## **SEVENOAKS PARTNERSHIP OF PRIMARY SCHOOLS** ## **TRUSTEES' ANNUAL REPORT** **For the Financial Year 1 September 2024 to 31 August 2025** **Charity Name:** Sevenoaks Partnership of Primary Schools **Charity Number:** 1185497 **Reporting Period:** 1 September 2024 to 31 August 2025 ## **Chair's Introduction** The Trustees are pleased to present the Annual Report for the Sevenoaks Partnership of Primary Schools for the financial year ending 31 August 2025. This year has been one of continued development, collaboration and innovation across the partnership. During a period when schools continue to face significant financial challenges, increased levels of pupil need and pressures on recruitment and retention, the partnership has remained committed to its founding purpose of supporting schools through collective action, professional collaboration and shared expertise. The partnership has continued to provide high-quality professional development, school effectiveness support, opportunities for networking and collaboration, and access to services that would be significantly more costly or unavailable to individual schools acting alone. The trustees remain grateful to our member schools, strategic partners and supporters whose commitment enables the partnership to flourish and deliver meaningful benefits to children, families and staff across the Sevenoaks district. ## **Our Vision** ## **Together we support and collaborate to inspire and succeed.** ## **Our Mission** To create a collaborative culture in which all children and staff are supported and inspired to succeed. ## **Our Core Moral Purpose** The partnership exists to: - Improve the life chances of all children and young people. - Facilitate high-quality training and collaborative school-to-school support. - Nurture the wellbeing of children and adults. - Promote educational excellence through collaboration and shared practice. - Strengthen leadership capacity across education settings. ## **Structure, Governance and Management** Sevenoaks Partnership of Primary Schools is a Charitable Incorporated Organisation (CIO) registered with the Charity Commission under charity number 1185497. The charity is governed by a Board of Trustees drawn from member schools and the wider educational community. Trustees meet regularly throughout the year to oversee the strategic direction, financial management and charitable objectives of the organisation. During 2024–2025 the trustees have continued to review governance arrangements, ensure compliance with Charity Commission requirements and monitor the effectiveness and impact of the partnership's activities. The Board remains committed to maintaining high standards of governance, financial stewardship and accountability. ## **Membership** Membership remained strong throughout the year. The partnership continued to comprise approximately 33 member schools, representing primary schools across the Sevenoaks area and surrounding communities. Membership provides schools with access to professional development, collaborative networks, school improvement support, leadership development and wellbeing initiatives. The trustees are pleased that member engagement remains high and that schools continue to recognise the value of collective working. ## **Achievements and Performance** ## **Professional Development and Training** A comprehensive programme of professional development was delivered throughout the year. Training continued to be provided through a combination of face-to-face sessions and specialist events hosted by member schools and partner organisations. Areas of professional development included: - Leadership development - Teaching assistant development - Early Career Teacher support - Higher Level Teaching Assistant development - Curriculum leadership - Behaviour and inclusion - Moderation activities - Strategic leadership coaching Building upon the successful programmes established in previous years, trustees are pleased to report that participation levels remained strong and feedback from delegates continued to be overwhelmingly positive. The partnership's commitment to providing accessible, local and high-quality professional learning remains central to its charitable purpose. ## **School Effectiveness Support** School effectiveness support remained a highly valued element of the partnership offer. Support provided throughout 2024–2025 included: - School reviews - Leadership coaching - Subject leadership development - Curriculum reviews - Strategic school improvement support - Professional mentoring The trustees have continued to receive strong evidence that this work contributes positively to school improvement, leadership confidence and capacity building across member schools. ## **Subject Networks and Forums** The partnership continued to facilitate a range of forums and professional networks that enable colleagues to collaborate and share best practice. These networks provide significant value to schools by reducing isolation, sharing expertise and promoting consistency of practice. ## **Learning Hubs** The Learning Hub model continued to support collaboration between schools. The hubs provided opportunities for: - Moderation - School visits - Joint professional development - Collaborative curriculum work - School improvement activity Trustees recognise the continued importance of these local collaborative groups and remain committed to strengthening their impact and effectiveness. ## **Annual Conference** The annual Sevenoaks Partnership Conference once again provided a significant professional development opportunity for staff from across member schools. The conference enabled delegates to: - Access high-quality keynote speakers. - Engage in professional learning. - Share effective practice. - Strengthen professional networks. - Collaborate across schools. The trustees remain committed to maintaining a high-quality annual conference that reflects current educational priorities and delivers value for member schools. ## **Partnerships and Collaborative Working** A key strength of the partnership remains its ability to develop meaningful relationships with organisations that share its vision. ## **Sevenoaks School** The partnership has continued to benefit from a strong and productive relationship with Sevenoaks School, including access to facilities, outreach opportunities and professional expertise. Previous collaborative work has demonstrated the significant value that this relationship brings to member schools. ## **Sevenoaks Preparatory School** The partnership is grateful to Sevenoaks Preparatory School for sharing their facilities with the Sevenoaks Partnership School. ## **Spurgeon's** The counselling and family support offer continued throughout the year. Trustees remain committed to supporting children's emotional wellbeing and mental health and recognise the positive impact this provision has on pupils and families across partnership schools. Previous evaluation of this work has shown strong value for money and positive outcomes for participating schools. ## **West Heath School** The partnership continued to benefit from collaborative work with West Heath School, particularly around wellbeing and specialist support. ## **Knole Academy** Collaborative working continued through training opportunities and sporting partnership activities. ## **Financial Review** The trustees are committed to ensuring that the charity's resources are managed responsibly and in accordance with its charitable objectives. Income, expenditure and reserves information is published alongside this document on the CC16a. During 2024–2025 the partnership continued to invest in: - Professional development programmes. - School effectiveness support. - Leadership development. - Wellbeing initiatives. - Strategic development activities - Pupil counselling. The trustees have maintained careful oversight of expenditure throughout the year and remain satisfied that the charity's resources are being directed appropriately towards achieving its charitable aims. ## **Reserves Policy** The trustees recognise the importance of maintaining appropriate reserves to: - Protect the charity's ongoing operations. - Manage unforeseen risks. - Support strategic development. - Ensure continuity of services for member schools. The trustees review reserves annually as part of the budget-setting and financial monitoring process. ## **Risk Management** Trustees regularly review key risks facing the organisation. Areas monitored include: - Financial sustainability. - Membership retention. - Governance and compliance. - Safeguarding. - Data protection. - Delivery capacity. - Succession planning. Appropriate controls are in place to minimise identified risks and ensure the continued effective operation of the charity. ## **Looking Forward: 2025–2026 and beyond** Looking ahead, the trustees will focus on: - Increasing engagement across all member schools. - Strengthening the training and development offer. - Expanding school effectiveness support. - Developing the new partnership website and branding. - Growing strategic partnerships. - Enhancing communication and evidence of impact. - Exploring opportunities to secure additional funding and sponsorship. The trustees remain ambitious for the future and are confident that the partnership will continue to make a significant contribution to educational improvement and wellbeing across the region. ## **Trustees' Statement** The Trustees declare that they have approved this Trustees' Annual Report and have authorised its issue on behalf of the Board of Trustees. Signed on behalf of the Trustees ## **Chair of Trustees:** _Tom Hardwick_ **Name:** Tom Hardwick **Date:** 01/06/2026 CHARITY COMMISSION roR CNGiAND ANO Whi£S Receipts and payments accounts CC16a For the period from Section A Receipts and payments UnTestrict8d funds lo thè nèarè*t Re5tTlCtgd funds Endowtnent funds Total funds Last ￿ar tv rhp nearest£ to the nearest£ tothe nearest E to the nearest£ A1 Re¢elpts 102,441 1111441 111,804 Sub total (Gross incon7e for AR) 102.441 101441 111,804 A2 Asset and invpstmÈnt salès. 15ee table). Sub ttjtal Totsl re¢elpt3 102.441 1044$1 1f1,004 A3 Payments 115.248 115.248 72,993 Sub total 11S,248 115248 72,993 A4 A55et and Inve5trnent urchases, see table Sub tolal 115.248 115248 72,993 Net of re¢elpts/fpaymenls) A5 Transfers between funds A6 Cash fund5 last year end Cash funds this year end 12,807 12,B07 38,811 50,052 37345 50,052 37,245 38.811 CCXX R1 accounts ISSI Section B Statement of assets and liabilities at the end of the period Unr•strictÈd Rp%trictgd funds Endowment funds to n&afeSt£ Gategories Deiails fund5 to neare5t£ to rteareFt £ B1 Ga5h fundb 12.807 Total cash funds 37245 (Iv￿E bBbrKgsv47th poym8Thts Unre51ri¢ted nds lo near•St£ RestriGted lunds to neargst£ Endowrnont lunds to nearestE Detsils B2 Other monetary assets Fund to whlch ssfrt be Cuirentvalu Detai15 Cost loptlon•fl Fund to which a8￿t bèlon Details Co3tloptlonall Cvrrènt valut B4 Assets reiained for the charl￿$ own usg Fund tC*whlch ralatès Arnounl du en due tlonal DÈtails B5 Llabilitiès Signed by one or h¥0 trustees behglf of all Ihe In￿leeS Print N8tne Dat8 of roval SbJnature CCXX R2 accounts ISSI ## **Independent examiner's report on the accounts** **Section A Independent Examiner’s Report** **Report to the trustees** Charity Name Sevenoaks Partnership of Primary Schools **On accounts for the year** 31[st] August 2025 **Charity no** 1185497 **ended (if any) Set out on pages** 1 and 2 (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 **31.08.2025** . **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 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 (other than that disclosed below *) 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 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. * _Please delete the words in the brackets if they do not apply._ **Signed: Date:** 04/05/2026 **Name:** Sarah Louise Walkden **Relevant professional** CSBM **qualification(s) or body (if any):** **Oct 2018** 1 **IER** **Address:** SED Group Ltd, Old Palace Building, Old Palace Road, Croydon, CR0 1AX ## **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). **Give here brief details of any items that the examiner wishes to disclose** . ## **No matters of concern** **Oct 2018** 2 **IER**