OpenCharities

This text was generated using OCR and may contain errors. Check the original PDF to see the document submitted to the regulator.

2023-08-31-accounts

Registered Charity Number: 310018

MERCHANT TAYLORS’ EDUCATIONAL TRUST

TRUSTEES’ REPORT AND FINANCIAL STATEMENTS YEAR ENDED 31 AUGUST 2023

Merchant Taylors’ Educational Trust

INDEX

Trustees’ Report 3
Objectives and Activities 3
Achievements and Performance 5
Financial Review 5
Future Plans 6
Structure, Governance and Management 7
Reference and Administrative Details 9
Statement of the Trustees’ Responsibilities 12
Independent Auditor’s Report 13
Consolidated Statement of Financial Activities 16
Consolidated Balance Sheet 18
Trust Balance Sheet 19
Consolidated Cash Flow Statement 20
Accounting Policies 21
Notes to the Financial Statements 24

2

Merchant Taylors’ Educational Trust

TRUSTEES’ REPORT FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 AUGUST 2023

The Trustees submit their report and financial statements for the year ended 31 August 2023. The financial statements have been prepared in accordance with the accounting policies set out in Note 1 to the accounts and comply with the Charity’s governing document, the Charities Act 2011 and Accounting and Reporting by Charities: Statement of Recommended Practice (FRS102), Second Edition, applicable to charities preparing their financial statements in accordance with the Financial Reporting Standard, applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland.

Please note that the financial statements include those that relate to the Charity alone as well as those that are consolidated with the Charity’s two schools, Merchant Taylors’ School (registered charity number 1063740 and referred to below as MTSN) and St. John’s School (registered charity number 1063738). Further details about MTSN and St John’s School (together referred to below as the MTET Schools) can be found in the MTET Schools’ own financial statements. The Charity and the MTET Schools collectively are referred to below as the Group.

OBJECTIVES AND ACTIVITIES

Charitable Objects

The overarching object of the Charity, as noted in its Deed of Trust (1967), is as follows:

While this remains unchanged, the objects to which the Charity pays special regard were reviewed in 2021 by the Trustees, as the Deed of Trust permits. By Deed of Variation dated 22 March 2021, they are now as follows:

In planning their activities for the year, the Trustees have complied with their duties in section 17(5) of the Charities Act 2011 and have considered the Charity Commission’s guidance on public benefit, and in particular its supplementary guidance on advancing education and fee charging.

Aims

The Trustees aim to support the good governance of the MTET Schools in their legal ownership by making appropriate appointments to the governing bodies; providing financial support to the MTET Schools commensurate with the resources at their disposal and the objects of the funds under their control; and supporting initiatives in the education sector more generally in which they have an interest and to which they are able to apply their expertise and their contacts to advantage.

3

TRUSTEES’ REPORT FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 AUGUST 2023

Merchant Taylors’ Educational Trust

Objectives

The Charity’s objectives for the year were to continue to ensure the appropriate composition of the governing bodies of the MTET Schools by engaging with them and considering recommendations for appointments to and retirements from those governing bodies. Furthermore, the Charity sought to maximise income and to continue support for the MTET Schools in the context of the broader educational interests of MTET and the Merchant Taylors’ Company (referred to below as MTC).

Activities

The Trustees disbursed £225,000 to MTSN for bursaries, with the intention that such bursaries be provided to students who would not otherwise be able to be educated at the school. A further £9,000 was awarded in leaving prizes to students leaving MTSN to embark on university study.

A sum of £30,000 was disbursed to The Merchant Taylors’ Foundation (formerly The Merchant Taylors’ Company Education Fund) (registered charity number 1161568), to fund bursaries at other schools.

The Trustees also reviewed the composition and effectiveness of the governing bodies of the MTET Schools, making appointments and accepting resignations as necessary to effect compliance with stated terms of office and to ensure continued good governance of the schools.

Public Benefit

The Trustees confirm that they have complied with the duty in section 4 of the Charities Act 2011 to have due regard to the Charity Commission’s general guidance on public benefit, ‘Charities and Public Benefit’.

The Charity’s activities as outlined above, and in particular its provision of bursaries to the MTET Schools and (through its donation to The Merchant Taylors’ Foundation) a broader group of educational establishments, aim to further the public benefit enshrined in its charitable objects. Moreover, the MTET Schools, whose financial statements are here consolidated with those of the Trust, themselves provide a wide range of public benefit activities from supporting local and national charities to offering educational opportunities and access to facilities to local schools and families. Further description is available in the respective Trustees’ Reports of the MTET Schools. Further information about the basis for consolidation of the accounts can be found in Accounting Policies below.

ACHIEVEMENTS AND PERFORMANCE

Governance update

The Trustees were pleased to make a number of new governor appointments as well as to re-appoint governors who had come to the end of their first term of office. Further details of governors are available on pages 9 and 10.

Investment performance

The investment income for the Charity amounted to £292,000 (2022: £299,000).

4

Merchant Taylors’ Educational Trust

TRUSTEES’ REPORT FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 AUGUST 2023

FINANCIAL REVIEW

Investment powers and policy

The Trustees’ investment policy is that income should be maximised as far as possible whilst seeking to ensure capital growth. The Charity has adopted Rathbones’ policy of responsible investment. Through a holistic appraisal of investment, opportunity and risk, Rathbones aim to take an informed and active approach to responsible investment by incorporating a thorough consideration of environmental, social and governance (ESG) factors and continuing meaningful engagement with the companies in which they invest.

The investments are managed on a discretionary basis on a medium risk profile. It has a balanced mandate meaning the investments are managed for a combination of capital and growth. Performance is measured against a primary benchmark measured with reference to a composite index from other funds, and a secondary benchmark over the longer term of RPI + 3.5%.

The Trustees review this investment policy annually and no changes were made to it this year.

Total return

In April 2021 the Trustees resolved to adopt a total return policy for the MTET funds held in the managed portfolio from 1 September 2021.

Trustees established the original value of the endowments as £4,057,442 through review of historic accounts, with £2,212,815 being the value of endowments gifted in September 2017 and £1,844,627 being the value of the other, extant endowments in 2011.

Prior to the resolution the capital returns on the Trust’s endowed assets were credited to the Trust’s endowment funds and all income returns to the related restricted funds.

The Trustees have decided to transfer 3.5% of the asset value to the restricted funds for application based on the expected long-term return within the investment manager’s mandate. This withdrawal rate will be reviewed regularly.

The MTET Schools’ total reserves are considered appropriate.

The Trustees’ policy is to retain around £200,000 in cash via the unrestricted funds, historically referred to as the “Original Endowment Fund” and now known as the “General reserve”, as an expendable reserve in order to maintain a reactive capacity to support compelling educational causes which may arise and meet any unforeseen expenditure. As at 31 August 2023 the Fund held £237,000 in cash (2022: £249,000) for these purposes.

The Trustees do not feel that they are exposed to operational risks of the sort that would require or be ameliorated by emergency expenditure. A reserve is retained in order that there should be a capacity to respond to urgent and/or compelling cases for support. The Trustees believe that the current reserves policy would be sufficient to cover this eventuality, given the nature and size of the awards made historically, and the size of the capital balance which is expendable at Trustees’ discretion.

5

TRUSTEES’ REPORT FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 AUGUST 2023

Merchant Taylors’ Educational Trust

Risk management

The Trustees consider, at their meetings, any risks to which the Charity may be exposed. These were identified during the year along with mitigation activity and lead responsibilities. The major financial risk to which the Charity itself is exposed is a diminution in the value of, and yield from, its investments. Investments in financial instruments are monitored closely, with regular scrutiny of investment managers’ performance taking place, assisted by the Merchant Taylors’ Company’s Investment Committee, on which one Trustee sits. Other risks associated with the MTET Schools are managed by close and effective links between the MTET Schools and the Charity.

The MTET Schools have Risk Management Committees which compile Risk Registers annually to identify the likelihood and impact of foreseeable risks to the MTET Schools’ operations. The Risk Registers are presented to and considered by Boards of Directors/Governors and reviewed at relevant committees for assigned ‘actions’ and any in-year amendments required. The Boards of Directors/Governors manage and mitigate risk through a range of control measures, including cash-flow monitoring, formal written policies and the obtaining of independent advice from appropriate experts, and Trustees have been available to offer appropriate advice when and if necessary.

Fundraising

The Trustees take their responsibilities under the Charities (Protection and Social Investment) Act 2016 seriously and have considered the implications thereof on the MTET Schools’ fundraising activities. The Charity supports the MTET Schools’ approach to fundraising, which is essentially to seek philanthropic funding from a variety of constituencies, including alumni, parents of pupils, parents of alumni, friends of the MTET Schools and charitable trusts and foundations. The Charity does not use a third party fundraiser. The MTET Schools act in accordance with the Code of Fundraising Practice set out by the Fundraising Regulator and are committed to meeting high fundraising standards. As a result of this, no complaints about the MTET Schools’ fundraising activities have been received in the year ended 31 August 2023.

A review of the final position at the end of the reporting period

The Charity’s Endowment Funds stood at £5,463,000 (2022: £5,726,000), the Restricted Fund stood at £1,339,000 (2022: £1,486,000) and the General reserve at £1,632,000 (2022: £1,625,000). The Group’s accounts – those of the Charity consolidated with those of the MTET Schools - show an overall surplus before investment losses of £2.805,000 (2022: £2,015,000). The net result after investment losses (2022: losses) was £2,077,000 (2022: £197,000 surplus).

FUTURE PLANS

The Trustees plan to support the MTET Schools and participate in relevant activity of the MTC’s Education Strategy, including that which relates to the provision of educational opportunities for disadvantaged young people.

It plans also to give consideration to the potential use of Unrestricted Funds, with a view to identifying potential beneficiaries and activity that further the Charity’s objects, as well as for the purposes of identifying an ‘operating sum’ for the payment of costs relating to insurance, auditing and other regular operations.

The Trustees also plan to continue working with both the MTET Schools and MTC to identify and update risks and ensure that responsibilities and activities relating to risk mitigation are clear and coherent across all parties.

6

Merchant Taylors’ Educational Trust

TRUSTEES’ REPORT FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 AUGUST 2023

STRUCTURE, GOVERNANCE AND MANAGEMENT

Governing document

The Charity is governed by a Trust Deed dated 31 August 1967. On behalf of the Settlor, the Merchant Taylors’ Company, and having become the sole Guarantor upon incorporation in 1997, the Trustees appoint the Governors of MTSN and St John’s School, who thereafter are responsible for management and control of these schools.

The Consolidated Financial Statements of the Charity incorporate all of the funds under the direct control of the Trustees, as well as the MTET Schools and other entities whose governing bodies are appointed by the Trustees, and these are as follows:

Endowment funds

The Charity holds a Bursary and Scholarship Trust and an MTET Prize Fund, whose sole objects are to support the provision of awards to pupils and former pupils of MTSN. An allocation of the unapplied total return is disbursed each year for that purpose, subject to satisfactory reports concerning MTSN’s overall programme of support for boys in need of financial assistance towards their education.

Merchant Taylors’ School

Merchant Taylors’ School was founded in 1561 by the Company in the City of London. In 1933 the School moved to its present site at Sandy Lodge in Northwood, Middlesex. On 1 August 1997 Merchant Taylors’ School was incorporated as a charitable company limited by guarantee. On 3 September 2015 Northwood Prep merged with Merchant Taylors’ School. The School provides day schooling for boys between the ages of 3 to 18.

St John’s School, Northwood

St John’s School, Northwood, a preparatory school, was purchased by the Company in 1984, and a pre-preparatory department was added in 1986. On 1 August 1997 St John’s School was incorporated as a charitable company limited by guarantee. The School provides day schooling for boys between the ages of 3 to 13.

Merchant Taylors’ School Enterprises Limited

Merchant Taylors’ School Enterprises Limited (MTSEL) was incorporated in 1988 as the trading company of Merchant Taylors’ School, and is wholly owned by the School.

Appointment of Trustees

The Trustees are appointed by the Court of the Merchant Taylors’ Company, with regard paid to the particular skills and expertise that the Charity has need of at the relevant time.

Induction and training of Trustees

Trustees are offered at least one opportunity each year to receive training from the Charity’s legal and accountancy advisers, either on a dedicated training day or by joining sessions offered by those advisers to their clients. The latter have tended to be favoured in recent years, as they offer a range of perspectives and the opportunity to share insights and establish contacts in the wider sector.

Trustees have access to the governing documents; previous minutes, plans, and other documentation; and to Charity Commission guidance. They are also supported by a well-qualified and experienced staff based at Merchant Taylors’ Hall.

7

Merchant Taylors’ Educational Trust

TRUSTEES’ REPORT FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 AUGUST 2023

Management personnel

The Trust does not employ management personnel but receives the services of Bradestrete Services Limited, a subsidiary of the Merchant Taylors’ Company, to provide all administrative functions.

Decision-making and delegation

The Trustees are drawn from members of the Merchant Taylors’ Company and selected for their particular skills. Decisions as to expenditure for agreed budget lines – such as day-to-day administrative costs and small (under £5,000) grants - may be delegated to the Chairman of Trustees or to MTC staff (employed by Bradestrete Services Ltd), but other expenditure will usually be referred to all Trustees for approval.

8

Merchant Taylors’ Educational Trust

TRUSTEES’ REPORT FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 AUGUST 2023

REFERENCE AND ADMINISTRATIVE DETAILS

CHARITY NAME: Merchant Taylors’ Educational Trust REGISTERED CHARITY NUMBER: 310018 (registered with the Charity Commission for England and Wales) ADDRESS: Merchant Taylors’ Hall 30 Threadneedle Street London, EC2R 8JB TRUSTEES: Mr J A J Price (Chairman) Mr S W Bass (resigned 18 December 2023) Mr C P Hare Mr P T E Massey (resigned 16 July 2023) Mr M A L Robb (appointed 17 July 2023) Mr P H Watkins CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER: Rear Admiral J R H Clink CBE BANKERS: Royal Bank of Scotland PLC 62 Threadneedle Street London, EC2R 8LA INVESTMENT MANAGERS: Rathbone Investment Management Ltd 8 Finsbury Circus London, EC2M 7AZ AUDITOR: Saffery LLP 71 Queen Victoria Street London, EC4V 4BE SOLICITORS: Charles Russell Speechlys LLP 5 Fleet Place London, EC4M 7RD

9

Merchant Taylors’ Educational Trust

TRUSTEES’ REPORT FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 AUGUST 2023

Other entities whose results are consolidated in these statements are:

MERCHANT TAYLORS’ SCHOOL

Registered Charity Number: 1063740

Company Registration Number: 3411540

Merchant Taylors’ School is a charitable Company Limited by Guarantee. Its Governors are appointed by the Trustees of the Merchant Taylors’ Educational Trust, although they act entirely independently and in accordance with their responsibilities as Trustees and Directors of the School.

OFFICERS: The Headmaster: Mr S J Everson The Bursar: Mr I D Williams GOVERNORS: Mr D G M Eggar (Chair) Ms P Barefoot Mr M Bond (appointed 15 June 2023) Mr R J Brooman Dr J M Cox Commodore A M Cree CBE Royal Navy Mr G B M H du Parc Braham Mr A Eastwood Mr D Haria Mrs S A Morgan The Hon R H E Newall Mr J C Oram Ms L E Orr Mr V Paul Mrs J Redman Mr J D R Twining Mr C Williams (appointed 22 November 2023)

MERCHANT TAYLORS’ SCHOOL ENTERPRISES LTD

Company Registration Number: 2275287

100% of the issued share capital of Merchant Taylors’ School Enterprises Limited (MTSEL) is owned by Merchant Taylors’ School.

DIRECTORS: Mr S J Everson Mr I D Williams The Hon R H E Newall

10

Merchant Taylors’ Educational Trust

TRUSTEES’ REPORT FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 AUGUST 2023

ST JOHN’S SCHOOL

Registered Charity Number: 1063738

Company Registration Number: 3411518

St John’s School is a charitable Company Limited by Guarantee. Its Governors are appointed by the Trustees of the Merchant Taylors’ Educational Trust, although they act entirely independently and in accordance with their responsibilities as Trustees and Directors of the School.

OFFICERS: The Headmaster: Mr M S Robinson (resigned 31 August 2022) Mr T Jenkin (appointed 1 September 2022) The Bursar: Mr N E Stone (resigned 31 August 2022 ) Mr S Brown (Interim) (appointed 1 September 2022) Ms C Demetriades (appointed 1 February 2023)

GOVERNORS: Mr J C Fowler (Chair) (appointed Chair 12 October 2022) Mr P Burdin (appointed 7 February 2023) Ms L Cavanagh Mr S J Everson Mrs E K Fenwick Mr P R Henson (resigned 31 August 2023) Mr P R MacDougall Mrs M Murphy O’Connor (appointed 7 February 2023) Mr M-A Neil Mr R A D Sullivan Mrs N J Walker Mr W Wallace

11

Merchant Taylors’ Educational Trust

TRUSTEES’ REPORT FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 AUGUST 2023

STATEMENT OF THE TRUSTEES’ RESPONSIBILITIES

The Trustees are responsible for preparing the Trustees’ Report and the financial statements in accordance with applicable law and United Kingdom Accounting Standards (United Kingdom Generally Accepted Accounting Practice).

The law applicable to charities in England and Wales requires the Trustees to prepare financial statements for each financial year which give a true and fair view of the state of affairs of the Charity and the Group and of the incoming resources and application of resources of the Charity and the Group for that period. In preparing these financial statements, the Trustees are required to:

The Trustees are responsible for keeping proper accounting records that disclose with reasonable accuracy at any time the financial position of the Charity and enable them to ensure that the financial statements comply with the Charities Act 2011’s applicable accounting regulations. They are also responsible for safeguarding the assets of the Charity and the Group and hence for taking reasonable steps for the prevention and detection of fraud and other irregularities.

Statement as to disclosure of information to auditors

The Trustees who were in office on the date of approval of these financial statements have confirmed, as far as they are aware, that there is no relevant audit information of which the auditors are unaware. All of the Trustees have confirmed that they have taken all steps that they ought to have taken as Trustees in order to make themselves aware of any relevant audit information and to establish that it has been communicated to the auditor.

Auditors

The Trustees have appointed Saffery LLP, Chartered Accountants and Statutory Auditors, as auditors to the Charity.

By order of the Trustees (If we type or otherwise electronically sign our names, we confirm that we intend to authenticate this document by so doing):

John Aiden Joseph Price Peter Howard Watkins Trustee Trustee

Date: 25 June 2024 Date: 25 June 2024

12

Merchant Taylors’ Educational Trust

INDEPENDENT AUDITOR’S REPORT TO THE TRUSTEES OF MERCHANT TAYLORS’ EDUCATIONAL TRUST FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 AUGUST 2023

Opinion

We have audited the financial statements of Merchant Taylors’ Educational Trust (the ‘parent charity’) and its subsidiaries (the ‘group’) for the year ended 31 August 2023 which comprise the Consolidated Statement of Financial Activities, Consolidated Balance Sheet, Trust Balance Sheet, Consolidated Cash Flow Statement and notes to the financial statements, including significant accounting policies. The financial reporting framework that has been applied in their preparation is applicable law and United Kingdom Accounting Standards, including Financial Reporting Standard 102, the Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland (United Kingdom Generally Accepted Accounting Practice).

In our opinion the financial statements:

Basis for opinion

We conducted our audit in accordance with International Standards on Auditing (UK) (ISAs (UK)) and applicable law. Our responsibilities under those standards are further described in the Auditor’s responsibilities for the audit of the financial statements section of our report. We are independent of the group and parent charity in accordance with the ethical requirements that are relevant to our audit of the financial statements in the UK, including the FRC’s Ethical Standard, and we have fulfilled our other ethical responsibilities in accordance with these requirements. We believe that the audit evidence we have obtained is sufficient and appropriate to provide a basis for our opinion.

Conclusions relating to going concern

In auditing the financial statements, we have concluded that the trustees’ use of the going concern basis of accounting in the preparation of the financial statements is appropriate.

Based on the work we have performed, we have not identified any material uncertainties relating to events or conditions that, individually or collectively, may cast significant doubt on the group or the parent charity’s ability to continue as a going concern for a period of at least twelve months from when the financial statements are authorised for issue.

Our responsibilities and the responsibilities of the trustees with respect to going concern are described in the relevant sections of this report.

Other information

The trustees are responsible for the other information. The other information comprises the information included in the annual report, other than the financial statements and our auditor’s report thereon. Our opinion on the financial statements does not cover the other information and, except to the extent otherwise

13

Merchant Taylors’ Educational Trust

INDEPENDENT AUDITOR’S REPORT TO THE TRUSTEES OF MERCHANT TAYLORS’ EDUCATIONAL TRUST FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 AUGUST 2023

explicitly stated in our report, we do not express any form of assurance conclusion thereon.

Our responsibility is to read the other information and, in doing so, consider whether the other information is materially inconsistent with the financial statements or our knowledge obtained in the course of the audit or otherwise appears to be materially misstated. If we identify such material inconsistencies or apparent material misstatements, we are required to determine whether this gives rise to a material misstatement in the financial statements themselves. If, based on the work we have performed, we conclude that there is a material misstatement of this other information; we are required to report that fact.

We have nothing to report in this regard.

Matters on which we are required to report by exception

We have nothing to report in respect of the following matters in relation to which the Charities (Accounts and Reports) Regulations 2008 require us to report to you if, in our opinion:

Responsibilities of trustees

As explained more fully in the Trustees’ Responsibilities Statement set out on page 12, the trustees are responsible for the preparation of the financial statements and for being satisfied that they give a true and fair view, and for such internal control as the trustees determine is necessary to enable the preparation of financial statements that are free from material misstatement, whether due to fraud or error.

In preparing the financial statements, the trustees are responsible for assessing the group and the parent charity’s ability to continue as a going concern, disclosing, as applicable, matters related to going concern and using the going concern basis of accounting unless the trustees either intend to liquidate the group or the parent charity or to cease operations, or have no realistic alternative but to do so.

Auditors’ responsibilities for the audit of the financial statements

We have been appointed as auditors under the Charities Act 2011 and report in accordance with regulations made under that Act.

Our objectives are to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the group and parent financial statements as a whole are free from material misstatement, whether due to fraud or error, and to issue an auditor’s report that includes our opinion. Reasonable assurance is a high level of assurance, but is not a guarantee that an audit conducted in accordance with ISAs (UK) will always detect a material misstatement when it exists. Misstatements can arise from fraud or error and are considered material if, individually or in the aggregate, they could reasonably be expected to influence the economic decisions of users taken on the basis of these financial statements.

14

Merchant Taylors’ Educational Trust

INDEPENDENT AUDITOR’S REPORT TO THE TRUSTEES OF MERCHANT TAYLORS’ EDUCATIONAL TRUST FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 AUGUST 2023

Irregularities, including fraud, are instances of non-compliance with laws and regulations. We design procedures in line with our responsibilities, outlined above, to detect material misstatements in respect of irregularities, including fraud. The specific procedures for this engagement and the extent to which these are capable of detecting irregularities, including fraud are detailed below.

Identifying and assessing risks related to irregularities:

We assessed the susceptibility of the group and parent charity’s financial statements to material misstatement and how fraud might occur, including through discussions with informed management, discussions within our audit team planning meeting, updating our record of internal controls and ensuring these controls operated as intended. We evaluated possible incentives and opportunities for fraudulent manipulation of the financial statements. We identified laws and regulations that are of significance in the context of the group and parent charity by discussions with informed management, and updating our understanding of the sector in which the group and parent charity operate.

Laws and regulations of direct significance in the context of the group and parent charity include the Charities Act 2011, the Charities (Accounts and Reports) Regulations 2008 and guidance issued by the Charity Commission for England and Wales. Further the charitable group is subject to other laws and regulations where the consequences of non-compliance could have a material effect on amounts or disclosures in the financial statements, through significant fine, litigation or restrictions on the charitable group’s operations. We identified the most significant laws and regulations to be the Independent School Standards as found in the Education and Skills Act 2008 and guidance issued by the Department for Education.

Audit response to risks identified:

We considered the extent of compliance with these laws and regulations as part of our audit procedures on the related financial statement items including a review of financial statement disclosures. We reviewed the parent charity’s records of breaches of laws and regulations, minutes of meetings and correspondence with relevant authorities to identify potential material misstatements arising. We discussed the parent charity’s policies and procedures for compliance with laws and regulations with members of management responsible for compliance.

During the planning meeting with the audit team, the engagement partner drew attention to the key areas which might involve non-compliance with laws and regulations or fraud. We enquired of management whether they were aware of any instances of non-compliance with laws and regulations or knowledge of any actual, suspected or alleged fraud. We addressed the risk of fraud through management override of controls by testing the appropriateness of journal entries and identifying any significant transactions that were unusual or outside the normal course of business. We assessed whether judgements made in making accounting estimates gave rise to a possible indication of management bias. At the completion stage of the audit, the engagement partner’s review included ensuring that the team had approached their work with appropriate professional scepticism and thus the capacity to identify non-compliance with laws and regulations and fraud.

There are inherent limitations in the audit procedures described above and the further removed noncompliance with laws and regulations is from the events and transactions reflected in the financial statements, the less likely we would become aware of it. Also, the risk of not detecting a material misstatement due to fraud is higher than the risk of not detecting one resulting from error, as fraud may involve deliberate concealment by, for example, forgery or intentional misrepresentations, or through collusion.

A further description of our responsibilities for the audit of the financial statements is located on the Financial

15

Merchant Taylors’ Educational Trust

INDEPENDENT AUDITOR’S REPORT TO THE TRUSTEES OF MERCHANT TAYLORS’ EDUCATIONAL TRUST FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 AUGUST 2023

Reporting Council’s website at: www.frc.org.uk/auditorsresponsibilities. This description forms part of our auditors’ report.

Use of our report

This report is made solely to the charity’s trustees, as a body, in accordance with Part 4 of the Charities (Accounts and Reports) Regulations 2008. Our audit work has been undertaken so that we might state to the trustees those matters we are required to state to them in an auditor’s report and for no other purpose. To the fullest extent permitted by law, we do not accept or assume responsibility to anyone other than the charity and the trustees as a body, for our audit work, for this report, or for the opinions we have formed.

(If I type or otherwise electronically sign my name, I confirm that I intend to authenticate this document by so doing):

Saffery LLP Chartered Accountants 71 Queen Victoria Street Statutory Auditors London EC4V 4BE

Date: 26 June 2024

Saffery LLP is eligible to act as an auditor in terms of section 1212 of the Companies Act 2006

16

Merchant Taylors’ Educational Trust

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENT OF FINANCIAL ACTIVITIES FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 AUGUST 2023

Unrestricted Restricted Endowment Total Total
Note funds funds funds 2023 2022
£’000 £’000 £’000 £’000 £’000
INCOME FROM
Charitable Activities
School Fees 1 32,475 - - 32,475 30,624
Registration/admissions fees 134 - - 134 155
Other income – insurance 1 - - 1 8
Other income – Rent received 289 - - 289 269
Other income – Trading 103 - - 103 96
Other ancillary income - 3 - 3 -
Profit on sale of assets 9 - - 9 -
Other trading activities 2 405 - - 405 392
Investment income 3a 619 104 202 925 514
Total return allocated to income 15 - 200 (200) - -
Donations and legacies
Donations 3b 99 78 - 177 79
Development campaign income 3b 93 690 253 1,036 484
Total income 34,227 1,075 255 35,557 32,621
EXPENDITURE ON
Raising funds
Publicity/advertising and development office 256 2 7 265 279
Trading & investment cost of sales 301 101 - 402 325
Financing 27 5 24 56 60
Charitable activities
Schools and grantmaking 31,447 441 - 31,888 29,942
Loss on sale of assets 139 - 139 -
Total expenditure 4 32,170 549 31 32,750 30,606
Net incoming resources before investments 2,057 526 224 2,807 2,015
(Losses)/gains on investment assets (359) (50) (319) (728) (1,818)
Net income 1,698 476 (95) 2,079 197
Transfers between funds 6 1,721 (1,721) - - -
Net movement in funds 3,419 (1,245) (95) 2,079 197
Fund balances at 1 September 2022 49,650 3,769 7,533 60,952 60,755
Fund balances at 31 August 2023 53,069 2,524 7,438 63,031 60,952

The Trust’s incoming resources and expenses all relate to continuing operations. The notes on pages 21 to 48 form part of these financial statements.

17

Merchant Taylors’ Educational Trust

CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEET AS AT 31 AUGUST 2023

Note 2023 2022
£’000 £’000 £’000 £’000
Fixed assets
Tangible assets 7 39,919 37,847
Investments 9 17,597 17,894
57,516 55,741
Current assets

Stock
63 119
Debtors 11 489 621
Cash 12,175 10,845
12,727 11,585
Creditors: amounts due within one year 12 6,337 5,441
Net current assets 6,390 6,144
Total assets less current liabilities 63,906 61,885
Creditors: amounts due after more than one year 13 875 933
Total net assets 63,031 60,952
Funds
Endowment funds 15 7,438 7,533
Restricted funds 16 2,524 3,769
Unrestricted funds 17 53,069 49,650
63,031 60,952

These financial statements were approved by the Trustees on 25 June 2024.

(If we type or otherwise electronically sign our names, we confirm that we intend to authenticate this document by so doing):

John Aiden Joseph Price Peter Howard Watkins Trustee Trustee

The notes on pages 21 to 48 form part of these financial statements.

18

Merchant Taylors’ Educational Trust

TRUST BALANCE SHEET AS AT 31 AUGUST 2023

Note 2023 2022
£’000 £’000 £’000 £’000
Fixed assets
Investments 9 8,220 8,605
Current assets

Debtors
11 6 14
Cash 237 249
243 263
Creditors: 12 30 31
amounts
falling due
within one
year

Net current assets
213 232
Total net assets 8,433 8,837
Funds
Endowment funds 15 5,463 5,726
Restricted funds 16 1,338 1,486
Unrestricted funds 17 1,632 1,625
8,433 8,837

These financial statements were approved by the Trustees on 25 June 2024.

(If we type or otherwise electronically sign our names, we confirm that we intend to authenticate this document by so doing):

John Aiden Joseph Price Peter Howard Watkins Trustee Trustee

The notes on pages 21 to 48 form part of these financial statements.

19

Merchant Taylors’ Educational Trust

CONSOLIDATED CASHFLOW STATEMENT FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 AUGUST 2023

Note 2023 2022
£’000 £’000 £’000 £’000
Net cash inflow from operating activities 18 4,670 4,327
Cash flows from investing activities

Investment income
925 514
Purchase of tangible fixed assets (3,867) (1,813)
Investment purchases at cost (3,180) (3,764)
Proceeds on disposal of investments 2,624 3,394
Net cash (used in) investing activities (3,498) (1,669)

Cash flows from financing activities
Movement on final deposits 26 10
Net cash (used in) financing activities 26 10
Change in cash and cash equivalents in the period 1,198 2,671
Cash and cash equivalents at the start of the period 11,315 8,644
Cash and cash equivalents at the end of the period 19 12,513 11,315

The notes on pages 21 to 48 form part of these financial statements.

20

NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 AUGUST 2023

Merchant Taylors’ Educational Trust

A. Accounting policies

The financial statements have been prepared in accordance with the Statement of Recommended Practice “Accounting and Reporting by Charities” (SORP) and Financial Reporting Standard 102 (FRS 102) and applicable law. The particular policies adopted by the Trustees are described below.

B. Basis of accounting

The financial statements have been prepared under the historical cost convention with the exception of freehold investment property which is stated at valuation and other fixed asset investments which are stated at market value. The Charity is a public benefit entity. The financial statements have been prepared in sterling, rounded to the nearest £’000, which is the functional currency of the Charity. The Trustees are satisfied that the Charity is a going concern and have prepared these financial statements on that basis. 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 the SORP rather than the Accounting and Reporting by Charities: Statement of Recommended Practice (revised 2005) which has been withdrawn.

C. Basis of consolidation

The consolidated financial statements comprise the following entities which are under the direct control of the Trustees of the Charity: Merchant Taylors’ School and its wholly owned subsidiary Merchant Taylors’ School Enterprises Limited and St. John’s School, Northwood.

D. Leasehold land, buildings and other fixed assets

Freehold land and buildings occupied by the Charity’s subsidiaries are neither owned by the Charity nor by those subsidiaries, but are leased from the Merchant Taylors’ Company. The subsidiaries are responsible for putting and keeping the properties in repair and associated costs are written off as and when incurred. The cost of any material tenant’s improvement is capitalised on completion.

Rentals payable are charged on a time basis over the lease term. The Statement of Financial Activities includes the net gains and losses arising on revaluation and disposals throughout the year.

Depreciation is charged as follows:

Merchant Taylors’ School Buildings and leasehold improvements: 70% charged over 50 years, 30% charged over 20 years in order to reflect components such as flat roofs and utilities installations which have a shorter life

St John’s School Buildings and leasehold improvements: charged over 20 years

Furniture and equipment: charged over 10 years

Machinery and motor vehicles: charged over 4 years

Computer hardware: charged over 4 years

The Charity itself holds no fixed assets which are subject to depreciation.

21

Merchant Taylors’ Educational Trust

NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 AUGUST 2023

E . Current assets

Stock is carried at the lower of cost and net realisable value.

F . Investments and investment income

Investment income from dividends, bank balances and fixed interest securities is accounted for when received.

Listed investments are valued at mid-market value as at the balance sheet date. Unrealised gains and losses arising on the revaluation of investments are credited or charged to the Statement of Financial Activities and are allocated to the appropriate Fund according to the “ownership” of the underlying assets.

G. Total return

The Trustees resolved to adopt a total return policy for the MTET funds held in the managed portfolio from 1 September 2021.

Prior to the resolution the capital returns on the Trust’s endowed assets were credited to the Trust’s endowment funds and all income returns to the related restricted funds.

The Trustees have decided to transfer 3.5% of the asset value to the restricted funds for application based on the expected long-term return within the investment manager’s mandate. This withdrawal rate will be reviewed regularly.

H. Income

Donations and legacies are accounted for by all entities when they are entitled to the income and when the amount concerned can be quantified with sufficient certainty. Amounts received for general purposes are credited to the unrestricted funds of the receiving entity, whilst amounts subject to specific wishes or stipulations are credited to the appropriate restricted or endowment fund.

Fees receivable and charges for services and use of the premises, less any allowances, scholarships, bursaries granted by the Merchant Taylors’ Company against those fees, but including contributions received from restricted funds, are accounted for in the period in which the service is provided.

I. Direct charitable expenditure

Direct charitable expenditure includes all expenditure directly related to the objects of the Charity. All expenditure is accounted for on an accruals basis and has been classified under headings that aggregate all costs related to the category. Expenditure is allocated to expense headings either on a direct cost basis, or apportioned according to management estimates of time spent or space occupied, as appropriate. Governance costs, included within Support costs of schooling, comprise external audit costs and costs incurred in relation to constitutional and statutory requirements.

Grants payable are charged in the year in which the offer is conveyed to the recipient.

22

Merchant Taylors’ Educational Trust

NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 AUGUST 2023

J. Funds

Notes 15 to 17 list all funds, which are categorised as follows:

Endowment funds: These have the principal purpose of generating income.

Restricted funds: These funds were donated or created for specific purposes and may be used only for those purposes.

Unrestricted funds: These are held for more general donations by the charity and by the school for the principal purposes of financing fixed assets and providing working capital for the MTET Schools.

K. Pensions

Pension costs have been calculated by those subsidiaries which carry them, in accordance with FRS102.

L. Taxation

The Charity and its subsidiaries are all registered charities and recognised as charitable by HMRC, and their income is not therefore liable to taxation as it is applied to wholly charitable purposes.

M. Financial instruments

The Charity has financial assets and financial liabilities only of a kind that qualify as basic financial instruments. Basic financial instruments are initially recognised at transaction value and subsequently measured at their settlement value with the exception of bank loans which are subsequently measured at amortised cost using the effective interest method.

N. Critical accounting judgement and estimates

The preparation of the financial statements in accordance with FRS102 requires the Trustees to make estimates and assumptions concerning the future. The estimates and assumptions that could have a significant risk of causing a material adjustment to the carrying amounts of assets and liabilities within the next financial year include accruals, depreciation and revenue recognition. The accounting in these areas of the accounts requires management to use judgement. In relation to accruals this is with regards to a best estimate of costs that will be incurred based on contractual requirements. For depreciation these estimates are driven by the useful economic life of the associated assets. For revenue recognition management apply judgements in concluding on the point at which revenue should be recognised.

23

Merchant Taylors’ Educational Trust

NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 AUGUST 2023

1 Fees receivable

2023 2022
£’000 £’000
Fees receivable consist of:
Gross fees 34,392 32,280
Less:
Total bursaries, grants and allowances (2,349) (2,076)
32,043 30,204
Paid from restricted funds 432 420
32,475 30,624

2 Trading income

Merchant Taylors School Enterprises Limited (MTSEL) operates the trading activities relating to Merchant Taylors' School including shops and letting of school facilities. It pays its taxable profits to the school by way of gift aid. Its trading results, extracted from its audited accounts were :

2023 2022
£’000 £’000
Turnover 405 392
Cost of sales (63) (69)
Gross profit 342 323
Administration costs (185) (134)
Net profit 157 189
Gift aid transferred to Merchant Taylors’ School (157) (189)

24

Merchant Taylors’ Educational Trust

NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 AUGUST 2023

3Income
3aInvestment income
2023 2022
£’000 £’000
Income generated by Trust investments 292 298
Income generated by investments held by subsidiaries 633 216
925 514
3bDonations
Other donations received 177 79
Development campaign income 1,036 484
1,213 563
4Expenditure
2023 2022
£’000 £’000
Other expenditure includes:
Auditors’ remuneration – audit services 56 52
Staff costs:
Wages and salaries 16,615 15,745
Social security costs 1,748 1,696
Pension contributions 3,265 3,106
Termination costs 34 98
21,662 20,645

25

Merchant Taylors’ Educational Trust

NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 AUGUST 2023

4 Expenditure (continued)

The number of employees whose remuneration was between the following bands is as follows :

2023 2022
£60,001 - £70,000 45 38
£70,001 - £80,000 22 17
£80,001 - £90,000 2 4
£90,001 - £100,000 6 2
£110,001 - £120,000 1 1
£120,001 - £130,000 - 1
£130,001 - £140,000 1 1
£160,001 - £170,000 - 1
£210,001 - £220,000 - 1
£220,001 £230,000 1 -

Key management personnel of the Schools comprise the Head teachers, the Bursars and the senior leadership teams. The total combined contractual benefits totalled £2,349,000 (2022: £2,406,000).

The average number of employees in the year was 450 (2022: 446).

26

NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 AUGUST 2023

Merchant Taylors’ Educational Trust

4b Analysis of total resources expended

Total Total
Staff Other Depreciation 2023 2022
costs
£’000 £’000 £’000 £’000 £’000
Cost of generating funds
Publicity and development office 213 51 - 264 279
Trading & investment costs 90 312 - 402 325
Financing - 56 - 56 60
303 419 - 722 664
Charitable activities
Teaching costs 16,861 2,463 - 19,324 18,270
Welfare 1,005 802 - 1,807 1,571
Premises 1,448 4,182 1,212 6,842 6,271
Support costs 2,045 465 780 3,290 3,172
Schools' operating cost 21,359 7,912 1,992 31,263 29,284
Bursaries paid by restricted funds - 432 - 432 420
Depreciation on sports facility - - 190 190 190
Grants - 39 - 39 30
Other costs (inc. loss on sale of assets) - 92 - 92 6
Governance costs - 12 - 12 12
Total resources expended 21,662 8,906 2,182 32,750 30,606

27

NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 AUGUST 2023

Merchant Taylors’ Educational Trust

5 Subsidiary Entities

The results of the Fund's wholly owned subsidiary entities are included within the Consolidated Statement of Financial Activities as follows:

Merchant Merchant Merchant Merchant St John's St John's
Taylors' Taylors' Taylors' Taylors' School, School,
School School School School Northwood Northwood
Enterprises Enterprises
Limited Limited
2023 2022 2023 2022 2023 2022
£’000 £’000 £’000 £’000 £’000 £’000
Income from Charitable
Activities
School Fees 26,924 25,242 - - 5,551 5,382
Registration/admission 124 131 - - 11 24
fees
Other income
- Insurance 1 8 - - - 11
- Rent received 257 241 - - 32 28
- Trading 143 166 - - - -
- Other 9 - - - 40 10
- Government grant - - - - - -
Income Resources from
Generated Funds
Trading company income 157 189 405 392 - -
Investment income 511 129 - - 123 87
Donations 278 278 - - 50 26
Development income 1,035 424 - - - -
29,439 26,808 405 392 5,807 5,557
Cost of generating funds
Publicity/advertising and 265 279 - - - -
development office
Trading & investment cost 19 21 248 203 10 11
of sales
Financing 19 19 - - 3 3
Charitable Activities
Schools and grantmaking 26,380 24,578 157 189 5,549 5,397
Loss on sale of assets 37 - 102
26,720 24,898 - - 5,664 5,411
Net investment gains (251) (912) - - (126) (165)
Per statement of financial
activities 2,468 998 - - 17 (19)

28

NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 AUGUST 2023

Merchant Taylors’ Educational Trust

5 Subsidiary Entities (continued)

Merchant Merchant Merchant Merchant St John's St John's
Taylors' Taylors' Taylors' Taylors' School, School,
School School School School Northwood Northwood
Enterprises Enterprises
Limited Limited
2023 2022 2023 2022 2023 2022
£’000 £’000 £’000 £’000 £’000 £’000
Fund balances at 1 44,237 43,239 - - 7,877 7,896
September 2022
Fund balances at 31 46,705 44,237 - - 7,894 7,877
August 2023

Merchant Taylors' School - Charity Number 1063740

Merchant Taylors' School Enterprises Limited - Company Number 02275287

St John's School, Northwood - Charity Number 1063738

6 Transfers between funds

Unrestricted Restricted Endowment
Schools funds funds Total
£’000 £’000 £’000 £’000
Trust - (225) - (225)
Merchant Taylors' School
Capital fund 1,694 (1,694) - -
Bursary fund - 225 - 225
St John's School
Depreciation on gifted assets 27 (27) - -
1,721 (1,721) - -

An amount equivalent to the depreciation charge on assets donated to Merchant Taylors' School and St John's School has been transferred to the unrestricted fund.

The £1,694,000 transfer relates to the release of funds raised for a capital projection upon its completion.

The £225,000 transfer relates to intra-group donations classified as transfers upon consolidation.

29

Merchant Taylors’ Educational Trust

NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 AUGUST 2023

7 Tangible fixed assets

Group only
Equipment, Land, buildings
machinery and tenants Assets under Total Total
& vehicles improvements Construction 2023 2022
£’000 £’000 £’000 £’000 £’000
Cost
1 September 2022 11,903 54,093 27 66,023 64,210
Additions 1,309 116 2,967 4,392 1,813
Disposals (6) (633) - (639) -
Transfers - - - - -
31 August 2023 13,206 53,576 2,994 69,776 66,023
Depreciation
1 September 2022 8,734 19,442 - 28,176 26,105
Charge for year 780 1,402 - 2,182 2,071
On disposals (3) (498) - (501) -
31 August 2023 9,511 20,346 - 29,857 28,176
Net book value
31 August 2023 3,695 33,230 2,994 39,919 37,847
31 August 2022 3,169 34,651 27 37,847

Merchant Taylors' Company own the land and buildings from which Merchant Taylors' School and St John's School operate. Merchant Taylors’ School owns £8,088,000 freehold land from which the prep school operates. Merchant Taylors' School currently has a 125 year lease which expires in 2139 and St John's School has a 14 year lease which expires in 2023.

30

Merchant Taylors’ Educational Trust

NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 AUGUST 2023

8 Fixed assets investments – group undertakings

The subsidiary undertakings of the Trust are as follows:

% of
Country of Nature of Amount of
Class of
shares Nature of
Name incorporation
control
guarantee shares held business
Merchant
Taylors' School England Guarantor
£1
per - - School
Trustee
St John's School
Northwood England Guarantor
£1
per - - School
Trustee
Merchant Taylors'
School Enterprises England Ultimate - Ordinary 100% Trading
Ltd Owner
Fixed asset investments – group and trust
Trust
St John's
Merchant Total Total
funds
School
Taylors' 2023 2022
School
£’000 £’000 £’000 £’000 £’000
Listed investments:
Market value at 1 September 2022 8,440 2,476 6,506 17,422 18,860
Additions at cost 1,080 383 1,719 3,182 3,764
Disposals (1,173) (318) (1,132) (2,623) (3,708)
Unrealised (losses)/gains (352) (92) (278) (722) (1,494)
7,995 2,449 6,815 17,259 17,422
Cash held at 1 September 2022 165 79 226 470 745
Movement in cash 60 (15) (177) (132) (275)
Cash held at 31 August 2023 225 64 49 338 470
Market value at 31 August 2023 8,220 2,513 6,864 17,597 17,894

9 Fixed asset investments – group and trust

31

Merchant Taylors’ Educational Trust

NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 AUGUST 2023

10 Financial instruments

Consolidated Trust
2023 2022 2023 2022
£’000 £’000 £’000 £’000
Carrying amount of financial assets
Debt instruments measured at amortised cost 302 389 - 1
Carrying amount of financial liabilities
Measured at amortised cost 4,794 4,313 - 31

11 Debtors

Consolidated Trust
2023 2022 2023 2022
£’000 £’000 £’000 £’000
Fees 80 58 - -
Sundry debtors 212 331 - -
Amount due from related parties - 5 - -
Prepayments 197 227 6 14
489 621 6 14

12 Creditors: amounts falling due within one year

Consolidated Consolidated Trust
2023 2022 2023 2022
£’000 £’000 £’000 £’000
Final term deposits 115 88 - -
Trade creditors 942 713 - -
Exam deposits and Autumn term pre-payments 2,431 2,363 - -
Amounts owed to related parties - - - -
Other creditors and accruals 2,363 1,950 30 31
Fees in advance scheme 486 327 - -
6,337 5,441 30 31

Parents may enter into a contract to pay the Senior School in advance for fixed contributions towards the tuition fees for up to 7 years. The money may be returned subject to specific conditions on the receipt of notice.

32

Merchant Taylors’ Educational Trust

NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 AUGUST 2023

13 Creditors: amounts falling due after more than one year

Consolidated Trust
2023 2022 2023 2022
£’000 £’000 £’000 £’000
Final term deposits
Within 1 to 2 years 76 106 - -
Within 2 to 5 years 246 297 - -
After 5 years 220 328 - -
542 731 - -
Fees in advance
Within 1 to 2 years 151 161 - -
Within 2 to 5 years 134 41 - -
After 5 years 48 - - -
333 202 - -
875 933 - -

At the start of the year there was a balance of £311,000 on the fees in advance scheme, there were new contracts and discounts totalling £247,000 and £146,000 was utilised in the year, resulting in a balance at year-end of £412,000.

14 Allocation of the net assets of the charity

Fixed assets Net Long
and Current Term Total 2023
investments assets liabilities
£’000 £’000 £’000 £’000
Group
Unrestricted funds 48,738 5,206 (875) 53,069
Restricted funds 1,340 1,184 - 2,524
Endowment funds 7,438 - - 7,438
57,516 6,390 (875) 63,031
Trust only
Unrestricted funds 1,488 144 - 1,632
Restricted funds 1,269 69 - 1,338
Endowment funds 5,463 - - 5,463
8,220 213 - 8,433

33

Merchant Taylors’ Educational Trust

NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 AUGUST 2023

15 Endowment Funds

Consolidated

Balance Incoming Resources Transfers Investment Balance
1.9.22 resources expended (note 6) gains/(losses) 31.8.23
£’000 £’000 £’000 £’000 £’000 £’000
Bursary and Scholarships 5,416 1 (22) - (230) 5,165
MTET Prize Fund 313 1 (2) - (14) 298
Expendable Endowment 497 - (7)
-

(14)
476
Development Fund 1,307 253 -
-

(61)
1,499
7,533 255 (31)
-

(319)
7,438

Trust

Balance Incoming Resources Transfers Investment Balance
1.9.22 resources expended (note 6) gains/(losses) 31.8.23
£’000 £’000 £’000 £’000 £’000 £’000
Bursary and Scholarships 5,416 1 (22) - (230) 5,165
MTET Prize Fund 313 1
(2)
- (14) 298
5,729 2 (24)
-

(244)
5,463

Incoming resources are shown net of transfers to income.

34

Merchant Taylors’ Educational Trust

NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 AUGUST 2023

15 Endowment Funds (continued)

Statement of investment total return (trust)

Bursary MTET
and Prize
Scholarship Fund Total
£’000 £’000 £’000
Original endowment value 3,765 292 4,057
Unapplied total return 1,651 21 1,672
Total value at 1 September 2022 5,416 313
5,729
Investment income 191 11 202
Market value movement (230) (14) (244)
Investment management fees (22) (2) (24)
Total return applied to unapplied return (61) (5) (66)
Transfer to income (190) (10) (200)
Original endowment value 3,765 292 4,057
Unapplied total return 1,400 6 1,406
Total value at 31 August 2023 5,165 298 5,463

15 Endowment Funds (continued)

Fund Details

The Bursary and Scholarships funds comprises various donations that can be used solely for the provision of bursaries or scholarships for the benefit of pupils of Merchant Taylors’ School.

The MTET Prize Fund can only be used to fund prize winners from Merchant Taylors’ School.

The Development Fund was initiated in 2009 when Merchant Taylors' School launched its "Forward To Our Roots" initiative. The income from the Fund is to be used to fund bursaries. The expendable endowment also allows the funding of bursaries.

Total return

The Trustees adopted total return from 1 September 2021. The original gift value was agreed to be £3,765,000 for the Bursaries endowment and £292,000 for the Prizes endowment. Trustees agreed to withdraw 3.5% of the asset’s value as this best balanced the present and future needs of beneficiaries and was in line with the long-term anticipated return by the investment manager.

35

Merchant Taylors’ Educational Trust

NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 AUGUST 2023

16 Restricted Funds

Consolidated

Balance Incoming Resources Transfers Investment Balance
1.9.22 resources expended (note 6) gains/(losses) 31.8.23
£’000 £’000 £’000 £’000 £’000 £’000
St John’s School
Refurbishment 2 25 - (27) - -
Merchant Taylors’
School
General Donations 116 115 (277) 225 - 179
Bursary Fund 879 136 (155) - 1 861
Sports, art and school 35 5 (2) - - 38
campus
Capital projects 1,251 550 - (1,694) - 107
MTET
MTET Restricted Fund 1,270 42 (97) (25) (50) 1,140
Endowment income
funds
Bursary and 31 191 (4) (200) (1) 17
Scholarships
MTET Prize Fund 185 11 (14) - - 182
3,769 1,075 (549) (1,721) (50) 2,524

36

NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 AUGUST 2023

Merchant Taylors’ Educational Trust

16 Restricted Funds (continued)

Trust

Balance Incoming Resources Transfers Investment Balance
1.9.22 resources expended (note 6) gains/(losses) 31.8.23
£’000 £’000 £’000 £’000 £’000 £’000
MTET Restricted Fund 1,270 42 (97) (25) (50) 1,140
Endowment income funds
Bursary and Scholarships 31 191 (4) (200)
(1)
17
MTET Prize Fund 185 11 (15) - - 181
1,486 244 (116) (225) (51) 1,338

Income accruing to the Endowment Funds is restricted to the purposes described in note 15. The MTET Restricted fund was formed on the transfer of the T3-5 Fund and is limited to expenditure, of any kind, in Merchant Taylors’ School.

17 Unrestricted Funds

Consolidated

Balance Incoming Resources Transfers Investment Balance
1.9.22 resources expended (note 6) gains/(losses) 31.8.23
£’000 £’000 £’000 £’000 £’000 £’000
General Reserve 39,486 34,105 (31,945) 1,714 (156) 43,204
Designated funds:
Bursary Fund 1,594 36 (36) - (41) 1,553
Housing Fund 75 - - 7 - 82
Pension Fund 122 - - - - 122
OMT Asset Fund 4,335 - (189) - - 4,146
Durrants’ Fund 4,029 86 - - (162) 3,953
Fees in Advance 9 - - - - 9
Total designated funds 10,164 122 (225) 7 (203) 9,865
Unrestricted funds 49,650 34,227 (32,170) 1,721 (359) 53,069

37

Merchant Taylors’ Educational Trust

NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 AUGUST 2023

17 Unrestricted Funds (continued)

Trust

Balance Incoming Resources Transfers Investment Balance
1.9.22 resources expended (note 6) gains/(losses) 31.8.23
£’000 £’000 £’000 £’000 £’000 £’000
General Reserve 1,622 121 (56) - (55) 1,632

The General Reserve fund is retained to finance the fixed assets and provide working capital for both Merchant Taylors' School and St John's School.

The Designated Bursary Fund for Merchant Taylors' School had a balance of £608,000 at the year-end, whilst St John's School has a balance of £944,000 (2022: £639,000 and £955,000 respectively). These funds are to provide bursary assistance to pupils.

The Housing Fund was set up to grant interest-free loans to members of staff in School accommodation to assist in the purchase of their own property. The value of the fund is equal to the balance of loans currently outstanding.

Historically the Pension Fund had been set up to cover Merchant Taylors School's share of the deficit in the Merchant Taylors' Company pension scheme. However, in the past, the Trustees completed a buy out with Aviva Plc. The School, subsequent to the buy out, entered into an agreement with the principal employer to indemnify the members against a loss not covered by the Pension Protection Fund, should Aviva not have sufficient assets to meet pension payments. This fund will therefore be maintained in order to meet any contingent liability which may arise. The Governors of the School believe the likelihood of such a liability to be minimal. The total contingent liability cannot be quantified with any certainty at this time.

The OMT Asset Fund - In 2004, the War Memorial Trustees of the Old Merchant Taylors' Society ("OMT") entered into an agreement with a developer to sell the existing OMT sports facility at Durrants and build a new OMT facility on the Merchant Taylors' School's grounds. Funds of £6.4m were received from the developer to fund this facility, which OMT occupies under a 125 year licence which it entered into in 2011. The expenditure equates to the depreciation charge and reconciles the fund balance to the current net book value of the OMT sports facility.

The Durrants Fund - Due to the size and significance of the funds received from the sale of The War Memorial sports facility at Durrants (excluding that which was received to build a new OMT facility), the Trustees have agreed to create a designated fund for the purpose of maintaining the OMT sports facilities.

The Fees in Advance Fund represents the net assets relating to the Fees in Advance Scheme and any surplus may be used to meet any of the School's charitable objectives.

38

NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 AUGUST 2023

Merchant Taylors’ Educational Trust

18 Reconciliation of net incoming resources to net cash inflow from operating activities

2023 2022
£’000 £’000
Net incoming resources 2,077 197
Investment Income (925) (514)
Loss on investments 728 1,806
Depreciation 2,182 2,071
Disposal of fixed assets 130 -
Decrease/(increase) in stocks 56 (88)
Decrease/(increase) in debtors 174 (234)
Increase in operating creditors 248 1,089
Net cash inflow from operating activities 4,670 4,327

19 Net debt reconciliation

At 1 September Cash flow & At 31 August
2022 other 2023
movements
£’000 £’000 £’000
Cash at hand and in bank 10,845 1,330 12,175
Cash within investment portfolio 470 (132) 338
11,315 1,198 12,513

39

Merchant Taylors’ Educational Trust

NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 AUGUST 2023

20 Pension commitments

The pension contribution charged to direct charitable expenditure for the year was £3,265,000 (2022: £3,106,000).

Teaching staff

The Schools participate in the Department of Education Teachers' Pension Scheme (TPS) for their teaching staff. Employer's contributions throughout the year were 23.68% of pensionable salary. Contributions payable in the year totalled £3,322,000 (2022: £2,393,000). At the year-end £196,000 (2022: £186,000) was accrued in respect of contributions to the scheme.

The TPS is an unfunded multi-employer defined benefits pension scheme governed by The Teachers’ Pensions Regulations 2010 (as amended) and The Teachers’ Pension Scheme Regulations 2014 (as amended). Members contribute on a “pay as you go” basis with contributions from members and the employer being credited to the Exchequer. Retirement and other pension benefits are paid by public funds provided by Parliament.

The employer contribution rate is set by the Secretary of State following scheme valuations undertaken by the Government Actuary’s Department. The 2020 valuation has now been published and the employer contributions have risen by 5% to 28.68% from 1 April 2024.

A copy of the valuation report and supporting documentation is on the Teachers' Pension website: https://www.teacherspensions.co.uk/members/faqs/valuation.aspx.

Non-teaching staff

(a) The Merchant Taylors’ Company and Pension Life Assurance Scheme

Merchant Taylors' School was a member of the Merchant Taylors' Company Pension Scheme for some senior non-teaching staff. This scheme was closed to further accrual on 30 April 2011. However during that year the Trustees completed a buy-out of liabilities with Aviva Plc. The School, subsequent to the buy out, entered into an agreement with the principal employer to indemnify the members against any loss not covered by the Pension Protection Fund, should Aviva not have sufficient assets to meet pension payments. This Fund, as detailed in note 17, will therefore be maintained and added to in future years, in order to meet any contingent liability which may arise. The Governors believe the likelihood of such a liability arising to be minimal. The total contingent liability attributable to the School cannot be quantified with any certainty at this time.

(b) Group Personal Pension Scheme

The Schools also contribute to group personal pension plans in respect of their staff. In total, the School's contributions to group personal pension schemes for the year amounted to £727,000 (2022: £713,000)

40

Merchant Taylors’ Educational Trust

NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 AUGUST 2023

21 Other financial commitments

At 31 August 2023, the Group was committed to making the following annual payments under noncancellable operating leases, the Trust itself had no annual payments due:

Land and buildings
2023 2022
£’000 £’000
In less than 1 year 428 354
Between 2 and 5 years 1,683 1,408
After 5 years 12,449 12,756

22 Related party transactions

The results of this Company for the year were satisfactory. The profit donated to the School was £157,000 (2022: £189,000).

The Company made a donation to St John's which amounted to £25,000 (2022: £26,000).

The Merchant Taylors' Company owns the land and buildings from which the senior School operates. The School currently has a 128 year lease from 16 March 2011, at a current annual rent of £112,000 (2022: £112,000) subject to review every five years, with the next review due in April 2024.

41

Merchant Taylors’ Educational Trust

NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 AUGUST 2023

23 Transactions with Trustees and School Governors

No trustees have received any remuneration during the year (2022: £nil) nor have they been reimbursed for expenses (2022: £nil).

School governors are not remunerated (2022: £nil) and received reimbursement of expenses of £2,000 (2022: £2,000)

24 Capital commitments

Capital expenditure contracted for but not provided in the financial statements was £1.2m (2022: £4.7m).

42

Merchant Taylors’ Educational Trust

NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 AUGUST 2023

25 Comparative information

a)
Statement of Financial Activities
Unrestricted Restricted Endowment Total
funds funds funds 2022
£’000 £’000 £’000 £’000
INCOME FROM
Charitable Activities
School Fees 30,624 - - 30,624
Registration/admissions fees 155 - - 155
Other income – insurance 8 - - 8
Other income – Rent received 269 - - 269
Other income – Trading 96 - - 96
Other ancillary income - - - -
Government grant income - - - -
Other trading activities 392 - - 392
Investment income 222 85 207 514
Total return allocated to income - 220 (220) -
Donations and legacies
Donations 26 53 - 79
Development campaign income 108 376 - 484
Total income 31,900 734 (13) 32,621
EXPENDITURE ON
Raising funds
Publicity/advertising and development office 273 6 - 279
Trading & investment cost of sales 240 85 - 325
Financing 29 5 26 60
Charitable activities
Schools and grantmaking 29,513 429 - 29,942
Total expenditure 30,055 525 26 30,606
Net incoming resources before investments 1,845 209 (39) 2,015
Net gains and losses on investments (884) (230) (704) (1,818)
Net income 961 (21) (743) 197
Transfers between funds (10) 122 (112) -
Net movement in funds 951 101 (855) 197
Fund balances at 1 September 2021 48,699 3,668 8,388 60,755
Fund balances at 31 August 2022 49,650 3,769 7,533 60,952

43

NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 AUGUST 2023

Merchant Taylors’ Educational Trust

25 Comparative information (continued)

b) Endowment Funds comparative information

Consolidated

Balance Incoming Resources Transfers Investment Balance
1.9.21 resources expended (note 6) gains/(losses) 31.8.22
£’000 £’000 £’000 £’000 £’000 £’000
Permanent Endowments
Bursary and Scholarships 5,939 (13) (25) - (486) 5,415
MTET Prize Fund 343 - (1) -
(28)
314
Expendable Endowment 559 - - 4 (65) 498
Development Fund 1,548 - -
(116)
(125) 1,307
8,388 (13) (26) 112 (704) 7,533

Trust Permanent Endowments

Balance Incoming Resources Transfers Investment Balance
1.9.21 resources expended (note 6) gains/(losses) 31.8.22
£‘000 £’000 £’000 £’000 £’000 £’000
Bursary and Scholarships 5,939 (13) (26) - (487) 5,413
MTET Prize Fund 343 -
(1)
- (29) 313
6,281 (13) (27) -
(516)
5,726

44

Merchant Taylors’ Educational Trust

NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 AUGUST 2023

25 Comparative information (continued)

c) Restricted Funds

Consolidated Balance Incoming Resources Transfers Investment Balance
1.9.21 resources expended (note 6) gains/(losses) 31.8.22
£’000 £’000 £’000 £’000 £’000 £’000
St John’s School
Refurbishment 3 - - (1) - 2
Merchant Taylors’
School
General Donations 116 142 (367) 225 - 116
Development Fund 841 121 (55) 98 (125) 879
Sports, art and school 32 9 (6) - - 35
campus
Capital projects 1,056 200 (5) -
-
1,251
MTET
MTET Restricted Fund 1,356 42 (23) -
(105)
1,270
Endowment income
funds
Bursary and 79 208 (56) (200) - 31
Scholarships
MTET Prize Fund 185 12 (12) - - 185
3,668 734 (525) 122 (230) 3,769

45

Merchant Taylors’ Educational Trust

NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 AUGUST 2023

25 Comparative information (continued)

Trust restricted funds

Balance Balance
Incoming

Incoming

Resources

Resources

Transfers

Transfers
Investment Balance
1.9.21
resources

expended

(note
6) gains/(losses) 31.8.22
£’000 £’000
£’000

£’000
£’000 £’000
MTET Restricted Fund 1,355 43 (23) -
(105)
1,270
Endowment income funds
Bursary and Scholarships 79 208
(256)
- - 31
MTET Prize Fund 185 12 (12) - - 185
1,619 263
(291)
- (105) 1,486
d) Unrestricted Funds
onsolidated
Balance
Incoming

Resources

Transfers
Investment Balance
1.9.21
resources

expended
(note 6) gains/(losses) 31.8.22
£’000 £’000 £’000 £’000 £’000 £’000
General Reserve 37,746 31,801 (29,845) (31) (185) 39,486
Designated funds:
Bursary Fund 1,653 33 (4) 14 (102) 1,594
Housing Fund 68 - - 7 - 75
Pension Fund 122 - - - - 122
OMT Asset Fund 4,525 - - - (190) 4,335
Durrants’ Fund 4,573 66 (203) - (407) 4,029
Fees in Advance 12 - (3) - - 9
Total designated funds 10,952 99 (210) 21 (699) 10,163
Unrestricted funds 48,699 31,900 (30,055) (10) (884) 49,650

Consolidated

46

Merchant Taylors’ Educational Trust

NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 AUGUST 2023

25 Comparative information (continued)

Trust

Balance Incoming Resources Transfers Investment Balance
1.9.21 resources expended (note 6) gains/(losses) 31.8.22
£’000 £’000 £’000 £’000 £’000 £’000
General Reserve 1,717 110 (83) - (122) 1,622
(MTET)

e) Allocation of the net assets of the charity

Fixed assets Net Long
and Current Term Total 2022
investments assets liabilities
£’000 £’000 £’000 £’000
Group
Unrestricted funds 46,939 3,644 (933) 49,650
Restricted funds 1,269 2,500 - 3,769
Endowment funds 7,533 - - 7,533
55,741 6,144 -933 60,952
Trust only
Unrestricted funds 1,608 17 - 1,625
Restricted funds 1,269 215 - 1,486
Endowment funds 5,728 - - 5,726
8,605 232 - 8, 837

47

Merchant Taylors’ Educational Trust

NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 AUGUST 2023

25 Comparative information (continued)

f) Analysis of total resources expended

Total
Staff costs Other Depreciation 2022
£’000 £’000 £’000 £’000
Cost of generating funds
Publicity and development office 204 75 - 279
Trading & investment costs 84 241 - 325
Financing - 60 - 60
288 376 - 664
Charitable activities
Teaching costs 15,989 2,281 - 18,270
Welfare 905 666 - 1,571
Premises 1,368 3,696 1,207 6,271
Support costs 2,097 401 674 3,172
Schools' operating cost 20,359 7,044 1,881 29,284
Bursaries paid by restricted funds 420 - 420
Depreciation on sports facility - - 190 190
Grants - 30 - 30
Other costs - 6 - 6
Governance costs - 12 - 12
Total resources expended 20,647 7,872 2,071 30,606

48