2025-08-28-accounts

TRINITY CHRISTIAN SCHOOL LIMITED

(LIMITED BY GUARANTEE) FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

FOR THE YEAR ENDED 28 AUGUST 2025

COMPANY NUMBER 07941847 CHARITY NUMBER 1151902

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TRINITY CHRISTIAN SCHOOL LIMITED (LIMITED BY GUARANTEE) Financial statements for the year ended 28 August 2025

Contents

	Page
Legal and administrative information	3
Report of the governors	4 - 7
Independent Examiner’s Report	8
Statement of financial activities	9
Balance sheet	10
Notes to the financial statements	11 - 13

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TRINITY CHRISTIAN SCHOOL LIMITED (LIMITED BY GUARANTEE) Financial statements for the year ended 28 August 2025 Legal and administrative information

Governors

Chair Mr J Charles Others Mr A Singh Miss Ruth-Abigail Williams (appointed 23 January 2025) Mr Keith Brown (appointed 23 January 2025) Mr Billy Chau (appointed 27 March 2025) Mr Rob Duncan (appointed 27 March 2025)

Secretary

Mr J Charles

Registered Office

Sunbeam, Bere Court Road, Pangbourne, Reading, England, RG8 8JY

Bankers

Virgin Money, 177 Bothwell Street, Glasgow, G2 7ER

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TRINITY CHRISTIAN SCHOOL LIMITED (LIMITED BY GUARANTEE) Report of the Governors for the year ended 28 August 2025

The governors of Trinity Christian School Limited (company number 07941847) present their report, together with the financial statements for the year ended 28 August 2025.

Structure, Governance and Management

Governing document

The organisation is a charitable company limited by guarantee, incorporated on 8 February 2012 and registered as a charity on 3 May 2013. The company was established under a Memorandum of Association which established the objects and powers of the charitable company and is governed under its Articles of Association. In the event of the company being wound up members are required to contribute an amount not exceeding £1. The total number of such guarantees at 28 August 2025 was six.

Recruitment and appointment of board of governors

The directors of the company are also charity trustees for the purposes of charity law and under the company's Articles are known as members of the board of governors.

The trustees who served during the period were as follows:-

Mr J Charles Mr A Singh Miss Ruth-Abigail Williams (appointed 23 January 2025) Mr Keith Brown (appointed 23 January 2025)

Mr Billy Chau (appointed 27 March 2025) Mr Rob Duncan (appointed 27 March 2025)

No new trustees have been appointed since 28 August 2025. New members of the board of governors are appointed on the decision of the board of governors.

Trustee induction and training

It is our policy to appoint trustees (also known as school governors) from individuals already supportive of the charity. As a result, they will already be familiar with the history and aims of Trinity Christian School Limited. They are also often involved practically on a day-to-day basis. Additionally, new governors have a meeting with the chair of governors or one of the other governors, in which the role, responsibility and obligations of governors are discussed. We perform DBS checks on all governors.

Risk management

The governors examine the risks to the charity on an annual basis. As part of this the probability of the risk event occurring and the impact to the charity if the risk event did occur are considered.

Organisational structure

The charity has a board of governors who meet periodically and are responsible for the strategic direction and policy of the charity. As at 28 August 2025 the board had six members. During the year 2025-26 no new governors have been appointed.

Objectives and activities

The object of the charity is the establishment and ongoing provision of a school in the Reading area. The school will teach children from a curriculum designed around a Christian understanding of who we are and whose world we live in. The school will seek to bring glory to God by working with parents to teach their children about God and his world. The school will provide an understanding of the world from a biblical perspective and will aim to equip its pupils to live in a way which honours God and serves other people. The school welcomes children from both Christian and non-Christian backgrounds.

In setting our objectives the governors have given careful consideration to the Charity Commission's general guidance on public benefit and in particular to its supplementary public benefit guidance on advancing education and on fee-charging. It is important to us that access to the education we offer is not restricted to those who can afford our full fees and that fees are set at a modest level to maximise access.

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TRINITY CHRISTIAN SCHOOL LIMITED (LIMITED BY GUARANTEE) Report of the Governors for the year ended 28 August 2025

Achievements and performance

The school opened on 1 September 2013, in the year 2013/2014 there were three pupils. In November 2013 the school was inspected by Ofsted and awarded a “Good” rating in all areas. In May 2017 the school was inspected by Ofsted as part of the regular cycle of inspections and again received a “Good” rating overall with an “Outstanding” in relation to Personal development, behaviour and welfare. In January 2023 the school was inspected by the Independent Schools Inspectorate (“ISI”) as part of the cycle of compliance inspections and judged to be in compliance with the Independent School Standards.

Trinity Christian School continues to be an active and subscribing member of the Christian Schools’ Trust, a national charity, which supports and facilitates co-operation between Christian schools. In November 2016 the school became a member of the Independent School Association (“ISA”) and in October 2017 the school transferred to the ISI from Ofsted.

Pupil numbers and fees. The total number of full-time pupils in the school by the end of the 2024-25 academic year was 30 (2023-24: 21). Pupil numbers decreased following the end of the period under review. Our annual fees for the year under review were £5,970 (2023-24: £5,460 per annum. These fees are less than half of the lowest level of fees for independent primary schools in the area.

The school fitted out and moved into larger premises in central Reading in October of 2024 following the tenancy on the previous premises coming to an end. The new premises allowed significant scope for growth and the provision of funded nursery places. In October 2024 the school was inspected under a material change application by ISI and judged to be in compliance with the Independent School Standards. Following this the DfE approved the school’s material change application for the use of new premises, an increase in pupil numbers to a maximum of 60, and an increase in age range to 3-11 year olds. This gave the school a new income stream for nursery pupils with government 15 or 30 hours funding and to grow primary school numbers to better balance income and costs.

In June 2025 the school was inspected by ISI under its cycle of three yearly inspections and found to be compliant with the Independent School Standards.

Financial review

The results for the period are set out on pages 9 to 10. The School’s reserves decreased by £43,452 from £57,061 to £13,609. In line with the prior year designated reserves have been used to support the school through the additional costs associated with the move. The governor’s intention with this was to give the school time to grow into the new larger premises.

In the period following the year end costs have increased due to increased costs arising from the removal of Charitable Rates Relief (CRR) as a result of a government decision applying to all Independent schools which are charities. This has had a significant impact increasing the business rates cost for the school by approximately £30k per year. The school has also seen a reduction in pupil numbers in the period as parents have found fees unaffordable due to the addition of VAT.

These changes resulted in a substantial increase in operating costs and placed additional financial strain on families, affecting both affordability and demand.

The school had relocated to new premises in January 2024 following the termination of its previous lease. The new premises offered capacity for future growth, with an annual rent of £25,000 and a rateable value of £63,000. Under CRR which provided an 80% discount to charities, business rates for the school were approximately £7,000 per annum. Following the removal of CRR, this increased to approximately £35,000 per annum, this cost increase represented an increase of around 25% in the school’s total operating costs.

As a not-for-profit organisation, the school operated with minimal financial reserves and therefore has limited margin for absorbing a 25% increase in operating costs.

The trustees actively explored three principal options to address the financial challenges:

1. Cost Reduction

Costs are already tightly controlled. The trustees applied to Reading Borough Council for Discretionary Rate Relief (DRR) in March 2025; however, this application and a subsequent appeal were both

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TRINITY CHRISTIAN SCHOOL LIMITED (LIMITED BY GUARANTEE) Report of the Governors for the year ended 28 August 2025

unsuccessful. Engagement with local councillors and the Member of Parliament who were supportive did not result in a reversal of this decision.

The trustees also challenged the rateable value of the premises through the Valuation Office Agency. This resulted in a partial reduction to £48,750 in January 2026 and a refund of overpaid rates. However, subsequent revaluation in April 2026 as part of the regular cycle largely offset this reduction.

2. Increasing Fee Income

The introduction of VAT required an increase in fees, which placed additional financial pressure on families. The trustees concluded that further fee increases would likely reduce overall income due to withdrawals. This assessment proved accurate, with the Autumn term seeing reduced enrolment, increased late payments, and fewer new applications. Efforts to increase pupil numbers through marketing and outreach were undertaken but did not sufficiently offset these trends.

3. Increasing Donation Income

Significant efforts were made to secure external funding. Applications were submitted to over 30 charitable trusts, and an external fundraiser was engaged. However, success has been limited. The trustees formed the view that the broader financial uncertainty within the independent school sector had reduced the willingness of grant-making bodies to provide support.

Decision to Close

The trustees held a series of meetings during December 2025 to consider the available options considering their duties and the charity’s objectives.

In early January 2026, the trustees concluded that closure at Easter was the only viable course of action. This decision was communicated to parents, and a parents meeting was held on 13 January 2026 to explain the position. At the request of parents, the trustees agreed to continue exploring funding opportunities alongside preparations for closure.

Following this decision and to limit ongoing financial liabilities, the trustees exercised a break clause on the school’s premises lease.

School Closure

Despite continued efforts by the trustees to explore whether alternative funding sources could be secured to enable the school to continue operating into the Summer term no viable solution was identified and the school ceased operations at the end of the Spring term (Easter 2026). The Department for Education (DfE) was informed of the closure, and correspondence has taken place to ensure that all regulatory requirements around the closure are met.

The trustees and school leadership engaged extensively with parents during this period. Meetings were held from the start of the Spring term to provide information on available options and to support families in making alternative educational arrangements. The Head Teacher also met individually with parents, where required, to ensure that the needs of individual pupils were appropriately considered and supported during the transition.

Current Position and Future Considerations

The trustees’ focus since January 2026 has been ensuring that the charity meets its financial obligations as they fall due; exploring any remaining opportunities for financial support; and supporting pupils and families during their transition to alternative provision

The trustees are currently considering how best to continue delivering the charity’s objectives in the future.

The trustees have taken professional advice during the year from property consultants in relation to business rates and from the Independent Schools Association regarding regulatory matters.

In view of the intention to cease trading the financial statements have been prepared on an orderly termination of business basis. The governors have looked ahead and consider the entity’s assets are sufficient to settle the entity’s liabilities and that assets values shown are accurate in the circumstances of the expected orderly termination of the school.

Principal funding sources

In the year to 28 August 2025 the school was supported by a combination of pupil fees and voluntary

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TRINITY CHRISTIAN SCHOOL LIMITED (LIMITED BY GUARANTEE) Report of the Governors for the year ended 28 August 2025

gifts. The sources of income are set out in the statement of financial activities. The charity is also heavily dependent on volunteers for their donations of time.

The governors are grateful for all the support and sacrifices made in serving the charity in the period. But above all the charity is again grateful to God for His goodness over the past year.

Investment policy

The governors consider that it is appropriate for the funds of the charity to be retained in the bank current and savings accounts to meet the daily requirements of the charity's expenditure. They do not consider there are funds in excess of this requirement available for investment.

Reserves policy

The governors have followed a policy whereby the unrestricted funds not committed or invested in tangible fixed assets ('the free reserves') held by the charity should be three months of the resources expend to enable the charity to continue operating at the same level of activities in the event of a significant drop in funding, or major expenses becoming imperative, allowing time for alternative funding to be secured or to manage an orderly closure.

Responsibility of the board of governors

Company law requires the governors to prepare financial statements for each financial year, which give a true and fair view of the state of the affairs of the charitable company as at the balance sheet date and of its incoming resources and application of resources, including income and expenditure, for the financial year. In preparing those financial statements, the governors should follow best practice and:

• Select suitable accounting policies and then apply them consistently.

• Make judgements and estimates that are reasonable and prudent.

• Prepare the financial statements on the going concern basis unless it is inappropriate to assume that the company will continue on that basis.

The governors are responsible for maintaining proper accounting records which disclose with reasonable accuracy at any time the financial position of the charitable company and enable them to ensure that the financial statements comply with the Companies Act 2006. The governors are also responsible for safeguarding the assets of the charitable company and hence for taking reasonable steps for the prevention and detection of fraud and other irregularities.

Members of the board of governors

Members of the board of governors, who are directors for the purpose of company law and trustees for the purpose of charity law, who served during the period and up to the date of this report, are set out on page 3.

In accordance with charity law, as the trustees, we certify that:

As trustees we have taken all the steps that we ought to have taken in order to make ourselves aware of any relevant accounting information.

Small company rules

This report has been prepared in accordance with the Statement of Recommended Practice — Accounting and Reporting by Charities and in accordance with the provisions applicable to companies subject to the small companies regime and with the Financial Reporting Standard for smaller entities.

Approved by the board of governors on 23 May 2026 and signed on its behalf by:

Mr J Charles Trustee

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TRINITY CHRISTIAN SCHOOL LIMITED (LIMITED BY GUARANTEE) Independent Examiner’s Report for the year ended 28 August 2025

I report on the unaudited financial statements for the year ended 28 August 2025 which are set out on pages 9 to 13.

Respective responsibilities of the board of governors and the independent examiner

As described on page 7 the company’s governors are responsible for the preparation of the report of the governors and the financial statements in accordance with United Kingdom law and accounting standards, and they consider that an audit is not required for this year under section 144(2) of the Charities Act 2011 (the 2011 Act) and that an independent examination is needed.

It is my responsibility to

• examine the accounts under section 145 of the 2011 Act;

• follow the procedures laid down in the General Directions given by the Charity Commissioners section 145(5)(b) of the 2011 Act; and

• state whether particular matters have come to my attention.

Basis of Independent Examiner's Statement

My examination was carried out in accordance with the General Directions given by the Charity Commission.

An examination includes a review of the accounting records kept by the charity and a comparison of the financial statements presented with those records. It also includes consideration of any unusual items or disclosures in the accounts, and seeking explanations from the governors concerning any such matters. The procedures undertaken do not provide all the evidence that would be required in a full audit, and consequently no opinion is given as to whether the financial statements present a ‘true and fair view’ and the report is limited to those matters set out in the statement below.

Independent examiner's statement

In connection with my examination, no matters have come to my attention

1. which give me reasonable cause to believe that in any material respect the requirements

2. to keep accounting records in accordance with s.130 of the 2011 Act; or

3. to prepare accounts which accord with these accounting records have not been met; or

4. to which, in my opinion, attention should be drawn in order to enable a proper understanding of the accounts to be reached.

23 May 2026

Sarah Tram 33 Beech Road Reading RG8 8DR

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TRINITY CHRISTIAN SCHOOL LIMITED (LIMITED BY GUARANTEE) Statement of Financial Activities for the year ended 28 August 2025

The notes on pages 11 – 13 form part of these financial statements

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TRINITY CHRISTIAN SCHOOL LIMITED (LIMITED BY GUARANTEE) Balance sheet as at 28 August 2025

For the year ended 28 August 2025, the company was entitled to exemption from audit under section 477 of the Companies Act 2006 relating to small companies.

The members have not required the company to obtain an audit in accordance with section 476 of the Companies Act 2006.

The directors acknowledge their responsibility for complying with the requirements of the Act with respect to accounting records and for the preparation of accounts.

These accounts have been prepared in accordance with the provisions applicable to companies subject to the small companies’ regime.

Signed on behalf of the board of directors 23 May 2026:

Mr J Charles Chair of Governors

The notes on pages 11 – 13 form part of these financial statements.

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TRINITY CHRISTIAN SCHOOL LIMITED (LIMITED BY GUARANTEE) Notes to the financial statements for the year ended 28 August 2025

1 Accounting policies

The principal accounting policies are summarised below. The accounting policies have been applied consistently throughout the period.

Basis of accounting

The financial statements have been prepared under the historical cost convention, and in accordance with the Financial Reporting Standard for Smaller Entities (effective April 2008), the Companies Act 2006 and the Statement of Recommended Practice: Accounting and Reporting by Charities.

Fund accounting

Unrestricted funds are available for use at the discretion of the trustees in furtherance of the general objectives of the charity.

Incoming resources

All incoming resources are included in the statement of financial activities when the charity is entitled to the income and the amount can be quantified with reasonable accuracy. The following specific policies are applied to particular categories of income:

Voluntary income is received by way of grants, donations and gifts and is included in full in the Statement of Financial Activities when receivable.

Resources expended

Expenditure is recognised on an accruals basis as a liability is incurred. Expenditure includes any VAT which cannot be fully recovered, and is reported as part of the expenditure to which it relates.

Charitable expenditure comprises those costs incurred by the charity in the delivery of its activities and services for its beneficiaries. It includes both costs that can be allocated directly to such activities and those costs of an indirect nature necessary to support them.

Governance costs include those costs associated with meeting the constitutional and statutory requirements of the charity and include accountancy and costs linked to the strategic management of the charity.

Fixed assets

The cost of tangible fixed assets is their purchase cost, together with any incidental expenses of acquisition. Items of equipment are capitalised where the purchase price exceeds £350.

Depreciation is provided on all tangible fixed assets, at rates calculated to write off the cost or valuation of each asset, over its expected useful life, the annual rates are as follows:

Furniture and fixtures 33.3% of cost Plant and equipment 33.3% of cost

Pensions

The charity makes defined contributions into the pension scheme managed by National Employment Savings Trust for each of its employees. Costs are charged against income on the basis of contributions payable to the schemes in respect of the financial period.

2 Staff costs and numbers

Staff costs includes the following:

2 Staff costs and numbers Staff costs includes the following:
	2025	2024
	£	£
Salaries	78,211	77,899
Social security costs	Nil	Nil
Pension costs	3,147	1,910

No employee received emoluments of more than £50,000 in the current or preceding accounting period.

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TRINITY CHRISTIAN SCHOOL LIMITED (LIMITED BY GUARANTEE) Notes to the financial statements for the year ended 28 August 2025

The average weekly number of employees of the company during the period, calculated on the basis of full time equivalents was as follows:

time equivalents was as follows:
	2025	2024
Teaching and administration	4	3
3 Net (outgoing)/incoming resources for the period
This is stated after charging:
	2025	2024
	£	£
Depreciation	Nil	Nil
Board of governor's remuneration	Nil	Nil
Accountancy	456	432

4 Taxation

The charitable company is exempt from corporation tax on its charitable activities.

5 Tangible fixed assets

Cost At 29 August 2024 At 28 August 2025 Depreciation At 29 August 2024 Charge for the year At 28 August 2025 Net Book Value At 28 August 2024 At 28 August 2025 6 Creditors: amounts falling due within one year Taxation and social security Other creditors and accruals	Plant & Equipment Total £ £ 1,022 1,022 1,022 1,022 1,022 1,022 1,022 1,022 Nil Nil Nil Nil 2025 2024 £ £ 146 111 13,952 16,418 14,098 16,529	Plant & Equipment Total £ £ 1,022 1,022 1,022 1,022 1,022 1,022 1,022 1,022 Nil Nil Nil Nil 2025 2024 £ £ 146 111 13,952 16,418 14,098 16,529
		14,098 16,529

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TRINITY CHRISTIAN SCHOOL LIMITED (LIMITED BY GUARANTEE) Notes to the financial statements for the year ended 28 August 2025

7 Analysis of net assets between funds

Current Year

Current Year
		General	Designated	Restricted Total
		£	£	£	£
Tangible fixed assets		-	-	-	-
Current assets		27,707	-	-	27,707
Current liabilities		14,098	-	-	14,098
Net assets at 28 August 2025		13,609	-	-	13,609
Prior Year
		General	Designated	Restricted Total
		£	£	£	£
Tangible fixed assets		-	-	-	-
Current assets		22,079	51,511	-	73,590
Current liabilities		634	15,895	-	16,529
Net assets at 28 August 2024		21,445	35,616	-	57,061
8 Movement in funds
Current Year	At 28 Aug	Movement in resources			At 28 Aug
	2024	Incoming	Outgoing	Transfer	2025
	£	£	£	£	£
Unrestricted funds:
General	21,445	111,064	(118,900)	-	13,609
Designated	35,616	-	(35,616)	-
Total Funds	57,061	111,064	(154,516)	-	13,609
Prior Year	At 28 Aug	Movement in resources			At 28 Aug
	2023	Incoming	Outgoing	Transfer	2024
	£	£	£	£	£
Unrestricted funds:
General	23,103	101,869	(103,527)	-	21,445
Designated	75,000	-	(39,384)	-	35,616
Total Funds	98,103	101,869	(142,911)	-	57,061

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