**REGISTERED CHARITY NUMBER: 1184743**
**Report of the Trustees and Unaudited Financial Statements for the Year Ended 31 August 2025**
**for Lumiar Stowford**
Monahans Chartered Accountants Hermes House Fire Fly Avenue Swindon Wiltshire SN2 2GA
**Lumiar Stowford**
**Contents of the Financial Statements for the Year Ended 31 August 2025**
||**Page**|
|---|---|
|**Report of the Trustees**|1 to 3|
|**Independent Examiner's Report**|4|
|**Statement of Financial Activities**|5|
|**Balance Sheet**|6|
|**Notes to the Financial Statements**|7 to 10|
**Lumiar Stowford**
## **Report of the Trustees for the Year Ended 31 August 2025**
The trustees present their report with the financial statements of the charity for the year ended 31 August 2025. The trustees have adopted the provisions of Accounting and Reporting by Charities: Statement of Recommended Practice applicable to charities preparing their accounts in accordance with the Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland (FRS 102) (effective 1 January 2019).
This is the sixth report for Lumiar Stowford as an incorporated charitable organisation, registered in its current form with the Charity Commission as a CIO on 2 August 2019.
## **OBJECTIVES AND ACTIVITIES**
## **Objectives and aims**
Lumiar Stowford review the aims, objectives, and activities of the charity each year. This report looks at what the charity has achieved and the outcomes of its work in the reporting period. The review also helps the Charity Trustees ensure the charity's aims, objectives and activities remained focused on its stated purposes.
The objects of the Charity are to advance, for the public benefit, education in the United Kingdom. In particular, the Charity maintains Lumiar Stowford - a school for the education of children as day pupils in accordance with the principles of the Lumiar methodology.
The Charity's objects also allow the provision of facilities for the people of Wiltshire and Somerset, for education, recreation, or other leisure time occupation.
## **Significant activities**
Lumiar Stowford has provided schooling for 36 children this year; a decrease of 9 children on the previous year.
Members of the team have spoken at public educational events about the Lumiar pedagogy, positive impact on our learners, and the potential for Lumiar's expansion to other communities.
## **Public benefit**
The trustees have referred to the Charity Commission's general guidance on public benefit when reviewing the charity's aims and objectives and in planning its future activities. In particular, the trustees consider how planned activities will contribute to the aims and objectives that have been set.
Lumiar Stowford has provided bursaries for three children from low-income families this year.
The trustees also aim to provide public benefit by demonstrating to the UK Government an affordable educational approach that children love and in which they learn better. The trustees believe that the model of education at Lumiar – that we see to be so much more effective than the current paradigm – can be provided to every child in the UK at no greater cost than the current state model. Lumiar’s fees intentionally mirror the cost per child that the State pays.
## **ACHIEVEMENTS AND PERFORMANCE Charitable activities**
Lumiar Stowford has now been operating as a school for six years.
Demand for places was lower in 24/25 than previous years and we did not fill our capacity. This may be due to a rise in the cost of living plus the proposed introduction of VAT on school fees increasing the financial pressure on families.
We have secured permission from the Department of Education to extend the age of our students from Year 6 to Year 9 and conducted extensive marketing to inform families in the local area of this new opportunity. This increased interest from families with children of all ages, not just those approaching secondary age. As we look ahead to the 25/26 academic year, we are confident we will achieve capacity.
Lumiar’s landlord converted a storeroom connected to our main building, ‘the Barn’, into an additional classroom which we will rent from September 2025 increasing the floor space of the setting.
Lumiar employed eight permanent members of teaching staff throughout the year – all of whom joined the school in the previous year. This strong team will be joined by three new teachers or teaching assistants in the coming year. We hired a new part time administrator in April 2025.
The school retains a relationship with the parent organisation, Lumiar Brazil, which provides it with the Mosaic assessment platform.
## **Fundraising activities**
The school held fundraising events on its premises in December and July, raising additional funds to enrich the setting.
Page 1
**Lumiar Stowford**
**Report of the Trustees for the Year Ended 31 August 2025**
## **FINANCIAL REVIEW Financial position**
At the end of our sixth year of operation, we added £27,998 to our reserves.
## **Principal funding sources**
Charging school fees remains our principal funding source and these increased by 5% this year from £7,700 to £8,100 (+VAT from January onwards). We also receive income from trial days, school trips, and events where parents are asked to cover the costs.
## **Reserves policy**
We aim to hold a minimum of 25% of our total annual costs as cash reserves, and budget for this. At the end of the 24/25 academic year, we achieved reserves of £89,926 (28.3%), which exceeds our ambition.
## **Going concern**
The Lumiar model of learning has been greeted as a good alternative to mainstream provision. For six years, Lumiar Stowford has proved popular with pupils and parents alike and the school’s good reputation contains to grow.
The decision to expand the age range of the school to early secondary means it is now aligned with Frome’s three-tier school system (first school, middle school, college) making it more appealing to families who intend to send their child(ren) to Frome College to take GCSEs and A-levels.
In Spring 2025, we surveyed students, parents and staff.
All students agreed or strongly agreed that they ‘felt safe’, ‘can be myself’ and can ‘relax and play’ at Lumiar. 100% also agreed that they are inspired by what they learn and can be creative at school.
All parents agreed that their child was ‘making good progress at school’ and that Lumiar ‘inspires my child/ren to learn’.
Our cashflow is looking healthy for the year to August 2025 and, during the school year 2025-26, we expect to have around 50 students on roll.
## **FUTURE PLANS**
The board of trustees supports the head’s decision to expand the provision to include the early years of secondary school over time, introducing Year 7 and 8 in the 2025/26 academic year and introducing Year 9 students from September 2026.
To generate the funds required to grow the school, we aim to generate an income surplus of 20% each year. **STRUCTURE, GOVERNANCE AND MANAGEMENT**
## **Governing document**
The Charity is controlled by its governing document and constitute a Charitable Incorporated Organisation. Lumiar Stowford was established in August 2019, becoming operational from September 2019 with assets transferred from the previous Company with effect from that date.
## **Charity constitution**
The Charity is governed by its constitution, which was adopted in March 2019. No changes have been made since that date.
## **Recruitment and appointment of new trustees**
Trustees are appointed for a fixed term, at which point they may re-apply for their position, or appoint a replacement by agreement with the other trustees, up to a maximum of three terms. A Trustee must then leave an interval of at least one year before re-applying for re-appointment.
Only incumbent trustees have the power to appoint other trustees. Trustees may resign voluntarily with written notice.
The charity will always remain quorate and at least three Trustees will always remain in post.
Trustees will cease to hold office if they should lose capacity, following disqualification, or in the event of death.
## **Organisational structure**
The four trustees sit on the Governing Board of the school. Decisions are taken by majority vote at a meeting of the charity trustees, by resolution in written or electronic form. The trustees delegate operational decisions to the staff at the school as appropriate.
Page 2
**Lumiar Stowford**
**Report of the Trustees for the Year Ended 31 August 2025**
## **REFERENCE AND ADMINISTRATIVE DETAILS Registered Charity number** 1184743
**Principal address** Stowford Manor Farm Wingfield Wiltshire BA14 9LH
## **Trustees**
Ms K Symonds-Moore C Brown E Rawlins S Nicholson
## **Independent Examiner**
Monahans Chartered Accountants Hermes House Fire Fly Avenue Swindon Wiltshire SN2 2GA
## **Bankers**
Lloyds 25 Gresham Street London EC2V 7HN
Approved by order of the board of trustees on 13[th] March 2026 and signed on its behalf by:
........................................................................ Ms K Symonds-Moore - Trustee
Page 3
## **Independent Examiner's Report to the Trustees of Lumiar Stowford**
## **Independent examiner's report to the trustees of Lumiar Stowford**
I report to the charity trustees on my examination of the accounts of Lumiar Stowford (the Trust) for the year ended 31 August 2025.
## **Responsibilities and basis of report**
As the charity trustees of the Trust you are responsible for the preparation of the 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 Act and in carrying out my examination I have followed all applicable Directions given by the Charity Commission under Section 145(5)(b) of the Act.
## **Independent examiner's statement**
Since your charity's gross income exceeded £250,000 your examiner must be a member of a listed body. I can confirm that I am qualified to undertake the examination because I am a member of the Institute of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales, which is one of the listed bodies.
I have completed my examination. I confirm that no material matters have come to my attention in connection with the examination giving me cause to believe that in any material respect:
1. accounting records were not kept in respect of the Trust as required by Section 130 of the Act; or
2. the accounts do not accord with those records; or
3. the accounts do not comply with the applicable requirements concerning the form 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.
James Gare FCA DChA
Monahans Chartered Accountants Hermes House Fire Fly Avenue Swindon Wiltshire SN2 2GA
Date: .............................................
Page 4
**Lumiar Stowford**
## **Statement of Financial Activities for the Year Ended 31 August 2025**
|2025
Unrestricted
fund
Notes
£
**INCOME AND ENDOWMENTS FROM**
**Charitable activities**
Provision of education
345,961
**EXPENDITURE ON**
**Charitable activities**
Provision of education
317,963
**NET INCOME**
27,998
**RECONCILIATION OF FUNDS**
Total funds brought forward
61,928
**TOTAL FUNDS CARRIED FORWARD**
89,926|2024
Total
funds
£
388,016
322,890
65,126
(3,198)
61,928|
|---|---|
The notes form part of these financial statements
Page 5
**Lumiar Stowford**
## **Balance Sheet 31 August 2025**
|2025
Unrestricted
fund
Notes
£
**FIXED ASSETS**
Tangible assets
5
13,874
**CURRENT ASSETS**
Debtors
6
134,571
Cash in hand
156,248
290,819
**CREDITORS**
Amounts falling due within one year
7
(214,767)
**NET CURRENT ASSETS**
76,052
**TOTAL ASSETS LESS CURRENT LIABILITIES**
89,926
**NET ASSETS**
89,926
**FUNDS**
8
Unrestricted funds
89,926
**TOTAL FUNDS**
89,926|2024
Total
funds
£
12,226
14,581
91,760
106,341
(56,639)
49,702
61,928
61,928
61,928
61,928|
|---|---|
The financial statements were approved by the Board of Trustees and authorised for issue on 13[th] March 2026 and were signed on its behalf by:
.............................................
K Symonds-Moore - Trustee
The notes form part of these financial statements
Page 6
**Lumiar Stowford**
**Notes to the Financial Statements for the Year Ended 31 August 2025**
## **1. ACCOUNTING POLICIES**
## **Basis of preparing the financial statements**
The financial statements of the charity, which is a public benefit entity under FRS 102, have been prepared in accordance with the Charities SORP (FRS 102) 'Accounting and Reporting by Charities: Statement of Recommended Practice applicable to charities preparing their accounts in accordance with the Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland (FRS 102) (effective 1 January 2019)', Financial Reporting Standard 102 'The Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland' and the Charities Act 2011. The financial statements have been prepared under the historical cost convention.
The financial statements have been prepared to give a ‘true and fair’ view and have departed from the Charities (Accounts and Reports) Regulations 2008 only to the extent required to provide a ‘true and fair view’. This departure has involved following Charities SORP (FRS 102) rather than Accounting and Reporting by Charities: Statement of Recommended Practice effective from 1 April 2005 which has since been withdrawn.
Lumiar Stowford meets the definition of a public benefit entity under FRS 102.
## **Financial instruments**
The charity has elected to apply the provisions of Section 11 ‘Basic Financial Instruments’ and Section 12 ‘Other Financial Instruments Issues’ of FRS 102 to all of its financial instruments. The Charity only has financial assets and liabilities of a kind that qualify as basic financial instruments in accordance with section 11 of FRS 102. Basic financial instruments are initially recognised at transaction value and are subsequently measured at their settlement value.
The Charity does not acquire put options, derivatives or other complex financial instruments.
## **Income**
All income is recognised in the Statement of Financial Activities once the charity has entitlement to the funds, it is probable that the income will be received and the amount can be measured reliably.
## **Expenditure**
Liabilities are recognised as expenditure as soon as there is a legal or constructive obligation committing the charity to that expenditure, it is probable that a transfer of economic benefits will be required in settlement and the amount of the obligation can be measured reliably. Expenditure is accounted for on an accruals basis and has been classified under headings that aggregate all cost related to the category. Where costs cannot be directly attributed to particular headings they have been allocated to activities on a basis consistent with the use of resources.
## **Critical accounting estimates and judgements**
In the application of the charity’s accounting policies, the Trustees are required to make judgements, estimates and assumptions about the carrying amount of assets and liabilities that are not readily apparent from other sources. The estimates and associated assumptions are based on historical experience and other factors that are considered to be relevant. Actual results may differ from these estimates.
The estimates and underlying assumptions are reviewed on an ongoing basis. Revisions to accounting estimates are recognised in the period in which the estimate is revised, if the revision affects only that period, or in the period of the revision and future periods if the revision affects both current and future periods.
The Trustees have judged that there are no estimates or assumptions which have a significant risk of causing a material adjustment to the carrying amount of assets and liabilities.
## **Tangible fixed assets**
Depreciation is provided at the following annual rates in order to write off each asset over its estimated useful life.
|Improvements to property|- 10% on straight line basis|
|---|---|
|Fixtures and fittings|- 33% on straight line basis|
|Computer equipment|- 33% on straight line basis|
## **Taxation**
The charity is exempt from tax on its charitable activities.
## **Fund accounting**
Unrestricted funds can be used in accordance with the charitable objectives at the discretion of the trustees.
Restricted funds can only be used for particular restricted purposes within the objects of the charity. Restrictions arise when specified by the donor or when funds are raised for particular restricted purposes.
Page 7
continued...
**Lumiar Stowford**
**for the Year Ended 31 August 2025**
## **Notes to the Financial Statements - continued**
## **1. ACCOUNTING POLICIES - continued**
## **Fund accounting**
Further explanation of the nature and purpose of each fund is included in the notes to the financial statements.
## **Pension costs and other post-retirement benefits**
The charity operates a defined contribution pension scheme. Contributions payable to the charity's pension scheme are charged to the Statement of Financial Activities in the period to which they relate.
## **2. TRUSTEES' REMUNERATION AND BENEFITS**
There were no trustees' remuneration or other benefits for the year ended 31 August 2025 nor for the year ended 31 August 2024.
## **Trustees' expenses**
There were no trustees' expenses paid for the year ended 31 August 2025 nor for the year ended 31 August 2024.
## **3. STAFF COSTS**
## **4.**
|Wages and salaries
Social security costs
Other pension costs
The average monthly number of employees during the year was as follows:
Educational staff
No employees received emoluments in excess of £60,000.
**COMPARATIVES FOR THE STATEMENT OF FINANCIAL ACTIVITIES**
**INCOME AND ENDOWMENTS FROM**
**Charitable activities**
Provision of education
**EXPENDITURE ON**
**Charitable activities**
Provision of education
**NET INCOME**
**RECONCILIATION OF FUNDS**
Total funds brought forward
**TOTAL FUNDS CARRIED FORWARD**||2025
2024
£
£
202,722
197,624
8,805
8,493
3,837
3,363
215,364
209,480
2025
2024
10
8
Unrestricted
fund
£
388,016
322,890
65,126
(3,198)
61,928|
|---|---|---|
||||
||||
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continued...
**Lumiar Stowford**
## **Notes to the Financial Statements - continued for the Year Ended 31 August 2025**
## **5. TANGIBLE FIXED ASSETS**
|Improvements
Fixtures
to
Plant and
and
property
machinery
fittings
£
£
£
**COST**
At 1 September 2024
14,257
-
2,988
Additions
-
3,392
735
Disposals
(2,185)
-
(207)
At 31 August 2025
12,072
3,392
3,516
**DEPRECIATION**
At 1 September 2024
2,528
-
2,491
Charge for year
1,207
144
267
Eliminated on disposal
(437)
-
(206)
At 31 August 2025
3,298
144
2,552
**NET BOOK VALUE**
At 31 August 2025
8,774
3,248
964
At 31 August 2024
11,729
-
497
**6.**
**DEBTORS**
Amounts falling due within one year:
Trade debtors
Other debtors
Prepayments and accrued income
Amounts falling due after more than one year:
Prepayments and accrued income
Aggregate amounts
**7.**
**CREDITORS: AMOUNTS FALLING DUE WITHIN ONE YEAR**
Trade creditors
Taxation and social security
Other creditors
**8.**
**MOVEMENT IN FUNDS**
At 1.9.24
£
**Unrestricted funds**
General fund
61,928
**TOTAL FUNDS**
61,928|Computer
equipment
£
6,826
931
(167)
7,590
6,826
43
(167)
6,702
888
-
2025
£
129,643
2,466
2,462
134,571
-
134,571
2025
£
4,560
54,349
155,858
214,767
Net
movement
in funds
£
27,998
27,998||
|---|---|---|
||||
||||
||||
||||
||||
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continued...
**Lumiar Stowford**
## **Notes to the Financial Statements - continued for the Year Ended 31 August 2025**
## **8. MOVEMENT IN FUNDS - continued**
Net movement in funds, included in the above are as follows:
|**Unrestricted funds**
General fund
**TOTAL FUNDS**|Incoming
resources
£
345,961
345,961|Resources
Movement
expended
in funds
£
£
(317,963)
27,998
(317,963)
27,998|
|---|---|---|
## **Comparatives for movement in funds**
|At 1.9.23
£
**Unrestricted funds**
General fund
(3,198)
**TOTAL FUNDS**
(3,198)
Comparative net movement in funds, included in the above are as follows:
Incoming
resources
£
**Unrestricted funds**
General fund
388,016
**TOTAL FUNDS**
388,016|Net
movement
At
in funds
31.8.24
£
£
65,126
61,928
65,126
61,928
Resources
Movement
expended
in funds
£
£
(322,890)
65,126
(322,890)
65,126|
|---|---|
## **9. RELATED PARTY DISCLOSURES**
There were no related party transactions for the year ended 31 August 2025.
Page 10