Copernicus Polish Saturday School New Malden
Also known as: Polska Sobotnia Szkoła Przedmiotów Ojczystych
im. Mikołaja Kopernika w New Malden
Trustee’s Report and Financial Statements For the period started 1[st] September 2024 and ended 31[st] August 2025
Charity Registration Number: 1194930
Governing Document: CIO Foundation Registered 24[th] June 2021
Our Objectives
Copernicus Polish Saturday School New Malden opened in October 2012. It was established due to a huge demand by the Chair of Governors of the Polish School in Putney/Wimbledon with initiative from its Headteacher. Copernicus teaches Polish language, history, culture and heritage to children between the ages of 3 and 16.
On 24th June 2021 the School was formally registered with the Charity Commission for England and Wales as CIO Foundation. Copernicus is a member of the Polish Educational Society “Macierz Polska” (registered in England and Wales - Charity no 1159980) which supports Polish education in Great Britain.
Our aim is to advance the education of children and young people aged 3-19 primarily, but not exclusively, residing in the Royal Borough of Kingston and its environs through providing supplementary education consistent with primary and secondary level based on the Polish Ministry of Education and Science’s core curriculum concerning primarily the Polish language, history and geography of Poland, arts, culture, and Polish heritage. We prepare students to take GCSE and A level exams under the AQA examination board. Through cultural events and activities, we broaden the students’ knowledge of Poland and its heritage. We aim to create an ethos of being a community in which all students and their families feel at home, respected and involved.
Our objectives for the year 2024-25 were to reflect our academic aims in our work, as well as our ethos as stated by objectives of a charitable organisation. We aimed to:
∙ Offer a broad, relevant curriculum, helping our students to learn Polish language, history and traditions alongside achieving excellent end of year results and our first in person GCSE examinations results.
∙ Broaden the curriculum through well planned and prepared extracurricular activities such as school trips.
∙ Form good relationships and play a part in our community through organising charitable events such as Christmas cards for nursing homes.
∙ Provide bursaries to families with financial difficulties to help with the payment of school fees.
∙ Strengthen our school community through events aimed to involve our parents in the life of our school, while fundraising for its needs such as the Easter Workshop and a Christmas cake sale.
Pupil numbers and fees during 2024-25
The number of pupils in the reporting period was 305 in 21 classes which can slightly fluctuate due to resignations and new enrolments. The sizes of classes varied between 12-20 children per class. We were able to offer places to all children and young people who applied.
Our fees in 2024-25 were as follows:
1st child £500 per academic year
2nd child £400 per academic year
3rd child £200 per academic year
4th and above child- exempt from fees
The GSCE and A-Level classes had £20 extra fee per year to cover additional cost of exams materials.
Finances
The Board of Trustees make every effort to ensure that the school finances are well managed, and the accounts maintain a good cash flow.
A school accountant regularly presents to the Board of Trustees financial reports and the budget forecasts which inform Trustees’ planning of budgets for the next academic year.
The school financial year starts on 1[st] September and ends on 31st of August. This report covers the period 1st September 2024 to 31st of August 2025.
The cash receipts during the year were £179,943 and the cash expenditures were £149,173. On an accruals basis the income and loss were as follows:
| 12 month period to 31 August 2025 |
12 month period to 31 August 2024 |
|
|---|---|---|
| Revenue for theperiod | £159,822 | £156,778 |
| Loss for theperiod | £12,194 | £11,752 |
| Reserves at 31 August | £49,732 | £37,538 |
Revenue
The School’s main source of income is school fees. Trustees every year look for opportunities to identify and secure additional funding to supplement revenue from school fees.
The Trustees were successful in applying for a grant
for a grant from the Instytut Rozwoju Języka Polskiego (Institute for the Development of the Polish Language), as part of the competition „Edukacja polonijna – wsparcie szkół polonijnych za granicą” (“Polish Diaspora Education – Support for Polish Schools Abroad”) through the Stowarzyszenie Wspólnota Polska (The Polish Community Association) (Stowarzyszenie Wspólnota Polska).
A small portion of school revenue comes from various fund-raising activities like fun fairs and cake sales organised by the PTA.
To support the school budget the Governing Body sourced free school textbooks for years 5-8 which we lend to students for the duration of the school year free of charge. They introduced a second-hand book exchange scheme to help keep the costs down.
Expenditure
The main expenses of the School are teachers’ salaries and rent for using the premises of Richard Challoner RC School in New Malden. The School also paid for teachers’ training and membership of the Polish Educational Society.
Bursaries Scheme
The Governing Body aims to keep our fees competitive but at a lowest possible level.
To support families who require and qualify for financial support, we have in place a bursaries scheme which offers discounts or instalments. During 2024-25 we offered help to some families in financial need by reducing the fees or spreading the payment over the year.
To attract and retain high quality staff we offer a discount scheme for children of those employed by the School.
Reserves
The Governing Body aims to keep a healthy surplus to be able to meet unforeseen financial obligations like force majeure. The financial reserves are there to provide additional funding in case of events such as the need to find new premises in case of being given a notice by the Landlord.
Academic achievements
During 2024-25 academic year: 12 out of the 13 year 10 students took GCSE exams and achieved 1 grade “7”, 1 grade “8” and 10 grades “9”. 12 out of the 13 students decided to continue their education at our school and prepare for the A-level exams.
We only had 3 students taking A-level exams. 1 student achieved a grade A (which helped her secure a place at university) and two students achieved a grade B.
These are results we are immensely proud of.
Review of activities and achievements:
During 2024-25 we did the following:
-
We enhanced our students' experience of Polish culture through an organised trip to The War Museum in London where students sought Polish exhibits and learned about the Polish aspect of the Second World War.
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1 trip to a Polish Theatre in POSK London was organised in this period for our students. Younger pupils in year 1-5 watched live theatre show "Kopciuszek" (Cinderella).
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Our students participated in the “Wierszowisko” Poetry Competition XIII edition organised by the Polish Educational Society; we had four individual contestants. One of our performers received a trophy.
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The school provides opportunities for staff continuous professional and personal development through the following training:
∙ Courses and webinars preparing teachers at all levels to deliver curriculum including GCSE and A level teachers
∙ CPR and First Aid courses
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The Trustees and parents planned and coordinated several school-wide events to mark special occasions, international and local holidays and to cultivate Polish customs such as Christmas show, Easter Workshop and Performance, Mother’s Day and Father’s Day and for inclusion extended to all Carer’s, Sports Day to name a few. All these events were designed to bring the school community together, educate children and young people and keep our Polish traditions alive.
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We organise regular parent teacher meetings for all year groups where parents have the opportunity to review and discuss with a teacher student’s progress and support required.
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We are proud of being able to offer all our pupils and their families a library facility, well led and staffed by volunteers. The library prides itself in an impressive book collection for children and adults, continuously updated and restocked by the library team. The Library is funded from school donations and second-hand book sale
The School Structure
The school is led by the Head Teacher, Mrs Minka Dyszyńska-Bonnage.
The Governors of the Copernicus Polish Saturday School New Malden are the charity trustees. New Trustees, apart from the first charity trustees, are appointed by the existing Board of Trustees. The governing document is the Constitution of the Copernicus Polish Saturday School New Malden.
The Governing Body consisted of 5 trustees. All Trustees have served throughout the year:
| Trustee Name | Office (if any) | Dates acted if not for whole year | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Magda Drossaert | Chair of Trustees |
Appointed 25 September 2021 |
| 2 | Monika Minka Dyszyńska- Bonnage |
Head Teacher | Appointed 24 June 2021 |
| 3 | Beata Magdalena Frois | Head of Parent Committee |
Appointed 24 June 2021 |
| 4 | Violetta Ramnarace | Business and Finance |
Appointed 25 September 2021 |
| 5 | Piotr Burczyk | Finance and Library |
Appointed 14 January 2023 |
Staffing
In the academic year 2024-2025 the Head Teacher led a team of 26 teachers and 10 teacher assistants. The school maintains a small bank of supply staff to provide cover for absent employees.
Apart from the teaching staff, the School also employs 2 administrative officers and 1 accountant. All Trustees except The Head Teacher are volunteers. The Head Teacher has been paid remuneration for the period of this report in the amount of £3781.02 (gross).
We had 2 Duty Officers, which are added to the school payroll. Duty Officers increase security of the pupils and improve operation of the whole school.
Premises
The Copernicus Polish Saturday School New Malden rents its premises from Richard Challoner School in New Malden, London. Lessons take place during Saturday mornings, 30-31 Saturdays a year.
The lessons take place between 9:30-13:00. During the lessons and breaks designated parents’ volunteers who are appointed on rota bases and allocated specific duties, provide additional help along duty officers to ensure a secure environment for all the pupils and staff. All staff and volunteers of the school have undergone DBS checks.
Plans and aspirations
We were planning for the recruitment and training of new staff.
We have been working towards making our School paperless by moving all our records into Google Workspace.
Contact details:
Address:
RICHARD CHALLONER SECONDARY SCHOOL MANOR DRIVE NORTH NEW MALDEN KT3 5PE
Website address: www.polskaszkolanewmalden.org.uk
Professional advisors: Bank : Bank: Lloyds Sort code: 30-84-68 Account number: 40501868
Insurers : Zurich Insurance
Independent examiner: Aleksandra Zakrzewska
Magda Drossaert
2nd of May 2026
CHARITY COMMISSION FOR ENGLAND AND WALES ,opernicu5 Y011511 adlUIUdV aLI Ivvi iry¥vv iviaiuE¥i i Receipts and payments accounts CC16a For the perlod from v I vv.£vL To Section A Receipts and payments Unrestricted Restricted funds funds to the nearest to the nearest Endowment funds to the nearest Total funds Last year to the nearest to the nearest A1 Receipts School fees Education receivable Fundraising Help to Ukraine Grant and donations Other chantable activities 122 324 122 324 113 128 229 888 888 ross Income or 147 703 179 943 142 103 A2 Asset and investment sales, (see table). A3Pa Rent Salaries Educational ex enditure Other chantable activities Administrative ex enses Cost of Grants ments 14,453 86,195 9,448 11,624 8,043 14,558 29,011 86,195 9,448 11,624 8,043 4,852 27,585 88,276 11,790 10,381 6,684 4,852 Sub total A4 Asset and investment urchases see tsble Sub total Net of recelpts/(payments) A5 Transfers between funds A6 Cash funds last year end Cash funds this year end 12,829 12,829
Sectlon B Statement of assets and Ilabilltles at the end of the perlod Unrestrlcted funds to nearest £ 110,508 Restricted funds to nearest £ Endowment funds to nearest £ Categories Details B1 Cash funds Cash at Bank Total cash funds (agree DalanS wtn receipts ano payments account(s)) OK Unrestricted funds to nearest £ 110,508 IOK Restrlcted funds to nearest £ Endowment funds to nearest £ Details Accounts Receivable B2 Other monetary assets Fund to which asset belon Details Cost (optional) Current value tional Fund to whlch asset belon 110,300 Details Reserves Cost (optional) Current value tlonal B4 Assets retained for the charity's own use Fund to which Ilablll relates 208 Amount due tional When due tional Details Accounts payable BS Liabilities Signed by one or two trustees on behalf of all the trustees Signature Print Name Date of roval Ma dalena Drossaert 0210512026
Independent examiner's report to the trustees of Copernicus Polish Saturday School New Malden (Charity number 1194930) I report to the trustees on my examination of the accounts of the Copernicus Polish Saturday School New Malden (The Trust) for the year ended 31 st 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 Trusys accounts carried out under section 145 of the 2011 Act and in carrying out my examination I have followed all the applicabl8 Directions given by the Charity Commission under section 145(5)(b) of the Act. Independent examlnerfs statement I have completed my examination. I confinn 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. 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: Name: Aleksandra Zakrzewska Qualification.. FCA Address: 16 Avondale Avenue, wOrster Park, Surrey KT47PD Date: 2 May 2026