Berkhamsted Schools Group
REPORT AND FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
For the year ended 31 July 2023
Registered Charity Number: 310630 Registered Company Number: 622349
Berkhamsted Schools Group
| CONTENTS | |
|---|---|
| Page | |
| Who we are | 2-3 |
| Governors, Officers and Advisers | 4-5 |
| Annual Report of the Governors | 6-26 |
| Statement of Governors’ Responsibilities | 27 |
| Independent Auditor’s Report | 28-30 |
| Consolidated Statement of Financial Activities | 31 |
| Consolidated and School Balance Sheets | 32 |
| Consolidated Cash Flow Statement | 33-34 |
| Statement of Accounting Policies | 34-38 |
| Notes to the Financial Statements | 39-59 |
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Berkhamsted Schools Group
WHO WE ARE
Berkhamsted Schools Group is a prestigious group of independent day schools in Hertfordshire and Buckinghamshire which also offer boarding for the senior year groups. Founded in 1541, we are a school that is firmly rooted in our local community and also has an international outlook with overseas students joining the school from Year 10.
Berkhamsted has an outstanding reputation based on the following key characteristics:
A ‘diamond school’ - one of just a handful in the country, Berkhamsted offers co-educational tuition up to age 11 and single sex classroom education from the age of 11 to 16 - at a time when we believe girls and boys benefit most from being taught separately in the classroom, whilst extra-curricular activities are undertaken co-educationally at all ages. Girls and boys come back together in a co-educational Sixth Form. We also have a girls-only Prep School, Heatherton, in Amersham, which has a co-educational nursery class.
A passion for learning and well-being - the world is changing at an ever-increasing pace. We believe life-long learning will be required of all of us and awareness of the skills that enable us to learn effectively are a key requirement. At the school we develop these skills through the use of an educational framework called the “Learning Powered Approach” which underpins our approach in the classroom and in all extracurricular activities. We also believe that our pupils need to develop qualities of character such as mental toughness and resilience to believe they can cope with whatever life throws at them. Our well-being programme and framework is comparable with any school programme in the country and we care deeply about the well-being of our school community and the individuals within it.
A broad education - we develop outstanding, well-rounded, remarkable young people through a broad education based not just on academic excellence, but also through activities outside the classroom, including sport, outdoor education, music, art and drama. We are proud to have produced excellence at national and international levels while maintaining very high levels of pupil participation in extra-curricular activities. We have one of the most outstanding outdoor education programmes at any school in the country, demonstrated by the high numbers of participants in the Duke of Edinburgh’s Award at all levels, and the range of experiences offered through our Combined Cadet Force. Every pupil in senior school attends Bushcraft training and spends a night under canvas as part of the introduction to the Duke of Edinburgh’s Award.
A school that ‘grows with you’ - we offer our pupils fantastic experiences and opportunities that stretch their abilities and help develop their full potential at all stages throughout their formative years. Our pupils leave us with the qualifications and life skills needed to make a successful transition to the next stage of life, be that a top university, or the start of their career in the workplace. These are gained through initiatives such as our innovative Student Consultancy, pioneered at Berkhamsted in conjunction with the Oxford University Careers Service and since rolled out nationally, or the work experience opportunities we provide to our Sixth Formers. Other opportunities exist at our Sports Centre as a lifeguard or with our in-house caterers to gain customer service experience at School events.
Outstanding pastoral care - we are predominantly a day school running on structures built up through a history of being a traditional boarding school. We have a vertical house system, run by Heads of House and their teams of tutors, who oversee and support each child’s personal development.
A large school with a small school feel - we are based on four campuses in Berkhamsted and one in Amersham, each structured to cater for the different age groups taught at those sites from Pre-Prep in the woodland setting of the Haresfoot campus to a Sixth Form moving between Castle and Kings campuses as a taster of what lies ahead at university. Each school benefits from outstanding whole school facilities in close proximity, which smaller schools are unable to provide. Examples include our 500 seat Centenary
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Berkhamsted Schools Group
Theatre, the Knox-Johnston Sports Centre and 25 metre swimming pool, nine Eton Fives courts, a Wooded Gruffalo Trail and our High Ropes course.
A school with community spirit - our pupils are consistently helping in the community and looking to uphold the school’s value of ‘Serving Others’. From the Prep school children visiting the local care home for regular musical performances, to Year 7 boys litter picking across town, through to our Sixth Formers helping at local primary schools and in High Street charity shops. The introduction of The Berkhamsted Society has also offered our local neighbours the opportunity to use the school’s facilities and attend a number of cultural events which are open to all. We work with maintained sector schools in Berkhamsted, Hemel Hempstead and Luton, and co-sponsor the Wren Academies Trust.
A school which supports working parents - we provide care at all stages of a child’s school journey so parents need never be concerned if they are delayed at the office, have to go on a business trip, or wish to find activities for their child in the holidays. We provide wrap-around care at both ends of the day up to Prep School, flexi-boarding at the senior schools, and work with specialist companies to lay on a range of courses and activities during half terms. We offer all year-round nursery provision from five months to three years old. In addition, our travel network also offers a coach service from home to school each day with late services available to cater for those pupils taking part in after-school activities.
A key aim of the Berkhamsted Schools Group is to deliver teaching and learning excellence for the benefit of pupils throughout the group. Investment in the continuous training, professional development and wellbeing of our staff is a priority. We are proud to have been awarded the Investors in People Gold Award twice in recent years, an unprecedented achievement for an independent school, reflecting our commitment to this aim.
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Berkhamsted Schools Group
GOVERNORS
The Board of Governors is appointed in accordance with the terms and conditions laid down in the Scheme of the Charity Commissioners for England and Wales sealed on 29 August 1996. Except as otherwise indicated, the Governors served throughout the year and are as follows:
| Appointed /Resigned | (1) | (2) | (3) | (4) | (5) | (6) | Notes | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| G.C.Laws (Chair) | Appointed 17March 2012 | ▪ (c) | ▪ (c) | ▪ (c) | ||||
| D.J.Atkins | Appointed 1September 2014 | ▪ | ||||||
| V.Bingham | Appointed3December 2022 | ▪ | ||||||
| ProfS-J.Blakemore | Appointed 17 June2017 | ▪ | ||||||
| C. Copland | Appointed 18March 2023 | ▪ | Note1 | |||||
| C.Edwards | Appointed 1September 2022 | ▪ | ||||||
| Dr M.A. Fenton | Appointed 1 January 2014 Resigned 25March 2023 |
▪ | ▪(c) | Note 2 | ||||
| A.R.Hart | Appointed 1 December 2018 | ▪ | ||||||
| G.Imlah | Appointed3December 2022 | ▪ | ||||||
| K.Musgrave | Appointed 1 December 2018 | ▪ | ||||||
| K. Nijjar | Appointed 24 September 2020 Resigned 23 September 2023 |
▪ | ||||||
| C.Nicholls | Appointed 1September 2015 | ▪ | ▪ | Note 3 | ||||
| S. Rolland | Appointed 19 January 2011 Resigned 20 January2023 |
▪ | ||||||
| S. Shields | Appointed 25March 2017 | ▪ | ||||||
| J.J. Smith | Appointed 1September 2020 | ▪ | ▪ | |||||
| N. Twogood | Appointed 1 September 2015 | ▪ | ▪ (c) | ▪ | ▪ | |||
| A. Wilcock | Appointed 26 November 2016 | ▪ | ▪ (c) | ▪ | Notes 2,3 | |||
| J. Williams | Appointed 1 March 2018 | ▪ | ▪ (c) | ▪ |
(1) Chair’s Committee
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(2) Finance and Property Committee
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(3) Risk and Regulatory Committee
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(4) Education Committee
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(5) Nominations Committee
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(6) Remuneration Committee
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(c) Chair
Notes:
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C. Copland was appointed on 18 March 2023 and has succeeded G.C. Laws as Chair with effect from 1 September 2023. C. Copland was in attendance at the Chair’s Committee and Remuneration Committee meetings after 18 March 2023.
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A. Wilcock replaced Dr M.A. Fenton as Chair of the Education Committee with effect from 26 January 2023.
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A. Wilcock replaced C. Nicholls on the Nominations Committee with effect from January 2023.
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Berkhamsted Schools Group
OFFICERS
Principal Clerk to the Governors Vice Principal Chief Operating Officer Chief People Officer Assistant Vice Principal (External Relations) Headteacher, Berkhamsted Sixth Headteacher, Berkhamsted Boys Headteacher, Berkhamsted Girls (left 31 Aug 2022) Headteacher, Berkhamsted Girls (joined 1 Sept 2022) Headteacher, Berkhamsted Prep (left 31 Aug 2023) Headteacher, Heatherton Headteacher, Berkhamsted Prep (from 1 Sept 2023) and Pre-Prep
R P Backhouse MA (Cantab) J McCulloch BSc, FIA A Ford BA J Anthony BSc, FCA T L Evans CIPD, FlnstLM R C Thompson BA M Walker BA TL Hadcroft BA (Hons), MSc, MRes, MEd E Richardson BA E Watson BEng J Hornshaw MEd, BEd, NPQH, FlnstLM N Nicoll MEd, BEd (Hons) K O’Connor BA (Hons), PGCE, NPQH
Principal address and Registered Office
6 Chesham Road Berkhamsted Hertfordshire HP4 3AA Bankers NatWest Bank HSBC plc 250 Bishopsgate 8 Canada Square London London EC2M 4AA E14 5HQ Solicitors Veale Wasbrough Vizards Orchard Lane Bristol BS1 5WS Auditors Crowe U.K. LLP 55 Ludgate Hill London EC4M 7JW Investment Advisors Brewin Dolphin 12 Smithfield Street London EC1A 9BD Insurance Brokers Aon UK Limited 8 Devonshire Square London EC2M 4PL Property Advisers Aitchison Raffety Bidwells 8 Cavendish Square Trumpington Road London W1G 0PD Cambridge CB2 9LD ESG Advisers Orbis Advisory 1 St Katherine’s Way London E1W 1Y
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Berkhamsted Schools Group
ANNUAL REPORT OF THE GOVERNORS CHAIR’S REPORT
CHAIR’S REPORT
Students of all ages, staff and parents enjoyed a year of significant success and development in 2022-23. The School’s brand of holistic education flourished in academic, super-curricular and extra-curricular pursuits. Pastoral care continued to be an area of importance, and the appointment of a School Psychologist represented the way in which the School has continued to respond to the changing needs of, and demands on, young people across the school age range. Parental feedback continued to be exceptionally strong. Enquiries for places rose again, and the School continued to have waiting lists for entry into many of our year groups.
The Executive and Trustee Board spend a great deal of time ensuring the financial stability of the group, looking not just at the present but also to the short and medium-term future. We run the school on conservative financial principles with strict financial governance policies and procedures in place.
Our aim is also to be a school which serves its local community excellently, with outstanding staff and infrastructure that compares to the best in the country. We want to be world class in everything we do to give the young people here the best chance to develop and succeed in whatever they choose to do. We do not just select pupils purely on academic skills – we offer an all-round education challenging our students and giving them real skills to help in later life.
During the academic year we have continued to build our reputation for outstanding Digital Learning – with over 100 delegates attending a conference hosted by us and supported by many of the leading names in IT, and we launched a consultancy service for schools to spread the intellectual property developed here in establishing consistent excellence in IT provision across the curriculum. Pupils’ achievements and development continue to make today’s adults envious of their successor generation’s experience of Berkhamsted School. Whether in outdoor education, sport, drama, music, or academia, the year saw students achieve their potential, grow in confidence, and develop the character traits which will serve them well after school.
We continue to invest sustainably in our infrastructure. During the year, the site where a new Sixth Form Centre will be constructed was cleared of the foundations of previous buildings, and earthworks stabilised the ground for the new building. In addition, across the School’s sites projects to improve outdoor space were undertaken at Heatherton, the Prep and on our Lacrosse pitches, a new Food Science classroom was created at the Castle site, necessitating the relocation of the Staff Room, and the classrooms used by Y1 children at the Pre-Prep were extended to improve further their accommodation. We recognise that students and parents rightly expect first class facilities, and we are continuing to invest in infrastructure which generates educational opportunities for young people. We are also very aware that affordability of school fees is at the front of many parents’ minds. Our goal is to provide an outstanding all-round education at a competitive price and therefore we have continued to strive to constrain our fee increases for the past few years whilst finding efficiencies within the schools to allow continued investment in staff and facilities.
With over 500 staff and around 2,000 pupils aged between 5 months and 19 years old, and in excess of 100 acres of land in Berkhamsted, we recognise our importance and need to contribute to, the local community. Our students continue to give thousands of hours of their time to community service, with nearly 2,000 hours by the sixth form alone. Whether it’s visiting a senior citizens’ home, a hospice, reading with pupils at local primary schools, or working with disabled adults and children, Berkhamstedians’ time and effort makes a difference to the lives of so many in our community. We also open up our facilities to the community, and the Knox-Johnston Sports Centre is very well used outside of school hours. We support the people of the area through the provision of wraparound care and holiday camps to help working
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Berkhamsted Schools Group
ANNUAL REPORT OF THE GOVERNORS CHAIR’S REPORT
parents. In a new development, we have hosted booster weeks for Looked-After-Children in partnership with Hertfordshire Virtual Schools in both Easter and Summer. The Berkhamsted Schools Group and the London Diocesan Board for Schools continue to co-sponsor the Wren Academies Trust who have recently opened a new school in Enfield. In the context of all this activity, we were pleased to publish our first Community Impact Report.
As I come to the end of my tenure as Chair, I would like to thank all my colleague governors for their time and expertise, the parents for their trust and support, and our staff who commit so much energy, skill and professionalism to the school. Governors, staff and parents make this a place where young people are excellently provided for, and where they are able to make the best start in life.
G.C. LAWS Chair of Governors
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Berkhamsted Schools Group STRATEGIC REPORT
CONSTITUTION AND OBJECTS
Berkhamsted Grammar School was founded on 14 October 1541, re-founded by an Act of Parliament in 1549, and is regulated by a scheme made under the Endowed Schools Act on 13 May 1887 and subsequent amendments. Berkhamsted Girls Grammar School was constituted by the above scheme on 13 May 1887. The administration and management of these two charities and other subsidiary charities were amalgamated by a scheme dated 14 August 1975 approved by the Charity Commissioners for England and Wales.
With effect from 1 August 2011, the School merged with Heatherton House, a Prep School for Girls in Amersham. As part of the merger process, Berkhamsted School changed its name to Berkhamsted Schools Group and became an incorporated charity. The registered charity number is 310630 and the registered company number is 622349.
The Charity has two operating wholly owned non-charitable subsidiaries, Berkhamsted School Enterprises Limited and Berkhamsted Day Nursery Limited. The school actively supports the provision of the highest standards of education in the independent sector and co-operates with many local charities, schools and organisations to widen public access to the education and facilities it provides for the public benefit.
The School’s objects and principal activity, as set out in the Articles of Association, are to promote the education (including social and physical training) of boys and girls and in particular but without prejudice to the generality of the foregoing to conduct and maintain day or day and boarding schools in or near Berkhamsted, at which religious education in accordance with the principles of the Church of England is provided.
GOVERNANCE AND MANAGEMENT
Governing Body
There is one Governing Body for all the schools in the Group. Details of the Governing Body, together with the school’s officers and principal advisors, are given on pages 4-5.
The Governing Body consists of between twelve and fifteen people with each Governor term limited to three years. Each Governor is limited to a maximum of three terms, unless elected to become the Chair or Vice Chair, or if the Board consider it would be in the best interest of the Charity for a Governor to be eligible for re-election, in which case further terms are permissible.
Recruitment and Training of Governors
The school’s Governors are appointed at a meeting of the Governing Body on the basis of recommendations made by the Nominations Committee, taking into account eligibility, personal competence, specialist skills and availability.
New Governors are inducted into the workings of the school and of the Charity, including Strategy, Policies and Procedures, at an induction meeting organised by the Clerk to the Governors. Governor training is carried out by using seminars either organised nationally or arranged internally.
During the 2021-22 year, Governors undertook a voluntary governance review with a team from AGBIS undertaking a series of interviews with all governors and senior members of the executive. The outcome of this review was both to endorse strongly the governance of the School, and to make recommendations for consideration in respect of further development. As a consequence of this review, and the consequent implementation of recommendations, the Governors are satisfied that the Charity both applies the principles of the Charity Governance Code, and that governance is executed very well at the School.
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Berkhamsted Schools Group STRATEGIC REPORT
Organisational Management
The School Governors, as the Trustees of the Charity, are legally responsible for the overall management and control of the school and normally meet (as a full board) four times each year, plus one biennial meeting usually in Lent Term to review strategy.
The School’s Committees (the first four of which meet termly) are:
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The Finance and Property Committee, whose responsibility is to plan and oversee delivery of the Board’s strategies in relation to all financial and property matters.
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The Education Committee, whose responsibility is to plan and oversee the delivery of all academic, cocurricular and pastoral education.
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The Risk and Regulatory Committee, which has responsibility for the implementation, ongoing management and review of performance in practice of the Group’s regulatory, statutory and general policies. It also acts to ensure that major risks for the Group are actively managed, and that an appropriate balance is struck between controls to mitigate risk and the costs (financial or non-financial) associated with doing so and to monitor the environmental and sustainability activities being done across the group to ensure we continually work to improve our environmental impact.
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The Chair’s Committee, comprising the Chair of Governors, the Chairs of the other Governor Committees, the Principal, Vice Principal, Chief Operating Officer and Chief People Officer. The function of this Committee is to review strategic issues prior to consideration by the full Governing Body.
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The Nominations Committee, which has responsibility for overseeing Governor and Executive appointments.
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The Remuneration Committee, which has responsibility for setting the remuneration of the Principal and overseeing the remuneration of other senior personnel.
The day-to-day management of the school is delegated to the Principal, Vice Principal, Chief Operating Officer and Chief People Officer who, together with the Headteachers of the respective schools in the group and the Assistant Vice Principal, External Relations, form the Executive. The Executive is supported by the Senior Management Team which includes the Deputy Heads and other key educational and operational roles.
Remuneration of staff is set by the Governors with the policy objective of providing appropriate incentives to encourage enhanced performance and of rewarding fairly and responsibly individual contributions to the school’s success.
The appropriateness and relevance of the remuneration policy is reviewed annually, including reference to comparisons with other independent schools and the maintained sector to ensure that the school remains sensitive to the broader issues of pay and employment conditions elsewhere.
We aim to recruit, subject to experience, at the lower to medium point within a band, providing scope for rewarding excellence. Delivery of the school’s charitable vision and purpose is primarily dependent on our key management personnel and staff costs are the largest single element of our expenditure.
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Berkhamsted Schools Group STRATEGIC REPORT
Employment Policy
The school is an equal opportunities employer. Equal consideration is given to job applications from all candidates irrespective of race, colour, religion, nationality, ethnicity, sex, disability, or age, whilst due consideration is given to any particular training and employment needs. Our applicant tracking system has been refined to further strengthen the process by adopting a blind shortlisting approach to recruitment. Consultation with employees, or their representatives, has continued at all levels with the aim of taking the views of employees into account when decisions are made that are likely to affect their interests.
The school follows its Disability policy and an Equal Opportunities policy, which is compliant with the Equality Act 2010, and has regard to the guidance issued by the Equality and Human Rights Commission “What equality law means for you as an education provider: schools”. The Disability policy states that the school will maintain and drive a positive culture towards inclusion of disabled people in all the activities of the school, and will not knowingly discriminate against any disabled person, including in matters of employment such as admissions, training and career development.
In addition, the school has a strict Staff Code of Conduct policy that sets the standards of behaviour for all staff to ensure the ethos of the school is maintained.
AIMS, OBJECTIVES AND ACTIVITIES
Aims
The School’s aim is to be the first-choice independent school in a wide catchment area for families seeking educational excellence and to develop remarkable people with an awareness, understanding and care for their community and the wider world.
The governors are mindful of the long-standing need to provide public benefit and of the requirements of the Charities Act 2011. In this connection the Board has monitored closely the guidance of public benefit produced by the Charity Commission together with its supplemental guidance on fee-charging.
Primary Objectives
The School continues to place huge importance on its Core Values. At the heart of every decision made and practice used we continue to cultivate a culture in which our values are evident. Our Values are as follows:
- Aim High with Integrity
We believe that we should strive to be the best possible version of ourselves, in the classroom or debating chamber, on the stage or sports pitches, to be the best we can be in everything we do. To aim high with integrity means being successful without exercising sharp elbows. Try, as CS Lewis suggested, to ‘do the right thing even when no one is looking’. Whatever we achieve in life will be all the more worthy if it is done in support and not at the expense, of others.
- Be Adventurous
Being adventurous is an important ingredient of aiming high. We need to discover what our talents might be before we can develop them, and this will only happen if we are adventurous in thought, word, and deed. We must all have the courage to fail and the resilience to do so repeatedly…because we will. We should all think of mistakes – whether made by ourselves or others – as opportunities to learn. As Nelson Mandela once said: ‘Do not judge me by my successes; judge me by how many times I fell down and got up again.’ If we are all brave enough to try, fail and then start again, we will all, in time, become the best we can be.
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Berkhamsted Schools Group STRATEGIC REPORT
- Serve Others
We want our students to grow in moral purpose, character, and courage as they go through our school, and in doing so, contribute to the wellbeing of our community. We want them to become remarkable people. Our definition of success is an inclusive one, and our expectation of school life is for it to be a team game: we believe it is as important to contribute to the successes of others as to our own. Our definition of leadership includes elements of altruism, and being a school community, we often find that, in giving, we are also receiving. We celebrate and encourage the work of our students in the local community, as volunteers for example, and as those who engineer change for good, inside and outside the School. Our expectation is that Berkhamstedians will not just go on and do well, although of course, we expect that they will, but that they will also go on and do good.
The implementation of these values in the provision of education which is both excellent and broad, boarding and day, single sex and co-educational, large in scale, but small school in feel, traditional and forward looking continues to be the aim of the Group.
STRATEGIES TO ACHIEVE PRIMARY OBJECTIVES
The Group has selected seven areas of focus, which will not only help us to meet our primary aims and objectives but move us to a position where we are recognised to be world class. It must be noted that this list does not preclude our pursuit of excellence in all areas.
Teaching and Learning / ICT
The “Learning Powered Approach”, a whole school approach to teaching and learning, is embedded across the group to provide a core focus on dispositions within the four learning types (emotional, social, cognitive, and strategic). There is a focus on meta-cognition and self-regulation, as well as critical thinking to enable pupils to flourish in the world beyond School. We continue to work with schools in both the independent and maintained sectors, universities, and teacher training institutions to share best practice with Berkhamsted being a centre of excellence for teaching and learning. Alongside a strong focus on cyber security we have this year continued our digital device provision plan so that each pupil in Y5-13 has their own Microsoft Surface device, with younger children having access to class sets of iPads, the stock of which was renewed during the year.
Wellbeing
The school recognises the importance of wellbeing amongst its pupils and staff and employs several strategies to encourage and promote it. The senior school operates a house system which ensures a high level of pastoral care for pupils which is further supported by the availability of counselling services and other initiatives such as the presence of wellbeing dogs throughout the school week. The School has also employed a dedicated Psychologist to further support pupils’ wellbeing. In all parts of the school, class sizes are small enough to enable our teachers to notice any behavioural changes that may require their intervention. Staff wellbeing is also deemed very important and all staff have access to counselling services on request and provision is made for other beneficial activities such as mindfulness sessions, yoga, wellbeing treatments and a wide range of other social activities.
Outdoor Education
Very few schools in the South-East have strong Outdoor Education – this is seen as a market differentiator. The School has a long and distinguished Duke of Edinburgh Award programme and Combined Cadet Force (CCF). Today pupils from Stepping Stones through to Year 13 have extensive opportunities to have a range
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Berkhamsted Schools Group STRATEGIC REPORT
of outdoor education experiences both at school and around the country and world. An Outdoor Education centre for the Group has been established on the site of the Pre-Prep school.
Business Education and Skills
Berkhamsted is a business community and many of our parents are business professionals. Berkhamsted School is well placed to be a leader in Business Education and Skills and looks to achieve this by closing the gap between academic education and the world of work. We give our pupils an understanding of how business works and also work experiences outside of the main curriculum. By developing links with alumni and the local community we can offer insights into business and provide enterprise opportunities to enable pupils to develop the skills required for the modern workplace. We are now constructing a new Sixth Form Centre configured to help bridge the gap between school, university and work, and we continue to seek international opportunities that could give pupils a taste of international culture and diversity that will prepare them for careers in a global market.
Early Years
Berkhamsted is a centre of excellence for Early Years Education, regularly hosting national Early Years’ conferences and is seen as a beacon of best practice. We have a highly innovative curriculum and some of the best facilities in the country. The teaching facilities at the Pre-Prep in a wonderful woodland setting enable the school to provide the very best in Early Years Education. These facilities have been augmented during a period of significant investment in the facilities used by children between the ages of 5 months to three years old.
Sport
Berkhamsted has a distinguished sporting heritage for both boys’ and girls’ sport. We aim to be one of the top sporting schools in England by being consistently:
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in the top 4 schools nationally at Lacrosse, with Regional and National representatives;
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in the top 18 schools nationally at Netball;
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in the top 12 schools nationally at Rugby, with Regional and National representatives;
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the best Fives school in the country for boys and girls, attaining National Championship
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titles.
Furthermore, we actively seek to have some of the highest participation rates in school sport for a large school as evidenced by the number of pupils who actively participate in physical activity each and every week.
Music and Drama
Berkhamsted offers pupils the opportunity of music and drama within the curriculum across the age span, but many pupils undertake additional lessons with 390 Senior pupils playing an instrument and 125 music exams taken by Senior pupils in the 2022/23 academic year. Drama also has many participants with over 229 Senior pupils taking LAMDA lessons each term.
FUTURE PLANS
A new version of the Group’s current Strategic Plan was agreed by Governors in 2022. This will continue to be subject to bi-annual review by Governors. Significant progress has been made towards the objectives identified in this plan. Future plans to underpin the Group’s primary aims and objectives include:
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Further implementation of our plans to ‘develop remarkable people’, focusing on education of character, skills, and leadership, in order that the education offered to pupils meets excellently the challenges posed by contemporary changes in society, the economy, further education and the workplace;
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Developing our campus to support the education we seek to offer our pupils in every way;
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Intentionally developing the culture of the school to be, ambitious, adventurous, humble, kind, and inclusive;
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Continuing to develop and sustain a quality of community among pupils, staff, parents and the locality that sets us apart as a school;
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Excellence in our commercial practices to support the public benefit activity, bursaries and outreach schemes operated by the School
ACHIEVEMENTS AND PERFORMANCE
Review of achievements and performance for the year
2022/23 has been a very successful year for the school. During the year the school averaged 2,041 pupils, of whom 1,993 were day pupils and we have started the 2023/24 academic year with 2,123 pupils. Demand for places continues to be high and the creation of additional classes in Year 7 has allowed an increase of pupils in that part of the school.
Despite the Government return to the pre-pandemic grade standards of 2019, Berkhamsted students performed admirably in their GCSE & A Levels. 21.5% of GCSE results were at grade 9, and 65.3% at grade 7 or above. The continued increase in both attainment and value-added continues to show that Berkhamsted adds significant improvement to pupil outcomes when measured against other participating independent schools.
A Level results were also very pleasing this year, not only because of the government intervention on grade standards but because this cohort of students did not have the experience of having physically sat their GCSEs. 11.4% of A Levels were graded A; 38.4% at A or A; and 73.5% at A*, A or B. An increase was seen in all the highest grades by our hard-working pupils. Value-added results also remained very strong.
2022-2023 Sporting Results & Success
In athletics the school competed in several notable local championships over the Summer term and held a highly inclusive and competitive internal Sports Day at Jarman Park in Hemel Hempstead. On a personal level 21 pupils qualified for the IAPS National Finals and 27 Year 7 pupils competed at County level.
Basketball has progressed as a school sport this year with the first ever competitive matches against local schools for the Under 13, 14 and 15 school teams. The school also organised inter-house basketball competitions for the Sixth Form and Senior School.
The school maintained 39 cricket teams across Senior Girls, Boys and the Prep School playing a total of 211 fixtures across a 9 week term. Girl’s cricket has become very popular with mass participation and representation on the School first X1 for the second year running. Overall the standard of cricket is improving with school teams having to travel further to find suitable opposition such as Bradfield, Stowe and Kimbolton. The school restored its biannual overseas cricket tour with a trip to India.
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Berkhamsted Schools Group STRATEGIC REPORT
The Senior School team won the JWS National Equestrian Championships and had participants who qualified to ride at the Royal Windsor Show, Eventer Challenge and Hickstead.
The school maintained its strong reputation as a leading school for Eton Fives with 217 pupils representing the school in competitive fixtures during a year when it won 7 National titles, including both single and doubles titles at Under 13 level.
Football continues to be very popular with the school running A to E teams at both Under 12 and Under 13 level. Senior school teams compete in various Independent School Football Association (ISFA) leagues and were successful in winning 3 different leagues with 2 of those at Under 14 level.
A partnership with Berkhamsted golf club received excellent feedback from the 30 pupils who used the facilities and received coaching from the club professional. Golf is now available for both boys and girls and a development pathway has been created from Year 6 to Year 13. During the year there were 5 friendly fixtures, a junior fixture at Berkhamsted golf club and we also entered the HMC Foursomes.
Gymnastics saw the creation of a junior squad for the first time in the school’s history who took first place at the Under 13 Milano British Schools Gymnastics Association (BSGA). The school also achieved 3[rd] place at the BSGA Floor and Vault National Championships and were National finalists at the Under 13 Independent Schools Gymnastics Association (ISGA) placing 2[nd] overall.
In Lacrosse we played 182 fixtures across 16 teams including a showcase event held at StoneX in collaboration with rugby that was the first of its kind. The 1[st] X team were South and South East Schools Tournament winners and achieved 3[rd] place in the Challenge Cup. Teams also entered the National Schools Tournament and the 2[nd] X, Under 15A, 15B, 14B, 14C, 13B, 12A were all Hertfordshire County Champions.
The 2022-2023 netball season was a roaring success: winning 3 national titles and playing a record 245 fixtures across 31 teams. We continued to develop the depth in each age group, and it was amazing to see the continuous development of our pupils in Years 3 to 13. Winning 3 national titles was an outstanding achievement with the Under 19 age group winning 2 national titles.
In rugby the Senior School played 107 fixtures resulting in 60 wins, 2 draws, 45 losses. 328 Senior School students represented the school in rugby and the Under 14A team were again unbeaten County Champions. The school hosted the Herts Under 12 Tens Tournament with 14 schools in attendance and also attended the Caldicott Under 13 10’s tournament for the first time in the school’s history.
Our Under 13 Rugby 7s team went unbeaten at the Herts Under 13 Tournament and also at the St John’s Beaumont Tournament. Four teams participated at Rosslyn Park and the 1[st] Team reached the semi-final of the Cup competition.
Squash boomed this year with 37 fixtures against 16 schools. 36 students were ranked in the county and therefore playing competitive squash externally, with 30 of them aged under 14. A Berkhamsted pupil won the Under 15 county championships and our Under 14 team reached the national schools final. We also partnered with England Squash to film coaching resources for their curricular coaching pathways, bringing squash to new pupils in Prep and Senior schools.
Our Intermediate Girls and Junior Boys both achieved 1[st] place in the Herts Final Swimming Gala and the Junior Girls achieved 3[rd] place. In the Hertfordshire League the Intermediate Girls were 1[st] and the Junior Boys 3[rd] . The school also took part in the Wycombe league which allowed more swimmers to compete in a friendly but competitive event.
In Tennis the main aim this year was to improve the participation rates which was achieved with an increase of 29%. We had 16 Senior School division teams and 2 Senior 1st Teams playing along with 24 pairs entering the Nicola Mabbitt League competition. The Introduction of coaches from Berkhamsted Tennis Club on
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two early mornings for our Division 1 squad along with lunch time sessions increased the quality of our players and continued our 5-year plan of becoming a more competitive tennis-playing school.
Three of our students represented Hertfordshire at the Regional Cross Country Schools Championships. Three out of four of our cross country teams qualified for the regional finals and a large Berkhamsted cohort supported the Rotary Fun Run, a 5-mile event which saw one of our students achieve overall winner in the open category.
2022-2023 Music and Drama Achievements
In Music and Drama our students continued to excel; the hugely successful production of Little Shop of Horrors was performed by senior school pupils to a full theatre over three nights, showcasing the talents of our remarkable students. Sister Act (Junior) was performed by Year 7 in Trinity term to great acclaim.
The Music department held musical Gala evenings, and showcased their talents too, culminating in a hugely successful Music tour to France again in July this year with 140 pupils.
Community
Our value to ‘Serve Others’ often sees our students giving something back to the local community. This continued with the regular House charity support, the Year 13 volunteering and the Year 7 litter picking. We were delighted to be able to welcome back Senior Citizens to our tea party in the summer. Whilst enjoying the musical talents of students they tucked into sandwiches and cakes (made by the students) and entered the cake judging competition. The usual non-school uniform days took place during the year with money raised donated to worthy charities.
In July the annual Prize Giving Service was attended by 2,700 parents, staff, governors, pupils, and guests; our prizes being value based and awarded on contribution to the school rather than based on academic achievement. The Academic Attainment awards were presented in an end of year assembly at each Senior school.
PUBLIC BENEFIT
In considering the provision of Public Benefit, the Governors have given due consideration to the Charity Commission’s published guidance on the Public Benefit requirement under the Charities Act 2011.
Scholarships and Bursaries
The Governors are committed to broadening access to the school by offering means-tested bursaries to eligible parents/guardians. The gross value of scholarships and bursaries awarded totalled £1.568m (2022: £1.377m) of which £1.562m (2022: £1.289m) was met from unrestricted funds, where the policy is to assist in hardship cases where the pupil’s education and prospects would otherwise be at risk. Bursaries are available both to new pupils to the school where a scholarship place has been offered and parents/guardians cannot afford the tuition fees, and also existing pupils where an unexpected change in parents’/guardians’ circumstances has resulted in severe difficulty in meeting tuition fees and may otherwise result in a pupil being withdrawn part way through a stage of education.
The school has continued with its plans to raise the level of bursary funding through an increased programme of activity to reach out to talented pupils in the local community who would benefit from financial assistance towards fees. Bursary funding was £1.152m (2022: £1.014m) which supported 55 pupils, 28 of these receiving fully funded school places.
Scholarships are awarded on merit to pupils who Governors wish to attract to the school because of the contribution that they can make to school life, be that academic, musical, sporting, creative or leadership. Individual scholarship awards are usually worth 10% of tuition fees and means-tested bursaries
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are available to increase the support where needed. Financial assistance may also be provided, where appropriate, for uniform and sports kit, travel to and from School and for extra-curricular activities and lessons.
Partnerships with other schools and the community
The school seeks to share its expertise and perspectives with colleagues from state schools. This has involved exchanging teaching experience for newly qualified teachers and trainees and providing INSET advice for state school teachers and moderators. Our sports staff have organised tournaments for local and other state schools and the regular annual Oxbridge Information Evening is open to local state schools.
Our pupils take part in many activities in the community including visiting the local Hospice, helping in charity shops, visiting the elderly, hosting an Easter tea party, as well as assisting in local primary schools. Year 13 students also join The Student Consultancy which is run in conjunction with the Careers Service at the University of Oxford, a programme which is now being rolled out to schools around the country after its introduction here through which free management consultancy is offered to charities and local government.
The school’s Knox-Johnston Sports Centre is open to the public and priority is given to local children’s groups and clubs.
The school is a co-sponsor with the London Diocese for Schools of Wren Academies Trust, based in Finchley and Enfield, providing two Directors for the Board, and two governors for each of the local governing bodies. The school continues to offer extensive help and advice to both the senior team and to Heads of Department at the Academy. Pupils from Wren Academy Trust continue to enjoy visits to utilise the school’s extensive facilities on site, as well as some of our education programmes. The relationship with Wren is of mutual benefit for both parties. For example, Wren’s experience of being a Building Learning Power school pre-dates ours.
We have also developed a similar partnership with Denbigh High School in Luton, sharing access to facilities and expertise. Denbigh High School does not have its own Sixth Form, and in September 2018 we admitted an initial intake of six aspirational pupils from this school to benefit from a Berkhamsted Sixth Form education, funded completely from School bursary funds and targeted donations. A further three pupils from Denbigh High School have joined our Sixth Form in September 2023 making a total of 38 since 2018. We have also established additional similar collaborations and partnerships, particularly across the wider Chiltern learning Trust.
Our Chief People Officer is Vice Chair of Governors at Ashlyns, a local secondary state school.
During 2021 and 2022 the School donated thousands of pounds worth of classroom furniture, books, dining room fixtures, sports equipment and an industrial cooker to schools in Gambia through “Gambia Building Project”, a charity dedicated to improving the lives and education of children in The Gambia by supporting and building schools. Further donations of digital devices have been made to the Mission Employable charity whilst many of our facilities have been utilised free of charge for local community and charity benefit.
During Easter and Summer holidays for the last 4 years the School has provided a free of charge Summer School for Hertfordshire County Council Looked After Children.
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FINANCIAL REVIEW
Results for the Year
The Consolidated Statement of Financial Activities on Page 31 shows net incoming resources before transfers for the year of £2.026m (2022: £1.940m).
Income
School fee income was £37.332m in the year (2022: £35.733), representing an increase of 4.5% which reflects the prevailing level of fee increase supplemented by higher pupils numbers. Ancillary income was also higher at £2.489m (2022: £2.121m) primarily due to higher revenue from school trips and extracurricular drama and music lessons.
Expenditure
A large proportion of the School’s expenditure item is on staff costs and these rose in the year ended 31 July 2022 to £24.577m (2022: £23.171m), a increase of 6.1%. This was due primarily to the annual pay award to staff which was higher than in previous years in light of high inflationary pressures in the economy driving increases in the cost of living.
Cash
The School’s net cash position reduced during the year ended 31 July 2023. At the year-end the school had cash balances of £13.358m and borrowings of £8.799m, a net cash position of £4.599m (2022: £6.727m).
Subsidiary company performance
The School has two wholly owned trading subsidiaries. Berkhamsted School Enterprises Limited runs the various commercial activities of Berkhamsted School, and following the resumption of many activities operated pre-pandemic, recorded a profit of £81k (2022: loss of £36k). Berkhamsted Day Nursery Limited provides day-care to babies and children under 3 years old and out of school hours care for Prep and PrePrep pupils. The Nursery company generated a profit before tax and gift aid of £179k (2022: £164k).
Contribution to UK authorities
The School’s direct contribution during the year to the UK Exchequer amounted to £8.7m (2022: £8.3m) of tax revenues, based on the school’s payments of employer national insurance contributions (NICs), business rates and council tax, Vehicle Excise Duty, taxes on business supplies purchased (such as VAT), plus payments by our school’s staff of income tax and NICs.
It is also worth noting that all parents in our school, as with all other private schools, contribute to State school funding via taxes whilst also saving the government from having to fund their children’s education in the State system. Based on State funding fees, as per the government’s published National Funding Formula, the estimated saving to the public purse is £10.4m per annum.
Going concern assumption
The Governors closely monitor the current and future expected financial performance of the school, taking into consideration budgets, forecasts and the longer-term strategic business plan. In 2023, these budgets, cashflows and forecasts have been remodelled to reflect plausible downside scenarios specifically relating to increasing energy costs and increases in interest rates. Conservative cash flows were prepared based on the revised forecasts with sensitivity analysis on the key assumptions such as the impact of a drop in pupil numbers. This scenario planning confirmed the cash reserves of the School are adequate to meet the
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charity’s obligations as they fall due and the same modelling continues to be valid to demonstrate the School is financially secure and able to operate effectively for the foreseeable future.
The School reported a strong cash position at the year-end together with healthy pupil numbers for 2023/24 offering the Governors a confident expectation that the charity has adequate resources to continue its activities for the foreseeable future, being at least 12 months from the date of approval of the financial statements with there being no material uncertainties over the school’s financial viability.
Accordingly, Governors continue to adopt the going concern basis in preparing the financial statements as outlined in the Statement of Governors’ Responsibilities on page 27.
Fundraising Performance
The school continues to progress a number of initiatives to increase awareness amongst the school’s constituent communities to provide additional resources. £105k (2022: £182k) was raised during the year, with monies allocated to Bursary and Scholarship Funds. The Governors would like to thank all donors for their generosity and support for the school in this regard.
The majority of the school’s income is from school fees and other associated income. The school has not engaged with third parties to raise funds and any direct approach to members of the public for funding has been limited to parents of pupils and alumni. No complaints were received in relation to our fundraising activities.
Investment policy, objectives and performance
The Governing Body aims to maximise the overall return on the portfolio consistent with a degree of risk acceptable to it. Funds are invested with Brewin Dolphin in a broad range of global equities, bonds and other forms of investment.
The overall investment objective for total return for funds invested with Brewin Dolphin can be quantified as inflation plus 3% per annum. The Charity’s investment performance of its managed investment funding is monitored as a standing item by the Finance & Property Committee. During the year, the value of investments held in the School’s main investment account with Brewin Dolphin fell from £1.866m in 2022 to £1.810m in 2023, a 3.0% decrease. The school also has a second investment account for the management of the monies raised for its Anniversary Fund. The value of this investment account increased from £1.411m to £1.491m. This increase was due to £71k of additional funds and £40k of reinvested dividends which was partly offset by a fall in the value of the existing investments. On an annual basis Governors assess performance in the light of prevailing market conditions. Whilst it is disappointing that the investment performance has not met the objectives set, the volatility across the market place over the last twelve months has driven the under performance and Governors will continue to assess the fund management effectiveness.
Reserves level and policy
The school’s reserves policy is to maintain sufficient unrestricted income reserves to enable it to meet its short-term financial obligations in the event of an unexpected revenue shortfall.
The school’s total reserves of £47.407m at the year-end included £7.838m of endowment funds, £0.223m of unspent restricted funds and unrestricted funds of £39.346m. The school has no free reserves at the balance sheet date due to the investment of funds in tangible fixed assets, largely buildings for use within the school. However, the Governors regularly examine the school’s cash flows alongside the development plans for the future and are satisfied that they are adequate for the purpose of meeting its working capital requirements and that they will also cover strategic capital expenditure.
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Notes 13 and 14 to the financial statements set out an analysis of the school’s endowment, restricted and unrestricted funds and their attributable assets. These assets are sufficient to meet the charity’s obligations on a fund by fund basis.
It is the school’s policy to build up funds to meet planned improvements and additions to the School’s resources by means of annual operating surpluses and judicious management of investment assets.
Total investment return
During the year ended 31 July 2016 the Governors, in their role as Trustees, exercised the power granted under section 104A of the Charities Act 2011 to adopt a total return approach to investment of the School’s permanent endowment. A permanent endowment of £1,144k was originally given to the school in 2003 and an initial valuation of the Unapplied Total Return (UTR) of £687k was approved by the Governors on 14 June 2016.
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In years when the permanent endowment generates sufficient UTR an amount equivalent to the brought forward value of the permanent endowment multiplied by the annual increase in the Consumer Price Index (CPI) should be allocated to capital to maintain the value of the fund for future beneficiaries.
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Where there is insufficient UTR generated each year to make the allocation to capital indicated above the school must retain £100,000 of UTR to act as a buffer against years when the UTR is flat or reduced.
PRINCIPAL RISKS AND UNCERTAINTIES
The current cost of living and energy crises together with the Russia Ukrainian war, following on from the continuing impacts caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, represent significant risks for the School both in terms of its own cost base, its supply chain sustainability and the potential impact on affordability of fees by parents across the independent sector due to interruption in employment and wealth. Further significant affordability challenges also potentially lie ahead with a likely change in political leadership in the UK. Demand for places at the School remain high and Governors are keen to ensure all that can be done is done to maintain that interest. The School’s cost base was already under significant pressure from managing the COVID-19 pandemic and Brexit impacts on supply chains, so the latest challenges emphasise even more sharply how important robust cost management is to the School to enable Governors to continue to ensure fee increases are maintained over the medium to long term to an average well below that of the Independent School sector and general inflation.
Linked to the effects of all the challenges referenced above, Governors are also very conscious of the potential risk to the morale and general wellbeing of staff and pupils and this is an area reviewed with Management on a regular basis.
Cyber risk and general data security remains in sharp focus, with schools continually being targets for cyber attacks. With the support of our Governors the School has invested in tools and user training to protect against attack.
The rising costs of the Teachers’ Pension Scheme arrangements remain a significant risk within the sector and any risk mitigation needs to balance the exposure to further cost rises with the need to retain and recruit outstanding staff.
The Governors have agreed an estates development masterplan aimed at ensuring the School can deliver the best and most appropriate facilities to help our pupils develop to the best of their potential and to prepare them for the world beyond school. Such ambitious building development plans also carry associated
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risks, particularly in relation to planning issues, that are managed with the appointment of relevant expertise and close Senior Management and Governor supervision.
Health and Safety is considered to play a significant part in risk management. The risks range from fire and infrastructure to personal risks (most notably when away from the campus on trips and expeditions). Risk is mitigated via risk assessment and the enforcement of Health and Safety Policy which is monitored and reviewed by the School’s Health and Safety Committee. This body reports to the Risk and Regulatory Committee. The School also employs a Health and Safety Officer to ensure that the Health and Safety Policy is consistently applied.
Governors are responsible for the management of the risks faced by the School. Detailed consideration of risk has been formally delegated by Governors to the Risk and Regulatory Committee, assisted by the Principal, Chief Operating Officer, and members of the School’s Senior Management Team.
Through the above risk management processes, the Governors are satisfied that major risks are identified and, as far as practicable, adequately mitigated. It is recognised that systems can only provide reasonable, but not absolute, assurance that major risks have been adequately managed. Other key risks are considered to be those which would materially impact the brand and reputation of the Group. Examples of these, which should they occur would likely generate significant media interest, include:
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A major business interruption causing partial or total closure of the School for some time.
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A major accident involving death or serious injury, possibly as a result of contributory negligence.
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A major scandal involving child protection issues.
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A failed regulatory inspection.
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A breach of statutory requirements (such as data protection or the Charity Act).
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Climate action failure.
Key controls used by the Governors to identify, assess and mitigate risks during the year include:
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Formal programme of risk assessments and steps taken to mitigate those risks reported to Governors’ meetings.
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Twice yearly detailed review of the whole school risk register.
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Reputational risks consideration as a standing agenda item for discussion at every Risk & Regulatory Committee meeting.
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Comprehensive strategic planning, budgeting and management accounting.
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Established organisational structure and lines of reporting.
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Formal written policies, including clear authorisation and approval levels.
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Vetting procedures as required by law for the protection of the vulnerable.
The Governors regularly review the effectiveness of current plans and strategies for managing all identified major risks across the Group, including “what-if” scenario planning to address the financial risks.
SECTION 172 STATEMENT
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Berkhamsted School’s Group is governed by its charitable objects as set out on page 8 which outline the purpose of the charity. All decisions and activities of the charity take into account how we best deliver that long-term purpose and are driven by our strategic aims (see page 10). All decisions we make as a charity, from our operational teams through to the Board of Governors, are made in the best interests of our beneficiaries, (pupils), and in the knowledge we are accountable to them, their parents, regulators and our staff.
The Board of Governors consider that they have adhered to the requirements of Section 172 of the Companies Act 2006 (the "Act") and have, in good faith, acted in a way that they consider would be most likely to promote the success of the school for the benefit of its key stakeholders and, in doing so, have had regard to and recognised the importance of considering all stakeholders and other matters (as set out in s.172(1)(a-f) of the Act) in its decision-making. Our Board of Governors consists of a broad mix of
backgrounds including former and existing parents of the school, educational experts plus well-established commercial successes in areas such as law, property, finance and risk management. Many of our Governors are also local community members.
The Board has approved a number of policies that help to ensure the safety of our pupils and staff, such as Child Protection and Safeguarding, Counselling and Coaching, Health & Safety, Missing Persons, Child-onChild Abuse, Critical Incident Plan, as well as those that ensure the integrity of our business conduct, such as Anti-bribery and Corruption, Bursary, Complaints, Whistleblowing, Anti-modern slavery. The school’s Anti-modern slavery statement can be seen on the school’s website at the following location. https://www.berkhamsted.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/Anti-Modern-Slavery-Statement-2023.pdf
As part of the Governor induction process, governors are briefed on their duties and responsibilities under the Companies Act. The governors are entitled to request from the school all such information they may reasonably require in order to be able to perform their duties. On-going training is provided to the governors, as required, to ensure that their knowledge remains up to date and they continue to be able to discharge their duties as company directors.
For all decision making at Board level, discussion takes place around employee impact and impact on other stakeholders, such as pupils, parents and the local community. The relevance of each stakeholder group may vary by reference to the issue in question, so the Board seeks to understand the needs of each stakeholder group and any potential conflicts as part of its decision-making. The school’s Executive team and Senior Management team ensure the Board are fully focused on the impacts to each stakeholder group.
Our Governors attend “Governor Engagement Days” during the school year which affords them the opportunity to engage directly with pupils and staff so they can gain a greater insight into the School’s operations and also challenge staff and be challenged by them.
Key decisions
For the year ending 31 July 2023, the Governors consider that the following are examples of key decisions that they made in the year. This is not intended to be an exhaustive list of board decisions but instead highlights areas of significant impact:
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Restructuring of Estates Department including combining the responsibilities of estates development and facilities management
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Approval of estates masterplan funding loan facilities
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Approval to proceed with Prep landscaping strategic project
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Approval of Pre-Prep Year 1 classroom expansion strategic project
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Commissioning of a third survey relating to Equality, Diversity and Inclusion aimed at fostering antiracist cultures
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Entering into new utilities contracts for renewable energies (gas from October 2022 and electricity from October 2023)
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Appointment of a new Head of the Prep School, working across both Pre-Prep and Prep
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During an estates masterplan development phase, agreement to re-launch a Fees in Advance scheme within the 2023/24 academic year
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Appointment of a new Chair from September 2023
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Appointment of a two new Governors during the year and a third from 1 September 2023
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Continuation of an extensive wind and watertight inspection and maintenance programme across the School campus
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Replacement of de-commissioned Astroturf surface at Castle site on Mill Street
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Agreement to complete a feasibility study into alternative energy sources (solar panels) across the School sites
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Sanctioned a timetable reform for senior schools for 2024/25
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Reviewed best practice/most efficient governance and entity structure with decision to make no immediate changes
Stakeholder engagement
The table below sets out our approach to stakeholder engagement during 2022/2023:
| Stakeholders | Why are they important to Berkhamsted School? |
Our approach to stakeholder engagement and consideration in the Board’s decision making |
|---|---|---|
| Parents | Parents are the school’s customers and also joint stakeholders in the development of the pupils. Their involvement in the school in both these capacities is fundamental to the success of the school and we aim to form a key alliance with Parents through strong and varied communication. |
We aim to involve parents as much as possible in the running of the school through open days, parents’ evenings and other events that showcase the School’s strength in music, drama and sport. In addition the Governing body is always cognisant of the importance of fee levels in attracting and retaining the pupil base and places great importance in the efficient running of the school and the tight control of fee increases. During the year we introduced year group parent dinners. |
| Pupils | Our values of “Aim high with integrity, Be adventurous and Serve others” are shared across the Berkhamsted family of schools. Children from |
The senior school takes a strong pastoral approach to the development of pupils by maintaining a “house” structure which exists alongside the academic timetable. |
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| Nursery through to Sixth and staff too are encouraged to embrace these ideals in everyday life. Our pupils are the very reason the school exists and their development is at the heart of all we do. |
The purpose of assigning all pupils to a house with dedicated house tutors is to ensure that each individual pupil has a sense of belonging and ready access to approachable members of staff who will look to ensure that there is a strong focus on their wellbeing. A revised pastoral structure for Sixth Form has been developed for implementation from 1 September 2023. An in-house psychologist has been appointed to add expertise to thepastoral support available. |
|
|---|---|---|
| Employees | Our employees’ commitment to developing outstanding and rounded individuals is essential for us to earn the trust of both existing and prospective parents so that they have the confidence that Berkhamsted School is the best place for the education of their children. |
We have a Staff Consultation Committee that meets regularly and raises matters to the Executive for discussion and decision and have a voluntary arrangement in place with the NASUWT (the NASUWT works to enhance the status of the teaching profession to deliver real improvements to teachers’ working lives, seeking to ensure they are recognised and rewarded as highly skilled professionals with working conditions that enable them to focus on their core role of teaching). We have regular all staff meetings as well as a weekly briefing to cascade important information to all levels of the workforce. Berkhamsted School is committed to promoting the health and wellbeingof our workforce. |
| Suppliers | We rely on a range of suppliers to deliver services to ensure the school can operate efficiently and effectively for the benefit of our pupils and workforce. It is vital that we build strong working relationships with our intermediaries, including around risk management and customer service. |
The school works closely with a wide range of key suppliers with the aim of ensuring that the school’s requirements in terms of service levels and price are clearly understood and delivered upon. At the same time the school works ethically with suppliers settling invoices within payment terms and raising queries promptly. The school has well-developed internal processes to ensure that suppliers’ invoices receive appropriate levels of authorisation forpayment. |
| Community/wider society |
We recognise the importance of contributing to our communities through volunteering, community investment, and long-term partnerships. In addition, as a significant employer in the area and a large landowner we are fully aware of our responsibilities with regard to the importance of sustainability and the impact our decisions may have on climate change. |
We make our facilities available free of charge to a number of local community groups whether that be schools, sports clubs or disadvantaged individuals. In addition, we provide employment opportunities for a local learning disability employment charity. For significant development activities, such as the planning application for a new Sixth Form building, we hold public consultations to discuss details of our plans with all interested parties and to seek their feedback and concerns. In July 2023 we published our first “Community Impact Report” for keystakeholders. |
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| Regulators | We understand that regulators are key in maintaining the credibility of both the school and the sector that we operate in. The school strives to be fully compliant in all areas in which we face external regulatory review and ensures that any regulatory changes are understood and acted upon quickly. |
The Senior Management of the School are fully involved in all areas where the School is subject to regulatory control. School Governor Committees will be kept informed of all regulatory review outcomes and recommendations and governors will then ensure that Senior Management acts upon recommendations to resolve any areas of structural or process weakness. We seek (and follow) guidance from relevant parties such as ISBA, IPA, ISC and BSA. |
|---|---|---|
| Donors | Donations to the school‘s charitable entity provide opportunities to increase the public benefit from the delivery of the school’s main charitable aim of promoting the education of its pupils. |
All donations are gratefully received and acknowledged by the school. Donors are made aware by the school website and other forms of communication of how their donations are being used to provide educational opportunities. |
| Alumni | The School recognises the importance of its alumni in that they are the representation of the delivery of the School’s talent and expertise in teaching and pastoral care. The School also regards its alumni as a strong link to the outside world which can provide further benefit to currentpupils. |
The School maintains contact with its alumni through its links with the Old Berkhamstedians organisation and also through the Berkhamsted Society which has been set up by the School to encourage stronger relationships between the town of Berkhamsted, the School and its alumni. |
Sustainability Report
Berkhamsted School is committed to incorporating sustainability into all of its teaching and operations. This is reflected in these activities amongst others:
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The establishment of a Sustainability Committee to provide leadership, co-ordination and guidance on how to integrate sustainability principles and practices into all of the School’s activities and operations.
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The provision from 2022 onwards of an Annual Sustainability Report, highlighting the School’s Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) strategy, goals, and activities.
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Participation in the Government’s Streamlined Energy and Carbon Reporting (SECR) framework, on an annual basis - calculating the School’s Scope 1 and 2 emissions, and comparing them on an absolute and intensity basis.
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Ensuring that the School’s performance targets align with UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), in those fields where the school has, or could have, the greatest impact.
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Putting initiatives and strategies in place, over the next few years, to reduce the School’s overall carbon emissions. As well as continuing to reduce energy consumption, and transport-related emissions, the School will also seek to gain a greater understanding of the Scope 3 emissions generated in its supply chain.
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The provision of a home-to-school coach service transporting up to 580 pupils every day, with each coach journey on average saving 31 parent car trips and 3.47 g/km of CO2. The School has also negotiated discounts with train and bus providers, and is developing software to facilitate carsharing by pupils and their parents, and by staff.
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The recent addition of three fully electric zero emission vans to the School’s vehicle fleet, and introduction of an electric bike scheme for staff travelling between School sites. Looking ahead, there are plans to develop electric vehicle charging, to be accessible to staff, pupils and visitors, by 2030.
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The adoption of a zero waste-to-landfill policy, supported by a partnership with Grundon Waste Management Ltd. This ensures that most waste is recycled, and that the remainder is incinerated in a way that generates electricity and provides heat to local homes.
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A partnership with the Wildlife Trust in 2022, to research the best ways to promote and increase biodiversity and flora on the School grounds.
The School acknowledges the wider impacts of our activities and operations on the natural environment and our surrounding communities, and that our decisions and initiatives can make a difference for the better. Berkhamsted Schools Group support the UN’s Sustainability Development Goals (SDGs) and we therefore made sure that in setting our KPIs and goals that some of these aligned with the UN SDGs. We did this by identifying and focusing on the ones where we believe Berkhamsted can have the greatest impact. The targets we are focusing on are:
SUSTAINABLEDEVELOPMENTGALSaM as|.
STATEMENT ON STREAMLINED ENERGY AND CARBON REPORTING (SECR)
GHG emissions and energy used between 1 August 2022 and 31 July 2023
| UK and Offshore | UK and Offshore | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| Measure | Units | 2022/23 | 2021/22 |
| Energy consumption used to calculate emissions |
Total Energy (kWh) |
8,778,000 | 9,567,000 |
| Emissions from the combustion of gas | Scope 1 (tonnes CO2e) |
1,165 | 1,305 |
| Emissions from the combustion of fuel for transport |
Scope 1 (tonnes CO2e) |
25 | 30 |
| Emissions from purchased electricity (location based) |
Scope 2 (tonnes CO2e) |
443 | 492 |
| Emissions from the combustion of fuel for transport |
Scope 3 (tonnes CO2e) |
0 | 0 |
| Total gross tonnes CO2e | Scope 1, 2 and 3 | 1,633 | 1,827 |
| Intensity ratio : Gross tonnes CO2e / number of students |
Intensity ratio | 0.758 | 0.880 |
Page 25
Berkhamsted Schools Group STRATEGIC REPORT
Methodology
The above data has been prepared in accordance with the provisions of the GHG Reporting Protocol – Corporate standard and HM Government’s Environmental Reporting Guidelines including streamlined energy and carbon reporting guidance, issued March 2019.
DEFRA conversion factors 2019 have been used to convert electricity and gas consumption in kWh to tonnes CO2e and to convert transport fuel consumption in mileage/litres to tonnes CO2e and then to kWh.
Action on energy efficiency undertaken during the reporting period
-
Significant investment has been made to our Building Management System during 2023, by upgrading the software and control systems. This will greatly reduce energy consumption to one of our senior school campuses by giving full automated operational control over heating and cooling to all areas.
-
Significant investment was made during 2023 for the replacement of three large roof structures across three school campuses, projects completed August 2023. This will greatly reduce heat loss with the installation of modern thermal materials withing the new roof structure.
-
The rolling programme of replacing all lighting to LED continued and is now 65% complete.
AUDITOR
Crowe U.K. LLP has indicated its willingness to be re-appointed as statutory auditor.
Insofar as each of the Governors of the school at the date of approval of this report is aware there is no relevant audit information (information needed by the school’s auditor in connection with preparing the audit report) of which the school’s auditor is unaware. Each Governor has taken all of the steps that he/she should have taken as a governor in order to make himself/herself aware of any relevant audit information and to establish that the school’s auditor is aware of that information.
Page 26
Berkhamsted Schools Group GOVERNORS’ RESPONSIBILITIES IN THE PREPARATION OF FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
The Governors are responsible for preparing the Governors’ Report, the Strategic Report and the financial statements in accordance with applicable law and regulations.
Charity law requires the Governors to prepare financial statements for each financial year in accordance with United Kingdom Generally Accepted Accounting Practice (United Kingdom Accounting Standards) and applicable law.
Under charity law the Governors must not approve the financial statements unless they are satisfied that they give a true and fair view of the state of affairs of the charity and of its net incoming resources for that period. In preparing these financial statements, the Governors are required to:
-
select suitable accounting policies and then apply them consistently;
-
make judgements and estimates that are reasonable and prudent;
-
state whether applicable accounting standards have been followed, subject to any material departures disclosed and explained in the financial statements;
-
prepare the financial statements on the going concern basis unless it is inappropriate to presume that the charity will continue to operate.
The Governors are responsible for keeping proper accounting records that are sufficient to show and explain the charity’s transactions and 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 1993. They are also responsible for safeguarding the assets of the charity and hence for taking reasonable steps for the prevention and detection of fraud and other irregularities.
APPROVAL
This Annual Report, including the Statement of Governors’ Responsibilities, prepared under the Charities Act 2011 and the Companies Act 2006, was approved by the Board of Governors on 2 December 2023, including in their capacity as company directors approving the Strategic Report contained therein, and is signed as authorised on its behalf by:
C. COPLAND Chair of Governors
Page 27
Berkhamsted Schools Group INDEPENDENT AUDITOR’S REPORT
Independent Auditor’s Report to the Members of Berkhamsted Schools Group
Opinion
We have audited the financial statements of Berkhamsted Schools Group and its subsidiaries (‘the group’) for the year ended 31 July 2023 which comprise the Consolidated Statement of Financial Activities, Consolidated and Charity Balance Sheets, Consolidated Statement of Cash Flow 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:
-
give a true and fair view of the state of the group’s and the charitable company’s affairs as at 31 July 2023 and of the group’s income and expenditure, for the year then ended;
-
have been properly prepared in accordance with United Kingdom Generally Accepted Accounting Practice; and
-
have been prepared in accordance with the requirements of the Companies Act 2006.
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 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 trustee's 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 charitable company's or the group’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 contained within the annual report. 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 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 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.
Page 28
Berkhamsted Schools Group INDEPENDENT AUDITOR’S REPORT
Opinions on other matters prescribed by the Companies Act 2006
In our opinion based on the work undertaken in the course of our audit
-
the information given in the trustees’ report, which includes the directors’ report and the strategic report prepared for the purposes of company law, for the financial year for which the financial statements are prepared is consistent with the financial statements; and
-
the strategic report and the directors’ report included within the trustees’ report have been prepared in accordance with applicable legal requirements.
Matters on which we are required to report by exception
In light of the knowledge and understanding of the group and charitable company and their environment obtained in the course of the audit, we have not identified material misstatements in the strategic report or the directors’ report included within the trustees’ report.
We have nothing to report in respect of the following matters in relation to which the Companies Act 2006 requires us to report to you if, in our opinion:
-
adequate and proper accounting records have not been kept; or
-
the financial statements are not in agreement with the accounting records and returns; or
-
certain disclosures of trustees' remuneration specified by law are not made; or
-
we have not received all the information and explanations we require for our audit
Responsibilities of trustees
As explained more fully in the governor’s responsibilities statement set out on page 26, the governors (who are also the directors of the charitable company for the purposes of company law) 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 charitable company’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 charitable company or to cease operations, or have no realistic alternative but to do so.
Auditor’s responsibilities for the audit of the financial statements
Our objectives are to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the 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.
Details of the extent to which the audit was considered capable of detecting irregularities, including fraud and non-compliance with laws and regulations are set out below.
A further description of our responsibilities for the audit of the financial statements is located on the Financial Reporting Council’s website at: www.frc.org.uk/auditorsresponsibilities. This description forms part of our auditor’s report.
Extent to which the audit was considered capable of detecting irregularities, including fraud
Irregularities, including fraud, are instances of non-compliance with laws and regulations. We identified and assessed the risks of material misstatement of the financial statements from irregularities, whether due to fraud or error, and discussed these between our audit team members. We then designed and performed audit procedures responsive to those risks, including obtaining audit evidence sufficient and appropriate to provide a basis for our opinion.
Page 29
Berkhamsted Schools Group INDEPENDENT AUDITOR’S REPORT
We obtained an understanding of the legal and regulatory frameworks within which the charitable company and group operates, focusing on those laws and regulations that have a direct effect on the determination of material amounts and disclosures in the financial statements. The laws and regulations we considered in this context were the Companies Act 2006, taxation legislation, together with the Charities SORP (FRS 102). We assessed the required compliance with these laws and regulations as part of our audit procedures on the related financial statement items.
In addition, we considered provisions of other laws and regulations that do not have a direct effect on the financial statements but compliance with which might be fundamental to the charitable company’s and the group’s ability to operate or to avoid a material penalty. We also considered the opportunities and incentives that may exist within the charitable company and the group for fraud. The laws and regulations we considered in this context for the UK operations were The Education (Independent School Standards) Regulations 2014, Data Protection Regulation (GDPR), health and safety regulations, and employment legislation.
Auditing standards limit the required audit procedures to identify non-compliance with these laws and regulations to enquiry of the Trustees and other management and inspection of regulatory and legal correspondence, if any.
We identified the greatest risk of material impact on the financial statements from irregularities, including fraud, to be within non-fee income and the override of controls by management. Our audit procedures to respond to these risks included enquiries of management and those charged with governance about their own identification and assessment of the risks of irregularities, sample testing on the posting of journals, substantive testing on non-fee income, reviewing accounting estimates for biases, reviewing regulatory correspondence with the Charity Commission, Independent Schools Inspectorate, Ofsted and reading minutes of meetings of those charged with governance.
Owing to the inherent limitations of an audit, there is an unavoidable risk that we may not have detected some material misstatements in the financial statements, even though we have properly planned and performed our audit in accordance with auditing standards. For example, the further removed noncompliance with laws and regulations (irregularities) is from the events and transactions reflected in the financial statements, the less likely the inherently limited procedures required by auditing standards would identify it. In addition, as with any audit, there remained a higher risk of non-detection of irregularities, as these may involve collusion, forgery, intentional omissions, misrepresentations, or the override of internal controls. We are not responsible for preventing non-compliance and cannot be expected to detect noncompliance with all laws and regulations.
Use of our report
This report is made solely to the charitable company’s members, as a body, in accordance with Chapter 3 of Part 16 of the Companies Act 2006. Our audit work has been undertaken so that we might state to the charitable company’s members 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 charitable company and the charitable company’s members as a body, for our audit work, for this report, or for the opinions we have formed.
Dipesh Chhatralia Senior Statutory Auditor For and on behalf of Crowe U.K. LLP Statutory Auditor
London
Date 31 January 2024
Page 30
Berkhamsted Schools Group CONSOLIDATED STATEMENT OF FINANCIAL ACTIVITIES (Incorporating an Income and Expenditure Account)
| Note Income and endowments from Charitable activities School fees receivable 1 Ancillary trading income 2 Other trading activities Non-ancillary trading income 3 Investments Investment income Bank and other interest Voluntary sources Grants and donations Total Incoming Resources Expenditure on: Raising funds Non-ancillary trading 4 Fundraising and Development 4 Total deductible costs Charitable activities Education and grant making 4 Total expenditure 4 Net income/(expenditure) before transfers and investment gains/(losses) Losses on investments 8 Net income/(expenditure) after gains(losses) on investments Transfer between funds 14 Net movement in funds Fund balances at 1 August 2022 Fund balances at 31 July 2023 |
Unrestricted Funds Restricted Funds Endowment and Building Funds Year Ended July 2023 Year Ended July 2022 General £’000 Designated £’000 £’000 £’000 Total £’000 Total £’000 37,332 37,332 35,733 2,489 2,489 2,121 1,397 1,397 1,123 52 40 92 82 371 371 4 - 6 33 66 105 182 |
|---|---|
| 41,641 46 33 6641,786 39,245 |
|
| 1,123 1,123 980 22 22 21 |
|
| 1,145 1,145 1,001 |
|
| 37,820 717 9 6938,615 36,304 |
|
| 38,965 717 9 6939,760 37,305 |
|
| 2,676 (671) 24 (3) 2,026 1,940 - (22) - (48) (70) (164) |
|
| 2,676 (693) 24 (51) 1,956 1,776 (2,676) 2,676 - - - - |
|
| - 1,983 24 (51) 1,956 1,776 - 37,363 199 7,88945,451 43,675 |
|
| - 39,346 223 7,83847,407 45,451 |
Page 31
Berkhamsted Schools Group CONSOLIDATED CASH FLOW STATEMENT for the year ended 31 July 2023
| Group | Group | School | School | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Notes | Notes | 2023 | 2022 | 2023 | 2022 |
| £’000 | £’000 | £’000 | £’000 | ||
| Fixed assets | |||||
| Land and buildings | 6 | 45,773 | 42,955 | 45,773 | 42,955 |
| Other tangible assets | 6 | 1,433 | 1,110 | 1,433 | 1,110 |
| Intangible fixed assets | 7 | - | - | - | - |
| Investments | 8 | 3,301 | 3,279 | 3,301 | 3,279 |
| 50,507 | 47,344 | 50,507 | 47,344 | ||
| Current assets | |||||
| Stock | 9 | 65 | 29 | 65 | 29 |
| Debtors | 10 | 1,105 | 904 | 1,070 | 890 |
| Cash at bank and in hand | 13,358 | 6,727 | 13,240 | 6,642 | |
| 14,528 | 7,660 | 14,375 | 7,561 | ||
| Creditors: Amounts falling due within one | 11 | (7,995) | (8,026) | (7,842) | (7,890) |
| year | |||||
| Net current assets / (liabilities) | 6,533 | (366) | 6,533 | (329) | |
| Total assets less current liabilities | 57,040 | 46,978 | 57,040 | 47,015 | |
| Creditors: Amounts falling due after one year | 12 | (9,633) | (1,527) | (9,633) | (1,527) |
| Net assets | 47,407 | 45,451 | 47,407 | 45,488 | |
| Endowment and building funds | 14a | 7,838 | 7,888 | 7,838 | 7,888 |
| Restricted funds | 14b | 223 | 200 | 223 | 200 |
| Unrestricted funds | |||||
| Designated funds | 14c | 39,346 | 37,363 | 39,346 | 37,400 |
| Total funds | 47,407 | 45,451 | 47,407 | 45,488 |
Company number : 622349
The net incoming resources for the financial year dealt with in the financial statements of the parent Charity were £2.026m (2022 : £1.940m).
The financial statements were approved and authorised for issue by the Board of Governors on 2 December 2023 and are signed on their behalf by;
C. COPLAND (Chair)
- N. TWOGOOD
Page 32
Berkhamsted Schools Group CONSOLIDATED CASH FLOW STATEMENT for the year ended 31 July 2023
| Note | 2023 | 2022 | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| £’000 | £’000 | £’000 | £’000 | ||
| Net cash inflow from operations | |||||
| Net cash provided by operating activities | (i) | 2,052 | 6,174 | ||
| Cash flows from investing activities | |||||
| Payments for tangible fixed assets | (4,322) | (5,267) | |||
| Decrease in cash held within Investment portfolio | (70) | (294) | |||
| Investment income | 92 | 54 | |||
| Bank interest received | 371 | - | |||
| Net investment management charges settled from the | - | (7) | |||
| investment portfolio | |||||
| Net cash used in investing activities | (3,929) | (5,514) | |||
| Cash flows from financing activities | |||||
| Bank loan drawdowns | 9,000 | - | |||
| Bank loan repayments | (492) | - | |||
| Net cash provided by financing activities | 8,508 | - | |||
| Change in cash and cash equivalents in the | 6,631 | 660 | |||
| reporting period | |||||
| Cash and cash equivalents at the beginning of the period | 6,727 | 6,067 | |||
| Cash and cash equivalents at the end of the period | (ii) | 13,358 | 6,727 | ||
| (i) Reconciliation of net income to net cash flow |
from operating | ||||
| activities | |||||
| 2023 | 2022 | ||||
| £’000 | £’000 | £’000 | £’000 | ||
| Net incoming resources | 2,026 | 1,940 | |||
| Elimination of non-operating cash flows: | |||||
| - Investment income |
(92) | (58) | |||
| - Bank interest received |
(371) | - | |||
| - Loan interest charges |
291 | - | |||
| - Finance costs |
22 | 20 | |||
| Depreciation charge | 1,181 | 1,114 | |||
| Amortisation charge | - | 6 | |||
| Prior year donation applied as bursary funding | (6) | - | |||
| Profit on disposal of a fixed asset | (39) | (16) | |||
| Increase in stock | (36) | (23) | |||
| (Increase) / Decrease in debtors | (201) | 19 | |||
| (Decrease) / Increase in creditors (excluding fees in | (419) | 1,425 | |||
| advance scheme and deposits) | |||||
| (Decrease) / Increase in fees in advance scheme | (999) | 1,489 | |||
| creditors | |||||
| Increase in parents’ deposits | 695 | 258 | |||
| 26 | 4,234 | ||||
| Net cash inflow from operations | 2,052 | 6,174 |
Page 33
Berkhamsted Schools Group CONSOLIDATED CASH FLOW STATEMENT for the year ended 31 July 2023
| (ii) Analysis of cash and cash equivalents Cash at bank (iii) Analysis of changes in net debt activities Cash and cash equivalents Borrowings: Debts due within one year Debts due after one year Total net debt |
2023 £’000 13,358 At 1 Aug Cash flows 2022 £’000 6,727 6,631 - (173) - (8,626) |
2022 £’000 6,727 |
|---|---|---|
| At 31 July 2023 13,358 (173) (8,626) 4,559 |
||
| 6,727 (2,168) |
BASIS OF PREPARATION
The financial statements have been prepared in accordance with the Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland (FRS102), the Companies Act 2006 and the Statement of Recommended Practice applicable to charities preparing their accounts in accordance with the Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland (FRS 102).
The accounts are drawn up on the historical cost basis of accounting, as modified by the revaluation of investment properties and other investments.
The charity has taken advantage of the exemption available to a qualifying entity in FRS 102 from the requirement to present a charity only Cash Flow Statement with the consolidated financial statements.
The individual entities of Berkhamsted Schools Group have taken advantage of the disclosure exemption under FRS 102 to separately disclose categories of financial instruments and items of income, expenses, gains or losses relating to instruments as these have been presented on a group basis in the notes to the accounts.
The accounts present the Consolidated Statement of Financial Activities (SOFA), the consolidated balance sheet and the consolidated cash flow statement, comprising the results of the School and its wholly owned subsidiaries Berkhamsted Day Nursery Limited, Berkhamsted School Enterprises Limited and Berkhamsted Schools International Limited made up to 31 July 2023 and consolidated on a line by line basis. Intra-group transactions and profits are eliminated fully on consolidation. Uniform accounting policies have been adopted across the Group.
No separate SOFA has been presented for the Charity alone, as permitted by Section 408 of the Companies Act 2006.
The School is a Public Benefit Entity registered as a charity in England and Wales and a company limited by guarantee. It was incorporated on 5 March 1959 (company number: 622349) and registered as a charity on 15 November 1962 (charity number: 310630). Its registered office is 6 Chesham Road, Berkhamsted, Hertfordshire, HP4 3AA.
Page 34
Berkhamsted Schools Group STATEMENT OF ACCOUNTING POLICIES for the year ended 31 July 2023
GOING CONCERN
The Governors closely monitor the current and future expected financial performance of the school, taking into consideration budgets, forecasts and the longer-term strategic business plan. In 2023, these budgets, cashflows and forecasts were remodelled to reflect plausible downside scenarios specifically relating to increasing energy costs and increases in interest rates. Conservative cash flows were prepared based on the revised forecasts with sensitivity analysis on the key assumptions such as the impact of a drop in pupil numbers. This scenario planning confirmed the cash reserves of the School are adequate to meet the charity’s obligations as they fall due and the same modelling continues to be valid to demonstrate the School is financially secure and able to operate effectively for the foreseeable future.
The School reported a strong cash position at the year-end together with healthy pupil numbers for 2023/24, offering the Governors a confident expectation that the charity has adequate resources to continue its activities for the foreseeable future, being at least 12 months from the date of approval of the financial statements, with there being no material uncertainties over the school’s financial viability. Accordingly, Governors continue to adopt the going concern basis in preparing the financial statements as outlined in the Statement of Governors’ Responsibilities on page 27.
CRITICAL ACCOUNTING JUDGEMENTS AND KEY SOURCES OF ESTIMATION UNCERTAINTY
In the application of the accounting policies, trustees and management are required to make judgement, estimates, and assumptions about the carrying value of assets and liabilities that are not readily apparent from other sources. The estimates and underlying assumptions are based on historical experience and other factors that are considered to be relevant. Actual results may differ from these estimates.
The items in the accounts where these judgements and estimates have been made include:
-
the useful life of tangible and intangible fixed assets;
-
the level of provision required for unpaid school fees;
-
the amount of expenditure that should be accrued for; and
-
the allocation of overheads and governance costs between charitable expenditure categories.
FEES AND SIMILAR EARNED INCOME
Fees receivable and charges for services and use of premises, less any allowances, scholarships, bursaries granted by the School against those fees, but including contributions received from restricted funds, are accounted for in the period in which the service is provided.
EXPENDITURE
Expenditure is accrued as soon as a liability is considered probable, discounted to present value for longerterm liabilities. Expenditure attributable to more than one cost category in the SoFA is apportioned to them on the basis of the estimated amount attributable to each activity in the year, either by reference to staff time or the use made of the underlying assets, as appropriate. Irrecoverable VAT is included with the item of expenditure to which it relates.
Governance costs comprise the costs of complying with constitutional and statutory requirements. Intragroup sales and charges between the School and its subsidiaries are excluded from trading income and expenditure.
Page 35
Berkhamsted Schools Group STATEMENT OF ACCOUNTING POLICIES for the year ended 31 July 2023
DONATIONS, LEGACIES, GRANTS AND OTHER VOLUNTARY INCOME
Voluntary incoming resources are accounted for as and when entitlement arises, the amount can be reliably quantified and the economic benefit to the School is considered probable.
Voluntary income for the School’s general purposes is accounted for as unrestricted and is credited to the General Reserve. Where the donor or an appeal has imposed trust law restrictions, voluntary income is credited to the relevant restricted fund and incoming endowments are accounted for as permanent trust capital or expendable trust capital, according to whether the donor intends retention is to be permanent or not.
TANGIBLE FIXED ASSETS
Land and Buildings are carried in the balance sheet at their cost as the Governors consider it is not appropriate to apply a current value to such property. The cost of new buildings is added to fixed assets as it is incurred. The School seeks to maintain its properties in a good condition. The costs incurred in doing so, which can include major building modernisation and improvement, are written off as incurred. The cost of land and buildings represents expenditure since 1866. Foundation land and buildings bequeathed on trust for retention in perpetuity have not been valued.
The School capitalises strategic development projects (which are typically greater than £100,000), motor vehicles and significant equipment purchases; minor items of School equipment and furniture are written off in the year of purchase.
DEPRECIATION
Depreciation is provided to write off the cost of all relevant tangible fixed assets less estimated residual value based on current market prices in equal annual instalments over their expected useful economic lives as follows:
| Land & Buildings | 1 - 10% |
|---|---|
| Furniture & Equipment | 20% - 25% |
| Motor Vehicles | 20% - 25% |
The Governors have considered the value of buildings and deem the depreciation policy appropriate.
INTANGIBLE FIXED ASSETS
The intangible fixed asset shown in the balance sheet relates to software costs incurred on the School’s Finance and Human Resources management systems.
AMORTISATION
Amortisation is provided to write off the cost of all relevant intangible fixed assets less estimated residual value based on current market prices in equal instalments over their expected useful lives as follows:
Business software 20% - 33%
INVESTMENTS
Investments held as fixed assets are stated in the balance sheet at their bid price as at the balance sheet date. Any resulting gain or loss is taken to the fund to which it relates.
Page 36
Berkhamsted Schools Group STATEMENT OF ACCOUNTING POLICIES for the year ended 31 July 2023
STOCK
Stock represents goods for resale and is valued at the lower of cost and net realisable value.
ENDOWMENT AND BUILDING FUNDS
The Endowment and Building Funds represents the Charity’s endowed assets comprising land and buildings and certain investments (as referred to in the Charity’s Scheme dated 29th August 1996) together with all subsequent additions to buildings. All strategic building projects from 2004 were funded from general reserves and in recognition of this, these costs have been separately identified within a designated unrestricted fund.
TOTAL RETURN INVESTMENT ACCOUNTING
A Charity Commission Order dated 21 October 2012 authorises the School to adopt a ‘total return’ basis for the investment of its permanent endowment. Under the Total Return Order, the School can invest its permanent endowments without regard to the capital/income distinctions of trust law and with discretion to apply any part of the accumulated total return on the investment as income for spending each year. Until this power is exercised, the total return is accumulated, under the Order, as a capital supplement to the preserved (‘frozen’) value of the permanent endowment.
FUND ACCOUNTING
The charitable trust funds of the School and its subsidiaries are accounted for as unrestricted or restricted income, or as endowment capital, in accordance with the terms of trust imposed by the donors or any appeal to which they may have responded.
Unrestricted income belongs to the School’s corporate reserves, spendable at the discretion of the Governors either to further the School’s Objects or to benefit the School itself. Where the Governors decide to set aside any part of these funds to be used in future for some specific purpose, this is accounted for by transfer to the appropriate designated fund.
Restricted income comprises gifts, legacies and grants where there is no capital retention obligation or power but only a trust law restriction to some specific purpose intended by the donor.
Permanent endowment arises where a donor intends the gift to be retained permanently for use by the School (freehold land) or for financial benefit (by investment). The Total Return Order stipulates that any investment returns will accrue to a capital element (Unapplied Total Return) to the permanent endowment.
PENSION ARRANGEMENTS
For teachers the School contributes to the Teachers’ Pension Scheme at rates set by the scheme actuary and advised to the School by the scheme administrator. The School is unable to identify its share of the Scheme Funds and therefore the Scheme has been accounted for as a defined contribution scheme. For non-teaching staff the School contributes to defined contribution pension schemes. For the Teachers’ Pension Scheme and for defined contribution schemes the amount charged to the Statement of Financial Activities in respect of pension costs and other post-retirement benefits are the contributions payable in the year. Differences between contributions payable in the year and contributions actually paid are shown as either accruals or prepayments in the balance sheet. The School also sets aside funds to meet unfunded pension obligations for certain former members of staff.
Page 37
Berkhamsted Schools Group STATEMENT OF ACCOUNTING POLICIES for the year ended 31 July 2023
OPERATING LEASES
Rentals under operating leases are charged on a straight-line basis over the lease term, even if the payments are not made on such a basis. Benefits received and receivable as an incentive to sign an operating lease are similarly spread on a straight-line basis over the lease term.
FINANCIAL INSTRUMENTS
Basic financial instruments are initially recognised at transaction value and subsequently measured at amortised value with the exception of investments which are held at fair value. Financial assets held at amortised cost comprise cash at bank and in hand, together with trade and other debtors. A specific provision is made for debts for which recoverability is in doubt. Cash at bank and in hand is defined as all cash held in instant access bank accounts and used as working capital. Financial liabilities held at amortised cost comprise all creditors except social security and other taxes and provisions. Assets and liabilities held in foreign currency are translated to GBP at the balance sheet date at an appropriate year end exchange rate.
Page 38
Berkhamsted Schools Group NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS for the year ended 31 July 2023
| 1 SCHOOL FEES Fees receivable consist of: Gross fees Less: Bursaries, Grants and Allowances Add back: Scholarships paid for by Restricted funds 2 ANCILLARY TRADING INCOME Registration fees Extra-curricular lessons Hire and lettings income Income arising from school trips Other income 3 NON-ANCILLARY TRADING INCOME Membership fees Hire of facilities Classes and admissions Other income Nursery care Holiday camp |
2023 £’000 39,829 (2,503) 6 37,332 2023 £’000 171 735 70 967 546 2,489 2023 £’000 37 132 168 39 964 57 1,397 |
2022 £’000 37,935 (2,290) 88 35,733 2022 £’000 139 686 73 730 493 |
|---|---|---|
| 2,121 | ||
| 2022 £’000 38 95 71 8 870 41 1,123 |
Page 39
Berkhamsted Schools Group NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS for the year ended 31 July 2023
4 ANALYSIS OF EXPENDITURE
| 4a Total expenditure Raising funds Trading costs Fundraising for voluntary resources Total costs of raising funds Charitable activities Teaching Welfare Premises repair and maintenance Support costs and governance Funding of scholarships Total charitable expenditure 2022 |
Staff Costs £’000 818 - 818 19,362 27 2,055 2,315 - 23,759 24,577 23,260 |
Depreciation £’000 - - - 341 - 840 - - 1,181 1,181 1,120 |
Other Costs £’000 305 22 327 5,234 2,260 4,860 1,315 9 13,678 14,005 12,925 |
Total Total 2023 2022 £’000 £’000 1,123 980 22 21 1,145 1,001 24,937 23,152 2,287 2,170 7,755 8,028 3,630 2,861 9 93 38,618 36,304 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 39,763 37,305 |
||||
| 37,305 |
4b Governance included in support costs
| Management time Auditor’s fees - Audit - Tax compliance - Other Services Governors Indemnity insurance Legal and professional fees |
2023 £’000 53 46 18 3 5 35 160 |
2022 £’000 49 41 16 - 12 40 |
|---|---|---|
| 158 |
Page 40
Berkhamsted Schools Group NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS for the year ended 31 July 2023
5 STAFF COSTS AND RELATED PARTY TRANSACTIONS
| Total staff costs comprise: Wages and salaries Social security costs Pension contributions Aggregate employee benefits of key management personnel |
2023 £’000 18,996 1,913 3,668 24,577 1,557 |
2022 £’000 17,930 1,785 3,456 |
|
|---|---|---|---|
| 23,171 | |||
| 1,456 |
Key management personnel comprise the Executive team as described in the Trustee’s Report.
The number of employees whose emoluments (excluding employer pension contributions) exceeded £60,000 were:
| £250,001 - £260,000 £200,001 - £210,000 £170,001 - £180,000 £110,001 - £120,000 £100,001 - £110,000 £90,001 - £100,000 £80,001 - £90,000 £70,001 - £80,000 £60,001 - £70,000 |
2023 1 - 1 1 1 1 5 8 44 62 |
2022 - 1 - 1 - 2 5 4 25 |
|---|---|---|
| 38 |
Total payments to the School’s defined contribution pension scheme in the year-end 31 July 2023 were £984k (2022: £919k).
Redundancy or termination payments of £171k (2022: £113k) arose during the year. There was £142k outstanding to be paid at the year end (2022: £80k).
Page 41
Berkhamsted Schools Group NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS for the year ended 31 July 2023
5 STAFF COSTS AND RELATED PARTY TRANSACTIONS (CONTINUED)
The average number of employees during the year was made up as follows:
| Teaching staff School based support staff Maintenance and domestic staff Administrative and Sport Centre |
2023 Full time Part time 186 90 97 113 38 25 18 18 339 246 |
2022 Full time Part time 184 84 94 92 35 35 17 18 |
|---|---|---|
| 330 229 |
In the year ended 31 July 2023 no Governors or persons connected with them received any remuneration or other benefits from the school (year ended 31 July 2022: £Nil). Expenses of £194 were reimbursed to 3 Governors (2022: £278) wholly in relation to the carrying out of their duties.
Gift aid transactions and year end balances between the Charity and its subsidiaries are shown in Note 15.
There are no further related party transactions requiring disclosure.
Page 42
Berkhamsted Schools Group NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS for the year ended 31 July 2023
6 TANGIBLE FIXED ASSETS – GROUP AND SCHOOL
| Cost 1 August 2022 Additions Disposals 31 July 2023 Depreciation 1 August 2021 Charged in the year Disposals 31 July 2023 Net book value 31 July 2023 31 July 2022 |
Land and Buildings Assets under construction £’000 £,000 50,441 2,373 1,548 2,075 - 51,989 4,448 9,859 - 805 - - - 10,664 - 41,325 4,448 40,582 2,373 |
Furniture and Equipment £’000 4,924 491 - 5,415 4,081 278 - 4,359 1,056 843 |
Motor Vehicles £’000 853 208 (160) 901 586 98 (160) 524 377 267 |
Total £’000 58,591 4,322 (160) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 62,753 | ||||
| 14,526 1,181 (160) |
||||
| 15,547 | ||||
| 47,206 | ||||
| 44,065 |
Buildings, including contents, are insured for £159 million (2022: £170 million).
A number of school buildings with a combined value of £26.4 million have been taken as security by NatWest Bank plc in connection with the loan facilities granted to the School for the Estates Masterplan development.
Assets under construction are capital projects the construction of which is still ongoing at the balance sheet date.
Page 43
Berkhamsted Schools Group NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS for the year ended 31 July 2023
7 INTANGIBLE FIXED ASSETS
| GROUP Cost 1 August 2022 Additions Disposals 31 July 2023 Depreciation 1 August 2022 Charged in the year 31 July 2023 Net book value 31 July 2023 31 July 2022 SCHOOL Cost 1 August 2022 Additions 31 July 2023 Depreciation 1 August 2022 Charged in the year 31 July 2023 Net book value 31 July 2023 31 July 2022 |
Software costs £’000 276 - - |
|---|---|
| 276 | |
| 276 - |
|
| 276 | |
| - | |
| - | |
| Software costs £’000 255 - |
|
| 255 | |
| 255 - |
|
| 255 | |
| - | |
| - |
Page 44
Berkhamsted Schools Group NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS for the year ended 31 July 2023
8 INVESTMENTS – GROUP AND SCHOOL
| INVESTMENTS – GROUP AND SCHOOL | INVESTMENTS – GROUP AND SCHOOL | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| Market value at 1 August 2022 Capital invested Management charges Revaluation Net dividend income retained in Investment Fund Market value at 31 July 2023 Designated Restricted Endowment and Building £’000 £’000 £’000 Managed portfolio 1,188 - 2,113 Market value at 31 July 2023 1,188 - 2,113 Historical cost of investments 1,190 - 2,008 |
Total 2023 £’000 3,279 71 (22) (70) 43 3,301 Total 2023 £’000 3,301 |
Total 2022 £’000 3,141 294 (20) (164) 28 |
|
| 3,279 | |||
| Total 2022 £’000 3,279 3,279 3,024 |
|||
| 1,188 - 2,113 |
3,301 | ||
| 1,190 - 2,008 |
3,198 |
Investments are represented by (at market value):
| UK equity shares UK bonds Overseas bonds Overseas equity shares Other investments Cash Total |
2023 2022 £’000 £’000 647 692 159 143 323 158 1,609 1,362 381 505 182 419 |
|---|---|
| 3,301 3,279 |
Page 45
Berkhamsted Schools Group NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS for the year ended 31 July 2023
| 9 | STOCK | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Group | School | ||||
| 2023 | 2022 | 2023 | 2022 | ||
| £’000 | £’000 | £’000 | £’000 | ||
| Stock | of goods for resale | 65 | 29 | 65 | 29 |
Stock held by the School comprises peripheral items for pupil laptops.
10a DEBTORS: Amounts due within one year
| Fees receivable Recoverable disbursements Trade debtors Other debtors and prepayments Due from subsidiary undertaking |
Group 2023 2022 £’000 £’000 46 6 53 27 179 132 639 546 - - 917 711 |
School 2023 2022 £’000 £’000 46 6 53 27 77 100 635 544 71 20 882 697 |
School 2023 2022 £’000 £’000 46 6 53 27 77 100 635 544 71 20 882 697 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 697 |
10b DEBTORS: Amounts due in more than one year
| Other debtors and prepayments | Group 2023 2022 £’000 £’000 188 193 188 193 |
School 2023 2022 £’000 £’000 188 193 188 193 |
School 2023 2022 £’000 £’000 188 193 188 193 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 193 |
Other debtors and prepayments due in more than one year relates to the obligation the school holds to use a court at a local squash club until the year 2059 following a contribution made to construction costs at the club in 2009.
Page 46
Berkhamsted Schools Group NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS for the year ended 31 July 2023
11 CREDITORS: Amounts falling due within one year
| Bank loan Fees received in advance Payments received on account Fee deposits held at year end Trade creditors Other taxes and national insurance contributions Other creditors Accruals Deferred income Due to subsidiary undertakings |
Group 2023 2022 £’000 £’000 173 - 585 1,077 243 173 3,196 2,501 1,856 2,219 524 464 422 454 756 600 240 538 - - 7,995 8,026 |
School 2023 2022 £’000 £’000 173 - 585 1,077 243 173 3,184 2,486 1,844 2,207 523 455 417 451 725 584 148 452 - 5 7,842 7,890 |
School 2023 2022 £’000 £’000 173 - 585 1,077 243 173 3,184 2,486 1,844 2,207 523 455 417 451 725 584 148 452 - 5 7,842 7,890 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 7,890 |
All deferred income shown in the table above relates to fees for the 2023/24 school year. All deferred income held at 31 July 2022 was released in the following year.
Page 47
Berkhamsted Schools Group NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS for the year ended 31 July 2023
12 CREDITORS: Amounts falling due in more than one year
| Bank loan Fees received in advance Deferred income |
Group 2023 2022 £’000 £’000 8,626 - 893 1,400 114 127 9,633 1,527 |
School 2023 2022 £’000 £’000 8,626 - 893 1,400 114 127 9,633 1,527 |
School 2023 2022 £’000 £’000 8,626 - 893 1,400 114 127 9,633 1,527 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1,527 |
Fees received in advance total £1,478k of which £585k falls due within one year, and £893k falls due between two and five years. The balance represents the accrued liability under the contracts. The movements during the year were:
| ovements during the year were: | ||
|---|---|---|
| Balance at 1 August 2022 New contracts Repayments Amounts used in payment of fees to the school Balance at 31 July 2023 |
2023 £’000 2,477 107 - (1,106) 1,478 |
2022 £’000 988 2,198 - (709) |
| 2,477 |
Page 48
Berkhamsted Schools Group NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS for the year ended 31 July 2023
The bank loan is analysed as:
| Repayable: Between one and two years Between two and five years In five years and more Repayable within one year |
2023 2022 £’000 £’000 184 - 619 - 7,823 - |
|---|---|
| 8,626 - 173 - |
|
| 8,799 - |
The charity has the following loans:
-
A fixed interest rate loan was taken out in September 2022 for £6.0 million with a final repayment scheduled for August 2047. Interest is charged at 5.33% and the loan is secured against various school properties.
-
A variable rate loan was taken out in December 2022 for £3.0 million with a final repayment scheduled for November 2047. Interest is charged at 1.55% per annum over Base Rate and the loan is secured against various school properties.
-
Both loans were taken out for the purpose of financing the School’s Estates Masterplan.
Page 49
Berkhamsted Schools Group NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS for the year ended 31 July 2023
13 ALLOCATION OF SCHOOL NET ASSETS
| Tangible fixed assets £’000 Endowment and building funds 5,584 Restricted funds - Unrestricted funds: Designated funds 38,047 Retained income 3,575 31 July 2023 47,206 31 July 2022 44,065 Unrealised losses included above in investments: Endowment and building funds Designated funds |
Investments £’000 2,115 - 1,186 - 3,301 3,278 |
Other assets/ (liabilities) £’000 139 223 113 (3,575) (3,100) (1,892) 2023 £’000 (48) (22) (70) |
Total £’000 7,838 223 39,346 - |
|---|---|---|---|
| 47,407 | |||
| 45,451 2022 £’000 (97) (67) (164) |
Page 50
Berkhamsted Schools Group NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS for the year ended 31 July 2023
14a ENDOWMENT AND BUILDING FUNDS
| Balance | Incoming | Resources | Investment | Transfers | Balance | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| resources | Expended | gains/(losses) | ||||
| 1 August | 31 July | |||||
| 2022 | 2023 | |||||
| £’000 | £’000 | £’000 | £’000 | £’000 | £’000 | |
| Represented by: | ||||||
| Land and | 5,653 | (69) | 5,584 | |||
| buildings | ||||||
| Anniversary Fund | 258 | 66 | 324 | |||
| Scholarship and | 1,978 | (48) | 1,930 | |||
| prize fund | ||||||
| 7,889 | 66 | (69) | (48) | 7,838 | ||
| 14b RESTRICTED |
FUNDS | |||||
| The | 193 | 33 | (3) | 223 | ||
| Berkhamstedian | ||||||
| Foundation | ||||||
| 500thAnniversary | 6 | - | (6) | - | ||
| Fund | ||||||
| 199 | 33 | (9) | 223 | |||
| 14c DESIGNATED FUNDS |
||||||
| The | 111 | 3 | 114 | |||
| Berkhamstedian | ||||||
| Foundation | ||||||
| 500thAnniversary | 1,165 | 43 | (22) | 1,186 | ||
| Fund | ||||||
| Land and buildings | 35,842 | (717) | 2,676 | 37,802 | ||
| Heatherton | 245 | 245 | ||||
| Development | ||||||
| Fund | ||||||
| 37,363 | 46 | (717) | (22) | 2,676 | 39,346 | |
| 14d UNRESTRICTED FUNDS |
||||||
| School funds | - | 41,641 | (38,965) | (2,676) | - |
14e TOTAL FUNDS HELD
| TOTAL | 45,451 | 41,786 | (39,760) | (70) | 47,407 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| FUNDS |
Page 51
Berkhamsted Schools Group NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS for the year ended 31 July 2023
Endowment and Building Funds
Land and Buildings
Tangible fixed assets are all held for use by the School. Land and Buildings represent assets donated on foundation and subsequent major additions at cost. As a consequence these assets are a mixture of those endowed to the School and those subsequently acquired. Tangible fixed assets are shown at cost in the balance sheet.
Buildings are depreciated at 1-10% of cost, with the charge being written off to the Endowment and Buildings Funds. All costs of maintaining the buildings are written off as expenses of the school in the year of expenditure.
Scholarships and Prize Fund
This fund represents bequests and donations received by the Charity, where the donor has specified that the funds should be used to provide opportunities for and acknowledgement of educational achievements for future generations. The investment income recognised on these funds is added to the balance each year.
During the year ended 31 July 2016 the Governors exercised the power granted under section 104A of the Charities Act 2011 to adopt a total return approach to the school’s Scholarships and Prize fund. This allows the School to recognise an Unapplied Total Return (“UTR”) element in the fund which is accessible for spending on current beneficiaries.
Under the Total Return approach, the school must ensure that the value of the fund does not fall below the core endowment value. The core endowment value is fixed at £1,144k representing the value of the endowment in 2003.
The overall movement in unapplied total return in the year ended 31 July 2022 was as follows:
| Unapplied total return at 1 August 2022 Add: Investment losses Less: Resources expended Unapplied total return before transfer to income Less: transfer to income Unapplied total return at 31 July 2023 Add: core value Scholarship and prize fund assets at 31 July 2023 |
£’000 834 (48) - |
|---|---|
| 786 - |
|
| 786 1,144 |
|
| 1,930 |
500[th] Anniversary Fund
This fund holds donations given to the school specifically to be invested under the name 500[th] Anniversary Fund to generate income from which school places will be made available to children who could not otherwise afford to attend the school. The name of the fund is in recognition of the forthcoming important anniversary of the school’s foundation.
Page 52
Berkhamsted Schools Group NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
for the year ended 31 July 2023
Restricted Funds
The Berkhamstedian Foundation
This represents a restricted fund established for the purpose of providing resources for specific projects and to widen the opportunity for scholarships and bursaries.
500[th] Anniversary Fund
This part of the Anniversary Fund has been set up to receive donations to the Anniversary Fund that will be used to directly fund school places. The balance on this fund represents monies which have not yet been applied.
Designated Funds
Land and Buildings Fund
This represents fixed asset additions for major strategic projects mostly since 2004 funded from annual net incoming resources.
The Berkhamstedian Foundation
This represents a designated fund established by Governors. The fund represents unrestricted fundraising donations received which are set aside for the purpose of providing resources for specific projects and to widen the opportunity for scholarships and bursaries.
Heatherton Development Fund
The designated Development Fund represents unrestricted funds set aside by the Governors of Heatherton House School for the future functioning of the School.
500[th] Anniversary Fund
This fund is for unrestricted donations that the Governors have designated to be added to the 500[th] Anniversary Fund, a fund that provides access to the school for aspiring pupils who could not otherwise afford to attend.
Page 53
Berkhamsted Schools Group NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS for the year ended 31 July 2023
15 SUBSIDIARY UNDERTAKINGS
Berkhamsted Schools Group has three wholly owned subsidiaries all of which are registered in the United Kingdom and share the same registered office as the School (see page 5).
-
Berkhamsted Day Nursery Limited (trading) - company number 07610890
-
Berkhamsted School Enterprises Limited (trading) - company number 02048201
-
Berkhamsted Schools International Limited (dormant) - company number 10054110
The trading subsidiaries pay all their distributable profits to the school through gift aid declarations and their results for the year and retained capital and reserves are shown below:
| Berkhamsted Day Nursery Limited Profit and loss account Turnover Total expenditure Profit before tax and gift aid Taxation Gift Aid Profit /(loss) after tax and gift aid Balance sheet Total assets Total liabilities Net assets Costs recharged from Berkhamsted Schools Group Amount owed from / (to) Berkhamsted Schools Group Berkhamsted School Enterprises Limited Profit and loss account Turnover Total expenditure Profit before tax and gift aid Taxation Gift Aid Profit /(loss) after tax and gift aid Balance sheet Total assets Total liabilities Net assets Costs recharged from Berkhamsted Schools Group Amount owed to Berkhamsted Schools Group |
2023 £’000 2022 £’000 964 870 (785) (706) |
|
|---|---|---|
| 179 164 - (179) (164) |
||
| - - |
||
| 62 70 (62) (70) |
||
| - - 39 37 (8) 5 2023 £’000 2022 £’000 433 252 (352) (288) |
||
| 81 (36) - (45) - |
||
| 36 (36) |
||
| 161 55 (161) (91) |
||
| - (36) 15 5 (62) (20) |
Page 54
Berkhamsted Schools Group NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS for the year ended 31 July 2023
16 PENSION SCHEME
The School participates in the Teachers’ Pension Scheme (“the TPS”) for its teaching staff. The pension charge for the year includes contributions payable to the TPS of £2.718m (2022: £2.647m) and at the yearend £226k (2022 - £215k) was accrued in respect of contributions to this 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 most recent actuarial valuation of the TPS was prepared as at 31 March 2020 and the Valuation Report, which was published in October 2023.
Following the McCloud judgement, the remedy proposed that when benefits become payable, eligible members can select to receive them from either the reformed or legacy schemes for the period 1 April 2015 to 31 March 2022. The actuaries have assumed that members are likely to choose the option that provides them with the greater benefits, and in preparing the 2020 valuation have valued the ‘greater value’ benefits for groups of relevant members.
The valuation confirmed that the employer contribution rate for the TPS would increase from 23.6% to 28.6% from 1 April 2024. Employers are also required to pay a scheme administration levy of 0.08% giving a total employer contribution rate of 28.68%.
Page 55
Berkhamsted Schools Group NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS for the year ended 31 July 2023
17 COMMITMENTS UNDER OPERATING LEASES
At 31 July 2023 the School had minimum lease payments under non-cancellable operating leases as follows:
| Plant and machinery: Due within one year Due between one and five years |
2023 £’000 599 920 1,519 |
2022 £’000 555 464 |
|---|---|---|
| 1,019 |
18 CAPITAL COMMITMENTS
There are £13.638m (2022: £14.697m) of capital commitments as at 31 July 2023.
19 FINANCIAL INSTRUMENTS
Group financial assets measured at fair value are the School’s investments which totalled £3.301m (2022: £3.279m). Income from assets measured at fair value in the year totalled £51,000 (2022: £54,000) and unrealised losses totalled £70,000 (2022: a loss of £164,000).
Page 56
Berkhamsted Schools Group NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS for the year ended 31 July 2023
20 CONSOLIDATED STATEMENT OF FINANCIAL ACTIVITIES – COMPARATIVE FIGURES BY FUND TYPE
| Year Ended 31 July 2022 Income and endowments from Charitable activities School fees receivable Ancillary trading income Other trading activities Non-ancillary trading income Other activities Investments Investment income Bank and other interest Voluntary sources Grants and donations Total Incoming Resources Expenditure on: Raising funds Non-ancillary trading Fundraising and Development Total deductible costs Charitable activities Education and grant making Total expenditure Net incoming funds from operations before transfers and investment gains Gains/(losses) on investments Net income/(expenditure) after gains(losses) on investments Transfer between funds Net movement in funds Fund balances at 31 July 2021 Fund balances at 31 July 2022 |
Unrestricted Funds Restricted Funds Endowment and Building Funds School £’000 Designated £’000 £’000 £’000 Total £’000 35,733 - - - 35,733 2,121 - - - 2,121 1,123 - - - 1,123 54 28 - - 82 4 - - - 4 - 12 102 68 **182 ** |
|---|---|
| 39,035 40 102 68 39,245 |
|
| 980 - - - 980 21 - - - 21 |
|
| 1,001 - - - **1,001 ** |
|
| 35,362 780 93 69 36,304 |
|
| 36,363 780 93 69 37,305 |
|
| 2,672 (740) 9 (1) 1,940 - (67) - (97) (164) 2,672 (807) 9 (98) 1,776 (2,672) 2,672 - - - |
|
| - 1,865 9 (98) 1,776 - 35,498 191 7,986 43,675 |
|
| - 37,363 200 7,888 **45,451 ** |
Page 57
Berkhamsted Schools Group NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS for the year ended 31 July 2023
21 SUMMARY OF MOVEMENTS ON SCHOOL FUNDS AND ANALYSIS OF NET ASSETS BETWEEN FUNDS
Year Ended 31 July 2022
| 21a ENDOWMENT AND BUILDING FUNDS |
21a ENDOWMENT AND BUILDING FUNDS |
21a ENDOWMENT AND BUILDING FUNDS |
21a ENDOWMENT AND BUILDING FUNDS |
21a ENDOWMENT AND BUILDING FUNDS |
|||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Balance | Incoming | Resources | Investment | Transfers | Balance | ||
| resources | Expended | gains/(losses) | |||||
| 1 | August | 31 July | |||||
| 2021 | 2022 | ||||||
| £’000 | £’000 | £’000 | £’000 | £’000 | £’000 | ||
| Represented by: | |||||||
| Land and | 5,723 | - | (69) | - | - | 5,654 | |
| buildings | |||||||
| 500thAnniversary | 188 | 68 | - | - | - | 256 | |
| Fund | |||||||
| Scholarship and | 2,075 | - | - | (97) | - | 1,978 | |
| prize fund | |||||||
| 7,986 | 68 | (69) | (97) | - | 7,888 | ||
| 21b RESTRICTED |
FUNDS | ||||||
| The | 191 | 4 | (1) | - | - | 194 | |
| Berkhamstedian | |||||||
| Foundation | |||||||
| 500thAnniversary | - | 98 | (92) | - | - | 6 | |
| Fund | |||||||
| 191 | 102 | (93) | - | - | 200 | ||
| 21c DESIGNATED |
FUNDS | ||||||
| The | 118 | 3 | - | - | - | 121 | |
| Berkhamstedian | |||||||
| Foundation | |||||||
| 500thAnniversary | 1,196 | 37 | - | (67) | - | 1,166 | |
| Fund | |||||||
| Land and buildings | 33,939 | - | (780) | - | 2,672 | 35,831 | |
| Heatherton | 245 | - | - | - | - | 245 | |
| Development | |||||||
| Fund | |||||||
| 35,498 | 41 | (780) | (67) | 2,672 | 37,363 | ||
| 21d UNRESTRICTED FUNDS |
|||||||
| School funds | - | 39,035 | (36,363) | - | (2,672) | - | |
| 21e TOTAL FUNDS HELD |
|||||||
| TOTAL | 43,675 | 39,245 | (37,305) | (164) | - | 45,451 | |
| FUNDS |
Page 58
Berkhamsted Schools Group NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS for the year ended 31 July 2023
21f ALLOCATION OF SCHOOL NET ASSETS
Year Ended 31 July 2022
| Endowment and building funds Restricted funds Unrestricted funds: Designated funds Retained income |
Tangible fixed assets £’000 5,654 - 36,076 2,335 44,065 |
Investments £’000 3,278 - - - 3,278 |
Other assets/ (liabilities) £’000 (1,044) 200 1,287 (2,335) (1,892) |
Total £’000 7,888 200 37,363 - |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 45,451 |
Page 59