Charity registration number 513534 Company registration number 01675232 (England and Wales) LONGRIDGE TOWERS SCHOOL ANNUAL REPORT AND FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 AUGUST 2024 LONGRIDGE TOWERS SCHOOL LEGAL AND ADMINISTRATIVE INFORMATION Governors Mr T. M. Bramald (Chaiman) Mrs. A. R. Marshall Mrs. P. J. Derries Mrs. S Dunford Mr. E. Roney Dr. J. Watson Mr P. Evans Mrs l. Cheef Mr D E Armstrong Dr. E. C Miller Mr. M. Mole Mrs C Targonski Mr R Reay {Appointed 18 October 2024) {Retired 31 August 2024) (Retired 31 August 2024) (Appointed 13 December 2024) (Appointed 11 January 2025) Headmaster MrJ. C. E. Lee Secretary Mrs V. J. Bryson Charlty number 513534 Company number 01675232 Principal address Longridge Towers Berwick-upon-Tweed Northumberfand TD152XQ Registered office Longridge Towers Berwick-upon-Tweed Northumberland TD15 2XQ Auditor Greaves West & Ayre 17 Walkergate Berwick-upon-Tweed Northumberland TD15 1DJ Bankers Barclays Bank P.L.C. Solicitors Sanderson Mccreath & Edney 4 Quay Walls Berwick Upon Tweed TD15 1HD LONGRIDGE TOWERS SCHOOL CONTENTS Pag• Govemors. report Statement of Governors, responsibilrti88 13 Independent audrtorfs roport 14-17 Statement of financial activitias 18 Balance sheet 19 Statement of Cash flows Notes lo the ffinancial statements 21-35 LONGRIDGE TOWERS SCHOOL GOVERNORS. REPORT {INCLUDING DIRECTORS. REPORT AND STRATEGIC REPORT) FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 AUGUST 2024 The Governors of Longrid9e Towers School Ilhe Sch¢)oll who are aLso d1￿ctOrS for the purpose$ of the Companies Act pr8sent their report and accounts for the year ended 31 August 2024. The accounts have been pTrpared in accordance with the accounts'ng policies sel out in note 1 to the accounts and comply with the School's governin9 d(ument. the Companies Act 2006 and 'Accounting and Reporting by Charities.. Statement of Recommended Pradice appI￿ab￿ lo Chan1￿ preparin9 their accounts in accordance with the Financial Reporting Stsndard applicable in the UK and Republic of lrnland IFRS 102> leff8ctiv8 1 January 2019).. iv and A¢tbVIt￿S The Sthool's objects, as set out in the onginal Memorandum of Association of 1982 and as amendad on 14 March 2011, are the advancement of education, induding the provision of boarding or day schools for the education of children of either sex. The School is consaous that. a8 a charity. it has to m801 rts Charitsbl8 purposes and provKle a public benefit and in this report the Governors have sought lo high1￿ht those actsvrt￿s undertaken by the School lo further 11$ chanlabK8 purposes for the public benefit. During rec£nt yeais the School has conb'nually monilorod its policies with particular regard to the public benefti gu￿anC8 published by the Charity Commission under seth'on 17151 of the Charit￿5 Act 2011. The School's objects are.. the advancement of educatson. including the provision of boarding Of day schools for tho oducalion of children of either Sex, and onty activit￿S relatsng to thesè objects have bean taken into account when assessing the School's dogree of compliance with the requirements lo delivgr public benefit. Care has been taken to ensure that the opportunity to benefft is not unreasonabty restricted and. in parti¢ul8r, that children who might not otherwise have the means to attend th& School are not exdLKled. The School does this in a vanety of ways and the most s￿nifiCant of these 1$ th6 proVis￿n of assistsnce with the payment of fees lo families whose financial ar¢umslances mean that they cannot pay a full fee. In the financial year the School offered financial support to 38 pupils 12023.. 47 pupils} on a moans tested basis and lo a further eight pupils 12023 four pupils) fiom Hoty Island. The School continues lo foster strong relatsonships with local schools in the maintained sector, aiming lo Collaborate where possible. This year we hosted number of $u¢c8ssful •v•nts such as the Area Cross Country and Area Hockey ¢omp¢titions. making full use of the School's sports facilities and grounds. These events not onty promote healthy competition and physical ath.vty bul also strengthen our wrth local schools. In addition lo hosting these events, th6 School also faulilates Ihe use of its premises for a rango of Community and edu¢alional activit￿s. Local groups made use of our music r¢)om, $port$ hall, and outdoor spaces for orchestra rehearsals, Sporting ath"vilies. and other events and rehearsals. We were pleased to proV￿e access lo these faulilie$. ensuring that our resourc6s were pul lo good use for the benefft of local groups and individuals. The School's fieet of minibuses wa$ made available lo volunteers from the education and tharity sectors. helping transport students and volunteers to and from events and school activities. Thts small bul valuabb Service enables our lo￿1 partners lo carry out Ihgir work more efficiently. Our collaboration with th• Ogden Tnjst has continued this year. supporting local physics departments in gehools. The Trust's inilialives al￿n with ours, enriching STEM education in the region, and we are proud to ¢onlribule lo this important cause. In the area of sports, we held a coaching camp for fugby and hockey. Wh￿ ex￿eded expectations in terms of participation from senior pupils.. demonstrating the strong interest in extracurricular ath'vrties and the quality of the coaching provided. This was in addition lo our summer camps. which offered a variety of junior Sports and activities. These were. again. extremety well-recewed. with high levels of engagement and po%tsve feedbac* from both partiupants and their famil*s. LONGRIDGE TOWERS SCHOOL GOVERNORS, REPORT (CONTINUED)(INCLUDING DIRECTORS, REPORT AND STRATEGIC REPORT) FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 AUGUST 2024 Voluntsers The Longridge Towers School Development Association {LTSDA), a dedicated group of parents and supportors of the School, ¢onlinue to play a vital role in Supporting some of the School's activities, particularly through social and fundraising efforts. This year, the LTSDA successfully organised a $eri6$ of events in¢luding an online auction, quiz night, raffle and disco. These events were instrumental in raising funds for school projecls. We 81s0 benefitted from the generous sponsorship for a new sound system for the Chapel Thealfe. The LTSDA team wore on site lo support events such as the nativity play, sports days and the evof-popular Christmas fair, adding both energy and enthusiasm to these o¢¢a$ions. A high1￿ht of tha year has been the continued work on Mabel, Ihe doublo4ed(er bu8 fundod by tho LTSDA. The project has reached its final stages. with a renewed focus on ensuring high-qualily completion. including the installation of healing, flooring, slofage, and ￿lOUred blinds. Collaboration be￿88n the LTSDA, School Governor, and Juniof Department colleague has ensured the bus m••ts the high standards we aim for. We are also grateful lo local suppliers and generous parent sponsor$ who hav8 supported specific a8pecl$ of the renovabon. The official opening of Mabel look placa in Autumn 2024, after which Mabel will provide as a dedicated reading area and library for our pupils-a much-anli¢ipaled rèsource for enhancing literacy and learning. Th8 LTSDA'S contributions are greatly appreciated by the Govornors, Senior Leadership Team, and Staff. all of whom are grateful for th• on-going support and enthusiasm of this voluntary group. The positive partnership be￿een the LTSDA and the School continues to grow, and wa are particularly grateful for the role of our co- Chairs this year, who have provided inv8luoble leadership and direction in anticipation of the retirement of our current Chair al the next AGM. In addition to the work of the LTSOA, we have been fortunate lo benefit from the support of a volunteer Assistant Librarian, who has helped us lo make significant improvements lo our library's book stock and storage. Furthem)or•, our volunteer Junior Reader has continued to support junior pupils with their reading on a weekly basis, providing invaluable onoThon-one lime with students. We afe incredibly grateful to all th8 community members who givo Ihoir lime and expertise lo support the School. Voluntsers continu8 lo make a lasting impact on both tho day-to-day operations and the long-temi development of the School, and we look fo￿ard lo building on these partnerships in the coming year. The description under the headings "Achievements and PerformanrA" and "Financial Review, meet the company law requirements for the Governors lo present a str8legic report. LONGRIDGE TOWERS SCHOOL GOVERNORS. REPORT {CONTINUED)(INCLUDING DIRECTORS. REPORT AND STRATEGIC REPORT> FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 AUGUST 2024 A¢hiov8ments and Perfonnanco Strale This year, we introduced a new initiative of Parent Engagement Evenings. designed lo foster stronger collaboration and communi¢ation betsveen the School and our parent community. We hosted three meetings throughout the year, providing an infomial setting for parents and staff to come together and discuss various aspects of the School's activities and priorits8S. One of the features of these meetings was the opportunity lo share and discuss the School's largels for the year. Thi5 allowed us lo keep parents infomed about our goals and progr8S5, and lo gather valuable feedback. A key part of each session was a Q&A segment, where parents could ask questions and engage in open dialogue with staff 8nd leadership, The response lo these meetings ha$ been ov¢rv4helmingly positive. with many parents appreciating the chance lo engage directly with the School in a relaxed and constructive environment. The sassions also provided an opportunity to discu8s a wide range of topics, from academic inilialives and extracurricular activilies lo school policies and future plans. We are grateful lo all who attended and contributed to thes• discu8sions, and we look fo￿ard lo conbnuing this important dialogue in the coming year. Throughout the year, we have been actively reviewing and refining our school largels to ensure they align with our strategic vision and are directly linked to the success and achievement of our pupils. Our largels for the year focus on $everal key priorities that are central to the dev8lopm¢nl of every sludenl, including.. Academic Progression.. Ensuring that all sludents make moasurablé progress across their subjects, with particular attention lo individual18arning needs. Literacy and Numeracy.. Continuing to improv• lileraw and numeracy outcome8 for all pupils, particularly in the early years and throughout Key Sla9è 3. Attendance.. Striving for high levels of attendance, as we know that consi8lenl school attendance 1$ ¢ru¢ial to academic su¢c8s5 and personal development. Behaviour.. Maintaining a positive school culture where behaviour is exemplary, ensuring all pupils have a conducive envifonmenl for learning and porsonal growth. Destination.. Supporting pupils in making infomed choices for ltteir future. whether that's further education, apprenli¢eships, or employment, and ensuring Ihey18ave school well-prepaied for their next steps. These largels are not only key lo the daily oporalions of the School bul also align with our Strategic themes. They directly contribute to our overar¢hing goals of.. Sustsinabilily.. Embedding long-tem strategies for the well-being and achievement of our pupil$, ensuring that these largels remain relevant and effective for years lo come. Extending Partnership$'. Building on our work with lorAI schools, educational institutions, and the wider community to offer enriched opportunities for our Students. Lo¢al commun￿.. Strengthening our rol¢ as a valued community asset by ensuring that our largels ￿flect the need$ and aspirations of our local area. We reviewed our progress against our str81egi¢ aim$, taking into account both our successes and the areas where we can further develop. This ongoing process ensures that we remain focused on delivering the best outcomes for our pupils and ¢onlinue to evolve in line with the needs of our school ¢ommunity and the wKler educational landscape. LONGRIDGE TOWERS SCHOOL GOVERNORS, REPORT (CONTINUED)(INCLUDING DIRECTORS. REPORT AND STRATEGIC REPORT) FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 AUGUST 2024 mma The School is gr8t•fvl for the advice and support from Govemors. and ￿ consc40us that the guidance of those who volunteer10 8erve as Govemors has been fundamental to the development and grovrth of the School. The School (Mimunty continues lo woth ￿llabora￿'Vely. with a shared ￿MMi￿)ent to fostering an environment of support. growth, and achbovemenl. This year. we were p￿aSed to wekome a number of new Staff members who have seamlessty integrated into the team. Thoir fresh persPe￿"VeS and conbnued dedicatson have beon invaluable in supportir+g the on*oing development of the School. V4e believe that learning exlends beyond the ¢Jassroom, and this year we continued to offer a diverse range of educational tnps designed lo cornplement and enhance the curriculum. The$• trips not only reinforce da$$room leaming bul also expose pupils to a broader and more diverso range of envifonments and experience5. HvJhlights of this year's trips indude visits lo Newcasue Isikh TernP￿, Life Cenlro and Maths Department at University}, Edinburgh, London for an Art lour. and Cumbria as well as oversoas dostinalion8 such as New York, Ardèche IFrancel, and a HLstory to Berlin. Each year gfOUP and subject sel has its own favourite memori&s from these trips. which play a Significant Tole in expanding our pupils, understanding of the wodd and ennching their educational joum•y. OLtr boarding provision Continues well. with a sto•dy number of pupils benefitting from both ftrll and part-tsme boarding. This year. w8 were fortunate to welcome several small groups for short stays in the boarding house. Notsbly. a gioup of visiting pupils joined us for Chinese New Year. and we look forward lo wekoming them again next year. During their slay. th8 pupils celebrated the occasion with a special dinner, joined by other boarders who enjoyed leaming about the custom$ and traditsons of a dtheronl culture. We have also Seen an increase in flexi-boarding uptake. porticularly Irom families with pupils who have ￿akty $porting commitments, or those seeking to reduc• travel time and focus on academi￿ during the week. Our partnership with Northurnberland County Council and Holy Island has also eontribulod lo the growth in boarding numbers alongs￿6 more fiexible boardors. The boarding team lakes great prKJe in the positive and supportive atmo$phef¢ they havo created, and il 1$ heartening lo hear that many pupils describe our boarding •xpenence as 'home from home,. Boarders enjoy a nurturing. supports've. and fun environment, with weekend activities and trips such as Alnwick Gardens, Edinburgh Dungeons, Go•kafts'ng and Metro Centre. Local trips include being involv8d in R8mernbTan￿ Day and Easter Sunday servTrces. Our student ¢ounuls have been Instrumental in driving school spiril. with many pupils offering Suggestions for aclivilies. engaging in fundraising efforts. and organising popular events such as bake $ale$, dress down days. and junior discos. These activitses foster a sense of community, r&$ponsibility. and leadership. and contn'bute to the vibrant school ￿ltUre we Continuo lo nurture. Throughout the year. we hosted a se￿$ of ongaging and celebratory activities that brought the entire school cnmmunty togèther. Hhjhlights include Sports Days, STEM aclivilies, Oiwali cAlebrat￿n$. Harvest Festival and Founders Day. Our guest speaker on Founders Day de1￿hled all our pupils. parents and dignItar￿S wrth her Personab￿ and relatable speech, as well as inspiring our pupils to lake a chance and apply for something even rf il may feel out of their Trach - she encapsulated Carpe D￿M throughout the day. LONGRIDGE TOWERS SCHOOL GOVERNORS, REPORT (CONTINUED)(INCLUDING DIRECTORS. REPORT AND STRATEGIC REPORT FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 AUGUST 2024 Financial Perfomiance We have been fortuna16 to experieno anothor $tabl• yoar finanaally, wrth well controltsd cost management and steady pupil numbers. This has allowed the School lo maintain a sustainable equity posrtion. induding a strong focus on cash-flow management, better rxedit control. improved finanaal oversghl as wo11 as enhanced finanoal controls. Our budg•ts and forecasts have been signthcanlty infiuenc*d by VAT COn￿M5. In July the Government announced material financial changes impacting the independent sch¢)ol sector. particularly the application of VAT on fees. This require$ VAT registration and the removal of Business Rates discounts for the sector. We dedicated conS￿erable lime to evaluate financial s¢enario$ and the likely impa¢t on pupil numbers. We have shared our immediate strategy wrth parents for addressing VAT on fees in January 2025. The introduction of VAT into our accounts will require an additional ￿Ve1 of processing and financial monitoring, and we are working closely with advisory boards such as Independonl Schools Bursary Assoualion IISBAI. Society of Heads ISOHI, as well as support from a VAT ¢on$ullant to ensure we map out a viable and sustainabk financial path forward. Aft¢r 40 years. we were pleased lo have the opportunity lo purthase back fields adjacent lo the 50ulhern boundary of the School. Onginally part of tho Longr￿ge Estate. this land was sold in the eady 1980's to a local famer when the convent was still on sile. The 9.9 acres of flat land, is located adjacent to some of our sporting faulities,. once the fencing was complete". we immadial6ly started lo use the land. extending our cross