2025-07-31-accounts - Ecole Des Copains

This text was generated using OCR and may contain errors. Check the original PDF to see the document submitted to the regulator. This document is also available as Markdown.

École des Copains

Chairman’s Report – Academic Year: Sept 2024 – Jul 2025 Rachel Wallis October 2025

Introduction and Background

École des Copains (EdC) was founded in 2016 to promote the French language and francophone culture amongst bilingual families. We are proud to be a community where the practice of French is part of family life and where children can deepen understanding of their cultural francophone heritage.

The Academic Year 2024/2025

This year has been one of consolidation and steady progress . Pupil numbers continue to be a challenge: we began the year with around 90 pupils, lost a few along the way, and regained roughly the same number, finishing the year largely stable.

Despite these fluctuations, the commitment of our teaching team and volunteers has ensured that the academic quality and richness of our provision have not only been maintained but have continued to grow.

Teaching Highlights

We have built upon the strong foundations laid in previous years. This year’s particular focus has been on consolidating reading skills by blending phonics and syllabic methods, aligning more closely with English academic reading goals while preserving the richness of French linguistic approaches.

The result has marked improvements in confidence and fluency among our youngest readers. Teachers have noted a visible increase in enthusiasm for reading and a growing sense of achievement amongst children.

Regular class observations have again taken place, enabling us to provide constructive feedback and support to our teachers, while also ensuring a consistent and high-quality approach across all levels.

Events and Community

EdC once again brought the community together with a series of much-loved events, including our Galette des Rois celebration, Easter egg hunt, and Summer picnic. Each occasion was an opportunity to celebrate culture, language, and community spirit, while also raising vital funds for the school.

We were delighted to host a puppet show, “Le Grand Méchant Renard,” performed by Cécile Hurbault on 7 June 2025. Organised through the Parapluie FLAM network of Saturday French schools, the event brought families together for an afternoon of theatre, laughter, and community spirit.

The Summer picnic was appreciated by so many who were with us, and it was lovely sharing food and chats within our community. The Tonton Gilles market-style sale has also been a great success and will continue into next year to keep our gourmands’ tastebuds happy.

Teaching Team

At the heart of EdC are our dedicated teachers, who week after week bring energy, passion, and creativity to their classrooms. I would like to extend my deepest gratitude to:

Lucy Zaug
Virginie Moore
Olivia Locicero
Alex Chammings
Alexia Kirk
Bérengère Mauduit
Jo Adams
Juliana Hernandez
Leida Ouegnimaoua
Hélène Stevens (also serving as our Curriculum Lead)
Israël Togoh
Jacqui Nunes

Our teaching assistants , whose renewed dedication and unwavering support are invaluable to our teachers and children:

Stéphanie Vilault
Ella Carmarans
Nadia Duros

At the same time, we bid farewell to Jo , Stéphanie, Nadia and Ella , who between them have contributed much to our teaching and community life. We are sorry to say goodbye to Juliana Hernandez who has been with us for many years, but we are delighted to welcome Flavie Rafournies as a member of the teaching team.

Recognition and Thanks

I would like to recognise the tireless work of:

Our librarian, Sophiann, who continued to inspire a love of reading amongst our pupils.
A special thank you to our reading angels, who helped our young readers gain confidence, improve their pronunciation, and believe in their ability to succeed in their reading development. Special thanks to Nadia Breen, who has efficiently coordinated our reading angels. Please let contact@ecoledescopains.com know if you would like to be part of our angels.
Our administrator, Koko , whose efficiency and generosity of time keep EdC running smoothly behind the scenes.

Trustees and Committee

The trustees continue to provide vital support in governance, compliance, and organisation of key events. Their roles often take place out of sight, but their impact is deeply felt.

I (Rachel Wallis) have helped coordinate our very capable team. I have two children attending EdC: Sophie in Flavie’s class and Louis in Alex’s class. I am happy to re-present my candidacy for Chair for this academic year.
Adrien Landreau is Treasurer. His two daughters are EdC alumni, and he is happy to represent his candidacy as Treasurer this year.
Aurélien Dubot was elected Secretary last year. He has now stepped down from that role but will remain with EdC as a generalist trustee.
Gail Carmarans and Aurélie Ander have stepped down as trustees. Both have been generous with their time and energy, and we are deeply grateful for their service.

Looking ahead, we warmly invite further candidates to join the trustees’ team, to ensure that new perspectives, skills, and ideas continue to enrich the life of the school.

School Community and Outlook

In 2024/25, our community included around 73 families, with approximately 90 pupils attending across our eleven classes, including our early years’ group.

While enrollment remains an ongoing challenge, our stability this year gives us confidence to build further in the year ahead.

Fundraising, Donations & Grants

We raised £2,659 this year thanks to the generosity of our community through the Tonton Gilles, family donations at Easter and the galette event, and the book fair.

As in previous years, bursaries remain available for families who need additional financial support. These are renewable annually to ensure continued assistance to those who need it most.

Looking ahead

The 2025/2026 academic year is expected to be very similar in terms of overall student numbers.

We note a reduction in enrolments among the 3 - 6 age group, balanced by an increase in under-3s, which is a positive indicator for the school’s future pipeline.

Thanks to the dedication of our teachers, assistants, trustees, volunteers, and families, EdC continues to be a thriving community where French language and francophone culture are celebrated and sustained.

Rachel Wallis

Chair

Charity Name Ecole des Copains	Charity Name Ecole des Copains	Charity Name Ecole des Copains	Charity No (if any)	1167503	CC39a
Annual accounts for the period
Period start date	1-Aug-24	To	Period end date	31-Jul-25

Section A Statement of financial activities

£ £ £ £ £ F01 F02 F03 F04 F05 Unrestricted funds Restricted income funds Endowment funds Total this year Total last year	£ £ £ £ £ F01 F02 F03 F04 F05 Unrestricted funds Restricted income funds Endowment funds Total this year Total last year	£ £ £ £ £ F01 F02 F03 F04 F05 Unrestricted funds Restricted income funds Endowment funds Total this year Total last year	£ £ £ £ £ F01 F02 F03 F04 F05 Unrestricted funds Restricted income funds Endowment funds Total this year Total last year	£ £ £ £ £ F01 F02 F03 F04 F05 Unrestricted funds Restricted income funds Endowment funds Total this year Total last year
-	-	-	-	-
2,230	-	-	2,230	479
53,730	-	-	53,730	47,799
-	-	-	-
429	-	-	429	6,965
-	-	-	-	-
-	-	-	-	-
-	-	-	-	-
-	-	-	-	-
-	-	-	-	-
-	-	-	-	-
56,389	-	-	56,389	55,244

-	-	-	-	-
35,282	-	-	35,282	30,005
23,030	-	-	23,030	6,961
-	-	-	-	-
-	-	-	-	-
-	-	-	-	-
-	-	-	-	-
-	-	-	-	-
-	-	-	-	-
-	-	-	-	-
-	-	-	-	-
-	-	-	-	-
-	-	-	-	-
-	-	-	-	-
58,312	-	-	58,312	36,966
- 1,923	-	-	- 1,923	18,278
-	-	-	-	-
- 1,923	-	-	- 1,923	18,278

-	-	-	-	-
-	-	-	-	-
- 1,923	-	-	- 1,923	18,278
-	-	-	-	-
- 1,923	-	-	- 1,923	18,278

Section B Balance sheet

Section B Balance sheet	Section B Balance sheet
e
Not Fixed assets Tangible assets (Note 8) B01 B02 Investments (Note 9) B03 *Total fixed assets* B04 Current assets Stock and work in progress B05 Debtors (Note 10) B06 (Short term) investments B07 Cash at bank and in hand B08 *Total current assets* B09 B10 *Net current assets/(liabilities)* B11 *Total assets less current liabilities* B12 B13 Provisions for liabilities and charges B14 *Net assets* B15 Funds of the Charity Unrestricted funds B16 Designated funds B17 Total unrestricted funds B18 B19 *Total funds* B20 Signature Creditors: amounts falling due within one year (Note 11) C ed to s a ou ts a g due a te o e yea (Note 11) Restricted income funds (Note 12) Endowment funds(Note 12) Signed by one or two trustees on behalf of all the trustees		Total this year Total last year £ £ F01 F02
		-	-
		-	-
		-	-
		-	-

		-	-
		-	-
		-	-
		17,540	19,465
		17,540	19,465

		-	-

		17,540	19,465

		17,540	19,465

		-	-
		-	-

		17,540	19,465

		17,540	19,465

		17,540	19,465
		-	-
		-	-

		17,540	19,465

	Signature	Date of approval

Cells highlighted in Blue contain formulas in protected cells. The protection can be removed from the tools menu

Section C Notes to the accounts

Note 1 Basis of preparation

This section should be completed by all charities .

1.1 Basis of accounting

These accounts have been prepared on the basis of historic cost (except that investments are shown at market value) in accordance with:• Accounting and Reporting by Charities – Statement of Recommended Practice (SORP 2005);

• and with ü* Accounting Standards; or Financial Reporting Standards for Smaller Enterprises (FRSSE);

• and with the Charities Act. [ except for the following]. _Give details in this box if a different standard has been followed.**_

-Tick as appropriate:

· if all relevant disclosures shown in the pack have been given then please tick “Accounting Standards”;

· if disclosures completed in these accounts have been restricted to those required by the FRSSE, then please tick ** - If no departures from the chosen standards have been made then delete these words; otherwise give details of any changes in the boxes. 1.2 Change in basis of accounting

There has been no change to the accounting policies (valuation rules and methods of accounting) since last year (§ except for the following). Give details in this box of any material changes that have been made. § if no changes have been made to accounting policies then delete these words.

1.3 Changes to previous accounts

No changes have been made to accounts for previous years (§§ except for the following). Give details in this box of any material changes that have been made.

§§ if no changes have been made to accounts for previous periods then delete these words.

Section C Notes to the accounts (cont)

Note 3 Analysis of incoming resources

Incoming resources may be further analysed if this would help the reader of the accounts.

Analysis	Unrestricted £	This year Last year £ £	This year Last year £ £
Donations frompreviousyears	-	-
Other donations		-
Fundraising	2,230	-	1,129
Gift Aid		-
Total	2,230		1,129

Membership	5,579	-	5,886
Tuition fees	48,103	-	46,032
Other(bank interest)	49	-	49
		-
Total	53,730		51,967

Sponsorship		-	-
Partnership	429	-	449
		-
	429	-
Total		-	449

		-
		-
		-
		-
		-
Total		-

		-	-
		-	-
		-	-
		-	-
Total		-	-

		-	-
		-	-
		-	-
		-	-
Total		-	-

		-	-
		-	-
		-	-
		-	-
Total		-	-

Section C Notes to the accounts (cont)

Note 4 Analysis of resources expended

Resources expended may be further analysed if this would help the reader of the accounts. Unrestricted restricted This year Last year £ £ £ £ Tuition fees 33,860 - 35,300 Premises rent 16,400 - 14,300 Teachingand learningmaterial 1,272 - 2,528 Events 150 - 844 Library (New Books) - - 638 Teachers(late invoices) - - 4,310 - - 51,682 - 57,920 Governance Head of teachingand learning 1,200 - 2,450 1,200 - 2,450 Administrator costs 4,500 - 5,454 Insurance 430 - 426 Bank charges 60 - 60 Subscriptions(Membership) 160 - 161 Marketing&promotion - - Printingand stationery - - Postage - - Professional Fees 280 - 396 5,430 - 6,497 - - - - - - - - - Cost of charitable activities Management and administation costs	Resources expended may be further analysed if this would help the reader of the accounts. Unrestricted restricted This year Last year £ £ £ £ Tuition fees 33,860 - 35,300 Premises rent 16,400 - 14,300 Teachingand learningmaterial 1,272 - 2,528 Events 150 - 844 Library (New Books) - - 638 Teachers(late invoices) - - 4,310 - - 51,682 - 57,920 Governance Head of teachingand learning 1,200 - 2,450 1,200 - 2,450 Administrator costs 4,500 - 5,454 Insurance 430 - 426 Bank charges 60 - 60 Subscriptions(Membership) 160 - 161 Marketing&promotion - - Printingand stationery - - Postage - - Professional Fees 280 - 396 5,430 - 6,497 - - - - - - - - - Cost of charitable activities Management and administation costs	Resources expended may be further analysed if this would help the reader of the accounts. Unrestricted restricted This year Last year £ £ £ £ Tuition fees 33,860 - 35,300 Premises rent 16,400 - 14,300 Teachingand learningmaterial 1,272 - 2,528 Events 150 - 844 Library (New Books) - - 638 Teachers(late invoices) - - 4,310 - - 51,682 - 57,920 Governance Head of teachingand learning 1,200 - 2,450 1,200 - 2,450 Administrator costs 4,500 - 5,454 Insurance 430 - 426 Bank charges 60 - 60 Subscriptions(Membership) 160 - 161 Marketing&promotion - - Printingand stationery - - Postage - - Professional Fees 280 - 396 5,430 - 6,497 - - - - - - - - - Cost of charitable activities Management and administation costs	Resources expended may be further analysed if this would help the reader of the accounts. Unrestricted restricted This year Last year £ £ £ £ Tuition fees 33,860 - 35,300 Premises rent 16,400 - 14,300 Teachingand learningmaterial 1,272 - 2,528 Events 150 - 844 Library (New Books) - - 638 Teachers(late invoices) - - 4,310 - - 51,682 - 57,920 Governance Head of teachingand learning 1,200 - 2,450 1,200 - 2,450 Administrator costs 4,500 - 5,454 Insurance 430 - 426 Bank charges 60 - 60 Subscriptions(Membership) 160 - 161 Marketing&promotion - - Printingand stationery - - Postage - - Professional Fees 280 - 396 5,430 - 6,497 - - - - - - - - - Cost of charitable activities Management and administation costs
Tuition fees	33,860	-	35,300
Premises rent	16,400	-	14,300
Teachingand learningmaterial	1,272	-	2,528
Events	150	-	844
Library (New Books)	-	-	638
Teachers(late invoices)	-	-	4,310
		-
		-
	51,682	-	57,920

Head of teachingand learning	1,200	-	2,450







	1,200	-	2,450

Administrator costs	4,500	-	5,454
Insurance	430	-	426
Bank charges	60	-	60
Subscriptions(Membership)	160	-	161
Marketing&promotion		-	-
Printingand stationery		-	-
Postage		-	-
Professional Fees	280	-	396
	5,430	-	6,497

		-
		-
		-
		-
		-
		-
		-
		-
		-

Independent examiner's report on the accounts

Section A Independent Examiner’s Report

Report to the trustees Charity Name Ecole des Copains On accounts for the year 31st July 2025 Charity no 1167503 ended (if any) Set out on pages (remember to include the page numbers of additional sheets)

I report to the trustees on my examination of the accounts of the above charity (“the Trust”) for the year ended DD / MM / YYYY .

Responsibilities and basis As the charity's trustees, you are responsible for the preparation of the of report accounts in accordance with the requirements of the Charities Act 2011 (“the Act”).

I report in respect of my examination of the Trust’s accounts carried out under section 145 of the 2011 Act and in carrying out my examination, I have followed all the applicable Directions given by the Charity Commission under section 145(5)(b) of the Act.

Independent examiner's statement

I have completed my examination. I confirm that no material matters have come to my attention in connection with the examination.

I have no concerns and have come across no other matters in connection with the examination to which attention should be drawn in this report in order to enable a proper understanding of the accounts to be reached.

Signed: Tony McNamara Date: 03.10.25 ~~ee [~~ Name: ~~LT~~ A.McNamara Relevant professional M.A,A.T qualification(s) or body (if any): Address: 12,BELL ROAD ENFIELD MIDDX EN1 3JZ

Section B Disclosure

Only complete if the examiner needs to highlight material matters of concern (see CC32, Independent examination of charity accounts: directions and guidance for examiners).

Oct 2018

IER

Give here brief details of any items that the examiner wishes to disclose .

Oct 2018

IER