2026-03-31-accounts

THE NATIONAL EDUCATION MUSEUM

ANNUAL REPORT OF A CHARITABLE INCORPORATED ORGANISATION FOR THE TWELVE MONTHS ENDED 31 MARCH 2026

1. The name of the Charity is “The National Education Museum”.

2. The Charity’s registration number is 1177115.

3. The principal office of the Charity is at 27 RIDLEY ROAD, LONDON, NW10 5UB.

4. The following persons are Trustees of the Charity as at the date of this report.

Anne Swift (Chair) Dr Catherine Jane Carroll-Meehan Graham Norman Clayton Edward Jeremy Glazier Gawain Robert Little Amanda Louise Martin Jean Roberts Patrick Henry Roberts Laura Ann Watford Sheena Wright

1. The National Education Museum’s governing document is the Charity Commission’s standard form constitution for a Charitable Incorporated Organisation (CIO) and is dated 10th February 2018.

2. The objects of the Charity are to advance the education of the public by the establishment and maintenance of a museum and educational facility relating to the development of educational provision in England and Wales and elsewhere.

3. During the period of this report the Trustees have been working hard to make progress towards their objective of establishing a National Education Museum for England and Wales. New developments in the period include:

4. A) The most important step forward in the annual year was the decision of the Trustees to purchase a starter premises in Portsmouth. Leading up to the decision various papers were drawn up by the Trustees Executive Committee to fully inform Trustees so enabling them to make their decision as to whether to proceed. These included full details such as potential costs, strengths and weaknesses and plans for the use of the property and its upkeep. At the

Trustees meeting on 21[st] October 2025 there was a full and wide-ranging discussion allowing everyone to put their point of view. It was ultimately agreed unanimously that the purchase should proceed and that the Executive should oversee the purchase. These starter premises will enable the Museum, for example, to hold small meetings, put on displays, look at outreach work in local schools and enable the beginning of cataloguing our growing archive.

• B) While Trustees await the completion of the purchase of the premises, Trustees continue to be grateful to have use of the facility for free storage space in Portsmouth. We are still receiving valuable resources from across the country. Trustees also thank the National Education Union for continuing to store legacy artefacts and documents from the ATL and NUT at their HQ in London.

• C) The Museum’s Honorary Patrons, Baroness Blower, Professor Jim Al-Khalili, Gervase Phinn, Baroness Morris and Stephen James Morgan, MP continue to support the project.

• D) The Executive Committee continues to meet about six times a year on Zoom and its members otherwise communicate via email. The Chair, who is also the Treasurer, produces regular financial reports and ensures that the annual examination of accounts is carried out in good time. Trustees are pleased that the funds are being held in two bank accounts including a further savings account which has earned very useful interest over the year.

• E) The Museum was delighted to be named as the receiving charity for the residual balance of the Association of Education Committees Trust (AECT) funds. Donations big and small have made progress towards purchasing a property possible and Trustees were also very thankful for another substantial donation from the NEU.

• F) The Director of Communications continues to maintain the website. During the year he has completed a significant update of the pages and added some new tabs including recordings of memories of school days. He also maintains the Museum’s LinkedIn post which continues to attract the interest almost 500 followers from a wide range of professional interests in education. The Charity ensures that all media posts are appropriate to the Museum’s principles.

• G) The Trustees are looking to replace some of the well-used pop ups and postcard flyers as we near completion of the premises. It is important to maintain our brand so that the Museum is easily recognised as well as ensuring that our presence is up to date.

• H) Once again in the summer of 2026 the Museum will have a presence at activities such as the Victorious Festival and the Durham Miners Gala. Both these events were very successful for the Museum in 2025 with increased funds raised plus donations. At the Victorious Festival in Portsmouth the weather definitely helped the success of the popularity of the “Higher Lower” card game. Winners won tiaras and crowns and losers rung an old school bell – both very popular and were good fundraisers. The game has continued to be used successfully at other events.

• I) A packed room at King’s College London was the venue for the third annual National Education Museum’s Fred Jarvis Memorial lecture on June 21[st] , 2025, one of the hottest days of the year. The attentive audience really enjoyed the lecture by Professor Mick Waters 'A different future for schooling?' Thanks are owed to King’s College for the use of the room without charge.

• J) Trustees have continued to look to monetise events not only to cover costs, but to raise funds and widen knowledge and understanding of the Museum project.

• K) To this end in October 2025 the Museum held a very successful day celebrating the life and work of Portsmouth hero John Pounds who devoted his later life to educating the poor children around the dockyard area. He had been disabled after an accident working in the dockyard before turning his hand to becoming a cobbler. His innovative work is seen as the inspiration for the Ragged Schools Movement. A group of local primary aged children attended an excellent workshop mirroring activities that John Pounds would have used to educate his pupils. This was organised and run by two Trustees Sheena Wright and Laura Watford with help from Portsmouth University students. In the evening there was an enthralling lecture by Matt Wingett, a local author and historian, about the life of John Pounds which was enthusiastically received by the audience including locals who were also informed about the Museum project.

• L) Two Trustees did a presentation for the Portsmouth Council Education Committee at the beginning of December 2025. The presentation received very positive feedback and great interest in the project from the attendees.

• M)Contact was maintained with organisations involved in education history, particularly the History of Education Society (HES) with which the Museum has developed a close and valued relationship. The Museum’s Chair of Trustees has been able to contribute in discussion to HES research projects. Useful contacts and networking opportunities have also been established with organisations and individuals active in the museum world.

• N) The Trustees value the opportunities provided by the Association of Independent Museum’s to attend training courses. The Chair of Trustees has

attended several of their courses which has been valuable in exchanging ideas and learning from other who have been successful in establishing a Museum. The Secretary also attended a course at the National Archive making useful contacts in the Spring of 2026.

• O) The Secretary sends out regular updates to the Trustees, Honorary Patrons, Founder Patrons and supporters. Summaries of these are published on the Museum’s website to ensure that those looking online can see the most recent activity in our project.

• P) The Chair of Trustees is a regular visitor to the Charity Commission website to access guidance on good governance and decision making and to advise the Trustees accordingly.

• The Trustees confirm that they have complied with the duty in section 4 of the 2006 Act to have due regard to guidance on public benefit published by the Charity Commission.

• The Charity is not subject to statutory audit in respect of the period covered by this report.

• The full body of Trustees met on zoom on 21st May 2025, 21st October 2025 and 28th January 2026. Zoom remains a very useful meeting tool for all types of meetings. Any important updates for Trustees are sent by email.

• The accounts of the Charity have been prepared on an income/expenditure basis for the year 1st April 2025 to 31st March 2026 and are attached.

• Neither the Charity nor any of its Trustees act as custodian Trustees.

Date of approval of the report by the Trustees: 21[st] May 2026

Signed

Anne Swift, Chair of Trustees, National Education Museum

THE NATIONAL EDUCATION MUSEUM

CHARITY NUMBER: 1177115

FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

FOR THE PERIOD 1 APRIL 2025 TO 31 MARCH 2026

Notes

INCOMING RESOURCES Donations 1 Bank Interest Total Incoming resources RESOURCES EXPENDED Cost of generating funds 2 Goods Services Room hire Incidental expenses Bank Charges Refund Total resources expended Net Income for the period	2025/26 £ 90,653 4,044 94,697 0 6,407 225 0 73 3,000 9,705 84,992	2024/25 £ 17,342 -
		17342 135 840 2,499 71 71 0
		3,616
		13,726

Reconciliation of funds

Total funds brought forward Total funds carried forward	216,789 301,781	203,063
		216,789

THE NATIONAL EDUCATION MUSEUM

BALANCE SHEET

FOR THE PERIOD FROM 1 APRIL 2025 TO 31 MARCH 2026

----- Start of picture text -----
Notes 2025/26 2024/25
£ £ £ £
TANGIBLE FIXED ASSETS
Equipment - -
CURRENT ASSETS
Debtors - -
Cash at Bank and in Hand 301,781 216,789
CREDITORS: Amounts falling due
within one year
- -
NET CURRENT ASSETS
301,781 216,789
NET ASSETS 301,781 216,789
UNRESTRICTED FUNDS
301,781 203,063
TOTAL FUNDS 301,781 203,063
Anne Swift
Chair of Trustees/Director of Finances
----- End of picture text -----

The notes on the pages below form part of the financial statements

THE NATIONAL EDUCATION MUSEUM NOTES ON THE ACCOUNTS

FOR THE PERIOD FROM 1 APRIL 2025 TO 31 MARCH 2026

THE NATIONAL EDUCATION MUSEUM NOTES ON THE ACCOUNTS

FOR THE PERIOD FROM 1 APRIL 2025 TO 31 MARCH 2026

1. Accounting Polices

Though of limited relevance to the accounts for the current period the principal accounting policies adopted by the Charity are as follows:

(a) Basis of accounting

The accounts of the Charity are prepared on the historical cost basis and are in accordance with applicable United Kingdom accounting standards, The Statement of Recommended Practice: Accounting and Reporting by Charities issued in March 2005.

(b) Fund accounting

• Undesignated funds are available for the use at the discretion of the trustees in the furtherance of the general objectives of the Charity.

• Any designated funds are subjected to restrictions on expenditure imposed by the donor or through the terms of the appeal

(c)

Incoming resources

All incoming resources are included in the Statement of Financial Activities when the Charity is entitled to, and virtually certain to receive, the income and the amount can be quantified with reasonable accuracy. The following 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. Grants where entitlement is not conditional on the delivery of a specific performance by the Charity, are recognised when the Charity becomes unconditionally entitled to the grant.

• Any donated services and facilities are included at the value to the Charity where this can be quantified. The value of services provided by volunteers has not been included in these accounts.

• Investment income is included when receivable.

• Incoming resources from grants, where related to performance and specific deliverables, are accounted for as the Charity earns the right to consideration by its performance.

THE NATIONAL EDUCATION MUSEUM NOTES ON THE ACCOUNTS

FOR THE PERIOD FROM 1 APRIL 2025 TO 31 MARCH 2026

•

• (d)

Resources expended

Expenditure is recognised on an accrual basis as a liability is incurred except where otherwise indicated. Expenditure includes any VAT that cannot be fully recovered, and is reported as part of the expenditure to which it relates:

• Costs of generating funds comprise the costs associated with attracting voluntary income.

• Charitable expenditure comprises those costs incurred by the Charity in the delivery of the activities and services for the 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 costs linked to the strategic management of the Charity.

• All costs are allocated between the expenditure categories in the Statement of Financial Activities on a basis designed to reflect the use of the resource. Costs relating to a particular activity are allocated directly, otherwise apportioned on an appropriate basis.

(e) Any fixed assets are stated at cost less accumulated depreciation.

1 Incoming resources from generated funds

----- Start of picture text -----
2025/26 2024/25
£ £
Voluntary Income 90,653 17,342
(Donations)
Bank interest 4,044 -
_
94,697 17,342
___ _____
----- End of picture text -----

THE NATIONAL EDUCATION MUSEUM NOTES ON THE ACCOUNTS

FOR THE PERIOD FROM 1 APRIL 2025 TO 31 MARCH 2026

2	Cost of generating funds
			2025/26	2024/25
		£	£	£
	Goods	0	0	135
	Services		5,363	840
	Legal costs	4,660
	Insurance	122
	Admin costs	581
	Room hire	0	0	2,499
	Events	1,046	1,046	-
	Incidental Expenses		3223	71
	AIM subscription	73
	Training	150
	Refund item	3,000
	Bank Charges	73	73	71
			__	______
			9,705	3,616

THE NATIONAL EDUCATION MUSEUM NOTES ON THE ACCOUNTS

FOR THE PERIOD FROM 1 APRIL 2025 TO 31 MARCH 2026

	2025/26	2024/25
Staff Costs	£	£
Salaries (All funds)	0	0
Tax and social security costs	0	0
	_____	_____
	0	0
There were no employees during the year

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