Charity Number 505848
STELLA MARIS SCHOOL
FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
31 JULY, 2020
TWJ Partnership LLP Chartered Accountants The Moorings Dane Road Industrial Estate Dane Road Sale Cheshire M33 7BH
STELLA MARIS SCHOOL
FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
YEAR ENDED 31 JULY, 2020
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CONTENTS PAGE
Contents 1
Trustees annual report 2-5
Independent examiners report 6
Statement of financial activities 7
Statement of financial position 8
Statement of cash flows 9
Notes to the financial statements 10 - 14
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STELLA MARIS SCHOOL
TRUSTEES ANNUAL REPORT
YEAR ENDED 31 JULY, 2020
The trustees have pleasure in presenting its report and financial statements of the school for the year ended 31 July, 2020. Stella Maris is an independent preparatory school registered with the Department for Education and Employment. The accounts have been prepared to comply with statutory requirements and those of the charity's governing document.
RESPONSIBILITIES OF THE TRUSTEES
The Charities Act requires the trustees to prepare financial statements for each financial year which give a true and fair view of the state of the affairs of the charity at the end of the year and of the incoming and outgoing resources for the year then ended. In the last 12 months, we have streamlined the full Board and created sub-committees to attend to specific matters in a nice timely manner and share of roles and responsibilities.
ADMINISTRATIVE DETAILS
The school address is Stella Maris School, St. John’s Road, Heaton Mersey, Stockport, Cheshire, SK4 3BR.
The charity correspondence address is as above.
TRUSTEES
Dr J G Swarbrick Mrs N Johnson Mr D Fleming Mr J Boyd - Chair Dr Georgina Hayes
INDEPENDENT EXAMINER
TWJ Partnership LLP, The Moorings, Dane Road Industrial Estate, Dane Road, Sale, Cheshire, M33 7BH
BANKERS
National Westminster Bank Plc, PO Box 13, 10 Great Underbank, Stockport, Cheshire, SK1 1LL.
CHARITY INFORMATION
The Trust is a registered charity, number 505848 set up by Deed of Trust dated 30 December 1976 and is an unincorporated association.
METHOD OF APPOINTMENT OF TRUSTEES
Trustees, who are in part parents of pupils past or present or associated with the school are selected by the board from recommendations made by fellow trustees or by invitation of offering their services. The procedure for the induction of trustees includes discussion of their strengths and background and how they see their role working with the existing trustees. The Board seeks to have a wide range of skilled Trustees with ideally only 2 parent Trustees on the Board at any time.
OBJECTIVES AND ACTIVITIES OF THE CHARITY
The Trust's purpose as set out in its Deed of Trust is the teaching and education of boys and girls of primary school age and it has adopted policies to purchase property and equipment and to employ suitable qualified staff in order to meet this purpose. The school is situated at the registered office at St. John's Road, Heaton Mersey, Stockport, Cheshire. The trustees are of the opinion that the objectives of the charity were achieved during the period.
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STELLA MARIS SCHOOL
TRUSTEES ANNUAL REPORT
YEAR ENDED 31 JULY, 2020
PUBLIC BENEFIT
STATEMENT OF CHARITABLE STATUS AND PUBLIC BENEFIT FOR THE YEAR ENDING 31 JULY, 2020
AIMS
Stella Maris School is dedicated to providing first class independent education for boys & girls aged 3- 11 within the Greater Manchester, Stockport and Cheshire areas. We seek to provide a structured educational environment that develops our pupils' capabilities, competencies and skills to the best of their abilities whilst they gain a clear understanding of the wider and local community. It is our aim to encourage and promote the academic, moral, and physical development of our pupils through our academic curriculum, pastoral care and extra-curricular activities whilst maintaining and reinforcing a warm community spirit.
Stella Maris operates as a registered charitable trust and this emphasises our commitment to community engagement and deepening relationships with the communities we serve. We're dedicated to the development of a future-facing, knowledge-based economy, and take our role seriously in contributing to a socially inclusive and vibrant, local and wider community.
Our School is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of our pupils and we expect all staff, Trustees and volunteers to share this commitment which will not be compromised through our school's contribution to public benefit as a registered charitable trust.
OBJECTIVES
In setting our objectives and planning our activities the Trustees of Stella Maris have given careful consideration to the Charity commissioners' general guidance on public benefit and in particular to its supplementary public benefit guidance on advancing education and fee charging.
Our key objectives include:
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To enhance and improve the curricular provision for pupils
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To continue to develop the first-class pastoral care we provide for our pupils
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To maintain and increase pupil numbers
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To provide continual support to our pupils
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To support the local and wider community
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- To develop our relationships with neighbouring schools and other local organisations
COVID-19
During the 2019-2020 financial and academic year, Stella Maris worked hard to benefit its pupils in providing a high quality educational provision. The first lockdown commencing in March 2020 presented significant challenges to the whole country, not least to those within the field of education. During this period, educational provision operated on a remote basis for all but children of key workers or those classed as vulnerable. From 1st June all children from government specified year groups were then able to attend full-time. In addition, due primarily to the small class sizes at Stella Maris, the school was proud to be able offer part time attendance to all other year groups, with the remainder of their education continuing to be delivered remotely. These efforts sought to provide the highest quality of education possible in extremely difficult circumstances and we are grateful to all staff for their flexibility and dedication.
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STELLA MARIS SCHOOL
TRUSTEES ANNUAL REPORT
YEAR ENDED 31 JULY, 2020
ENGAGEMENT WITH THE COMMUNITY
As part of our community engagement, Stella Maris School engages in charitable giving in pursuit of its strategic ambitions. These include:
COMMUNITY EVENTS - In normal circumstances Stella Maris actively engages with the local community on a regular basis. From supporting and attending the local traders association's Heaton’s Summer Festival. We take our role and responsibility within the local community very seriously, valuing our position to be able to contribute to it. We also hold events to which the whole community are invited, such as the Christmas Pantomime and School Fayres; in addition to a number of public Open Events that we hold throughout each year.
SCHOOL TRIPS - Our pupils are taken on regular educational trips that show support to local areas of interest as well as increasing pupils' knowledge. We are developing links with Stoneyhurst College, in Lancashire where we have been offered access to their facilities and in recent times we have brought our Year 5 and 6 children to the College on a residential outward bound course.
BEFORE & AFTERSCHOOL CLUBS - For busy parents we run our After School club until 5.30pm for a subsidised charge and continue to run our early morning drop off from 8am free of charge.
ACTIVITIES - In addition to the regular national school curriculum we offer further enriching extracurricular activities such as Art Club, Speech, Forest School, Music tuition and various sports (all pupils from Year 3 - Year 6 take part in weekly Multi Sports and Swimming lessons in addition to the traditional football and athletics). All pupils from Year Reception to Year 6 also learn French on a weekly basis. We engage in sporting challenges with our neighbouring schools, taking part in cross country runs, netball and football inter school competitions.
VOLUNTEERS - We happily accept applications from work experience candidates and teachers-in-training to provide potential new teachers with hands-on experience both inside and outside the classroom for short-term and long-term arrangements. Where appropriate we provide all our helpers with references / additional work experience and training as and whenever an opportunity arises.
FEES - as part of our consideration for school fees and commitment to assisting families in the opportunity to receive the very best in independent education for their child, we regularly review our tuition fees to keep them as competitive as possible. We also accept childcare vouchers as well as the current government nursery grant discount of 15 hours per week. We offer a number of methods of payment and also a 'sibling discount' to parents with more than one child attending our school. We also assist families within our school who may need financial assistance.
FUNDRAISING - To help our pupils consider others in the local and wider community, throughout the academic year we fundraise for 2 or more local and national charities. Locally we are regular fundraisers for Salford-based Catholic charity Caritas Salford, taking part in their Lenten St Joseph's Penny appeal, as well as donating Harvest hampers to The Wellspring, Stockport's resource centre for the homeless and disadvantaged people. On a national scale we regularly fundraise for Jeans for Genes, Macmillan, St Anne's Hospice, The Royal National Institute for the Blind, The Children's Rescue Society and various others. We are always open to suggestions for new fundraising schemes and approaches from new charities.
IMPROVEMENTS - We feel fortunate and proud that Stella Maris School is situated in a registered building within a protected conservation area. We're committed to the upkeep of the site through regular cleaning and the refreshing of paintwork as well as securing regular electric tests and health and safety reviews throughout the school building. We're also keen to show the school and its area off to the best of its appearance with up to date displays and the addition of new furniture so that it's presented beautifully all times. Going forward, we are seeking to redevelop our front playground into an outdoor learning space for the benefit of all year groups.
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STELLA MARIS SCHOOL
TRUSTEES ANNUAL REPORT
YEAR ENDED 31 JULY, 2020
FURTHER ADMINISTRATION
CHECKS & TRAINING
As part of our recruitment process all new members of staff undertake DBS checks. Our commitment is to the best quality pastoral care and to ensuring all pupils, parents and fellow members of staff are well cared for. All members of staff undertake training in Safeguarding issues and First Aid. GDPR improvements as per statutory guidelines are in place.
ADMISSIONS
Stella Maris is an equal opportunities school. We accept all pupils regardless of faith, ethnicity, economic status or gender. Our application process is simple and straightforward with parents completing and returning a simple registration form along with £150 registration fee and copy of their child's birth certificate. To admit a child we just need to be confident that the school will be able to educate him/her to the best of their potential and in line with general standards. These are just some of the ways in which Stella Maris School supports the local community, raises awareness amongst our pupils, parents and staff of issues in the surrounding area and provides ways to feed something back into the community in which we work, play and live. As a registered charitable trust, parents of our pupils are assured that any income of the school must be applied to educational purposes. To find out more about the public benefit that our school provides or Stella Maris as a registered charitable trust please contact the school on 0161 432 0532 or office@stellamarisschool.co.uk
RESERVES POLICY
Reserves are held to meet the working capital requirements of the school. No investment policy is applicable to these funds as any reserves above £25 are short term cashflow movements. At the end of each banking day any excess above £25 is transferred to a deposit account, in which small amounts of interest accrue.
STATEMENT OF RESPONSIBILITIES OF THE TRUSTEES
The trustees are responsible for preparing the Trustees' Report and the financial statements in accordance with applicable law and United Kingdom Accounting Standards (United Kingdom Generally Accepted Accounting Practice). The law applicable to charities in England & Wales requires the trustees to prepare financial statements for each financial year which give a true and fair view of the state of affairs of the charity and of the incoming resources and application of resources of the charity for that period. In preparing these financial statements, the trustees are required to:
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select suitable accounting policies and then apply them consistently;
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observe the methods and principles in the Charities SORP;
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make judgements and estimates that are reasonable and prudent;
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state whether applicable accounting standards have been followed, subject to any material departures disclosed and explained in the financial statements;
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prepare the financial statements on the going concern basis unless it is inappropriate to presume that the charity will continue in operation.
Principal address: Stella Maris School St Johns Road Heaton Mersey Stockport Cheshire SK4 3BR
Signed by order of the trustees Mr J Boyd - Chair 28, May 2021
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STELLA MARIS SCHOOL
INDEPENDENT EXAMINERS REPORT TO THE TRUSTEES
YEAR ENDED 31 JULY, 2020
I report to the charity trustees on my examination of the accounts of Stella Maris for the year ended 31 July, 2020
RESPONSIBILITIES AND BASIS OF THE REPORT
As the charity trustees of the Company (and also its directors for the purposes of company law) you are responsible for the preparation of the accounts in accordance with the requirements of the Companies Act 2006 (‘the 2006 Act’).
Having satisfied myself that the accounts of the Company are not required to be audited under Part 16 of the 2006 Act and are eligible for independent examination, I report in respect of my examination of your charity’s accounts as carried out under section 145 of the Charities Act 2011 (‘the 2011 Act’). In carrying out my examination I have followed the Directions given by the Charity Commission under section 145(5)(b) of the 2011 Act.
INDEPENDENT EXAMINERS STATEMENT
Since the Company’s gross income exceeded £250,000 your examiner must be a member of a body listed in section 145 of the 2011 Act. I confirm that I am qualified to undertake the examination because I am a member of the Institute of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales (ICAEW), which is one of the listed bodies.
I have completed my examination. I confirm that no matters have come to my attention in connection with the examination giving me cause to believe:
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accounting records were not kept in respect of the Company as required by section 386 of the 2006 Act; or
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the accounts do not accord with those records; or
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the accounts do not comply with the accounting requirements of section 396 of the 2006 Act other than any requirement that the accounts give a ‘true and fair view which is not a matter considered as part of an independent examination; or
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the accounts have not been prepared in accordance with the methods and principles of the Statement of Recommended Practice for accounting and reporting by charities applicable to charities preparing their accounts in accordance with the Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland (FRS 102).
I have no concerns and have come across no other matters in connection with the examination to which attention should be drawn in this report in order to enable a proper understanding of the accounts to be reached.
A Richard Whitehead B Com FCA
For & on behalf of: TWJ Partnership LLP Chartered Accountants The Moorings Dane Road Industrial Estate Dane Road Sale Cheshire M33 7BH
28, May 2021
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STELLA MARIS SCHOOL
STATEMENT of FINANCIAL ACTIVITIES
YEAR ENDED 31 JULY, 2020
| INCOMING RESOURCES Incoming resources from charitable activity Income from other activities Investment income TOTAL INCOMING RESOURCES OUTGOING RESOURCES Charitable activities Expenditure on raising funds Other expenditure TOTAL OUTGOING RESOURCES NET MOVEMENT IN FUNDS Total funds brought forward Total funds carried forward |
£ £ £ £ 432,739 429,366 14,996 4,575 0 28 447,734 433,969 404,984 464,499 6,323 9,368 0 30 (411,308) (473,897) 36,427 (39,928) 72,630 112,558 109,057 72,630 2020 2019 |
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All the activities of the entity are from continuing operations.
The entity has no other recognised items of income and expenses other than the results for the year as set out above.
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STELLA MARIS SCHOOL
STATEMENT of FINANCIAL POSITION
YEAR ENDED 31 JULY, 2020
| Note FIXED ASSETS Tangible assets 5 CURRENT ASSETS Debtors 6 Cash at bank and in hand CREDITORS: amounts falling due within one year 7 NET CURRENT LIABILITIES TOTAL ASSETS LESS CURRENT LIABILITIES TOTAL ASSETS LESS CURRENT LIABILITIES RESERVES Charity funds |
£ £ £ £ 148,076 152,628 148,076 152,628 7,287 4,494 38,995 39,874 46,281 44,368 85,300 124,366 (39,019) (79,998) 109,057 72,630 109,057 72,630 109,057 72,630 109,057 72,630 2020 2019 |
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These financial statements were approved by the members of the committee on the 18th January 2021 and are signed on their behalf by:
Principal address: Stella Maris School St Johns Road Heaton Mersey Stockport Cheshire SK4 3BR
Signed by order of the trustees Mr J Boyd - Chair 28, May 2021
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STELLA MARIS SCHOOL
STATEMENT of CASH FLOWS
YEAR ENDED 31 JULY, 2020
STATEMENT OF CASH FLOWS
| RETURNS FROM OPERATING ACTIVITIES Profit/(Deficit) for the financial year Depreciation Interest received Interest paid Loss/(profit) on disposal of assets Loss/(profit) on disposal of investments Decrease / (increase) in stocks Decrease / (increase) in debtors Increase / (decrease) in creditors RETURNS ON INVESTMENTS AND SERVICING OF FINANCE Interest received Interest paid CAPITAL EXPENDITURE Payments to acquire TFAs Proceeds from the sale of TFAs NET CASH INFLOW / (OUTFLOW) FROM CAPITAL EXPENDITURE INCREASE / (DECREASE) IN CASH CASH AT BANK AND IN HAND Balance brought forward Balance at year end NET CASH INFLOW / (OUTFLOW) FROM OPERATING ACTIVITIES NET CASH INFLOW / (OUTFLOW) FROM RETURNS ON INVESTMENTS AND SERVICING OF FINANCE |
£ £ £ £ 36,427 (39,928) 5,741 5,058 0 (28) 2,678 1,008 0 0 0 0 44,846 (33,889) 0 0 (2,793) 10,320 (39,066) (8,385) 2,987 (31,954) 0 28 (2,678) (1,008) (2,678) (980) (1,189) (36,517) 0 0 (1,189) (36,517) (879) (69,451) 39,874 109,325 38,995 39,874 (879) (69,451) 2020 2019 |
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STELLA MARIS SCHOOL
NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
YEAR ENDED 31 JULY, 2020
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2020 2019
£ £ £ £
INCOMING RESOURCES FROM CHARITABLE ACTIVITY
Fees 399,064 390,920
Music and athletic clubs 12,120 16,150
Stockport MBC 21,555 22,296
432,739 429,366
INCOME FROM OTHER ACTIVITIES
Misellaneous sales 2,226 1,639
Trip income 1,543 2,936
Charitable collections 0 0
Grant income 11,226 0
14,996 4,575
INVESTMENT INCOME
Bank interest receivable 0 28
0 28
TOTAL INCOMING RESOURCES 447,734 433,969
CHARITABLE ACTIVITIES
Staff costs 2 299,845 345,120
Staff training 128 706
Stationery, books and equipment 5,881 13,290
Clubs, events and trips 3 14,589 22,281
Rates and water 2,712 2,275
Light and heat 9,412 11,802
Cleaning and domestic 12,315 16,737
Insurance 8,653 6,967
Repairs and maintenance 5,674 4,838
Telephone & Internet 8,235 4,984
Postage, subscriptions and sundries 1,538 414
Depreciation 5,741 5,058
Professional fees 4 22,279 21,190
Administration costs 2,411 5,251
Support costs 151 145
Miscellaneous costs 2,744 2,433
Interest payable and similar charges 2,678 1,008
404,984 464,499
EXPENDITURE ON RAISING FUNDS
Advertising & marketing 6,323 9,368
6,323 9,368
OTHER EXPENDITURE
Charitable contribution 0 30
0 30
TOTAL OUTGOING RESOURCES 411,308 473,897
NET MOVEMENT IN FUNDS 36,427 (39,928)
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STELLA MARIS SCHOOL
NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
YEAR ENDED 31 JULY, 2020
1. ACCOUNTING POLICIES
(i) Basis of preparation
The financial statements have been prepared in accordance with Accounting and Reporting by Charities: the Statement of Recommended Practice: Accounting and Reporting by Charities preparing their accounts in accordance with the Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland (FRS 102) issued on 16 July 2014, and with the Charities Act 2011.
The financial statements have been prepared under the historical cost convention with items recognised at cost or transaction value unless otherwise stated in the relevant notes to these accounts.
(ii) Incoming resources
Income from fees is recognised when receivable. Investment and other income are recognised in the period in which they are received. Grants are recognised when receivable. Income received in the reporting year, relating to future periods is carried into the balance sheet as deferred income and released back into the Statement of Financial Activities at the appropriate time.
(iii) Judgements and key sources of estimation uncertainty
The preparation of the financial statements requires management to make judgements, estimates and assumptions that affect the amounts reported. These estimates and judgements are continually reviewed and are based on experience and other factors, including expectations of future events that are believed to be reasonable under the circumstances.
(iv) Resources expended
Resources expended are accounted for on the accruals basis. Expenditure is attributed to cost categories based on the amount expended during the period. The irrecoverable element of VAT is included with the items of expenses to which it relates. Liabilities are recognised when service has been provided.
Cost of generating funds is expenditure on advertising the school’s activities.
Charitable objectives expenditure are those costs which meet the day to day running of the charity in the provision of education.
(v)Liability recognition
Liabilities are recognised where it is more likely than not that there is a legal or constructive obligation committing the charity to pay out resources and the amount of the obligation can be measured with reasonable certainty.
(vi)Tangible assets
Tangible fixed assets are included at cost. Fixed assets with a cost of less than £500 are not capitalised. The property has not been depreciated in accordance with FRS 15 as the trustees believe the market value to be greater than the original cost and expenditure is made and taken to the Statement of Financial Activities that enhances the property.
(vii) Depreciation
Depreciation is calculated so as to write off the cost of an asset, less its estimated residual value, over the useful economic life of that asset as follows:
Freehold Property NIL Plant & machinery 10% reducing balance Fixtures & fittings 25% reducing balance
(viii) Pension costs
The charity operates a Teachers’ Pension Agency superannuation scheme (a defined benefits scheme) for employees. The assets of the scheme are held separately from those of the charity.
The TPS is an unfunded scheme and contributions are calculated so as to spread the cost of pensions over employees' working lives with the charity in such a way that the pension cost is a substantially level percentage of current and future pensionable payroll. The contributions are determined by the Government Actuary on the basis of quinquennial valuations using a prospective benefit method. The TPS is a multi-employer scheme and the academy trust is unable to identify its share of the underlying assets and liabilities of the scheme on a consistent and reasonable basis. The TPS is therefore treated as a defined contribution scheme and the annual contributions payable are charged to the Statement of Financial Activities.
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STELLA MARIS SCHOOL
NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
YEAR ENDED 31 JULY, 2020
2. EMPLOYEES
| The average number of persons employed by the entity during the year amounted to 13 (2019: 15) 2020 £ Wages and salaries 244,594 Social security costs 10,210 Other pension costs 45,040 299,845 3. CLUBS, EVENTS AND TRIPS 2020 £ School trips 830 Transport 2,181 Sport & Swimming lessons 3,929 Rent of facilities 250 Events 209 French lessons 1,050 Art lessons 2,400 Music lessons 3,740 14,589 4. PROFESSIONAL FEES 2020 £ Accountancy 3,000 Payroll 1,125 Bursar 7,244 Other professional fees 10,910 22,279 |
2019 £ 282,947 23,761 38,412 345,120 2019 £ 2,796 5,035 4,991 835 468 2,100 5,656 400 22,281 2019 £ 3,000 0 0 18,190 21,190 |
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STELLA MARIS SCHOOL
NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
YEAR ENDED 31 JULY, 2020
5. FIXED ASSETS
| 5. FIXED ASSETS | ||||
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| COST At 1 August, 2019 Additions Disposals |
Freehold property £ 116,923 0 0 |
Plant & machinery £ 27,364 0 0 |
Fixtures & fittings £ 36,122 1,189 0 |
Total £ 180,409 1,189 0 |
| At 31 July, 2020 | 116,923 | 27,364 | 37,312 | 181,598 |
| DEPRECIATION At 1 August, 2019 Charge Disposals |
0 0 0 |
2,280 2,508 0 |
25,501 3,233 0 |
27,781 5,741 0 |
| At 31 July, 2020 | 0 | 4,789 | 28,734 | 33,522 |
| NET BOOK VALUE At 31 July, 2020 At 31 July, 2019 6. DEBTORS amounts owning within one year Prepayments Fees owed |
116,923 116,923 |
22,575 25,083 2020 £ 4,635 2,651 |
8,578 10,622 |
148,076 152,628 2019 £ 4,324 170 |
| 7,287 7. CREDITORS amounts falling due within one year 2020 £ Trade creditors 9,852 Accruals 3,000 Fees received in advance 66,177 PAYE & social security 5,243 Other creditors 1,029 Debtors are measured on initial recognition at settlement amount after any trade discounts or amount advanced by the Subsequently, they are measured at the cash or other consideration expected to be received. |
4,494 2019 £ 7,812 3,000 107,110 6,444 0 charity. |
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| 85,300 | 124,366 |
The charity has creditors which are measured at settlement amounts less any trade discounts.
8. PENSIONS AND SIMILAR OBLIGATIONS
The charity operates a Teachers’ Pension Scheme England and Wales (TPS) for academic and related staff. This is a defined benefit scheme.
The pension costs are assessed in accordance with the advice of independent qualified actuaries. The latest actuarial valuation of the TPS was published 5th March 2019.
Employer contributions amounting to £44,445.28 (2019: £36,588.54) were payable to the schemes in the year ending 31 July 2020.
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STELLA MARIS SCHOOL
NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
YEAR ENDED 31 JULY, 2020
TEACHERS PENSION SCHEME
Introduction
The Teachers' Pension Scheme (TPS) is a statutory, contributory, defined benefit scheme, governed by the Teachers' Pensions Regulations (2010) and, from 1 April 2014, by the Teachers' Pension Scheme Regulations 2014. Membership is automatic for fulltime teachers in academies and, from 1 January 2007, automatic for teachers in part-time employment following appointment or a change of contract, although they are able to opt out.
The TPS is an unfunded scheme and members contribute on a 'pay as you go' basis - these contributions along with those made by employers are credited to the Exchequer. Retirement and other pension benefits are paid by public funds provided by Parliament.
The Teachers' Pensions Regulations require an annual account to be kept of receipts and expenditure (including the cost of pensions increases). From 1 April 2001, the account has been credited with a real rate of return, which is equivalent to assuming that the balance in the account is invested in notional investments that produce that real rate of return.
The Teachers’ Pensions etc. (Amendment) Regulations 2019 (Statutory Instrument 2019/1134) were laid before the Houses of Parliament on 17 July 2019. These changes came into effect from 1 September 2019.
The TPS is a multi-employer pension scheme. The charity is unable to identify its share of the underlying assets and liabilities of the scheme. Accordingly, the charity has accounted for its contributions to the scheme as if it were a defined contribution scheme.
Valuation of the Teachers Pension Scheme
The latest actuarial valuation of the TPS was carried out as at 31 March 2016 and in accordance with the Public Service Pensions (Valuations and Employer Cost Cap) Directions. The valuation report was published by the Department for Education on 5 March 2019. The key results of the valuation are as follows:
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Uncorrected employer contribution rate effective over the implementation period: 19.5% of pensionable pay. This is an increase of 3.1% on the current contribution rate. This increase is primarily due to the reduction in the SCAPE discount rate to 2.4% pa above CPI with effect from 1 April 2019.
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Corrected employer contribution rate payable over the implementation period: 22.8% of pensionable pay. This is an increase of 6.4% on the current contribution rate. This rate is calculated in the same way as the uncorrected employer contribution rate except that the accrual rate of the 2015 Scheme is assumed to be improved from 1 April 2019 to the extent necessary such that the employer contribution correction cost equals the target cost of the scheme.
The new employer contribution rate is applicable from 1 April 2019 and was implemented for the TPS from September 2019.
A copy of the valuation report and supporting documentation is on the Teachers’ Pension website: (https://www.teacherspensions.co.uk/news/employers/2019/04/teachers-pensions-valuation-report.aspx).
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