## **Sevington Victorian School**
## **Trustees’ Annual Report**
## **for the period 1[st] September 2022 to 31[st] August 2023**
## **Charity Name: Sevington Victorian School**
## **Charity Registration Number: 1178337**
## **Objectives and Activities**
The purposes of the charity are twofold: to provide an authentic experience of Victorian school life for children and adults and to conserve the heritage of the Sevington School buildings and gardens for present and future generations to experience and enjoy.
The first of these aims is delivered through a programme of visits for primary school and adult groups, as well as open events for the general public. The second is managed by the trustees who plan and supervise a programme of repair and maintenance.
Visits, both by children and adults, are conducted on a non-profit-making basis and the trustees understand and have regard to the Charity Commission’s guidance on public benefit.
## **Achievements and Performance**
## **School bookings**
In the autumn term 2022 there were 20 visiting schools, booking a total of 25 school days. In the spring term 2023 12 schools visited, booking a total of 15 school days. In the summer term 2023 there were 14 visiting schools, booking a total of 22 school days.
The overall total of 62 school days booked shows a pleasing increase in the number of bookings in the previous school year. Numbers for the autumn term 2023 show that this positive trend is continuing.
10 of the schools visiting this year were independent schools and 7 were new to Sevington. Of the 62 days booked, 40 were Key Stage 2 classes and 22 were Key Stage 1.
The anticipated disruption to the opening of the school due to the building of the solar farm at Leigh Delamere did not take place this year. There is concern, however, that the rising cost of coach transport has deterred some schools from making a booking, and the trustees are monitoring this situation.
The trustees very much appreciate the excellent work done by Sue Dann, Booking Secretary.
## **The Teaching Team**
The school day is organised and conducted by a team of eight experienced teachers and the team has remained stable this year.
The academic year 2022-23 saw a return to pre-pandemic conditions at the school. Although we started the year with windows open, hand sanitiser and paper towels in the bathrooms, we were able to quickly re-establish our former Victorian regime which included hand washing, of course, but with solid soap and old-fashioned fabric towels. I am pleased to say that during the whole period where covid measures were in place, none of the teaching team caught covid nor did we have to cancel any bookings due to illness.
There has been a legacy, however. The team has noticed an increase in anxiety levels among young children visiting us and alongside that a rise in visiting teachers protective about their classes. The increase in the cost of living has impacted the shop sales as has the difficulty in sourcing supplies and that is leading us to run down the shop which will, of course, have an impact on our income.
Among the schools visiting us over the year we had a delightful class of severely dyslexic children with associated learning difficulties. They coped very well and sent a book of reflections of their visit for us to read. The team at Sevington is very aware of the range of abilities in our young visitors and we strive to be inclusive and allow all to work at the level at which they are comfortable. Several visiting teachers have returned glowing evaluations which we have started to include on our website.
The trustees would like to thank Nikki Wright, Teaching Team Leader, for the above report and all members of the teaching team for their dedicated and inspiring work.
## **Adult visits**
There were four adult group visits this year, comprising 37 visitors: a history group, a village social group, a retirement home group and a family get-together. The retirement home group in particular, residents accompanied by staff, was very appreciative of the accessibility measures which we have put in place.
The trustees thank Dinah Starkey, retired trustee, for her organisation of the adult group visits, which remain much appreciated by the local community.
## **Open Days**
The school was opened to the public on three Sunday afternoons during the summer of 2023. The events were very well publicised and more than 250 visitors attended. This year two additional attractions were organised, a plant stall and a penny-farthing bicycle, both of which were very well received. Visitor comments were very complimentary about the school buildings and setting, the Victorian lessons offered in the schoolroom and the home-made teas.
In July the school also took part, as it does annually, in an event organised by a local farmer to give foster families and carers a fun day in the countryside. The tractor and trailer rides to
visit the school have been a hugely popular part of the event since its inception and this year the school hosted around 80 visitors.
The trustees are very grateful to the small but loyal group of volunteers who help make our open days and other events so successful.
## **Maintenance of buildings and garden**
In the autumn of 2022 the trustees decided to replace the roof tiles on the lower levels of the school’s outbuildings, which had been disintegrating over the years. It took some time to source the type and size of tiles we needed to blend in with the originals, but we are very pleased with the result.
A smart meter has been installed in the school so that we can better monitor our electricity consumption.
Trustees were faced with a sizeable challenge when the sole original key to the schoolroom, which we treat with great care, was temporarily mislaid. Having managed without one for the past thirty years, we suddenly saw the need for a duplicate key. After a long search we were fortunate to find a renowned specialist blacksmith who has taken on the task of making one.
We have a dedicated gardener who skilfully maintains our Victorian gardens to a very high standard. The trustees would like to express their appreciation of her work.
The garden is constantly used and enjoyed by visitors, both school groups and adults. We have submitted a funding application for more Victorian-style outdoor seating, which we hope will be in place for next summer.
## **Heating project**
Planning has begun on a project to improve the cost-effectiveness and appearance of the school’s heating. Various professionals have been consulted and visits to the school have been made. This is a medium to long-term project, which is ongoing and which will require a major fundraising drive.
## **Policies**
The trustees conducted a detailed review of all policies in July 2023.
## **Financial Review**
## **Treasurer’s Report for the Financial Year 2022/2023**
## **Income and Expenditure Statement**
I took over the Treasurer’s role at the AGM last year after Edward King, the former Treasurer, wanted to step down. However it took time for the bank to change over the signatories on the account and Edward continued to assist with the accounts until April 2023.
It was challenging taking over Edward’s account system. I could not have done this without Edward’s continued support and I wish to record my gratitude **.**
## **Income**
In this school year we hosted 62 school days which is a slight increase since 21-22.
The shop has made a good contribution to the income and there have been a number of successful events held during the year which again has contributed to the overall income.
We have also received several donations, including one from Park Farm which hosts the annual day for carers and foster families.
## **Expenditure**
Increase in expenditure includes building repairs work which has been carried out. The cost of garden maintenance and lawn continues to be a sizable proportion of our expenditure, as well as the cost of energy.
At the end of the financial year the charity shows a loss of £3,417.06
## **Balance sheet**
At the end of the financial year the charity had a cash balance of £29,635.52 and £10,418.87 in the building works account.
## **Karen McCormack, Treasurer**
## **Structure, Governance and Management**
The Sevington Victorian School charity is an association Charitable Incorporated Organisation (CIO). It currently has a membership of 43 Friends who support the charity and have voting rights. The charity has a constitution as its governing document.
The charity is managed by 7 trustees. They operate as a close-knit group, with individual trustees having different areas of responsibility. A Treasurer and a Secretary have been appointed from among the trustees. New trustees are generally selected by personal recommendation and are often people who already have some association with the charity; their appointment is approved by the members.
## **Reference and Administrative details**
**Charity name** : Sevington Victorian School
**Registered charity number:** 1178337
**Charity’s address:**
Sevington Victorian School Sevington Chippenham Wiltshire SN14 7LD
**Names of the Charity’s trustees:**
Tim Cradock
Jenny Jones
Karen McCormack (Treasurer)
Isobel Moore (Secretary)
Lesley Palmer
Sylvia Townsend
David Witt
**Sevington Victorian School**
## **Income and Expenditure Account for Period 1st September 2022 to 31st August 2023**
|**Income**
Budget
Subscriptions
600
Donations
250
School Shop
2,000
Teaching Team
10,200
Set Charge
4,800
Group Visits
750
External Visits
100
Fund-raising Events
500
Publications
25
Gift Aid Tax Refunds
200
Charity Donations
0
Miscellaneous
100
19,525.00
Building Works a/c income
Balance 31.08.21
Transfer from General a/c|**2022/23**
Current
645.00
415.00
2,669.79
10,710.00
5,040.00
570.00
0.00
595.24
0.00
261.75
5.00
23.43
20,935.21
10,002.87
416.00
10,418.87|**Expenditure**
2021/22
600
Office Equipment
256
Office Expenses
914
Website
8,624
Other Admin Expenses
5,280
Housekeeping
1,734
Heat and Light
60
Repairs and Renewals
472
Rates and Insurance
6
Garden Maintenance
187
Building Works
0
School Shop
101
Booking Secretary
Teaching Team
Teaching Resources
External Visits
Publicity
Publications
Miscellaneous
Building Works Fund - transfer
18,234
Surplus of general Income over Expenditure
Building Works a/c expenditure
Washhouse roof
Total expenditure|Budget
100
250
270
100
2,000
2,000
200
4,500
1,500
0
1,000
1,350
10,200
400
0
50
50
250
2,000.00
26,220.00
-6,695.00|**2022/23**
Current
146.57
550.99
320.00
63.88
1,421.99
1,910.08
283.20
3,505.38
1,349.11
1,584.00
185.33
1,350.00
10,710.00
465.74
0.00
0.00
0.00
90.00
416.00
24,352.27
-3,417.06
1,584.00
1,584.00|2021/22
28
439
270
0
2,034
1,269
336
3,279
1,630
0
703
1,350
8,624
622
0
0
0
232
deferred in 2022
20,816
-2,582|
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
## **Balance Sheet**
|General a/c
Building Works a/c
Bank account 31.08.2022
Plus outstanding credit
Less outstanding payments
Less prepayment for 2022-23
Balances c/f
General a/c
Building Works a/c
Balances check
**Other Assets**
Property at cost
Shop Stock at cost|**2021/22**
**2022/23**
33,635.48
General a/c
29,401.45
10,002.87
Building Works a/c
10,418.87
43,638.35
Bank account 31.08.2023
39,820.32
350.00
Plus outstanding credit
1,860.00
-182.00
Less outstanding payments
-495.93
-750.00
Less prepayment for 2023-24
-1,130.00
43,056.35
40,054.39
Balances c/f
33,053.48
General a/c
29,635.52
10,002.87
Building Works a/c
10,418.87
43,056.35
Bank account check
40,054.39
50,000.00
Property at cost
50,000.00
1,357.00
Shop Stock at cost
747.00
Increase/Decrease in stock:
-610.00|
|---|---|