Trustees’ Annual Report for the period
From 1[st] September 2023 To 31[st] August 2024
Charity name: Nicolaus Copernicus Peterborough Polish School
Charity registration number: 1179402
Objectives and Activities
SORP reference Summary of the purposes of Para 1.17 the charity as set out in its To advance education (including social and governing document physical training) of people under the age of 25 years in such ways as the charity trustees shall think fit. To provide learning opportunities for students attending PPS via both structured activities and after school clubs To work in partnership with other agencies and organisations with similar objectives Summary of the main Para 1.17 and 1.19 activities in relation to those During the course of this financial year, the purposes for the public following activities took place to fulfil the benefit, in particular, the Charity’s objectives: activities, projects or services identified in the accounts. 1. Advancement of Education: This is satisfied by the offering of weekly classes, during term time, in the Polish language to children and young adults ranging from 3-18 years. Please see below for more details.
2. Providing learning activities via structured activities and after school clubs This objective is satisfied in the following ways: (a) Weekly classes Children aged 3-11 primarily receive instruction in reading, writing and speaking Polish as well as music. Children aged from 11-18 receive instruction in reading, writing and speaking Polish and also receive instruction in Polish geography and history as well as religious education. The School regularly runs classes to prepare students for both GCSE and A’ Level examinations in the Polish Language. There is also one class teaching Polish as a second language. (b) School assemblies All students are expected to attend school assemblies from time to time which take place at specific times of year such as Polish Independence Day and Christmas. (c) After School Clubs During the school year the following after
| school clubs took place: (i) Arts and crafts (ii) Football (iii) Dance group These sessions take place each Saturday for one hour after the end of the normal school day and are well attended by students. (d) Children with special educational needs During the school year a total of 18 children with special educational needs received assistance. q Of these, four children were assisted on a full-time basis by members of staff with one working entirely outside of the classroom. Seven children participated regularly in 1:1 learning on a part time basis. A further seven children were monitored by the teacher in charge of SEN – many of these children were previously receiving 1:1 teaching but were subsequently able to be incorporated into the classroom on a full- time basis. The school received a grant in the sum of £3,499.00from the Cambridgeshire Community Foundation in August 2021 which was designated for use in special educational needs teaching. This was spent in the financial year 2023-24. Part of the grant was used to purchase essential educational items to create a more welcoming environment for the |
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children. 3. Working in partnership with other agencies This objective is satisfied in the following ways: (a) Relationship with other Polish Saturday Schools Once a year, students and employees of the School attend a festival organised at Laxton Hall in Northamptonshire. This festival, which showcases Polish culture and tradition, brings together representatives of many Polish Saturday Schools and each school is encouraged to participate in various competitions. (b) Building Bridges This local organisation sponsored events at our annual sports day. Statement confirming Para 1.18 whether the trustees have The trustees have had regard to the had regard to the guidance guidance issued by the Charity issued by the Charity Commission on public benefit Commission on public benefit
Additional information (optional)
You may choose to include further statements where relevant about:
SORP reference The Charity does not make grants to other
| Policy on grant making | Para 1.38 | bodies. |
|---|---|---|
| Policy on social investment including program related investment |
Para 1.38 | The Charity does not have a policy on social investment. |
| Contribution made by volunteers |
Para 1.38 | The Charity actively encourages contributions from volunteers and during this financial year a total of14 volunteers contributed to the life of the School in the following capacities: ●Fundraising ●Classroom assistance ●Marketing ●Website management ●Operation of Parent Community Café |
| Other |
Achievements and Performance
SORP reference 1. Education
| Summary of the main achievements of the charity, identifying the difference the charity’s work has made to the circumstances of its beneficiaries and any wider benefits to society as a whole. |
Para 1.20 | During the School year, which ran from 16th September 2023 to 06ndJuly 2024,a total of493children and young people received regular education on a Saturday morning during term time. The School was open for face to face teaching for a total of 30 Saturdays so that each child and young person was able to access a total of 120 hours of education. Pupils ranged in age from 3-18 years and were taught in 24 classes by a total of 26 teachers supported by 16 teaching assistants. Pupils aged 3-11 were taught a curriculum based on speaking, reading and writing in Polish together with some additional music lessons. Pupils aged 11-18 were taught reading, writing and speaking in Polish as well as receiving lessons in Polish history and geography and religious education. 18 students with special educational needs were taught by one teacher and four teaching assistants. One ‘Polish as a second language’ class was also taught. A total of 25 students were prepared for public examinations with the following results: GCSE – 25 students – grades ranged from 7-9 |
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| A level – 10 students – grades ranged |
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| from B to A* |
| 2. Assemblies |
| The following assemblies took place during |
| the course of the year: |
| ●End of Year Assembly |
| ●Independence Day |
| ●National Education Day. |
| 3. Classroom based activities |
| ●Grandparents' Day |
| ●Independence Day |
| ●Teddy Bear Day |
| ●Easter |
| 4. After School Clubs |
| During the school year the following after |
| school clubs took place: |
| ● Arts and crafts |
| ● Football |
| These sessions take place each Saturday |
| for one hour after the end of the normal |
| school day and are well attended by |
| students. |
5. Extra-curricular activities The following activities took place: ● 09[th] December – Christmas fair ● 18[th] May Sports Day / Open Day 6. Liaising with other organisations The School participated in the annual WOSP fundraising event in January 2024. Parents, students and staff participated in the annual fun day held at Laxton Hall referred to above. 7. Parent Community Café The Parent Community Café operated
throughout the school year. During the course of the year the school received a grant in the sum of £2000 towards the café’s running costs from the Cambridgeshire Community Foundation 8. Children’s University The School continued to participate in this programme during this financial year.
Additional information (optional) You may choose to include further statements where relevant about:
Achievements against objectives set Para 1.41 Performance of fundraising activities against objectives
| set | Para 1.41 | |
|---|---|---|
| Investment performance against objectives |
Para 1.41 | |
| Other |
Financial Review
| Financial Review | ||
|---|---|---|
| Review of the charity’s financial position at the end of the period |
Para 1.21 | During this financial year income exceeded expenditure in the sum of £27692 |
| Statement explaining the policy for holding reserves stating why they are held |
Para 1.22 | The Charity had a formal reserves policy in place during this financial year on the basis of a figure equivalent to three months’ expenditure. |
| Amount of reserves held | Para 1.22 | |
| Reasons for holding zero reserves |
Para 1.22 | N/A |
| Details of fund materially in deficit |
Para 1.24 | N/A |
| Explanation of any uncertainties about the charity continuing as a going concern |
Para 1.23 |
Additional information (optional) You may choose to include further statements where relevant about:
The charity’s principal sources of funds (including any fundraising) |
Para 1.47 |
The Charity’s principal source of funding comes from the monthly fees paid by parents. In the financial year funding was obtained from the following sources: ‘Wspolnota Polska’ organisation which operates under the auspices of the Polish Foreign Ministry -£31838.20 (partly used for 2023/24) Cambridgeshire Community Fund - £2000 (spent in this financial year). These monies were designated to support the work of the Parent Community Café. The monies raised in this way have been |
|---|---|---|
| used to further the key objectives of the Charity by: ●hiring suitable premises ●providing a parent community café ●employing staff ●purchasing teaching materials and textbooks |
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| Investment policy and objectives including any social investment policy adopted |
Para 1.46 | N/A |
| A description of the principal risks facing the charity |
Para 1.46 | There are five main issues that we have identified and our approach to addressing them is set out below: (i) Compliance Issues As with any comparable organisation we have certain requirements in terms of putting policies and procedures in place. The most important of these are in respect of: ●Safeguarding ●Data protection ●Equal opportunities These policies are reviewed on a regular basis and update training is delivered to staff at regular intervals. |
| We also have a series of policies in place |
|---|
| relating to employment matters. |
| (ii) Communication Issues |
| Given that we have nearly 500 students, |
| who are taught via 25 classes, it is |
| imperative that we communicate clearly |
| with parents. This is done primarily using |
| the Parentmail communication tool and via |
| our school website and facebook page. |
| (iii) Financial Issues |
| In terms of finances, we have put in place a |
| reserves policy and have reserved funds to |
| cover unexpected expenses or shortfalls in |
| income. |
| Parents pay a monthly fee to the school |
| and this is collected via the School Money |
| payment platform which allows us to |
| manage this aspect of our finances more |
| effectively. |
| (iv) Legal Issues |
| In terms of employment considerations, |
| each role has a detailed job description and |
| employees benefit from a contract of |
| employment that provides the usual |
| protections. With the exception of our |
| supply teachers, we do not use zero hours |
| contracts. |
| We also have an annual contract for hire in |
| place with the school on whose premises |
| we operate. |
| (v) Governance Issues The school employs a Headteacher and Deputy Headteacher on a part time basis and they are responsible for day-to-day management issues. The trustees meet formally with the HT and DHT not less than six times a year and are regular visitors to the school on Saturday mornings. Each trustee also has certain specific responsibilities depending on their role. |
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| Other |
Structure, Governance and Management
Description of charity’s trusts: Type of governing document Para 1.25 Constitution, approved at an AGM on 9[th] June 2018. How is the charity Para 1.25 constituted? CIO Trustee selection methods Para 1.25 including details of any Elected by members at the AGM for a constitutional provisions e.g. period of two years election to post or name of any person or body entitled to appoint one or more trustees Appointed by trustees on a co-opted basis – maximum term two years
Additional information (optional) You may choose to include further statements where relevant about:
Policies and procedures adopted for the induction and training of trustees |
Para 1.51 |
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|---|---|---|
| The charity’s organisational structure and any wider network with which the charity works |
Para 1.51 | The Charity runs a Polish Saturday School (the School’) which provides education in Polish language, traditions, history, geography and culture for four hours on a Saturday morning during term time. The School began in 1951 and was recognised as a charity by HMRC on 15thJuly 2015 and converted to CIO status with effect from 1stSeptember 2019. Teaching takes place on the premises of the St. John Fisher School secondary school in Peterborough which are hired for these purposes. |
The total number of students for the financial year 23/24 was 493 making the School the largest Polish Saturday School in the United Kingdom outside of London. Students attending the School are almost entirely of Polish heritage and are resident in the greater Peterborough area although some students do come from further afield. Day to day management of the Charity is delegated by the Trustees to the School’s Management Team which consists of a part time Head Teacher, and Deputy Head Teacher. The Trustees meet with the School Management Team not less than six times a year to ensure that the School is being run in accordance with the objects set out in the Charity’s constitution. The Trustees also regularly visit the School during its hours of operation to liaise with the School Management Team and other members of staff as appropriate. The Trustees, together with the School Management Team, have put in place appropriate policies in those areas of greatest risk for the Charity, namely Safeguarding, Health and Safety and Data Protection. Training in respect of these areas is also provided on a regular basis. Relationship with any related parties Para 1.51 Other
Reference and Administrative details
| Charity name | Nicolaus Copernicus Peterborough Polish School |
|---|---|
| Other name the charity uses | Peterborough Polish School |
| Registered charity number | 1179402 |
| Charity’s principal address | c/o St. John Fisher Catholic High School Park Lane Peterborough PE1 5JN |
Names of the charity trustees who manage the charity
| 1 2 3 |
Trustee name | Office (if any) | Dates acted if not for whole year |
Name of person (or body) entitled to appoint trustee (if any) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Natasza Zastawna | Chair | AGM / Other trustees via co-option |
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| Magdalena Kamila Kaminska |
Secretary | AGM / Other trustees via co-option |
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| Karol Piotrowski | Trustee | AGM / Other trustees via co-option |
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– Corporate trustees names of the directors at the date the report was approved
Director name
Name of trustees holding title to property belonging to the charity
Trustee name Dates acted if not for whole year
Funds held as custodian trustees on behalf of others
Description of the assets N/A held in this capacity
Name and objects of the charity on whose behalf the assets are held and how this falls within the custodian charity’s objects
Details of arrangements for safe custody and segregation of such assets from the charity’s own assets
Additional information (optional)
Names and addresses of advisers (Optional information)
Type of Name Address adviser
Name of chief executive or names of senior staff members (Optional information)
Magdalena Sobkowicz – Headteacher
Exemptions from disclosure
Reason for non-disclosure of key personnel details
Other optional information
Declarations
The trustees declare that they have approved the trustees’ report above.
Signed on behalf of the charity’s trustees
Signature(s Natasza Zastawna Magdalena Kamila Kaminska Full name( Position (eg Secretary, Chair Secretary Chair, etc) Date 6/3/2025
Nicolaus Copernicus Peterborough Polish School
No 119402
Receipts and payments accounts
CC16a
For the period Period start date Period end date To from 01/09/2023 30/08/2024
Section A Receipts and payments
| A1 Receipts | Unrestricted funds to the nearest £ 141,957 7,890 7,550 4,230 500 100 162,227 - - - 162,227 92,032 - 15,766 13,186 1,519 10,079 3,705 535 1,344 138,165 - - - 138,165 24,062 - 69,325 93,387 |
Restricted funds to the nearest £ - - 31,838 3,499 - - - - 35,337 - - - 35,337 18,339 3,499 8,000 - - - - - 1,870 31,707 - - - 31,707 3,630 - 10,588 14,218 |
Endowment funds to the nearest £ - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - |
Total funds to the nearest £ 141,957 7,890 31,838 3,499 7,550 4,230 500 100 197,564 - - - 197,564 110,370 3,499 23,766 13,186 1,519 10,079 3,705 535 3,214 169,872 - - - 169,872 27,692 |
Total funds to the nearest £ 141,957 7,890 31,838 3,499 7,550 4,230 500 100 197,564 - - - 197,564 110,370 3,499 23,766 13,186 1,519 10,079 3,705 535 3,214 169,872 - - - 169,872 27,692 |
Last year to the nearest £ |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| School fees 1.2,10 | 141,957 | 138,026 | ||||
| After School Clubs 5,6,7,16 | 7,890 | 4,480 | ||||
| Grant Wspolnota Polska,Café,KM 15.19 | 13,193 | |||||
| Cambridge Special Education 13 | 13,996 | |||||
| Books Exams 3,4,8 | 7,550 | 9,063 | ||||
| Fundraising17, | 4,230 | 4,147 | ||||
| Advertising8 | 500 | 3,052 | ||||
| Bank Interests 18 | 100 | 100 | ||||
| Sub total(Gross income for AR) |
162,227 | 186,057 | ||||
| A2 Asset and investment sales, (see table). |
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| - | ||||||
| - | - | |||||
| Sub total | - | - | ||||
| Total receipts A3 Payments |
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| 186,057 | ||||||
| Wages1, 2, 33 | 92,032 | 107,221 | ||||
| Wages SEN 1 | - | 3,499 | ||||
| Rent 3 | 15,766 | 26,911 | ||||
| Office & Admin costs/ teachingmateria | 13,186 | 13,303 | ||||
| Training& development/exams 17, 15 | 1,519 | 1,390 | ||||
| Insurance/ fee licences/DBS 7,10, 18 | 10,079 | 6,184 | ||||
| Awards/ after school clubs 28, 19,23, | 3,705 | 2,444 | ||||
| Grant Wspolnota Polska/SEN 31,25,24 | 535 | 9,267 | ||||
| Cost of Events/ café 22,26 | 1,344 | 3,222 | ||||
| **Sub total ** | 138,165 | 173,441 | ||||
| A4 Asset and investment purchases, (see table) |
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| - | ||||||
| - | ||||||
| **Sub total ** | - | - | ||||
| Total payments Net of receipts/(payments) A5 Transfers between funds A6 Cash funds last year end Cash funds this year end |
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| 173,441 | ||||||
| 24,062 | 3,630 | - | 27,692 | 12,616 | ||
| - | - | - | - | - | ||
| 69,325 | 10,588 | - | 79,913 | - | ||
| 93,387 | 14,218 | - | 107,605 | 12,616 |
CCXX R1 accounts (SS)
13/06/2025
1
Section B Statement of assets and liabilities at the end of the period
| Categories Signed by one or two trustees on behalf of all the trustees B1 Cash funds B2 Other monetary assets B4 Assets retained for the charity’s own use B5 Liabilities B3 Investment assets CCXX R2 accounts (SS) |
Signature Details Details Details Details Total cash funds (agree balances with receipts and payments account(s)) Details 2 |
Unrestricted funds Restricted funds to nearest £ to nearest £ 93,387 14,218 - - - - 93,387 14,218 OK OK Unrestricted funds Restricted funds to nearest £ to nearest £ - - - - - - - - - - - - Fund to which asset belongs Cost (optional) - - - - - Fund to which asset belongs Cost (optional) - - - - - - - - - Fund to which liability relates Amount due (optional) - - - - - Print Name |
Endowment funds to nearest £ |
|---|---|---|---|
| - | |||
| - | |||
| - | |||
| - | |||
| OK | |||
| Endowment funds to nearest £ |
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| - | |||
| - | |||
| - | |||
| - | |||
| - | |||
| - | |||
| Current value (optional) |
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| - | |||
| - | |||
| - | |||
| - | |||
| - | |||
| Current value (optional) |
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| - | |||
| - | |||
| - | |||
| - | |||
| - | |||
| - | |||
| - | |||
| When due (optional) |
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| Date of approval |
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| 2 | 13/06/2025 |
CCXX R2 accounts (SS)
CHARITY COMMISSION FOR ENGLAND AND WALES Independent examinerfs report on the accounts Sèction A Independent Examiner's Report Report to th8 trustee81 mombors of Nicolaus Copernicus Petert)orough Polish School On accounts for the year onded 3110812024 Charlty no (if any) 1179402 Set out on pages Attached CC16a I report to the trustees on my eXamInat)n of the accounts of the above charity {'the Trust'} for the year ended 3110812024. Responsibilities and As the charity's trustees, you are responsible for the preparation of the basis of report accounts in accordance with the requirements of the Charities Act 2011 ('the Ad"). 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 I have completed my examination. I confirm that no material matters have examinerfs statement come to my attention in connection with the examination which gives me cause to believe that in, any material respect.. the accounting records were not kept in accordance with section 130 of the Charities Act- or the accounts did not accord with the accounting records,. or the accounts did not comply with the applicable requirements Conrning the fomi and content of accounts set out in the Charities (Accounts and Reports) Regulations 2008 other than any requirement that the accounts give a 'true and fair, view which is not a matter considered as part of an independent 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. Slgned: Date: 1010612025 Name: anna Fox ACMA Relevant professional qualification{sl or body (if any): Chartered Instiiute of Management Accountants Address: Unit B Greenhill House, Thorpe Road Peterborough PE3 6RU IER Oct 2018
Section B Disclosure Only complete If the examiner needs lo highlight mateiial matters of Goncern (see CC32, Independent examination of charity accounts.. directions and guidance for examiners). Give here brief dètsils of any items that tho examiner wishes to disclose. IER Oct 2018