## **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**
|Note
**Incoming resources (Note 3)**
Donations, legacies and Grants
Other income
**_Total incoming resources_**
S01
**Resources expended (Notes 4-7)**
cost of charitable activities
**_Total resources expended_**
S02
S03
**_Gross transfers between funds_**
S04
S05
S06
Gains and losses on investment assets
S07
**_Net movement in funds_**
S08
**Total funds brought forward**
S09
**_Total funds carried forward_**
S10
**Descriptions by natural**
**category**
Income resources from
charitable activities
Donations adjust from previous
years
Governance cost management
and administration cost
**_Net incoming/(outgoing) resources_**
**_before transfers_**
**_Net incoming/(outgoing) resources_**
**_before other recognised gains/(losses)_**
**Other recognised** **gains/(losses)**
Gains and losses on revaluation of fixed
assets for the charity’s own use|**£**
**£**
**£**
**£**
**£**
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**
**£**|**Unrestricted**
**£**|**restricted**
**£**|**This year**
**Last year**
**£**
**£**|**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**|**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).
1
**Oct 2018**
**IER**
## **Give here brief details of any items that the examiner wishes to disclose** .
2
**Oct 2018**
**IER**