Polish Saturda School in Crawle y y Trustee Report for the Polish Saturday School in Crawley Academic Year Ending 30 June 2024 ## Executive Summary The Polish Saturday School in Crawley continues to provide high-quality education in the Polish language, culture, and history to children aged 4 to 16. In the 2023/2024 academic year, the school served 314 students across 18 class groups. Highlights included expanded psychological support services, successful cultural and educational events, and strong financial stewardship supported by community fundraising and external grants. The school remains committed to fostering a strong sense of identity among Polish youth while building bridges with the wider community. Page 1 /16 Registered Charity number: 1163462 Polish Saturda School in Crawle y y ## 1. Charitable Purpose and Objectives ## 1.1 Advancement of Education The Polish Saturday School in Crawley provides education in the Polish language, culture, and history for children aged 4 to 18. The school aims to instil Polish national and cultural identity while helping students achieve UK qualifications, such as GCSE and A-level exams in Polish. The school's key activities in pursuit of these aims include: - Organising classes every Saturday from September to June across 18 groups, tailored by age and language proficiency - Purchasing crafts, exercise books, and school equipment for classroom use - Organising extracurricular activities such as art competitions, poetry contests, school trips, and celebrations (e.g., National Independence Day, Remembrance Day) - Holding Parents’ Evenings and Class Teacher Consultations - Supporting mental health through teacher workshops and one-to-one sessions with psychologists for students, parents, and staff - Encouraging regular participation in online training provided by the Polish Teachers’ Club - Maintaining continuous contact with the Polish Educational Society in London (PMS) and the Polish School Council in the UK (ORPEG) ## 1.2 Integration and Community Engagement The school fosters integration between the Polish community and the wider British society through various initiatives: - Organising multicultural events to promote Polish heritage - Encouraging community participation in school events, including teachers, trustees, parents, and pupils - Collaborating with local charities and attending multicultural celebrations organised by Crawley Borough Council - Distributing the Parent Code of Conduct to promote respectful and inclusive behaviour within school premises Page 2 /16 Registered Charity number: 1163462 Polish Saturda School in Crawle y y ## 2. School Structure and Operations ## 2.1 Pupils and Staff During the 2023/2024 academic year, the school educated 314 students across 18 class groups. Staffing included 38 teachers, assistants, and administrative staff, as well as 5 duty parents per Saturday. ## 2.2 School Fees Fees for the academic year 2023/2024 were: - £430 for one child - £690 for two children - £850 for three or more children A textbook fee between £10 and £35 per child was also collected, depending on textbooks. Pupils may be excused from payment in cases of financial hardship, upon written request and trustee approval. ## 2 .3 Administrative Support An administrative assistant supports the headteacher and trustees with administrative duties and assists in organising school events. ## 2.4 School Facilities The school operates from St Wilfrid’s School in Crawley, which is hired every Saturday from September to June. Teaching facilities include classrooms, and sports hall. ## 2.5 School Events Key events and extracurricular activities held during the year included: - Assembly & Welcome Picnic (September 2023) - National Reading Day - Independence Day Assembly - Polish Constitution Day (3rd May) - Religious holiday celebrations (e.g., Christmas Nativity and Easter) - Polish Heritage Days (we honoured the Warsaw Uprising and the Battle of Monte Cassino, highlighting the contributions of our teachers’ families (Ms. Jaśko and Ms. Drew) with symbolic red-and-white bouquets. We hosted an exhibition of medals and Page 3 /16 Registered Charity number: 1163462 Polish Saturda School in Crawle y y documents—including General Anders’ service papers—and combined traditional Polish cuisine with children’s games. Our mascot, Wojtek the Bear, shared his story and drew raffle winners. Other attractions included a white-and-red hairstyle booth, an interactive map of Poland, a sports corner featuring Olympian Jerzy Braun, a performance and workshop by the Karolinka ensemble, a folk-themed photo booth, and educational stalls. We closed with a screening of the new animated film about Wojtek (English-language version with Polish subtitles). The festival drew large Polish and English-speaking audiences, effectively promoting Polish culture and history. Through diverse activities, we achieved our objectives: we united the community, commemorated key historical events, and gave participants of all ages an engaging way to deepen their knowledge of Poland. - School competitions These events not only enriched students' cultural education but also strengthened schoolcommunity ties and promoted integration. ## 3. Financial Overview ## 3.1 Financial Stability The school remains financially stable and carefully manages its budget through: - Tuition and textbook fees - Grants from the Polish Government - Fundraising events organised by the Parents’ Committee (e.g. cake and coffee sales) Each income stream is monitored monthly against budget forecasts to ensure we maintain sufficient reserves and can continue investing in our pupils’ education. ## 3.2 Grants and Donations Financial support was received from: - Wspólnota Polska These funds contributed to school resources, event organisation, and psychological support for children. Page 4 /16 Registered Charity number: 1163462 Polish Saturda School in Crawle y y ## 3.3 Expenditure Summary Major areas of expenditure included: - Staff salaries - School supplies and resources - Facility rental - Psychological services - Speech therapy - Staff training - Insurance and operational costs ## 4. Governance and Management ## 4.1 Structure and Leadership The school is managed by the Board of Trustees, which is responsible for financial oversight, strategic planning, and compliance with UK charity law. Trustees work closely with the headteacher and other stakeholders. ## 4.2 Headteacher Role The headteacher oversees daily operations, curriculum delivery, staffing, safeguarding, and school community engagement. ## 4.3 Meetings The Board of Trustees meets regularly to review school performance, discuss improvements, and address key issues. ## 4.4 Trustee Recruitment and Training The Board seeks trustees with diverse expertise and commitment to the school’s mission. Vacancies are advertised within the school community. New trustees undergo induction and are encouraged to attend training workshops. ## 5. Risk Management The school monitors and manages risks, including: Page 5 /16 Registered Charity number: 1163462 Polish Saturda School in Crawle y y - Governance: Limited availability of trustees and volunteers may impact the school’s growth and development. - Financial: The school relies on tuition fees and grants. While government support is appreciated, it is not guaranteed and cannot form the basis of annual planning. - Operational: Ensuring compliance with safeguarding, health and safety, and data protection regulations. - Curriculum: Changes in GCSE and A-level exam structures (e.g., AQA updates) require teacher training and adaptation. ## 6. Strategic Priorities and Future Plans - Recruit additional teachers and support staff to meet growing student needs (2024– 2025) - Continue to adapt curriculum and teaching methods for children born in the UK with English as their first language (ongoing) - Maintain staff development through training on new exam specifications and inclusive teaching (2024–2026) - Expand partnerships with local schools and organisations to promote Polish culture (starting 2024) - Organise additional student events and improve school visibility in the community (2024– 2025) ## 7. Acknowledgements The Trustees would like to express their sincere thanks to all teachers, assistants, volunteers, parents, and donors who have supported the school throughout the year. Special appreciation goes to our partner organisations, funders, and the local community for their invaluable contributions. Page 6 /16 Registered Charity number: 1163462 Polish Saturda School in Crawle y y ## 8. Declaration This report was approved by the Board of Trustees of the Polish Saturday School in Crawley and is submitted in accordance with the Charity Commission’s reporting requirements. ## CONTACT DETAILS Addresses: Polish Saturday School, CCVS, Gleneagles Court, Brighton Rd, Crawley RH10 6AD A place where we have lessons on Saturdays: St Wilfrid’s Catholic School, Old Horsham Road, Crawley, RH11 8PG Website www.szkolawcrawley.org e-mail: szkola@szkolawcrawley.org Registered Charity No: 1163462 Page 7 /16 Registered Charity number: 1163462 Receipts and payments accounts CC16a For th• prlod from To Section A Receipts and payments Unrpstrlcled funds Restrlcted Endowment funds hmds Lasl Total funds A1 Recel ts 10UJ7 109.JJ7 150 850 10,081 Cofee 9.711 ZHP 7DO 7fy) WRC JQS Sub total (GfDSS ￿COMe f¢x AR) 111763 1111 A2 Asset and Investment sales. (see table). tota Total rnceipts 119,753 850 120￿0] 112.rA4 A3Pa ents 75.082 11823 17.513 1303 21.123 zsoo 850 21.973 1500 Chthknn ¢nIuts￿1TYJnI Tranrb3 469 454 279 288 733 pps Traw 461 461 1,n8 1,456 1.nB 1.612 &Jtr£n1p￿I C48h laekn L&P 116 111 119.956 13 Sub total 119,106 850 113,137 A4 Asset and Investrnent urchases see table Tablets Fkno 1.185 320 1,505 470 197 Sub total 1.504 93 Total payments 120,611 121.461 113.804 Net of r•ceipt￿{paYrn￿1sj A5 Trnn5fers between funds A6 Cash funds lasl year end Cash funds thls year end 858 1,73 27,201 Sectlon B Statement of assets and liabilltles at the end of the perlod Unf•stslcl•d lunds R•slikl•d lunds End¢)wm•nt funds > n•aml £ Caleqon•s B1 Cash funds 2SJ43 Total cash funds Unrestrlcted fun¢ts *) wegl C funds funds B3 Investrnent assets Furbs to wNch se1 B4 Assets retained for the charity's own use er T&>let 170 170 LaTr)¥o 499 UrKe31rr1￿j 160 Prrtfrr Epx G27 XAC Lid 470 Bfcltw co 197 Uakw 1.186 DelJils BS Uabllltles Dva kndrzDJ SkLdskl k6/LS¢/ ". 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