THE BURDETT-COUTTS, TOWNSHEND AND ST STEPHEN'S SCHOOLS, WESTMINSTER
(Registered Charity No. 312418)
ANNUAL REPORT AND ACCOUNTS
31ST JULY 2025
THE BURDETT-COUTTS, TOWNSHEND AND ST STEPHEN'S SCHOOLS, WESTMINSTER
ANNUAL REPORT
FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31ST JULY 2025
Charity Name and Number
The Burdett-Coutts, Townshend and St Stephen’s Schools, Westminster Registered Charity number 312418
Charity’s principal address
Burdett-Coutts School, Rochester Street, London SW1P 2QQ
Trustees during the year
The Trustees who served the charity during the year were:
| Appointed by: | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mrs Fiona Burdett-Coutts | Until | 17 October 2024 | Trustees | |
| Mr Benjamin Money-Coutts | Chairman | Trustees | ||
| Mrs Abigail Farr | Bishop Of London | |||
| Rev Graham Buckle | Vice Chairman | Ex officio | ||
| Mrs Elizabeth Szewczyk | Trustees | |||
| Mrs Jane Mumby | Until | 24 June 2025 | Trustees | |
| Mrs Alison Seedat | Bishop Of London | |||
| Mrs Joan Partridge-Graves | Trustees | |||
| Councillor Selina Short | City ofWestminster | |||
| a a |
from, | 14%ProguiAASCrrslean |
Structure, governance and management
The Charity was established to support the work of the Burdett-Coutts & Townshend Voluntary Aided School, and was endowed by the Baroness Angela Burdett-Coutts, the celebrated Victorian philanthropist, after whom the school was named.
The charity is governed by a Scheme dated 28" April 1903 as altered by a Scheme dated 23% February 1905; the original Trust Deed having been lost.
Two Trustees are appointed by the Bishop of London, one trustee is appointed by the City of Westminster and other Trustees are appointed by the Trustee body. The Trustees meet at least once a term and are available on an ad hoc basis otherwise when necessary. The Trustees are charged with looking after the investment of the endowment funds, the income from which is applied for the benefit of the school.
Objectives and activities
On establishment, the object of the Trust was to maintain the present buildings of the Burdett-Coutts, Townshend and St Stephen’s Schools, or other suitable buildings under section 7 of the Elementary Education Act 1870: or to maintain exhibitions tenable at institutions of secondary or higher education: or otherwise to use the funds for the educational benefit of the poor.
The charity now applies its income for the benefit of the school, substantially in assisting with the cost of maintaining the building by making payments to the London Diocesan Board Maintenance Fund. It also funds activities outside the educational funding of the school and funds extraordinary purchases agreed with the head teacher.
When planning activities, the Trustees have considered the Charity Commission guidance on public benefit.
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THE BURDETT-COUTTS, TOWNSHEND AND ST STEPHEN'S SCHOOLS, WESTMINSTER
ANNUAL REPORT
(Continued)
Achievements and Performance
The trustees made a grant to provide financial support to families using the Out of School Club of £9,000. A Christmas celebration was provided for the school staff and for the children.
The trustees provided a grant of £25,000 (2024: £25,000) to help with the cost of maintenance of the school building in addition to paying for the contribution to the London Diocesan Board Maintenance Fund of £4,347 (2024: £3,766).
The tenancy for the school house ended on 31st December 2024. The property was then refurbished to a high standard with the aim of increasing the future rentable value. Work on the refurbishment was completed on 30th April 2025 but it proved difficult to relet the property because of noise from a major office block building site opposite. The school house has now been relet for six months from 9th September 2025 at a rent of £4,575 per month. The period when the house was unlet has resulted in lower rental income of £17,631 (2024: £17,205) as compared to that which would be expected if the house had been let for the full year.
Financial Review
Net unrestricted income before transfers for the year ended 31 July 2025 was £3,887 by comparison to net unrestricted expenditure of £25,841 in the prior year. This improvement was due to realised and unrealised gains on investment assets of £13,388 versus net losses of £3,716 in 2024 and a reduction in the costs of generating funds of £13,326.
In other respects the financial performance for the year was stable. Unrestricted income increased very marginally to £48,666 (2024: £45,637) whilst expenditure reduced to £58,167 (2024: £67,762). Income had been expected to be higher but a longer than anticipated void period on the school house, which is rented, resulted in lower rental income. As the house was relet in September 2025 at a higher rent, the picture should improve during the current financial year.
The net assets of the Charity increased to £6,542,707 (31 July 2024: £6,473,046) reflecting the net movement in funds of £69,661. The principal movements in the year were capitalised refurbishment costs on the school house of £81,396 (2024: £0) and unrealised gains on the investments. The refurbishment was financed from the unrestricted funds' cash and the sale of investments which respectively reduced by £23,806 and £66,612. The value of the Endowment Funds increased by £65,774 because the charge for depreciation of £31,826 was balanced by unrealised gains on investments of £97,600.
The trustees have revised the depreciation policy for land and buildings. The carrying values of the land and buildings have been spilt and the value of the buildings is now being depreciated at 2% per annum (previously 0.5% per annum) but with no charge against the land because that element is not a wasting asset. The refurbishment works are being depreciated at 10% of cost per annum. See notes 1 and 8 of the accounts.
Historically the trustees have maintained a repair and development fund of £75,000 to finance occasional building works. This fund is largely represented by the Unrestricted Funds' investments and cash at bank. The trustees decided to use £81,396 of unrestricted reserves to pay for the cost of the improvements to the school house. Consequently, the free reserves (total unrestricted reserves less fixed assets) of the charity are now reduced to £27,931 from £103,405 at 31st July 2024. The trustees plan to rebuild the unrestricted reserves from future surpluses.
Approved by the Trustees and signed on their behalf by:
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Benjamin Money-Coutts
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9th October 2025
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THE BURDETT-COUTTS, TOWNSHEND AND ST STEPHEN'S SCHOOLS, WESTMINSTER
INDEPENDENT EXAMINER’S REPORT ON THE ACCOUNTS
Report to the trustees of The Burdett-Coutts, Townshend and St Stephen's Schools, Westminster on the accounts for the year ended 31st July 2025 set out on pages5 to 10.
Respective responsibilities of the trustees and the examiner
The charity's trustees are responsible for the preparation of the accounts. The charity's trustees consider that an audit is not required for this year (under section 144(2) of the Charities Act 2011 (the Act)) and that an independent examination is needed.
It is my responsibility to
-
examine the accounts (under section 145 of the Act),
-
to follow the procedures laid down in the General Directions given by the Charity Commission (under section 145(5)(b) of the Act), and
-
to state whether particular matters have come to my attention.
Basis of independent examiner’s statement
My examination was carried out in accordance with General Directions given by the Charity Commissioners. An examination includes a review of the accounting records kept by the charity and a comparison of the accounts presented with those records. It also includes consideration of any unusual items or disclosures in the accounts, and seeking explanations from the trustees concerning any such matters. The procedures undertaken do not provide all the evidence that would be required in an audit, and consequently no opinion is given on whether the accounts show "a true and fair view" and the report is limited to those matters set out in the statement below.
Independent examiner’s statement
In the course of my examination, no matter has come to my attention
1) which gives me reasonable cause to believe that in, any material respect, the requirements
-
to keep proper accounting records in accordance with section 130 of the Act and
-
to prepare accounts which accord with the accounting records and comply with the accounting requirements of the Act
have not been met; or
2) to which, in my opinion, attention should be drawn in order to enable a proper understanding of the accounts to be reached. \ Ayr if nAnAn ANY (Woon UA -
Heather Cheesman FCA
104 Stockbridge Road
Chichester W. Sussex PO19 8QP
Date O8 Decenriacey 2O2D
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THE BURDETT-COUTTS, TOWNSHEND AND ST STEPHEN'S SCHOOLS, WESTMINSTER
Statement of Financial Activities Year ended 31st July 2025
| 2025 | 2024 | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Note | Unrestricted | Endowment | Total | Total | |
| Funds | Funds | ||||
| £ | £ | £ | £ | ||
| Income | |||||
| Income from generating funds | |||||
| Investment income | 2 | 27,701 | 27,701 | 27,432 | |
| Rents receivable | 3 | 17,631 | 17,631 | 17,205 | |
| Donation | 3,334 | 3,334 | 1,000 | ||
| Total income | 48,666 | 48,666 | 45,637 | ||
| Expenditure | |||||
| Cost of generating funds | 4 | 11,816 | 11,816 | 25,052 | |
| Charitable activities | 5 | 41,998 | 41,998 | 40,516 | |
| Governance and other costs | 6 | 4,353 | 31,826 | 36,179 | 34,020 |
| Total expenditure | 58,167 | 31,826 | 89,993 | 99,588 | |
| Net income (expenditure) | |||||
| before gains and losses on investment assets | (9,501) | (31,826) | (41,327) | (53,951) | |
| Net gains and losses on investment assets | |||||
| Realised | 9 | 10,934 | 10,934 | 792 | |
| Unrealised | 9 | 2,454 | 97,600 | 100,054 | (44,664) |
| Net income (expenditure) | 3,887 | 65,774 | 69,661 | (97,823) | |
| before transfers | |||||
| Gross transfers between funds | |||||
| Netmovement in funds | 3,887 | 65,774 | 69,661 | (97,823) | |
| Total funds brought forward | 103,405 | 6,369,641 | 6,473,046 | 6,570,869 | |
| Totalfundscarriedforward | 107,292 | 6,435,415 | 6,542,707 | 6,473,046 |
The notes on pages 7 to 10 form part of these accounts
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THE BURDETT-COUTTS, TOWNSHEND AND ST STEPHEN'S SCHOOLS, WESTMINSTER
Balance Sheet at 31st July 2025
| 2025 | 2024 | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Note | Unrestricted | Endowment | Total | Total | |
| Funds | Funds | ||||
| £ | £ | £ | £ | ||
| Fixed Assets | |||||
| Tangible assets | 8 | 79,361 | 5,545,122 | 5,624,483 | 5,576,948 |
| Investments | 9 | 22,379 | 890,293 | 912,672 | 881,684 |
| 101,740 | 6,435,415 | 6,537,155 | 6,458,632 | ||
| Current Assets | |||||
| Debtors | 10 | - | - | 2,607 | |
| Cash at bank | 13 | 6,571 | 6,571 | 30,377 | |
| 6,571 | 6,571 | 32,984 | |||
| Current Liabilities | |||||
| Creditors falling due within one year | 11 | 1,019 | 1,019 | 18,570 | |
| Net Current Assets | 5,552 | 5,552 | 14,414 | ||
| Total Assets less Current Liabilities | 107,292 | 6,435,415 | 6,542,707 | 6,473,046 | |
| Funds ofthe Charity | |||||
| Unrestricted funds | 12 | 107,292 | 107,292 | 103,405 | |
| Endowment Funds | 12 | 6,435,415 | 6,435,415 | 6,369,641 | |
| TotalFunds | 107,292 | 6,435,415 | 6,542,707 | 6,473,046 |
The notes on pages 7 to 10 form part of these accounts
Approved by the Trustees on 9th October 2025 and signed on their behalf by:
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‘ i :
Benjamin Money-Coutts
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THE BURDETT-COUTTS, TOWNSHEND AND ST STEPHEN'S SCHOOLS, WESTMINSTER
Notes to the Accounts
1. ACCOUNTING POLICIES
Basis of Accounting
The accounts have been prepared in accordance with Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland (FRS 102), with the Statement of Recommended Practice: Accounting and Reporting by Charities preparing their accounts in accordance with FRS 102 and with the Charities Act 2011. The accounts have been prepared under the historical cost convention, except for the revaluation of investments. The Burdett-Coutts, Townshend and St Stephen’s Schools, Westminster charity is a public benefit entity within the meaning of FRS102.
The principal accounting policies, consistent with prior years, are set out below:
Incoming Resources
Recognition of income:
These are included in the Statement of Financial Activities (SOFA) when: The charity becomes entitled to the income;
The trustees are virtually certain they will receive the income; and
The monetary value can be measured with sufficient reliability.
Where income has related expenditure, the income and related expenditure are reported gross in the SOFA. Grants and donations are only included in the SOFA when the charity has unconditional entitlement to the resources. The value of any voluntary help received is not included in the accounts but is described in the Trustees’ annual report. Investment income is included in the accounts when receivable. Investment gains and losses include any gain or loss on sale of investments and any gain or loss resulting from revaluing investments at the end of the year. Realised gains and losses are calculated as the difference between the market value at the start of the year and the sale proceeds.
Expenditure and Liabilities
Liabilities are recognised as soon as there is a legal and constructive obligation committing the charity to pay out the expenditure.
Where the charity gives a grant with conditions for its payment being a specific level of service or output to be provided, such grants are only recognised in the SOFA once the recipient of the grant has provided the specified service or output.
Grants payable without performance conditions are only recognised in the accounts when a commitment has been made and there are no conditions to be met relating to the grant which remain in the control of the charity.
Assets
Financial Reporting Standard (FRS) 15 applied for the first time in the 2000 accounting period and the trustees have taken advantage of the transitional rules. As the current value reflects previous valuations, the trustees are permitted to retain the book amounts subject to an impairment review under FRS 11 where there is an indication that impairment may have occurred.
The value of the land and buildings, previously accounted for as one amount and depreciated over 200 years, has been segregated in the curent year. The value of the land has been separately identified and is no longer being depreciated since it is not a wasting asset. However the rate of depreciation applied to the School Buildings has been increased from 0.5% to 2% per annum ona straight line basis with effect from 1st August 2024. The improvements to the school house conducted and capitalised during the year are depreciated over 10 years.
Financial instruments comprising debtors and creditors, cash and deposits are measured at the cash amount expected to be received or paid, as appropriate. Investments are valued at their market value at the year end.
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THE BURDETT-COUTTS, TOWNSHEND AND ST STEPHEN'S SCHOOLS, WESTMINSTER
Notes to the Accounts continued
| 2025 | 2024 | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Unrestricted | Endowment | Total | Total | |
| Funds | Funds | |||
| £ | £ | £ | £ | |
| 2. Investment income | ||||
| CBF DepositAccount | 777 | 777 | 52 | |
| Coutts & Co Deposit Account | 356 | 356 | 376 | |
| CBF Investment Fund income | 26,568 | 26,568 | 27,004 | |
| 27,701 | 27,701 | 27,432 | ||
| 3. Rents receivable | ||||
| School House | 17,631 | 17,631 | 17,205 | |
| 17,631 | 17,631 | 17,205 | ||
| 4. Cost of Generating Funds | ||||
| Estate agent's fees | 7,973 | 7,973 | 3,664 | |
| Maintenance of school house | 958 | 958 | 1,153 | |
| Refurbishment during vacancy | 19,038 | |||
| Dilapidations charged to formertenant | -790 | |||
| Property expenses during vacancy | 1,851 | 1,851 | 1,067 | |
| School House insurance | 1,034 | 1,034 | 920 | |
| 11,816 | 11,816 | 25,052 | ||
| 5. Cost of charitable activities | ||||
| Staff/pupil parties | 1,901 | 1,901 | 1,500 | |
| Out of School Club | 9,000 | 9,000 | 9,000 | |
| Grant for maintenance | 25,000 | 25,000 | 25,000 | |
| Rent paid to St Stephen with StJohn Church | 1,250 | 1,250 | 1,250 | |
| LDBS Maintenance | 4,347 | 4,347 | 3,766 | |
| Summer fair | 500 | 500 | ||
| 41,998 | 41,998 | 40,516 | ||
| 6. Governance and other costs | ||||
| Clerk to Trustees’ salary | 1,818 | 1,819 | 1,694 | |
| Independent examiner | 500 | 500 | 500 | |
| Depreciation of buildings | 2,035 | 31,826 | 33,861 | 31,826 |
| 4,353 | 31,826 | 36,180 | 34,020 | |
| 7.Staffcosts |
The Clerk to the Trustees was paid a salary of £1,818 during the year.
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THE BURDETT-COUTTS, TOWNSHEND AND ST STEPHEN'S SCHOOLS, WESTMINSTER
Notes to the Accounts Continued
| 8. Tangible Fixed Assets | Land | School buildings | School | School House | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| and Nursery | House | Improvements | Total | ||
| Cost/valuation | |||||
| At 1 August 2024 | 6,196,450 | 168,843 | 6,365,293 | ||
| Reallocation ofvalue of land | 4,773,993 | -4,773,993 | |||
| Additions | 81,396 | 81,396 | |||
| At 31 July 2025 | 4,773,993 | 1,422,457 | 168,843 | 81,396 | 6,446,689 |
| Depreciation | |||||
| At 1 August 2024 | 768,598 | 19,747 | 788,345 | ||
| Charge for the year | 28,449 | 3,377 | 2,035 | 33,861 | |
| At 31 July 2025 | 797,047 | 23,124 | 2,035 | 822,206 | |
| Net book value at31 July2025 | 4,773,993 | 625,410 | 145,719 | 79,361 | 5,624,483 |
| Netbookvalueat31July2024 | 5,427,852 | 149,096 | 5,576,948 |
The carrying values of land and buildings have been revised to split the values between the land and the buildings. The rate of depreciation on the buildings has been increased from 0.5% to 2% per annum but no depreciation is applied to the land.
£81,396 has been incurred on improvements to the school house which have been capitalised. The rate of depreciation of these improvements is 10% per annum.
The school building is insured for £23,759,144 and the school house for £516,593.
| 9. Investments | Cost | Market | Sale | Gain/Loss | Market |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Value | Value | ||||
| 01/08/2024 | 31/07/2025 | ||||
| Endowment Fund | |||||
| 38,486 shares CBF Church of England | |||||
| Investment Fund | 792,693 | 97,600 | 890,293 | ||
| 792,693 | 97,600 | 890,293 | |||
| Unrestricted Fund | |||||
| 967.3822 shares CBF Church of England | 7,436 | 19,925 | 2,454 | 22,379 | |
| Investment Fund | |||||
| 3,353.2292 shares CBF Church of England | 25,774 | 69,066 | 80,000 | 10,934 | |
| Investment Fund | |||||
| 88,991 | 80,000 | 13,388 | 22,379 |
3,353.2292 shares in the CBF Church of England Investment Fund were sold on 21st January 2025 for £80,000 giving rise to an innvestment gain of £10,934. The proceeds of sale were used to part finance the School House improvements (see note 8).
| 2025 | 2024 | |
|---|---|---|
| 10. Debtors | ||
| Rents receivable | 822 | |
| Prepayments and accrued income | 1,785 | |
| - | 2,607 | |
| 11. Creditors falling due within one year | ||
| Accruals and deferred income | 500 | 4,100 |
| Other creditors | 519 | 14,470 |
| 1,019 | 18,570 |
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THE BURDETT-COUTTS, TOWNSHEND AND ST STEPHEN'S SCHOOLS, WESTMINSTER
Notes to the Accounts Continued
12. Analysis of Net Assets by Fund
| Unrestricted | Endowment | Total | Total | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Funds | Funds | 2025 | 2024 | |
| £ | £ | £ | £ | |
| Fixed Assets | 79,361 | 771,129 | 5,624,483 | 5,576,948 |
| Investments | 22,379 | 890,293 | 912,672 | 881,684 |
| Current assets | 6,571 | 6,571 | 32,984 | |
| Current liabilities | -1,019 | -1,019 | -18,570 | |
| 107,292 | 1,661,422 | 6,542,707 | 6,473,046 | |
| 13.Cash statement | ||||
| Net Income (expenditure) | -41,327 | -53,951 | ||
| Adjustments for: | ||||
| Depreciation of property | 33,861 | 31,826 | ||
| Increase (Decrease) in creditors | -17,551 | 17,940 | ||
| (Increase) Decrease in debtors | 2,607 | -2,307 | ||
| Net cash flowfrom operations | -22,410 | -6,492 | ||
| Cash at start ofthe period | 30,377 | 21,869 | ||
| Net cashflow from operations | -22,410 | -6,492 | ||
| Sale of investments | 80,000 | 15,000 | ||
| Additions to fixed assets | -81,396 | |||
| Cashatbankatendofperiod | 6,571 | 30,377 |
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