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2022-08-31-accounts

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St Benedict S School, ealing
a m i n i m i s i n c i p e
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ANNUAL REPORT & FINANCIAL STATEMENTS for the year ended 31[st] August 2022

Company Number 08093330

ST BENEDICT’S SCHOOL EALING ANNUAL REPORT AND FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

For the year ended 31[st] August 2022

CONTENTS Page
Headmaster’s Report 1 - 4
Governors’ Report 5 - 12
Statement of Financial Activities 13
Balance Sheet 14
Statement of Cash Flows 15 - 16
Notes to the Financial Statements 17 - 30
Governing Body 31
Advisors 32
Independent Auditor’s Report 33-35

HEADMASTER’S REPORT

For the year ended 31[st] August 2022

The St Benedict’s family of schools includes St Benedict’s Senior School and St Benedict’s Junior School in Ealing and St Bernard’s Preparatory School in Slough.

Happily, 2021-22 saw school life and events returning much more to normal, following the disruption caused by the pandemic. Face to face teaching, learning, pastoral care, sports, music, dance, drama, and other co-curricular activities are all back to normal at St Benedict’s, with online lessons continuing only for those pupils absent because of Covid 19.

Examination results

Students sat their A Level and GCSE examinations as normal this year, for the first time since 2019. They were well prepared for the experience of sitting public exams – new to all of them following the government’s cancellation of these in the previous two years.

This summer’s A Level results were the best ever achieved at St Benedict’s in a year when exams were sat, with 62.1% of all A Level papers scoring A/A and 85.4% scoring A/B. By comparison, the last time examinations were taken, in 2019, 42.5% of exams were graded A*/A, and until this year these were the best top A level results ever achieved at St Benedict’s. Overall, top A level grades have increased by 25% over the past 5 years, from 37.1% in 2017 to 62.1% in 2022.

At GCSE, 69.1% of exams were awarded the top grades 9-7 – again, the School’s best ever results when public exams were taken.

Contrary to reports in the media, which declared substantial falls in examination stats nationally, St Benedict’s results were only slightly below last year’s (non-examined) Teacher Assessed Grades (2021: 64.5% A*/A at A Level and 73.2% 9-7 at GCSE).

University entry

In summer 2022, 83% of St Benedict’s students achieved accepted places at one of the UK’s top 30 universities, including 5 leavers who are taking up places at Oxford University. The vast majority of our leavers (78%) secured their place at their firstchoice university.

Academic opportunities and successes

The academic curriculum at the Senior School is designed to promote a love of learning, and to encourage intellectual curiosity. The Helikon Centre for Academic Challenge inspires pupils through a full programme of talks, workshops, discussions and presentations.

The St Benedict’s Lecture Series of evening talks for pupils and parents has also continued to cover a wide range of subjects:

Both in the sixth form and in Lower 4[th] (year 8), many pupils conducted independent research into subjects of particular interest to them through the Higher and Extended Project Qualifications. Topics included Female War Artists, Racial Diversity in the History Curriculum and Mental Health Provision for Young Adults.

Sixth Form students also undertook Massive Open Online Courses (MOOCs) in a variety of subjects, including Criminology, the Psychology of Memory and the Evolving Universe.

National competitions challenged pupils to apply their knowledge and think outside the box, with particular successes throughout the year in the UKMT Maths Challenges, the Chemistry Olympiad and the Oxford University Computing Challenge.

The School’s patron, Lord Patten of Barnes, addressed the academic scholars in November, referring to St Benedict’s “welldeserved reputation for academic excellence”. He said that, in addition to giving young people the opportunity to pursue and develop their interests and talents, the School also continues to provide a moral education, helping them to be good people who contribute to society. “We are going to need a generation of well-educated, morally sensitive, determined young people”, he said, to address the many difficult challenges we all face.

Opportunities for personal development and growth It has been a successful year for the Arts at St Benedict’s Senior School, with the welcome return of live performances. In Drama, the year began with an impressive student-led adaptation and production of Tolstoy’s Anna Karenina. This was the first performance to be given in our new Studio Theatre, which is proving to be an excellent and versatile facility.

In February we enjoyed an exuberant performance of Joseph and the Amazing Technicolour Dreamcoat, followed in June by the Middle School and Lower Fifth production of Treasure Island.

The St Cecilia Concert featured more performers than ever before, and the Music Festival in February gave us some truly brilliant solo and ensemble performances. We also celebrated this landmark 120[th] year with a wonderful concert in March, with music by Haydn, and a new commission from an Old Priorian, Sam Loveless. Sam described his choral piece, ‘Soul’, as “a celebration of people, community, friendship and family.”

The Dance Show in the Lent term saw over 100 St Benedict's dancers perform in a Myths and Legends extravaganza.

In addition to the performing arts, two wonderful art exhibitions showcased the incredible talents of our Middle School, GCSE and A Level artists. There was an explosion of colour and creativity as sculptures, paintings, animation films, photography and designs filled the Cloisters.

In Sport, we made a very good start in September with our Festival of Sport at Perivale – and two wins out of three exciting fixtures played by the Hockey, Netball and Rugby 1[st] teams, to launch our new floodlights. In Rugby, the 1[st] XV had an excellent season, the highlight of which was coming 3[rd] in the national Daily Mail Trophy Merit Table. The U12s won the Middlesex Cup, and rugby 7s competitions at Dulwich and London Oratory, while the U16s 7s squad won the Plate competition at the All England 7s.

In Hockey, our U16s won the London Area Schools Championships in January and the U12s won the Greater London Cup in March.

The Netball U12s and U13s won the inaugural Emmaus Partnership Tournament when we hosted teams from Sacred Heart, Cardinal Wiseman and St Augustine’s.

In fencing, a record 14 St Benedict’s fencers qualified for the British Youth Championships in Sheffield.

In Cricket, a squad of U13, 14 and 15 cricketers enjoyed an unforgettable tour to Sri Lanka at Easter, having raised £8,600 for the Foundation of Goodness, which helps impoverished rural communities in Sri Lanka. Many of the cricketers who went on the tour said that it had been very powerful to see the work of this charity, and to meet the children that they had raised money to help.

The CCF led Armistice services, both at school and in Ealing, with dignity and professionalism. This year, cadets also helped to plant 120 trees at Perivale to mark our anniversary year. There has been a record number of new recruits, both among our own pupils, and from our partner school, Cardinal Wiseman.

Outreach and Benedictine values

On 21[st] March 2022, the whole school celebrated St Benedict’s Day together for the first time in two years. The day began with Mass for all pupils and staff, celebrated by Bishop John Sherrington. All members of the School then helped to raise £6,422 for local, national and international charities: this year we supported the Lily Foundation (which fights mitochondrial disease), Downhurst Residential Home, and the Foundation of Goodness, which helps rural communities in Sri Lanka.

During the Lent term 2022, Sixth form students helped to organise a collection for Ukrainian refugees, donating vital supplies for people forced to flee their homes. St Benedict’s families contributed generously, providing tents, sleeping bags, first-aid materials, toiletries, and toys, which were transported to the Polish/Ukraine border.

St Benedict’s Junior School & Nursery

The boys and girls in the Junior School enjoyed a broad range of stimulating academic and co-curricular activities throughout the academic year, especially so once the COVID-19 ‘bubbles’ were no longer required. The children engaged in a variety of creative curriculum topics, including Under the Sea ( EYFS ); Turrets and Tiaras ( Key Stage 1 ); Out of Africa ( Lower Key Stage 2 ); and Travel and Treason (Upper Key Stage 2) - taught by specialist teachers for Art & Design, Games / Physical Education, ICT, Modern Languages (French / Spanish), Music, and Science.

The teambuilding activities provided by ‘ WiseUp’ helped the Form 1 and Form 2 children to develop their leadership, teamwork and listening skills. The National Gallery’s Take One Picture competition provided an artistic opportunity, with one of our pupils winning an award. The Art Exhibition and Book Week were wonderful events, showcasing the children’s creativity and championing books and storytelling.

After School Hobbies continue to be very popular, with numerous activities provided, ranging from: Art Club, Aviation Club, Chess Club, Cookery Club, Current Affairs Club, Dance, Debating Club, Drama Club, Fencing, Ju-jitsu, and Science Club. Pupils qualified for the regional finals of the Delancey UK Chess Challenge , and the School Challenge Quest (SCQ) competition enabled children to hone their research and presentation skills on a range of topics.

The musical and sporting life of the School is as vibrant as ever. Music performances (Key Stage Soloists’ concerts, the Spring Concert, Summer Concerts, and the SBJS Music Festival) were greatly enjoyed by the pupils and audiences alike, and a choir ensemble performed alongside more than 4,000 other children at the Young Voices Concert in Wembley Arena. Sports fixtures recommenced in athletics, cricket, fencing, field hockey, netball, rugby, swimming, and tennis, including our home SBJS U11 Hockey Tournament , and the summer Sports Days were a tremendous success. Children from across the Junior School participated in the Dance Shows alongside Senior School pupils. The Form 2 pupils performed Charlie and the Chocolate Factory .

The spiritual life of the School remains strong: pupils and staff have the opportunity to attend class, year group, and whole school Masses throughout the year, and the Lenten Reflection held in the Abbey Church was greatly appreciated by those who were able to attend.

School trips, including residentials, were much to the fore once again, including the PGL Residential (Upper Prep), the Normandy trip (Form 1), the Outward Bound trip in the Lake District (Form 2), alongside a splendid array of day trips linked to the creative curriculum topics.

The weekly ‘ Certificates and Awards’ assembly continues to celebrate academic and co-curricular achievements of the children. Pupils in Upper Prep and Form 1 participated in thought-provoking Eco-Day activities alongside Senior School pupils towards the end of the summer term. The Mini Vinnies (SVP) engaged in charity fundraising and the St Benedict’s Charity Day was held towards the end of the Trinity term.

St Bernard’s Preparatory School

Throughout the academic year 2021 – 2022 St Bernard’s Preparatory School continued to excel in many different areas across both the academic and pastoral curriculum. The children have enjoyed success across all key stages.

The Early Years Dept launched Little St B’s (a toddler group for the local community) allowing the Early Years Dept to showcase their excellent equipment, resources, and activities. The Early Years staff continued to deliver an exciting and invigorating curriculum. Parents were invited to watch the Early Years Nativity - live, as opposed to a recording due to previous Covid restrictions. For the first time in many years, the farm visited us and was enjoyed by the children and their families. Our Early Years children and staff wore pyjamas to school and took part in a danceathon to raise money for The Baby Bank, a local charity supporting young families. Everyone participated in World Book Day - suitability dressed as one of their favourite book characters and later in the year the children were invited to The Ugly Bug Ball. The whole department enjoyed learning about Vasakhi, Diwali and Eid and the children had opportunities to try special food connected to these celebrations.

The Lower School staff also ensured Years 1, 2 and 3 experienced an array of activities and opportunities linked to their classroom learning. Year 1 visited The Living Rainforest, Year 2 visited Windsor Castle, whilst Year 3 went to Reading Museum and experienced a fantastic History lesson. Year 1 and Year 2 put on a superb performance of The Selfish Giant . Year 3 children joined Years 4 and 5 and delivered a beautiful performance focused on the theme of peace.

Once again restrictions meant our Year 6 children were not permitted to go to France. Instead, they had an exciting week which included visits to Brighton, Chessington, London and Legoland. We also had a Year 6 runner-up prize in the 9+ category of the Henley Literary Festival Creative Writing Competition and reached the finals of Berkshire Young Singer of 2022. Musical talent continued to be celebrated with one of our Year 5 children securing a place with the National Children’s Orchestra. A team of Year 4 children were invited to attend Eagle House’s Spelling Bee and competed against 18 different schools and 33 teams to achieve joint second place. The Astronomy Dome visited the School and took Years 5 and 6 on an amazing trip around the solar system and to the stars beyond. There was also much success in the UKMT Junior Maths Challenge, Primary Maths Challenge and excellent KS2 SATS results.

There were also whole school achievements. Sports Day allowed the children to be recognised both individually for their sporting achievements, as well as collectively within their Houses. We welcomed four other prep schools to our annual Under 9s Football Festival. The Sunday Times published their Parent Power Best Schools Guide and St Bernard's Preparatory was not only the best in Berkshire and Buckinghamshire but was placed at Number 7 nationwide! We passed our R.E. intermediate inspection with flying colours. The highlight of the year was Bishop David’s visit to our school. His tour included our "God Through Art" exhibition and a walk through the history of St Bernard's Prep. We gathered as a whole school in the Peace Garden and recited the Lord’s Prayer in French. Bishop David commented on the energy he felt from both the children and the staff.

Buildings developments

Work began in July 2022 at St Benedict’s to create a new Atrium entrance adjacent to the Orchard Hall. The work will be completed in the first week of December 2022 and the new entrance officially opened January 2023.

A part of the playground at St Benedict’s has been landscaped with grass, planting, and attractive pathways, in an area where previously temporary classrooms had been situated.

We have offered a Pavilion café service on match days since September 2021 at the Perivale sports fields. This has proven to be very popular. Therefore, during July and August 2022 we refurbished the pavilion catering facility, including re-plastering, rewiring and the provision of new lighting and decoration.

At St Bernard’s Preparatory School, we are currently engaged in the first phase of rebuilding and re-equipping the School for the 21[st] century. Works began in May 2022 on this first phase and will end in early January 2023. Improvements to the School will include the reconfiguration of rooms, a new Atrium entrance and Reception area, a new façade for the School, with new windows and doors, and refreshing much of the interior fabric of the School.

Future Strategy

The Governors approved and introduced a new three-year strategic plan in 2020, which we will continue to implement during the academic year 2022/23. The aim of St Benedict’s Senior and Junior Schools is to become the Independent and Catholic schools of choice in West London. We will achieve this by supporting all pupils to achieve their academic potential, and to enjoy a full co-curricular life, in a school which develops individual gifts and strengths. At St Bernard’s we aim to build upon the School’s high academic standards and to promote what we offer so that we increase enrolment at the School.

Andrew Johnson Headmaster

GOVERNORS’ REPORT

For the year ended 31[st] August 2022

The members of the St Benedict’s School Ealing Board of Governors present their Annual Report for the year ended 31 August 2022 under the Charities Act 2011 and the Statement of Recommended Practice “Accounting and Reporting by Charities” SORP 2015 (FRS 102), second edition effective January 2019, including the Directors’ and Strategic Reports, under the Companies Act 2006, together with the audited financial statements for the year.

Governance Structure and Management

Structure

The charity’s objects, as set out in the Articles of Association, are to advance Roman Catholic education, and the Roman Catholic faith in particular, by running one or more independent schools in the charism of St Benedict and by ancillary religious and educational activities for the benefit of the community at large; and to support and promote the charitable purposes of the Ealing Monastic Community.

The School principally provides education to boys and girls from the ages of 3 to 18 in its three schools, St Benedict’s Junior School and Senior School in Ealing, and St Bernard’s Preparatory school in Slough. On 1[st] January 2019 St Benedict’s School acquired St Bernard’s Preparatory school from the Trustees of the Charity of the Bernadine sisters. The School admits baptised Roman Catholics as well as boys and girls of other Christian denominations and other faiths. Pupil numbers averaged 1,292 of which 750 were in Senior School and 304 Junior School, and 238 were in the Prep school. All the School’s activities are carried out through one legal body, which is a charitable company limited by guarantee. The School is governed by its Memorandum and Articles of Association, last amended on 6 December 2018.

The Directors, who are known as Governors, are required under the Articles to serve as members of the Company. As required by the Articles, one of the Governors is the Abbot of Ealing Abbey and two others are appointed by the Abbot. At least 75% of the Governors are required to be Roman Catholic. One third of the Governors (excluding the Abbot and his appointees) retire at each AGM and are eligible for re-election for consecutive periods not exceeding in aggregate twelve years from the date of their original appointment. There are 15 serving governors at 31[st] August 2022.

At appointment, new Governors are inducted into the workings of the School, including policies and procedures, by the Clerk to the Governors. Written information is provided by way of a Governor Handbook and Guidelines for Governors, drawn up by AGBIS (the Association of Governing Bodies of Independent Schools). Training courses are arranged with AGBIS. Training is also given in safeguarding and child protection. Regular training sessions are provided to keep Governors updated, a skills audit is carried out regularly and strategy days are held.

The Governors are legally responsible for the overall management and control of St Benedict’s School. They meet at least three times per year. The work of implementing most of their policies is carried out by a series of sub committees. These are as follows:

as follows:
Safeguarding St Bernard’s Prep
Education Scholarships and Bursaries
Finance & General Purposes Health and Safety
Nominations (Governors) Ethos

Safeguarding, Education, Finance & General Purposes, Health and Safety and St Bernard’s Prep Committees have their own terms of reference, meet at least termly in advance of the full Governing Body meeting and report to the full Governing Body. Members of senior management attend these meetings. The other three committees meet as required.

St Benedict’s School is run by Mr A Johnson as Chief Executive. Mr Johnson is also Headmaster of the Senior School. Mr R Simmons is Headmaster of the Junior School. He is responsible for day to day running of the Junior School and reports to Mr Johnson. Ms A Verma is Head of the Preparatory School. She is responsible for the day to day running of the Preparatory School and reports to Mr Johnson. During the year, the Headmaster met regularly with the Chair of Governors, with the Bursar and with the Deputy Heads to facilitate the development and implementation of the strategy.

At the end of the academic year 2022-23 Andrew Johnson will be stepping down as Headmaster of the School. We would like to thank him for his invaluable contribution to the Schools since 2016. We will be welcoming Joe Smith as new Headmaster of St Benedict’s at the start of the academic year 2023-24. He has a First in English from the University of Liverpool, a PGCE and a Master’s in Educational Leadership. After 12 years as Head of English and then a housemaster at Monkton Combe School in Bath, he was appointed Headmaster of the Oratory Preparatory School in Oxfordshire in 2010. In 2016 he moved to The Oratory School as Headmaster. He is a governor of two HMC schools and an ISI inspector.

Staff and Volunteers

Inclusion is a thread which runs through all the School’s activities. In order to promote an environment within which the School can call upon the widest possible range of knowledge, skill and experience, the School’s policies facilitate the employment of disabled people and the provision, where appropriate, for training and career development. Were an employee to become disabled whilst in service, every effort would be made to retain them.

Governors place considerable importance on informing all staff of financial and other matters that affect them, consulting with them where appropriate. The Headmaster and the Junior School and Prep School Headteachers report the outcome of Governors’ meetings to staff through the School’s formal management structure. All other such matters are briefed to staff as they arise through regular staff meetings.

Key management personnel include Headteachers, Bursar and Deputy Heads. Remuneration is dependent on experience and is set by benchmarking pay for similar positions in other schools.

Many parents help as volunteers, particularly through the work of the Society of Parents and Friends (SPF) at St Benedict’s Junior and Senior School and through the work of Friends of the Preparatory School (FOPS) at St Bernard’s. Old Priorians, the former pupils of St Benedict’s Senior School, also give their time to assist the School. The School is very grateful to all its supporters.

Responsibilities

The Governors are responsible for preparing the Governors’ Report and the financial statements in accordance with applicable law and regulations.

Company law requires the Governors to prepare financial statements for each financial year. Under that law the Governors have elected to prepare the financial statements in accordance with United Kingdom Generally Accepted Accounting Practice (United Kingdom Accounting Standards and applicable law). 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 the profit or loss of the School for that period. In preparing these financial statements, the Governors are required to:

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 Charities Act 2011, Companies Act 2006 and the Statement of Recommended Practice “Accounting and Reporting by Charities” SORP (FRS 102). 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.

So far as each of the Governors is aware at the time the report is approved:

Public Benefit

The Governors have complied with the duty in Section 17 of the Charities Act 2011 to have due regard to the Charity Commission’s general guidance on public benefit. The School is committed to ensuring that it is meeting its main aim and its charitable objective. During 2021-22, it has done so in a range of ways, as set out below.

St Benedict’s Senior and Junior School

Bursaries and Scholarships

This year the value of bursaries and scholarships made to the School’s pupils amounted to £1,028,085 (2021: £1,113,517). Bursaries provided amounted to £777,563 (2021: £844,520), all were means tested and this figure includes temporary bursaries for those in financial hardship. Scholarships provided amounted to £250,522 (2021: £268,997). The Governors’ policy, in line with that of other Independent Schools, is to make these awards on the basis of the individual’s educational potential. In addition, the School is providing fully funded places to 2 Ukrainian children.

Supporting local maintained schools

The School is committed to working with local maintained schools to support them in their own educational aims. It does this in a variety of ways, but notable examples include our partnership with Cardinal Wiseman in Greenford whose pupils may become members of the St Benedict’s CCF; 85 have chosen to do so since November 2020, and there are more on our waiting list. There are currently around 95 Cardinal Wiseman pupils who are Cadets in the St Benedict’s CCF.

The School also provides equipment loans and experienced staff to help newer CCFs train their adult staff and their Cadets. This is in addition to the partnership with Cardinal Wiseman mentioned above.

Since December 2019 practice interviews for aspiring medics have been opened up to pupils from St Augustine’s Priory and Sacred Heart, Hammersmith.

The School’s next Careers Fair will take place in February 2024. The last two Careers Fairs in February 2020 and June 2022 were opened up to pupils from Cardinal Wiseman, Sacred Heart and St Augustine’s. The intention is to continue to make careers events open to other schools as part of the Emmaus partnership. Recordings of ‘Careers Breakfasts’ have also been shared with Emmaeus Partnership schools. The same applies to the St. Benedict’s lecture series and the 2022 Climate Change Conference.

St. Benedict’s hosts the annual U18 Middlesex rugby sevens tournament as well as a pre-season hockey tournament and a Junior School netball tournament. In addition, the School has organised and hosted the inaugural Emmaeus Parnership netball tournament. The Head of Netball is also honorary head coach of the U14 Team Ealing London Youth Games netball squad, with a newly appointed sports graduate as her assistant. One of the School’s rugby coaches is a member of the Middlesex U16 coaching team. An annual Able and Enthusiastic sports morning is held at the games field for Year 5 pupils from local primary schools, and there is a rolling programme of Able and Enthusiastic mornings in other subjects, the latest being history, sport and music.

The Modern Languages Department donated old textbooks and digital resources to Cardinal Wiseman and Brentford School for Girls.

Year 5 primary school pupils are also invited to the annual Year 8 Science Fair and the Art Show.

The School also performs at and provides financial support for local community events such as Pitshanger’s ‘Light up the Lane’ and ‘Party in the Park’, Christmas carols (including an annual concert by the Junior School Schola at Downhurst Residential Home) etc. Bursaries of up to £1,000 per annum are awarded to six pupils for instrumental lessons.

Charity collections take place at various events in the Abbey such as remembrance concerts and carol services.

One teacher is a trustee of Ealing Choral Society, which is a registered charity offering bursaries to young members and discounts to those on limited income. Several thousand pounds is raised each year for a local charity via a Christmas Carol concert.

One teacher is a trustee of Ealing Youth Orchestra and assists with the organisation and staffing of concerts.

The School supports Initial Teacher Training and, in 2017-18, became a member of the West London Teaching School Alliance (WLTSA), which is coordinated by Sacred Heart School, Hammersmith. St Benedict’s is the only independent school member of the WLTSA.

Members of the St Benedict’s teaching staff serve as Governors at Cardinal Wiseman Greenford, Chiswick School, St. Joseph’s Primary School Hanwell (including acting as Chair of the Standards and Curriculum Committee), St. Mary’s Primary School Hammersmith and St. George’s Catholic Primary School, Harrow. One member of staff is a secondary school governor for the Ealing Alternative Provision (EAP, which is an exclusion unit in old terms) run by Ealing Council. The Deputy Head (Pastoral) is a member of an advisory safeguarding panel at the Department for Education, a Trustee of the Schools’ Consent Project, an article reviewer for the Journal of Pastoral Care in Education and a peer reviewer for the Child Abuse Review as well as being an ISI Inspector. One member of staff is a councillor representing the London Borough of Hounslow and also a trustee of the London Basketball Association. Another member of staff is a councillor representing the London Borough of Hillingdon and a third represents the ward of Pinkwell in this borough.

Offering use of the School’s facilities to local community groups

In addition to letting its facilities to various local sports clubs, the School also grants free use of its facilities to other charitable organisations, including Ealing Abbey and Parish and Met NW region of HCPT (a group which organises pilgrimages to Lourdes), which uses the School not only for meetings but also to host fundraising events. Even though the School has its own HCPT group, the staff and students involved are technically volunteers external to school.

The School is also used each Saturday during term time by the Tadeusz Kosciuzko Polish School. The School lets its facilities at heavily subsidised rates to this group, which welcomes approximately 500 pupils, who are members of the local Polish community.

As well as hosting the Polish School on Saturdays, the School is also the venue for meetings of Polish Scouts and Cubs. Two Polish volleyball clubs use the Sports Hall for training. One of these (Polonia) is of national standard.

External pupils attend fencing sessions at subsidised rates. The School also funds the Ealing Youth Games fencing teams, the School Sports Hall is used for trials, and coaches volunteer their time to prepare the team.

Supporting local, national, and international charities

The educational work of the School involves pupils and students engaging in various projects to promote and assist local, national, and international charities. In 2021-22 the School raised over £33,598 in support of a range of charities. In addition to fundraising, the Lower Sixth Form Service programme also lends practical support to many local charities.

The School, as part of the Emmaus Partnership, takes part in fundraising and charitable activities, for example collecting food for the Ealing Food Bank, especially Christmas hampers. Last year the School also collected 52 pairs of spectacles which were sent to a project in the city of Chipata in eastern Zambia.

The School’s St Vincent de Paul (SVP) societies are involved in a wide range of charitable fundraising throughout the year. At the end of last academic year, the SVP groups made donations to Aid to the Church in Need, the Hosanna House & Children’s Pilgrimage Trust, Caritas, and the Global Catholic Climate Movement. The Sixth Form SVP hosts Christmas and summer senior

citizen’ parties to which residents from local care homes are invited. In addition, Sixth Form pupils help at a local soup kitchen in Ealing – this is co-ordinated via the parish.

On the School’s annual St Benedict’s Day funds were raised to help the charities The Lily Foundation, The Foundation of Goodness and Downhurst Residential Home.

The School’s four houses organised charity days in the course of 2021-22, supporting the Red Cross St. Vincent and the Grenadines La Souffrière Appeal, Young Lives vs Cancer, The Foundation of Goodness and Brass for Africa.

Each year, on the day of the annual Macmillan Coffee Morning, the School runs a ‘Great Bennies Bake Off’ in aid of Macmillan Cancer Support.

The whole school took part in the Aid to the Church in Need ‘Red Wednesday’ fundraising day.

The Development Department’s ‘120 Trees’ project in November 2021 raised funds for Restore Our Planet, and trees were also given to parents and members of the local community. The department also donated funds to the Rugby Players’ Association ‘Restart’ charity.

One of the School’s peripatetic music teachers has set up the Ukraine Music Hub to help to provide free music lessons, instruments, places to practise and performance opportunities to Ukrainian refugees. A national database has been established listing UK based teachers offering help and those seeking lessons and/or instruments. St. Benedict’s are the administrators of this scheme.

Another of the School’s peripatetic music teachers has set up and runs the Your Turn Collective charity, which works in support of classical music creators from under-represented backgrounds. Last year one of these creators was commissioned to write a fanfare to open the St. Cecilia’s Day celebrations for Help Musicians at St. Paul’s Cathedral.

Three members of staff arranged for City Harvest, a local food recycling distributor, to talk to Year 12 about their charity and volunteering opportunities. A collection of food from the School was organised for distribution to local charities, soup kitchens and foodbanks. Similarly, goods were collected for delivery to Ukraine.

Four members of staff took part in a 10 kilometre ‘moonlight walk’ for Parkinsons UK, raising over £1,500.

The Art Department provides training and resources to the staff at St Joseph's Primary School, Hanwell, helping them to develop their curriculum and raise the profile of art within the School. Off-cuts for printing and perspex blocks have been donated.

The School supports five local retirement homes (St. David’s, Kent Lodge, Acton Care Home, Torkington and Downhurst) through voluntary service. Students socialise and serve the elderly in the local community. Pre-prep pupils perform their Nativity play for residents at one of these homes (usually St. David’s) every December.

The School has also supported the campaigns of a number of charities, including Aid to the Church in Need’s Red Wednesday campaign, raising funds and awareness, as well as the Jesuit Mission’s ‘Be Bold Boris’ campaign on climate change. At the start of the Ukraine War, staff and students organised a collection of a range of items (toiletries, clothing, and First Aid) to be taken to the frontlines of the conflict.

The Ecocentric Committee has run a local biodiversity survey and litter picking in surrounding parks as well as a trip to Moo Canoes to litter pick from the River Lea. It has also taken part in Sadiq Khan's sustainable housing ideas competition for the Royal Docks. The School uses Ecosia as its search engine, and this helps to plant trees around the world. Most recently the Ecocentric Committee helped with the running of the Climate Change conference in July.

The School has developed a significant link with the Foundation of Goodness, based in Hikkaduwa on the south coast of Sri Lanka. This charity has done incredible work to make a difference to the lives of extremely impoverished rural communities,

especially in the wake of the 2004 Tsunami. St. Benedict’s has run four cricket tours to Sri Lanka since 2014, and on each tour students have visited the Foundation’s headquarters and spent an afternoon coaching and playing with local children who are beneficiaries of the project as well as presenting a donation (£8,600 in 2022, with a further £950 donated after the tour). A fifth tour is planned for Easter 2024.

The ‘St. Benedict’s Hub’ (the second-hand uniform store) supports Porridge and Rice, a charity that helps children in the slums of Nairobi, providing meals and schooling, by supplying uniform and sports kit (a Sixth Form pupil also organised a book collection). It also donates rugby kit to a charity in Malawi and clothing to Acton Recycling Community. In addition, donations have been made to a parent who organises distribution of clothing to Afghan refugee children in various Ealing schools, and also to a number of Ukrainian families.

Staff at St Benedict’s have supported charities in a range of other ways:

St Bernard’s Prep School

This year the value of bursaries made to help support the School’s pupils amounted to £1,568 (2021: £19,711). A refund on lunches was provided in the January term for those pupils remote learning.

At the Prep School, children are still given many opportunities to support others through prayer, fundraising and giving to others. The children support numerous charitable organisations.

In 2021/22, the Prep School supported Water Aid, Mission Together, CAFOD and Unicef, raising a total of £2618.

In addition to these funds raised, St Bernard’s also continue to share their good practice in teaching RE with Our Lady of Peace Primary School, raise awareness of local and global causes through social action projects and provide work experience through the Education Business Partnership.

Financial Review

The School’s operating surplus to 31[st] August 2022 as shown on the Statement of Financial Activities was £328,790 (2021: £1,132,948).

Total reserves held at 31[st] August 2022 were £12,422,761 (2021: £12,093,971). The School currently has total unrestricted funds of £12,351,541 (2021: £12,042,477) split by general funds of £8,099,173 (2021: £7,771,300) and designated funds of £4,252,368 (2021: £4,271,177). Designated funds relate to the Land and Property Fund. The Land and Property Fund is the value of land and property where property will depreciate at 2%.

The School has fixed assets of £17,604,925 (2021: £17,225,471). The excess of fixed assets over unrestricted funds is £5,253,384 (2021: £5,182,994). The policy is to build up free reserves through annual surpluses in the coming years.

Reserves held at 31[st] August 2022 in restricted funds were £71,220 (2021: £51,494) mainly represented by the Leavers donations and Lecture series.

Reserves Policy

In drawing up their reserves policy the Governors have considered the following: the School’s activities, funding sources, future needs, opportunities, economic conditions, contingencies, and the risks being faced. In view of the need to invest heavily in the Schools’ facilities, it is the Governors’ policy to maintain free, undesignated reserves of a minimum of one month’s expenditure. The policy has been reviewed in light of the current inflationary pressures and Governors are satisfied that the policy meets the requirements of the School. The level of reserves held is monitored throughout the year using monthly management accounts and termly meetings of the Finance and General Purposes Committee.

Development

St Benedict’s School has a Development & Alumni Engagement Office which has been in operation since September 2014. The Development & Alumni Engagement Office is registered with the Fundraising Regulator and adheres to all fundraising codes of practice. It is staffed by a Development Manager and a Development & Alumni Engagement Director who is a member of the CASE and IDPE industry bodies.

The Office has a structured programme of fundraising events including an Annual Fund, which seeks to support enhancing the materials and fabric of the School alongside Senior School Bursary fundraising. We do not use third party fundraiser and there have been no complaints made regarding the activity of the Development & Alumni Engagement Office.

The eighth year of the Development & Alumni Engagement Office saw continued growth once again. The 2022 Annual Fund was considerably bolstered by strong support during the second Giving Week, and raised over £100,000 towards Bursaries, new cricket equipment, and a new Music Studio.

Continued focus on Alumni engagement has seen the School’s alumni platform, St Benedict’s Connect, grow to over 1,200 Old Priorians, with over 70% of current members participating in the platform mentoring programme.

2022 marks the 120[th] Anniversary of St Benedict’s and celebrations have included a Sports Festival, SPF Barbecue, Fireworks, OPA Dinner, Oxbridge Dinner, 120[th] Anniversary Concert and an annual Golf Day.

Energy and Carbon Report

In accordance with the Streamlined Energy and Carbon Reporting (SECR) requirements, the School’s energy usage and emissions for the year were as follows:

----- Start of picture text -----
2021- 2020-21 2019-20
2022
UK energy use in kWh Gas 793,225 1,083,031 999,627
UK energy use in kWh Electricity 667,753 617,116 599,194
Associated Greenhouse Gas emissions in Tonnes CO2 161.3 220.2 203.3
Intensity Ratio (kilo of emissions per pupil) 0.287 0.200 0.185
----- End of picture text -----

100% of the School’s electricity comes from renewable sources. The School continues to invest in building improvements such as LED lighting and replacing boilers to ensure they run more efficiently.

The School runs an “Eco-centric” committee which is a pupil-led group proposing green initiatives. In 2021-22 pupils developed their own vegetable garden and developed marketing literature to be used for a series of eco campaigns across the School including using less electricity, recycling and reducing pollution.

Risk Management

The Governors have given consideration to the major risks to which the charity is exposed and satisfied themselves that systems or procedures are established in order to manage those risks. They have in place appropriate structures and procedures to assess risk. A “Risk Register” assists the process of identifying risks and controls, assessing risks and evaluating actions required. Whilst Governors have responsibility for identifying risks, senior staff play a key role in assisting in drawing up the risk register. The risk register for each category of risk sets out the following:

Sub committees of the Governing Board review those sections of the risk register delegated by the Board of Governors, as set down in the Risk Management Strategy.

The highest priority risks identified by the Governors were:

  1. Lower pupil numbers lead to a reduction in our surplus.

  2. Additional cost of employer contribution to Teachers’ Pensions leads to a reduction in our surplus, and so reduces capacity for spend on Facilities and Teaching & Learning.

  3. Cost of living crisis: A high rate of inflation and increasing energy costs leads to an increase in school running costs and affects parents’ ability to pay the fees leading to fewer pupil numbers and a reduced surplus.

The risks will be mitigated as follows:

  1. Pupil, and prospective pupil, numbers and information are regularly analysed and this information influences the marketing strategy which drives all marketing activity. Continued improvements in academic achievement also contribute to our marketing message. The strategy ensures publicity, advertising and events are appropriately targeted so that numbers of pupils applying are at a sufficient level.

  2. We conduct robust financial modelling to include such scenarios and discuss actions to be taken if any of these events were to occur. We will exercise appropriate caution on capital spending. We offer an alternative pension scheme for teachers to opt into.

  3. The School will continue very close monitoring of costs including detailed cost reviews and cut back where necessary to maintain a sufficient surplus. An enhanced hardship fund will be maintained to support parents who find themselves in difficulty financially.

The Governors approved the Governors’ Report, including the Strategic Report, on 1 December 2022 and signed on their behalf by

Jonathan Berger Chair of Governors

STATEMENT OF FINANCIAL ACTIVITIES

For the year ended 31[st] August 2022

Unrestricted Restricted Total Total
Funds Funds 2022 2021
INCOME FROM: Note £ £ £ £
Charitable activities
Fees 3 18,441,431 - 18,441,431 17,774,041
Other academic income 4 1,105,202 - 1,105,202 914,937
Other educational income 5 779,502 - 779,502 461,710
Donations
Other donations and grants 6 100 195,214 195,314 386,745
Other trading activities
Lettings income 219,905 - 219,905 137,818
Bank interest 1,292 - 1,292 3
----------------------- --------------------- --------------------- ---------------------
Total Income 20,547,432 195,214 20,742,646 19,675,254
----------------------- --------------------- --------------------- ---------------------
EXPENDITURE ON: 7
Charitable activities:
Teaching 13,744,509 - 13,744,509 12,647,339
Establishment 3,939,150 175,488 4,114,638 3,682,470
Welfare 538,288 - 538,288 488,903
Administration 1,906,384 - 1,906,384 1,723,594
----------------------- --------------------- ----------------------- -----------------------
Total Expenditure 20,128,331 175,488 20,303,819 18,542,306
------------------------ --------------------- ----------------------- -----------------------
Net income 2 419,101 19,726 438,827 1,132,948
Pension provision movement (110,037) (110,037) -
------------------------ --------------------- ----------------------- -----------------------
Net movement in funds 309,064 19,726 328,790 1,132,948
Total funds at 1 September 2021 12,042,477 51,494 12,093,971 10,961,023
--------------------- --------------------- --------------------- ---------------------
Total funds at 31 August 2022 12,351,541 71,220 12,422,761 12,093,971
========== ========== ========== ==========

CONTINUING OPERATIONS

None of the School’s activities were acquired or discontinued during the year.

TOTAL RECOGNISED GAINS AND LOSSES

The School has no recognised gains or losses other than the surplus for the current period.

Details of comparative figures by fund are disclosed in note 21.

Company Number: 08093330

BALANCE SHEET

31[st] August 2022

2022 2021
Notes £ £ £ £
FIXED ASSETS
Tangible fixed assets 10 17,604,925 17,225,471
CURRENT ASSETS
Stock 13,041 14,930
Debtors 11 336,206 340,104
Cash at bank and in hand 2,561,722 2,451,940
-------------------- --------------------
2,910,969 2,806,974
CREDITORS:amounts falling due
within one year 12 (2,835,540) (2,546,385)
-------------------- --------------------
NET CURRENT ASSETS 75,429 260,589
--------------------- ---------------------
TOTAL ASSETS LESS CURRENT 17,680,354 17,486,060
LIABILITIES
CREDITORS:amounts falling due
after more than one year 13 (5,257,593) (5,392,089)
--------------------- ---------------------
NET ASSETS 12,422,761 12,093,971
========== ==========
FUNDS
Unrestricted funds 14a
General 8,099,173 7,771,300
Designated 4,252,368 4,271,177
--------------------- ---------------------
12,351,541 12,042,477
Restricted funds 14b 71,220 51,494
--------------------- ---------------------
TOTAL FUNDS 15 12,422,761 12,093,971
========== ==========

The financial statements were approved and authorised for issue by the Governors on 1 December 2022 and were signed below on its behalf by:

Jonathan Berger Chair of Governors

STATEMENT OF CASH FLOWS

For the year ended 31[st] August 2022

2022 2021
£ £ £ £
Cash flows from operating activities:
Net cash provided by operating activities 1,482,590 1,323,703
Cash flows from investing activities:
Interest received 1,292 3
Purchase of tangible fixed assets (1,187,678) (376,996)
--------------------- ---------------------
Net cash used in investing activities (1,186,386) (376,993)
Cash flows from financing activities
Repayment of bank loan (186,422) (193,143)
--------------------- ---------------------
Change in cash and cash equivalents 109,782 753,567
Cash and cash equivalents at the beginning of
the reporting period 2,451,940 1,698,373
--------------------- ---------------------
Cash and cash equivalents at the end of the
reporting period		 2,561,722 2,451,940
========== ===========
RECONCILIATION OF NET INCOME/(EXPENDITURE) TO
NET CASH FLOW FROM OPERATING ACTIVITIES 2022 2021
£ £
Net income for the reporting period (as per the
Statement of Financial Activities)		 328,790 1,132,948
Adjustments for:
Depreciation 652,321 592,638
Decrease in stock 1,889 134
Decrease/(increase) in debtors 3,898 (20,327)
Increase/(decrease) in creditors 341,081 (381,687)
Interest received (1,292) (3)
Disposal of Assets 155,903 -
--------------------- ---------------------
Net cash provided by operating activities 1,482,590 1,323,703
========== ==========
ANALYSIS OF CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS
2022 2021
£ £
Cash in hand and at bank 2,561,722 2,451,940
--------------------- ---------------------
Total cash and cash equivalents 2,561,722 2,451,940
========== ==========

ANALYSIS OF CHANGES IN NET DEBT

ANALYSIS OF CHANGES IN NET DEBT
At 1 At
September Cash flows 31 August
2021 2022
£'000 £'000 £'000
Cash and cash equivalents
Cash 2,451,940 109,782 2,561,722
---------------------
---------------------		 -------------------
2,451,940 109,782 2,561,722
Borrowings
Debt due within one year (230,640) - (230,640)
Debt due after one year (1,296,958) 186,422 (1,110,536)
------------------- -------------------- -------------
(1,527,598) 186,422 (1,341,176)
---------------------
---------------------		 ---------------------
Total Net (debt)/cash 924,342 296,204 1,220,546
========== =========== ==========

NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

For the year ended 31[st] August 2022

1. ACCOUNTING POLICIES

Basis of preparation

The financial statements have been prepared in accordance with the Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland (FRS102), the Companies Act 2006 and the 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) – second edition effective 1[st] January 2019.

The functional currency of the School is considered to be GBP because that is the currency of the primary economic environment in which the School operates. The School is a Public Benefit Entity registered as a charity in England and Wales and a company limited by guarantee (company number: 08093330 and charity number: 1148512). The financial statements have been prepared under the historical cost convention, subject to the revaluation of certain fixed assets.

Going Concern

Governors have discussed the additional risks arising due to rising inflation and have reviewed the associated plans put in place to mitigate those risks. Budgets have been prepared with these plans in mind and have been reviewed and approved. Governors have also reviewed the funding facilities available to the School together with the expected ongoing demand for places and the School’s future projected cash flows. The Governors have a reasonable expectation that the School has adequate resources to continue its activities for the foreseeable future and consider that there were no material uncertainties over the School’s financial viability. Accordingly, they continue to adopt the going concern basis in preparing the financial statements as outlined in the Statement of Accounting and Reporting Responsibilities on page 6.

Critical accounting judgements and key sources of estimation uncertainty

In the application of the accounting policies, Governors are required to make judgements, estimates, and assumptions about the carrying value of assets and liabilities that are not readily apparent from other sources. The estimates and underlying assumptions are based on historical experience and other factors that are considered to be relevant. Actual results may differ from these estimates.

The estimates and underlying assumptions are reviewed on an ongoing basis. Revisions to accounting estimates are recognised in the period in which the estimate is revised if the revision affects only that period, or in the period of the revision and future periods if the revision affected current and future periods.

Judgements made by the Governors, in the application of these accounting policies that have significant effect on the financial statements and estimates with a significant risk of material adjustment in the next year are deemed to be in relation to the depreciation rates of tangible fixed assets and are discussed below.

In the view of the Governors, no assumptions concerning the future or estimation uncertainty affecting assets or liabilities at the balance sheet date are likely to result in a material adjustment to their carrying amounts in the next financial year.

Income

Fees receivable and other fees are accounted for in the period in which the service is provided. Fees receivable represent fees less bursaries and allowances and other income derived from the School’s continuing activities. Fundraising and other income is accounted for when entitlement arises, the amount can be reliably quantified and the economic benefit to the School is considered probable.

Expenditure

Expenditure is accounted for on an accruals basis and is recognised when there is a legal or constructive obligation to pay for expenditure.

All costs have been attributed to the functional categories of resources expended in the Statement of Financial Activities. The School is not registered for VAT and accordingly expenditure is included gross of irrecoverable VAT.

Governance costs comprise the costs of running the charity, including strategic planning for its future development, external audit, any legal advice for the School’s Governors, and all the costs of complying with constitutional and statutory requirements, such as costs of Board and Committee meetings and of preparing statutory accounts and satisfying public accountability.

Tangible fixed assets

Tangible assets, except the freehold property, are stated at cost less depreciation.

Depreciation is provided on all tangible fixed assets other than freehold land, at rates calculated to write off the cost less their estimated residual value of each asset over its expected useful life, as follows:

School buildings - 2% on cost
Motor vehicles - 20% on cost
Furniture, fittings and equipment - 33.3% on cost
Property improvements - 20% on cost

Individual items costing less than £2,000 are normally written off as an expense on acquisition.

Stock

Stock is stated at the lower of cost and net realisable value. Stock reflects umbrellas and catering supplies.

Financial instruments

Basic financial instruments are initially recognised at transaction value and subsequently measured at amortised value with the exception of investments which are held at fair value. Financial assets held at amortised cost comprise cash at bank and in hand, together with trade and other debtors. A specific provision is made for debts for which recoverability is in doubt. Cash at bank and in hand is defined as all cash held in bank accounts and used as working capital. Financial liabilities held at amortised cost comprise all creditors except social security and other taxes and provisions.

Debtors

Trade and other debtors are recognised at the settlement amount due after any trade discount offered. Prepayments are valued at the amount prepaid net of any trade discounts due.

Cash at bank and in hand

Cash at bank and cash in hand includes cash and short-term deposits.

Creditors and provisions

Creditors and provisions are recognised where the School has a present obligation resulting from a past event that will probably result in the transfer of funds to a third party and the amount due to settle the obligation can be measured or estimated reliably. Creditors and provisions are normally recognised at their settlement amount after allowing for any trade discounts due.

Pensions

The Teachers’ Pension Scheme - this scheme is a multi-employer pension scheme. It is not possible to identify the School’s share of the underlying assets and liabilities of the Teachers’ Pension Scheme on a consistent and reasonable basis and therefore, as required by FRS102, the School accounts for the scheme as if it were a defined

Pensions (continued)

contribution scheme. The School’s contributions, which are in accordance with the recommendations of the Government Actuary, are charged in the period in which the salaries to which they relate are payable.

The School also operates a defined contribution group personal pension scheme for non-teaching staff.

Operating lease commitments

The rentals payable under operating leases are charged to the Statement of Financial Activities (SOFA) on a straight-line basis over the lease term.

Fund accounting

Funds held by the charity are:

Unrestricted funds – these are funds which can be used in accordance with the charitable objects at the discretion of the Governors.

Designated funds – these are unrestricted funds marked by the Board of Governors for particular purposes.

Restricted funds – these are funds that can only be used for particular restricted purposes within the objects of the charity. Further explanation of the nature and purpose of the restricted funds is included in note 14b to the accounts.

2. NET INCOME 2022 2021
£ £
Net income is stated after charging
Depreciation of owned tangible fixed assets 652,321 592,638
Auditor’s remuneration – audit services 21,900 19,380
Operating leases – buildings 486,249 482,134
– equipment 65,851 65,851
3. FEES RECEIVABLE
2022 2021
£ £
Fees receivable consist of:
Gross fees 20,666,900 19,978,687
Less: Bursaries, scholarships (1,029,653) (1,133,228)
Less: Other awards (1,195,816) (1,071,418)
------------------------ ------------------------
18,441,431 17,774,041
=========== ===========
4. OTHER ACADEMIC INCOME 2022 2021
£ £
Examination fees 76,161 111,639
Registration fees 74,725 49,275
Extras 779,647 591,520
Other Income 174,669 162,503
---------------------- ----------------------
1,105,202 914,937
========== ==========
5. OTHER EDUCATIONAL INCOME 2022 2021
£ £
Catering 720,738 420,948
Minibus 55,220 36,766
Other Income 3,544 3,996
---------------- ----------------
779,502 461,710
======== ========
6. OTHER DONATIONS AND GRANTS 2022 2021
£ £
Donations 195,314 226,828
Grant - 159,917
---------------- ----------------
195,314 386,745
======== ========
Donations
Grant		 195,314
-
----------------
195,314
========		 226,828
159,917
----------------
386,745
========
Grant Income represents income from the Government Furlough Scheme.
7. EXPENDITURE
Staff costs Depreciation Other costs 2022 2021
£ £ £ £ £
Charitable Activities:
Teaching 12,117,145 - 1,627,364 13,744,509 12,647,339
Establishment 917,886 652,321 2,544,431 4,114,638 3,682,470
Welfare 358,758 - 179,530 538,288 488,903
Support and
Administration 1,561,302 - 345,082 1,906,384 1,723,594
--------------------- --------------------- ---------------------- ---------------------- ----------------------
14,955,091 652,321 4,696,407 20,303,819 18,542,306
========== ========== ========== =========== ===========
Prior Year comparative:
Staff costs Depreciation Other costs 2021 2020
£ £ £ £ £
Charitable Activities:
Teaching 11,469,368 - 1,177,971 12,647,339 13,156,134
Establishment 865,161 592,638 2,224,671 3,682,470 3,368,225
Welfare 326,095 - 162,808 488,903 468,581
Support and
Administration 1,479,359 - 244,235 1,723,594 1,786,569
--------------------- --------------------- ---------------------- ---------------------- ----------------------
14,139,983 592,638 3,809,685 18,542,306 18,779,509
========== ========== ========== =========== ===========

Included within support and administration costs above are governance costs of £23,944 (2021: £20,343) in respect of auditors’ remuneration, governing body expenses and legal fees.

8. PARTICULARS OF EMPLOYEES 2022 2021
No. No.
The average persons employed by the School
during the year was:
Education 271 262
Administration and domestic 118 112
------------- -------------
389 374
------------- -------------
2022 2021
Their total remuneration was: £ £
Wages and salaries 11,850,684 11,327,891
Social security costs 1,206,179 1,079,127
Other pension costs 1,898,228 1,732,965
------------------------ ------------------------
14,955,091 14,139,983
=========== ===========
The number of staff with emoluments within the following ranges were:
2022 2021
No. No.
£60,000 - £69,999 19 13
£70,000 - £79,999 3 3
£80,000 - £89,999 2 2
£90,000 - £99,999 1 1
£100,000 - £109,999 2 1
£150,000 - £159,999 0 1
£170,000 - £179,999 1 0

The total remuneration of key management personnel during the year was £864,014 (2021: £867,181).

The School made defined benefit pension contributions of £102,680 (2021: £84,474) in the year in respect of the 6 key management personnel above.

There was one termination payment made in the year for £13,686 (2021: £0).

GOVERNORS’ REMUNERTION AND REIMBURSED EXPENSES

None of the Governors received any form of remuneration (2021: none). None of the Governors claimed for travel expenses during the year (2021: none).

9. TAXATION

St Benedict’s School Ealing is a registered charity and is not liable to taxation.

10. TANGIBLE FIXED ASSETS

Freehold Furniture Property School Motor Total
Land and fittings and Improve- Buildings vehicles
Property equipment ments
£ £ £ £ £ £
Cost or valuation
At 1 September
2021		 4,440,459 1,484,288 1,282,135 13,316,159 181,017 20,704,058
Additions at cost - 126,180 1,023,198 5,000 33,300 1,187,678
Disposals - -170,985 - -177,024 -4,500 -352,509
--------------- --------------- --------------- --------------- --------------- ---------------
At 31 August 2022 4,440,459 1,439,483 2,305,333 13,144,135 209,817 21,539,227
--------------- --------------- --------------- --------------- --------------- ---------------
Depreciation
At 1 September
2021		 169,282 1,260,016 550,654 1,342,693 155,942 3,478,586
Charge for the year 18,809 158,377 196,920 267,035 11,180 652,321
Disposals - -170,985 - -22,096 -3,525 -196,607
--------------- --------------- --------------- --------------- --------------- ---------------
At 31 August 2021 188,091 1,247,408 747,574 1,587,632 163,597 3,943,302
--------------- --------------- --------------- --------------- --------------- ---------------
Net Book Value
At 31 August 2022 4,252,368 192,075 1,557,759 11,556,503 46,220 17,604,925
======== ======== ======== ======== ======== ========
At 31 August 2021 4,271,177 224,272 731,481 11,973,466 25,075 17,225,471
======== ======== ======== ======== ======== ========
11. DEBTORS
2022 2021
£ £
Unpaid
fees
debtors		 and miscellaneous 50,095 48,950
Prepayments and accrued 222,394 243,015
income
Other debtors 63,717 48,139
------------------- -------------------
336,206 340,104
========= =========
12. CREDITORS: amounts falling due within one year 2022 2021
£ £
Trade creditors 335,344 247,280
Fees received in advance 910,767 812,212
Deposits held 219,188 184,128
Bank Loan 230,640 230,640
Other taxation and social security 276,465 258,013
Other creditors 329,116 285,717
Pension deficit payments 62,325 56,449
Accruals 371,695 371,946
Amounts due to the Trustees of the
Charity of the Bernadine Sisters		 100,000 100,000
--------------------- ---------------------
2,835,540 2,546,385
=========== ===========
13. CREDITORS: amounts falling due after more than one year 2022 2021
£ £
Bank loan 1,110,536 1,296,958
Pension deficit payments 517,587 469,875
Fees received in advance 185,243 266,543
Deposits held 2,550,328 2,392,824
Amounts due to the Trustees of the Charity
of the Bernadine Sisters		 893,899 965,889
------------------ ------------------
5,257,593 5,392,089
======== ========

In 2018-19 the School renewed its loan with Allied Irish Bank set up to fund the new Junior School building, the Ark. The previous loan facility in 2016 was for £7.5m. The School has been able to pay back a significant proportion of this loan and therefore the renewal facility, agreed in July 2019, was for £2m, secured by a fixed and floating charge on the School and its buildings. Interest is charged at 2.15% above base rate with the loan to be repaid or renegotiated after a term of 5 years. In April 2022, the loan was sold to Allica Bank and the terms are unchanged.

On 1 January 2019, the School acquired St Bernard’s Preparatory School from the Charity of the Bernadine Sisters for £1,500,000 repayable in 30 instalments of £50,000 over a 15-year period. The first payment was made on acquisition, with subsequent instalments due twice a year on 30 September and 31 March. The net present value of this liability at 31 August 2022 is £993,899 which has been split between creditors due in less than one year and creditors due in more than one year accordingly (2021: £1,065,889).

14a. UNRESTRICTED FUNDS

Brought Movements Carried
forward at in pension forward at
1 September provision & 31 August
2021 Income Expenditure Transfers 2022
£ £ £ £ £
General funds 7,771,300 20,547,432 (20,238,368) 18,809 8,099,173
------------------- ------------------- --------------------- --------------------- -------------------
Designated funds
Land and Property 4,271,177 - - (18,809) 4,252,368
Fund
------------------- ------------------- --------------------- --------------------- -------------------
4,271,177 - - (18,809) 4,252,368
--------------------- ------------------- ---------------------- --------------------- ---------------------
12,042,477 20,547,432 (20,238,368) - 12,351,541
========== ========= =========== ========== ==========

Land and Property Fund

The land and property fund represents the net book value of the School’s freehold land and property. A decision was made to separate this fund from the general fund in recognition of the fact that the freehold property is used to provide accommodation for staff and the fund value would not be easily realisable if needed to meet future contingencies. On the acquisition of St Bernard’s £3.5m of land was recognised in this fund.

Prior Year Comparative:

Brought Movements Carried
forward at in pension forward at
1 September provision & 31 August
2020 Income Expenditure Transfers 2021
£ £ £ £ £
General funds 6,515,278 19,448,447 (18,211,234) 18,809 7,771,300
------------------- ------------------- --------------------- --------------------- -------------------
Designated funds
Land and Property 4,289,986 - - (18,809) 4,271,177
Fund
------------------- ------------------- --------------------- --------------------- -------------------
4,289,986 - - (18,809) 4,271,177
--------------------- ------------------- ---------------------- --------------------- ---------------------
10,805,264 19,448,447 (18,211,234) - 12,042,477
========== ========= =========== ========== ==========
14b. RESTRICTED FUNDS Brought Carried
Forward Forward
September 31 August
2021 Income Expenditure 2022
£ £ £ £
OPA Headmasters Fund 2,550 1,000 (800) 2,750
Science Garden and Pond 9,228 - - 9,228
Bursary Appeal - 63,255 (63,255) -
Leavers Donations 21,914 16,959 (21,914) 16,959
Annual Fund / Music Studio - 22,981 - 22,981
Annual Giving / Cricket - 13,971 (13,971) -
Bursary Appeal - 70,548 (70,548) -
Richard Baker Lecture Series 12,593 - - 12,593
Misc Gifts and Sponsorships - 5,000 (5,000) -
Sloboda Music 5,209 - - 5,209
Ukranian Student Fund - 1,500 - 1,500
------------------ ------------------ ------------------ -----------------
51,494 195,214 (175,488) 71,220
========= ========= ========= =========

OPA Headmaster’s Fund

This fund relates to an annual donation from the Old Priorians’ Association for the Headmaster to award to pupil(s) for a specific project or educational experience.

Science Garden and Pond

This fund incorporates monies donated by the Gulamhuseinwala family in memory of a former pupil and to be used for a science pond. It also includes monies raised in the annual giving campaign for a science garden and pond. From 2020 these funds were amalgamated.

Bursary Appeal, Leaver Donations and Bursary Rescue Fund Appeal

This fund comprises monies to be used for the provision of bursaries for talented academic, sporting and musical pupils.

Annual Fund /Music Studio

This fund comprises annual giving monies received in 2021-22. This will be spent on technical equipment for the Music Studio.

Annual Giving /Cricket

This fund comprises annual giving monies received in 2021-22. This was spent on new cricket nets.

Richard Baker Lecture Series

Monies donated to fund a series of lectures by a former pupil who was inspired by Richard Baker.

Miscellaneous Gifts

This was used for Modern foreign languages program and Maths department specialised Miro e Kit.

Sloboda Music

Funds donated for music activities including concerts.

Ukranian Student Fund

This is a donation to be used for equipment for Ukranian refugees studying at St Benedict’s.

Prior Year Comparative:

14b. RESTRICTED FUNDS Brought Carried Carried
Forward Forward
1 31 August
September 2021
2020 Income Expenditure
£ £ £ £
OPA Headmasters Fund 1,750 800 - 2,550
Science Garden and Pond 8,978 250 - 9,228
Bursary Appeal 77,906 60,625 (138,531) -
Leavers Donations 9,525 21,914
(9,525)
21,914
Bursary Rescue Fund Appeal - 79,659 (79,659) -
Annual Giving and Floodlights 39,504 46,758
(86,262)		 -
Richard Baker Lecture Series 12,593 - - 12,593
Sloboda Music 5,209 - -
Drama 294 16,801
(17,095)
-
_ _ _
_
155,759 226,807 (331,072)
51,494
========= =========
=========
=========
nnual Giving
his fund comprises annual giving monies received in 2019-21. This was all spent on the sports field floodlights pro
rama
his was all used on audio visual and lighting equipment for the studio theatre.
15. ANALYSIS OF NET ASSETS BETWEEN FUNDS
Tangible Other assets/ Total Total
Fixed assets (liabilities) 2022 2021
£ £ £ £
Restricted funds - 71,220 71,220 51,494
Unrestricted funds
General funds 13,352,557 (5,253,384) 8,099,173 7,771,300
Designated funds 4,252,368 - 4,252,368 4,271,177
------------------- ---------------------- --------------------- ---------------------
17,604,925 (5,182,164) 12,422,761 12,093,971
========= ========== ========== ==========

Annual Giving

This fund comprises annual giving monies received in 2019-21. This was all spent on the sports field floodlights project.

Drama

This was all used on audio visual and lighting equipment for the studio theatre.

Prior Year Comparative:
Tangible Other assets/ Total Total
Fixed assets (liabilities) 2021 2020
£ £ £ £
Restricted funds - 51,494 51,494 155,759
Unrestricted funds
General funds 12,954,294 (5,182,994) 7,771,300 6,515,278
Designated funds 4,271,177 - 4,271,177 4,289,986
------------------- ---------------------- --------------------- ---------------------
17,225,471 (5,131,500) 12,093,971 10,961,023
========= ========== ========== ==========

16. PENSION COSTS

(a) Teachers’ Pension Scheme

The School participates in the Teachers’ Pension Scheme (“the TPS”) for its teaching staff. The pension charge for the year includes contributions payable to the TPS of £1,526,250 ( 2021: £1,488,670 ) and at the year-end £0 ( 2021 - £0 ) was accrued in respect of contributions to this scheme.

The TPS is an unfunded multi-employer defined benefits pension scheme governed by The Teachers’ Pensions Regulations 2010 (as amended) and The Teachers’ Pension Scheme Regulations 2014 (as amended). Members contribute on a “pay as you go” basis with contributions from members and the employer being credited to the Exchequer. Retirement and other pension benefits are paid by public funds provided by Parliament.

The employer contribution rate is set by the Secretary of State following scheme valuations undertaken by the Government Actuary’s Department. The most recent actuarial valuation of the TPS was prepared as at 31 March 2016 and the Valuation Report, which was published in March 2019, confirmed that the employer contribution rate for the TPS would increase from 16.4% to 23.6% from 1 September 2019. Employers are also required to pay a scheme administration levy of 0.08% giving a total employer contribution rate of 23.68%.

The 31 March 2016 Valuation Report was prepared in accordance with the benefits set out in the scheme regulations and under the approach specified in the Directions, as they applied at 5 March 2019. However, the assumptions were considered and set by the Department for Education prior to the ruling in the ‘McCloud/Sargeant case’. This case has required the courts to consider cases regarding the implementation of the 2015 reforms to Public Service Pensions including the Teachers’ Pensions.

On 27 June 2019, the Supreme Court denied the government permission to appeal the Court of Appeal’s judgment that transitional provisions introduced to the reformed pension schemes in 2015 gave rise to unlawful age discrimination. The government is respecting the Court’s decision and has said it will engage fully with the Employment Tribunal as well as employer and member representatives to agree how the discriminations will be remedied. The government announced on 4 February 2021 that it intends to proceed with a deferred choice underpin under which members will be able to choose either legacy or reformed scheme benefits in respect of their service during the period between 1 April 2015 and 31 March 2022 at the point they become payable.

The TPS is subject to a cost cap mechanism which was put in place to protect taxpayers against unforeseen changes in scheme costs. The Chief Secretary to the Treasury, having in 2018 announced that there would be a review of this cost cap mechanism, in January 2019 announced a pause to the cost cap mechanism following the Court of Appeal’s ruling in the McCloud/Sargeant case and until there is certainty about the value of pensions to employees from April 2015 onwards. The pause was lifted in July 2020, and a consultation was launched on 24 June on proposed changes to the cost control mechanism following a review by the Government Actuary. Following a public consultation, the Government have accepted three key proposals recommended by the Government Actuary and are aiming to implement these changes in time for the 2020 valuations.

The 2016 cost control valuations have since been completed in January 2022, and the results indicated that there would be no changes to benefits or member contributions required. The results of the cost cap valuation are not used to set the employer contribution rate, and HM Treasury has confirmed that any changes to the employer contribution rate resulting from the 2020 valuations will take effect in April 2024.

Until the 2020 valuation is completed it is not possible to conclude on any financial impact or future changes to the contribution rates of the TPS. Accordingly, no provision for any additional past benefit pension costs is included in these financial statements.

(b) Support Staff Pension Scheme

The School runs four defined contribution schemes including two auto enrolment schemes for its teaching and non-teaching staff who are not in a final salary scheme. The cost for the year of the School’s contributions was £438,201 (2021: £400,991).

(c) Former Support Staff Pension Scheme

The School previously participated in The Independent Schools’ Pension Scheme (‘the scheme’), the scheme was closed to future accruals on 30[th] September 2018. The scheme is a multi-employer scheme run by The Pensions Trust which provides benefits to some 61 non-associated employers. The scheme is a defined benefit scheme in the UK. It is not possible for the company to obtain sufficient information to enable it to account for the scheme as a defined benefit scheme, therefore it accounts for the scheme as a defined contribution scheme.

The scheme is subject to the funding legislation outlined in the Pensions Act 2004 which came into force on 30 December 2005. This, together with documents issued by the Pensions Regulator and Technical Actuarial Standards issued by the Financial Reporting Council, set out the framework for funding defined benefit occupational pension schemes in the UK.

The scheme is classified as a 'last-man standing arrangement'. Therefore, the School is potentially liable for other participating employers' obligations if those employers are unable to meet their share of the scheme deficit following withdrawal from the scheme. Participating employers are legally required to meet their share of the scheme deficit on an annuity purchase basis on withdrawal from the scheme.

A full actuarial valuation for the scheme was carried out with an effective date of 30 September 2020. This actuarial valuation was certified on 22 December 2021 and showed assets of £201.1m, liabilities of £256.3m and a deficit of £55.2m. To eliminate this funding shortfall, the trustees and the participating employers have agreed that additional contributions will be paid, in combination from all employers, to the scheme as follows:

Deficit contributions

£2,687,000 per annum From 1 September 2022 to 30 June 2032: (payable monthly and increasing by 3% on each 1[st] September)

The additional contribution for St Benedict’s amounts to £207,747 at full value to be split over 10 years.

Note that the scheme’s previous valuation was carried out with an effective date of 30 September 2017. This valuation showed assets of £149.4m, liabilities of £187.6m and a deficit of £38.2m. To eliminate this funding shortfall, the Trustees had asked the participating employers to pay additional contributions to the scheme as follows:

Deficit contributions

£2,387,357 per annum From 1 September 2019 to 31 April 2030: (payable monthly and increasing by 3% on each 1[st] September)

The recovery plan contributions are allocated to each participating employer in line with their estimated share of the scheme liabilities.

Where the scheme is in deficit and where the company has agreed to a deficit funding arrangement the company recognises a liability for this obligation. The liability at 31[st] August 2022 is £700,935 discounted to £579,913 to represent net present value. From 2019-20 the amount is recognised at the net present value of the deficit reduction contributions payable under the agreement that relates to the deficit. The present value is calculated using the discount rate provided by the Pensions Trust which is 4.31% for August 2022 and this present value represents a discount of £121,022 from the actual value. The discount rate is the equivalent single discount rate which, when used to discount the future recovery plan contributions due, would give the same results as using a full AA corporate bond yield curve to discount the same recovery plan contributions. The unwinding of the discount rate will be recognised as a finance cost.

The deficit contribution paid by the School during the year was £56,449 (2021: £54,805).

17. OPERATING LEASE COMMITMENTS

At 31 August 2022, the School had total commitments under non-cancellable operating leases payable as follows:

Land & Land &
Buildings Other Buildings Other
2022 2022 2021 2021
£ £ £ £
Within one year 525,478 64,292 486,249 65,803
Between two and five years 1,989,899 239,150 1,902,806 76,771
More than 5 years - 681 53,519 -
------------------ ----------------- ------------------ -----------------
2,515,377 304,123 2,442,574 142,574
========= ========= ========== ========

Operating lease commitments have been calculated at current rates and will be updated annually for RPIs as per the contracts.

18. SHARE CAPITAL AND CONTROLLING PARTY

The School is limited by guarantee and therefore has no share capital. The liability of the members in the event of a winding up is £1 each. No one member has overall control of the School.

19. RELATED PARTY TRANSACTIONS

There are no related party transactions in the current or preceding year.

20. CAPITAL COMMITMENT

At 31[st] August 2022, the Schools were committed to a total capital expenditure of £1,736,208 (prior year: nil) relating to the Atrium refurbishment and landscaping at St Benedict’s and the refurbishment of the School, car park and creation of a new entrance at St Bernard’s.

21. PRIOR YEAR COMPARATIVES BY FUND

Unrestricted Restricted Total
Funds Funds 2021
INCOME FROM: Note £ £ £
Charitable activities
Fees 3 17,774,041 - 17,774,041
Other academic income 4 914,937 - 914,937
Other educational income 5 461,710 - 461,710
Donations
Other donations 159,937 226,807 386,745
Other trading activities
Lettings income 137,819 - 137,819
Bank interest 3 - 3
----------------------- --------------------- ---------------------
Total Income 19,448,447 226,807 19,675,254
----------------------- --------------------- ---------------------
EXPENDITURE ON: 7
Charitable activities:
Teaching 12,647,339 - 12,647,339
Establishment 3,351,398 331,072 3,682,470
Welfare 488,903 - 488,903
Administration 1,723,594 - 1,723,594
----------------------- --------------------- -----------------------
Total Expenditure 18,211,234 331,072 18,542,306
------------------------ --------------------- -----------------------
Net income 2 1,237,213 (104,265) 1,132,948
------------------------ --------------------- -----------------------
Net movement in funds 1,237,213 (104,265) 1,132,948
Total funds at 1 September 2020 10,112,510 10,805,264 155,759
--------------------- --------------------- ---------------------
Total funds at 31 August 2021 12,042,477 51,494 12,093,971
========== ========== ==========

GOVERNING BODY

For the year ended 31[st] August 2022

GOVERNORS

The Governors are both charity trustees and directors of St Benedict’s School Ealing. They have all served in office throughout the period except where indicated.

Governors

Mr Jonathan Berger (Chair of Governors) Mr Mike Ainslie Ms Mary Boyle Ms Melissa Davies-Wright Ms Marian Doyle (resigned 02/12/21) Ms Mary Edis Mr David Howe (appointed 17/03/22) Mr Paul Keyte Mr Mark Leonard Dom Ambrose McCambridge Mr Pat Murphy O’Connor (resigned 23/06/22) Ms Ros Nockles Mr Alex Pereira-Inacio (appointed 17/03/22) Dr Phil Hopey (resigned 23/06/22) Ms Liz Pilgrim Abbot Dominic Taylor Mr Brian Taylor Mr Jonathan Walsh

Heads

Mr A Johnson (Chief Executive and Head of St Benedict’s Senior School) Mr R G Simmons (Head of St Benedict’s Junior School) Ms A Verma (Head of St Bernard’s Preparatory School)

Clerk to the Governors and Bursar

Ms C Bedwin

Company number 08093330 Registered charity number 1148512 Registered Office 54 Eaton Rise, Ealing, London, W5 2ES Email address bursarsoffice@stbenedicts.org.uk Website www.stbenedicts.org.uk

ADVISERS

For the year ended 31[st] August 2022

Bankers Barclays Bank
Onslow Hall
Little Green
Richmond
Surrey
TW9 1QS
HSBC
PO Box 260
46 The Broadway
Ealing
London
W5 5JR
Allied Irish Bank
Ealing Cross
85 Uxbridge Road
Ealing
W5 5TH
Solicitors Veale Wasbrough Vizards
Orchard Court
Orchard Lane
Bristol
BS1 5WS
Weightmans LLP
100 Old Hall Street
Liverpool
Merseryside
L3 9QJ
Auditor Haysmacintyre LLP
10 Queen Street Place
London
EC4R 1AG
Insurance Brokers PIB Risk Services Limited
Poppleton Grange
Low Poppleton Lane
York
YO2 6AZ

INDEPENDENT AUDITOR’S REPORT

TO THE MEMBERS OF ST BENEDICT’S SCHOOL EALING

Opinion

We have audited the financial statements of [St Benedict’s School Ealing for the year ended 31 August 2022 which comprise the Statement of Financial Activities, the Balance Sheet, the Statement of Cash Flows and notes to the financial statements, including a summary of significant accounting policies. The financial reporting framework that has been applied in their preparation is applicable law and United Kingdom Accounting Standards, including Financial Reporting Standard 102 The Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland (United Kingdom Generally Accepted Accounting Practice).

In our opinion, the financial statements:

Basis for opinion

We conducted our audit in accordance with International Standards on Auditing (UK) (ISAs (UK)) and applicable law. Our responsibilities under those standards are further described in the Auditor’s responsibilities for the audit of the financial statements section of our report. We are independent of the charity in accordance with the ethical requirements that are relevant to our audit of the financial statements in the UK, including the FRC’s Ethical Standard, and we have fulfilled our other ethical responsibilities in accordance with these requirements. We believe that the audit evidence we have obtained is sufficient and appropriate to provide a basis for our opinion.

Conclusions relating to going concern

In auditing the financial statements, we have concluded that the trustees’ use of the going concern basis of accounting in the preparation of the financial statements is appropriate.

Based on the work we have performed, we have not identified any material uncertainties relating to events or conditions that, individually or collectively, may cast significant doubt on the charitable company's ability to continue as a going concern for a period of at least twelve months from when the financial statements are authorised for issue.

Our responsibilities and the responsibilities of the trustees with respect to going concern are described in the relevant sections of this report.

Other information

The governors are responsible for the other information. The other information comprises the information included in the Headmaster’s Report and the Governors’ 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.

In connection with our audit of the financial statements, our responsibility is to read the other information and, in doing so, consider whether the other information is materially inconsistent with the financial statements or our knowledge obtained in the audit or otherwise appears to be materially misstated. If we identify such material inconsistencies or apparent material misstatements, we are required to determine whether there is a material misstatement in the financial statements or a material misstatement of the other information. If, based on the work we have performed, we conclude that there is a material misstatement of this other information, we are required to report that fact. We have nothing to report in this regard.

Opinions on other matters prescribed by the Companies Act 2006

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

INDEPENDENT AUDITOR’S REPORT (continued)

TO THE MEMBERS OF ST BENEDICT’S SCHOOL EALING

Matters on which we are required to report by exception

In the light of the 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 (which incorporates the strategic report and the directors’ report).

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

Responsibilities of trustees for the financial statements

As explained more fully in the trustees’ responsibilities statement set out on page 6-7, the trustees (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 trustees 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 trustees 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 trustees either intend to liquidate the charitable company or to cease operations, or have no realistic alternative but to do so.

Auditor’s responsibilities for the audit of the financial statements

Our objectives are to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the financial statements as a whole are free from material misstatement, whether due to fraud or error, and to issue an auditor’s report that includes our opinion. Reasonable assurance is a high level of assurance but is not a guarantee that an audit conducted in accordance with ISAs (UK) will always detect a material misstatement when it exists. Misstatements can arise from fraud or error and are considered material if, individually or in the aggregate, they could reasonably be expected to influence the economic decisions of users taken on the basis of these financial statements.

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 charitable company and the environment in which it operates, we identified that the principal risks of non-compliance with laws and regulations related to independent school regulations, safeguarding regulations, health and safety law, GDPR and employment law and we considered the extent to which non-compliance might have a material effect on the financial statements. We also considered those laws and regulations that have a direct impact on the preparation of the financial statements such as the Companies Act 2006, the Charities Act 2011, and payroll tax.

We evaluated management’s incentives and opportunities for fraudulent manipulation of the financial statements (including the risk of override of controls) and determined that the principal risks were related to posting inappropriate journal entries to revenue and management bias in accounting estimates. Audit procedures performed by the engagement team included: `

INDEPENDENT AUDITOR’S REPORT (continued)

TO THE MEMBERS OF ST BENEDICT’S SCHOOL EALING

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 auditor’s 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 Auditor's report and for no other purpose. To the fullest extent permitted by law, we do not accept or assume responsibility to anyone other than the charitable company and the charitable company's members, as a body, for our audit work, for this report, or for the opinions we have formed.

Lee Stokes (Senior Statutory Auditor) For and on behalf of Haysmacintyre LLP, Statutory Auditor Date: 16 December 2022

10 Queen Street Place London EC4R 1AG

St Benedict’S School a m i n i m i s i n c i p e

Ealing

● London ● W5 2ES ● 020 8862 2000