fund Endowment — — 227,013 227,013 214,001 Trustees of St Alban's School Endowment — — 339,506 339,506 295,795 Total Funds of the charity 8,886 208,836 566,519 784,241 716,727 |
|
|---|---|
Report and Financial Statements for 31 August 2025
Page 15 of 17
Trustees of St Alban’s School
Charity 1139434
Company 7287734
Balance Sheet as of 31[st] August 2024
| Unrestricted | Restricted | Endowment | Total | Prior year | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| funds | funds | funds | funds | total funds | ||
| Fixed assets | ||||||
| Investments | — | 190,990 | 566,028 | 757,018 | 687,067 | |
| Total fixed assets | — | 190,990 | 566,028 | 757,018 | 687,067 | |
| Current assets | ||||||
| Accounts Receivable | — | — | — | — | — | |
| Cash at bank and in hand | 14,208 | 18,846 | 491 | 33,545 | 35,961 | |
| Total current assets | 14,208 | 18,846 | 491 | 33,545 | 35,961 | |
| Creditors | 39 | — | — | 39 | 18 | |
| Grants awarded but not yet paid | 5,283 | 1,000 | — | 6,283 | 6,283 | |
| Total liabilities | 5,322 | 1,000 | — | 6,322 | 6,301 | |
| Net current assets less current liabilities | 8,886 | 17,846 | 491 | 27,224 | 29,660 | |
| Total assets less current liabilities | 8,886 | 208,836 | 566,519 | 784,241 | 716,727 | |
| Total net assets less liabilities | 8,886 | 208,836 | 566,519 | 784,241 | 716,727 | |
| Represented by: | Unrestricted | Restricted | Endowment | Total | Prior year | |
| funds | funds | funds | funds | total funds | ||
| Unrestricted | ||||||
| General fund | 8,886 | — | — | 8,886 | 9,660 | |
| Restricted | ||||||
| Former School Governors Income | — | 8,770 | — | 8,770 | 8,564 | |
| Former School Governors Reserve Fund | — | 186,971 | — | 186,971 | 173,955 | |
| Miss Rattey Bequest Income | — | 390 | — | 390 | 376 | |
| Miss Rattey Bequest Reserve Fund | 4,019 | 4,019 | 3,808 | |||
| St Patrick's Fund Income | — | 8,685 | — | 8,685 | 10,569 | |
| Endowment | ||||||
| St Patrick's Fund Endowment | — | — | 227,013 | 227,013 | 214,001 | |
| Trustees of St Alban's School Endowment | — | — | 339,506 | 339,506 | 295,795 | |
| Funds of the charity | 8,886 | 208,836 | 566,519 | 784,241 | 716,727 |
Approved by the Directors and signed on their behalf by:
Philippa H. Roberts(Chair)
Date:
Page 16 of 17
Report and Financial Statements for 31 August 2025
Trustees of St Alban’s School
Charity 1139434
Company 7287734
Independent examiner's report to the trustees of the charitable company The Trustees of St Alban’s School ('the Company') Charity Number 1139434; Company Number 7287734
I report to the charity trustees (who are also the directors of the charitable company) on my
examination of the accounts of the Company for the year ended 31[st] August 2025.
Responsibilities and basis of report
As the charity's trustees of the Company (and also its directors for the purposes of company
law) you are responsible for the preparation of the accounts in accordance with the
requirements of the Companies Act 2006 ('the 2006 Act').
Having satisfied myself that the accounts of the Company are not required to be audited
under Part 16 of the 2006 Act and are eligible for independent examination, I report in
respect of my examination of your charity's accounts as carried out under section 145 of the
Charities Act 2011 ('the 2011 Act'). In carrying out my examination I have followed the
Directions given by the Charity Commission under section 145(5) (b) of the 2011 Act.
Independent examiner's statement
I have completed my examination. I confirm that no matters have come to my attention in
connection with the examination giving me cause to believe:
1. accounting records were not kept in respect of the Company as required by section 386 of the 2006 Act; or
2. the accounts do not accord with those records; or
3. the accounts do not comply with the accounting requirements of section 396 of the 2006 Act other than any requirement that the accounts give a 'true and fair view which is not a matter considered as part of an independent examination; or
4. the accounts have not been prepared in accordance with the methods and principles of the Statement of Recommended Practice for accounting and reporting by charities [applicable to charities preparing their accounts in accordance with the Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland (FRS 102)].
I have no concerns and have come across no other matters in connection with the
examination to which attention should be drawn in this report in order to enable a proper
understanding of the accounts to be reached.
Signed: Date:
William T Cooper, Associate of Chartered Institute of Bankers (U. K.)
70 Overbury Close
Birmingham
B31 2HD
Report and Financial Statements for 31 August 2025
Page 17 of 17