**To** 


## **Trustees' Annual Report for the period** 

Period start date 01 January 2024 

Period end date 31 December 2024 

**From** 

## Section A                        Reference and administration details 

**Charity name Other names charity is known by Registered charity number (if any)** 1188700 

RATHMELL SCHOOL TRUST 

|**Charity's principal address**|<br>THE OLD SCHOOL, HESLEY LANE|<br>THE OLD SCHOOL, HESLEY LANE|
|---|---|---|
||RATHMELL||
||SETTLE||
||**Postcode**|BD24 0LA|



## **Names of the charity trustees who manage the charity** 

|1<br>2<br>3<br>4<br>5<br>6<br>7<br>8<br>9<br>10<br>11<br>12<br>13<br>14<br>15<br>16<br>17<br>18<br>19<br>20|**Trustee name**|**Office (if any)**|**Dates acted if not for whole**<br>**year **|**Name of person (or body) entitled**<br>**to appoint trustee (ifany)**|
|---|---|---|---|---|
||RosemaryHyslop|Chair||R. Hyslop|
||Jacqueline Frankland|Treasurer||J. Frankland|
||Keith Mothersdale|Ordinary|||
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## **Names of the trustees for the charity, if any, (for example, any custodian trustees)** 

|**Name**|**Dates acted if not for whole year**|
|---|---|
|RosemaryHyslop||
|Jacqueline Frankland||
|Keith Mothersdale||



March **2012** 

**TAR** 

1 



## **Names and addresses of advisers (Optional information)** 

|**Names and addresses of advisers (Optional information)**|**Names and addresses of advisers (Optional information)**|**Names and addresses of advisers (Optional information)**|
|---|---|---|
|**Type of adviser**<br>**Name**<br>**Address**|||
|**Accountants**|RCM Associates Ltd|Green Farm Barn, The Green, Rathmell, BD24 0JX|
||||
||||
||||
|**Name of chief executive or names of senior staff members (Optional information)**|||
||||



## **Section B              Structure, governance and management** 

## **Description of the charity’s trusts** 

Type of governing document 

- (eg. trust deed, constitution) 

Trust Deed 

How the charity is constituted 3 Trustees all who live within 7 miles of the school (eg. trust, association, company) 

Trustee selection methods By invitation following a Trustees Special Meeting (eg. appointed by, elected by) 

## **Additional governance issues (Optional information)** 

You **may choose** to include additional information, where relevant, about: 

- policies and procedures adopted for the induction and training of trustees; 

- the charity’s organisational structure and any wider network with which the charity works; 

- relationship with any related parties; 

- trustees’ consideration of major risks and the system and procedures to manage them. 

Leeds Diocese Board of Finance Ltd (LDBF) disputed the Reverter Claim accepted by the Trustees for the site of the village school built in 1874/5 and so in March 2023 LDBF raised a claim in Leeds High Court against the Trustees personally, papers were served in June 2023 and the case was scheduled in Leeds High Court in April 2024. 

The Trustees immediately sought legal advice and Kings Counsel advised that there was no case against them by LDBF and that LDBF should withdraw their claim immediately, however they did not.  No evidence to the contrary has been forthcoming from LDBF or their solicitors. Unfortunately, a threat from LDBF to sue the trustees personally for all legal costs which they would incur if they appealed against losing their claim (no matter how many appeals would be required) meant the trustees had to concede the day before the hearing was due to start. The Charity Commission and the DfE have been kept informed on all matters. The Trustees continue to maintain the premises, keep it insured and in good order for the benefit and enrichment of the local community as per the Object accepted by the Charity Commission on application by the trustees to have the Trust formally registered as a Charity in 2020. 

## **Section C                    Objectives and activities** 

**Summary of the objects of the charity set out in its governing document** 

The objects of the charity are to protect and care for all property and grounds known as and associated with Rathmell School Trust. This includes the former primary school, the School House and School Field and the provision of facilities to support the enrichment of the local community. 

March **2012** 

**TAR** 

2 



We provide a safe and secure facility for our local community to use as they may require. We have utilised the former classrooms as private office/work rooms for local business people in order to provide a secure income which is used for the maintenance, insurance and general costs of the Trusts (as authorised by the Trustees) and have new tenants in the School House as of June 2024.  This income enables the Trust to be financially sustainable. 

We are able to offer educational (academic or vocational) support and provide a safe place for this and other activities for our community as they may wish. 

**Summary of the main activities undertaken for the public benefit in relation to** The trust is financially strong and can meet all its commitments as **these objects (include within** required. **this section the statutory declaration that trustees have** We, the Trustees have all received, read and accepted the statutory **had regard to the guidance** declaration as required by the Charity Commission. **issued by the Charity Commission on public benefit)** 

## **Additional details of objectives and activities (Optional information)** 

The Trustees are committed to care for all the property associated with the Trust and be financially prudent to protect the long-term success, viability and stability of the Trust. 

We have a group of local volunteers who support the Trust activities and offer different skills to us as we may require them. 

You **may choose** to include further statements, where relevant, about: 

- policy on grantmaking; 

- policy programme related investment; 

- contribution made by volunteers. 

March **2012** 

**TAR** 

3 



Section D                      Achievements and performance 

**Summary of the main** As a result of conceding the Court claim due to financial pressure, the **achievements of the charity** Judge issued a Court Order in which she stated that the Trustees had not **during the year** done enough to dismiss the claim made by LDBF.  The trustees forwarded the Court Order to the DfE, the Charity Commission and the Land Registry: the DfE have suggested the Trustees try again to have “dialogue” with LDBF to find a mutually acceptable resolution which we have done and are hoping to meet with Mr Jonathan Woods from LDBF on neutral territory some time in April 2025.  The Charity Commission have not commented.  The Land Registry have said that there is nothing in the Court Order to compel the trustees to sign over to anyone or any organisation, any property held in Title Absolute by them on behalf of Rathmell School Trust. 

We have been able to engage with our local community members and provide a food service once a month to assist with the wellbeing of our residents whilst reviewing the needs of our locality and this has allowed us to offer support, help and care and to be of service when required. 

We have provided a safe place for local residents to continue their work and support their families and for local groups to use the facilities to support their work (ie: Yorkshire Dales Millenium Trust). As and when they need to work online we have full access to the B4RN ultra-high speed fibre optic network to enable people of any age to access the internet which not all domestic residences have the capability to do. We regularly host Rathmell Young Farmers Club and they use the school for their club meetings. We also host a variety of vocational educational classes to support the interests and well-being of local residents in and around the area. A small number of local children use the quiet spaces for additional educational support in preparation for the GCSE/University entrance exams. Children are able to play and cycle safely within the confines of the playground and sports field area and this has helped them and their parents with their own physical and mental health care. We have hosted several first aid courses for local groups to help them care for the local community as well as support for other medical services if required. 

We aim to continue to offer support to our widespread, local community. 

March **2012** 

**TAR** 

4 



## **Section E                    Financial review** 

**Brief statement of the** Prudent financial management ensures we retain at least one third of our **charity’s policy on reserves** annual revenue as reserves. 

**Details of any funds materially in deficit** 

## **Further financial review details (Optional information)** 

You **may choose** to include additional information, where relevant about: 

- the charity’s principal sources of funds (including any fundraising); 

- how expenditure has supported the key objectives of the charity; 

- investment policy and objectives including any ethical investment policy adopted. 

## **Section F                     Other optional information** 

The charity received donations and other funds from crowd-funding and other campaigns towards the unexpected cost of legal fees to defend and protect the trustees against the legal action taken by LDBF against the trustees personally.  The trustees believe it is fundamentally against the best interests of the village charity for LDBF to continue their action. The charity supports local activities and people and the beneficiaries are solely the local residents, (and in particular the children of the local residents who are encouraged to take advantage of the premises for their own educational advancement). Day-to-day operational and over-head funding is generally self-sourced. 

## **Section G                    Declaration** 

**The trustees declare that they have approved the trustees’ report above.** 

**Signed on behalf of the charity’s trustees** 

## **Signature(s)** 


**Full name(s)** Jacqueline Frankland **Position (eg Secretary, Chair,** Treasurer **etc) Date** 25/03/2025 

March **2012** 

**TAR** 

5 



||**RATHMELL SCHOOL TRUST**<br>**Charity Name**|**RATHMELL SCHOOL TRUST**<br>**Charity Name**|**RATHMELL SCHOOL TRUST**<br>**Charity Name**|**1188700**<br>**No (if any)**|**1188700**<br>**No (if any)**|**1188700**<br>**No (if any)**|**CC16a**|
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
||**For the period**<br>**from**|01/01/2024<br>Period start date|**To**||31/12/2024<br>Period end date|||
|||||||||
|**Section A Receipts and payments**||||||||
|**A1 Receipts**|**Unrestricted**<br>**funds**<br>**to the nearest      £**<br>**17,330**<br>**130**<br>**1,620**<br>**188**<br>**16,990**<br>**52,800**<br>**89,058**<br>**10,523**<br>**-**<br>**10,523**<br>**99,581**<br>**4,370**<br>**5,304**<br>**1,410**<br>**2,666**<br>**750**<br>**516**<br>**73,486**<br>**1,410**<br>**1,122**<br> **91,034**<br>**-**<br> **-**<br>**91,034**<br>**8,547**<br>**-**<br>**8,450**<br>**16,997**|**Restricted**<br>**funds**<br>**to the nearest £**<br>**-**<br>**-**<br>**-**<br>**-**<br>**-**<br>**-**<br>**-**<br>**-**<br>**-**<br>**-**<br>**-**<br>**-**<br>**-**<br>**-**<br>**-**<br>**-**<br>**-**<br>**-**<br>**-**<br>**-**<br>**-**<br>**-**<br>**-**<br>**-**<br>**-**<br>**-**<br>**-**<br>**-**<br>**-**|**Endowment**<br>**funds**<br>**to the nearest £**<br>**-**<br>**-**<br>**-**<br>**-**<br>**-**<br>**-**<br>**-**<br>**-**<br>**-**<br>**-**<br>**-**<br>**-**<br>**-**<br>**-**<br>**-**<br>**-**<br>**-**<br>**-**<br>**-**<br>**-**<br>**-**<br>**-**<br>**-**<br>**-**<br>**-**<br>**-**<br>**-**<br>**-**<br>**-**||**Total funds**<br>**to the nearest £**<br>**17,330**<br>**130**<br>**1,620**<br>**188**<br>**16,990**<br>**52,800**<br>**89,058**<br>**10,523**<br>**-**<br>**10,523**<br>**99,581**<br>**4,370**<br>**5,304**<br>**1,410**<br>**2,666**<br>**750**<br>**516**<br>**73,486**<br>**1,410**<br>**1,122**<br>**91,034**<br>**-**<br>**-**<br>**-**<br>**91,034**<br>**8,547**||**Last year**<br>**to the nearest £**|
|Rental Income|**17,330**||||||**15,598**|
|Bank Interest Received|**130**||||||**91**|
|CateringIncome|**1,620**||||||**7,172**|
|COIF Income|**188**||||||**234**|
|Donations|**16,990**||||||**15,654**|
|Loans from Trustees|**52,800**||||||**12,000**|
|**_Sub total_**_(Gross income for AR)_|**89,058**||||||**50,749**|
|||||||||
|**A2 Asset and investment sales, (see table).**||||||||
|**COIF Investments**|**10,523**|||||||
||**-**||||||**-**|
|**_Sub total_**|**10,523**||||||**-**|
|**_Total receipts_**<br>**A3 Payments**||||||||
||||||||**50,749**|
|||||||||
|Repairs & Maintenance|**4,370**||||||**11,991**|
|Light,Heat & Power|**5,304**||||||**4,936**|
|Insurance|**1,410**||||||**1,345**|
|CateringProvisions|**2,666**||||||**4,556**|
|Rent,Rates & Sewage|**750**||||||**693**|
|Computer,Telephone & Broadband costs|**516**||||||**456**|
|Legal Fees|**73,486**||||||**37,918**|
|Accountancy|**1,410**||||||**702**|
|Sundries|**1,122**||||||**1,384**|
|**_Sub total_ **|**91,034**||||||**63,981**|
|||||||||
|**A4 Asset and investment purchases, (see table)**||||||||
|||||||||
||**-**|||||||
|**_Sub total_ **|**-**||||||**-**|
|**_Total payments_**<br>**_Net of receipts/(payments)_**<br>**A5 Transfers between funds**<br>**A6 Cash funds last year end**<br>**_Cash funds this year end_**||||||||
||||||||**63,981**|
|||||||||
||**8,547**|**-**|**-**||**8,547**||**-              13,232**|
||**-**|**-**|**-**||**-**||**-**|
||**8,450**|**-**|**-**||**8,450**||**21,682**|
||**16,997**|**-**|**-**||**16,997**||**8,450**|



CCXX R1 accounts (SS) 

08/10/2025 

1 



|**Section B Statement of assets and liabilities at the end of the period**|**Section B Statement of assets and liabilities at the end of the period**|**Section B Statement of assets and liabilities at the end of the period**|||
|---|---|---|---|---|
|**Categories**<br>Signed by one or two trustees on behalf of all the trustees<br>**B1 Cash funds**<br>**B2 Other monetary assets**<br>**B5 Liabilities**<br>**B3 Investment assets**<br>**B4 Assets retained for the charity’s own use**|Signature<br>**Details**<br>**_Total cash funds_**<br>(agree balances with receipts and payments<br>account(s))<br>Current Bank Account<br>Business Premium Account<br>**Details**<br>**Details**<br>School House<br>Field<br>School Site<br>**Details**<br>COIF Fund - 16877001T<br>**Details**|**Unrestricted**<br>**funds**<br>**Restricted**<br>**funds**<br>**to nearest £**<br>**to nearest £**<br>**4,718**<br>**-**<br>**12,279**<br>**-**<br>**-**<br>**16,997**<br>**-**<br>OK<br>OK<br>**Unrestricted**<br>**funds**<br>**Restricted**<br>**funds**<br>**to nearest £**<br>**to nearest £**<br>**-**<br>**-**<br>**-**<br>**-**<br>**-**<br>**-**<br>**-**<br>**-**<br>**-**<br>**-**<br>**-**<br>**-**<br>**Fund to which**<br>**asset belongs**<br>**Cost (optional)**<br>**Unrestricted**<br>**-**<br>**-**<br>**-**<br>**Fund to which**<br>**asset belongs**<br>**Cost (optional)**<br>**Unrestricted**<br>**-**<br>**Unrestricted**<br>**-**<br>**Unrestricted**<br>**-**<br>**-**<br>**-**<br>**-**<br>**-**<br>**-**<br>**-**<br>**Fund to which**<br>**liability relates**<br>**Amount due**<br>**(optional)**<br>**-**<br>**-**<br>**-**<br>**-**<br>**-**<br>Print Name<br>Jacqueline Frankland||**Endowment**<br>**funds**<br>**to nearest £**|
|||||**-**|
|||||**-**|
|||||**-**|
|||||**-**|
|||||OK|
|||||**Endowment**<br>**funds**<br>**to nearest £**|
|||||**-**|
|||||**-**|
|||||**-**|
|||||**-**|
|||||**-**|
|||||**-**|
|||||**Current value**<br>**(optional)**|
|||||**635**|
||||||
||||||
|||||**-**|
|||||**635**|
|||||**Current value**<br>**(optional)**|
|||||**120,000**|
|||||**350,000**|
|||||**75,000**|
|||||**-**|
|||||**-**|
|||||**-**|
|||||**-**|
|||||**-**|
|||||**545,000**|
|||||**When due**<br>**(optional)**|
||||||
||||||
||||||
||||||
||||||
||||||
|||||Date of<br>approval|
|||Jacqueline Frankland||25/03/2025|
||||||



CCXX R2 accounts (SS) 

08/10/2025 

2 




## **Independent examiner's report on the accounts** 

**Section A                        Independent Examiner’s Report** 

**Report to the trustees** 

Charity Name RATHMELL SCHOOL TRUST 

**On accounts for the year** 31 DECEMBER 2024 **Charity no** 1188700 **ended (if any) Set out on pages** 8 AND 9 (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 31/12/2024. 

**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 which gives me cause to believe that in, any material respect: 

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. 

> **Signed:** R. McCool 

**Date:** 25/03/2025 

**Name:** RICHARD CHRISTOPHER MCCOOL **Relevant professional** FCA **qualification(s) or body (if any): Address:** GREEN FARM BARN, THE GREEN RATHMELL, SETTLE, NORTH YORKSHIRE BD24 0JX 

1 

**Oct 2018** 

**IER** 



## **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** . 

2 

**Oct 2018** 

**IER** 

