Docusign Envelope ID: 582E0113-9573-8712-83B1-D747BAEC145F
**Registered number: 962198 Charity number: 529584**
## **THE BELMONT-BIRKLANDS SCHOOL TRUST LIMITED**
**(A Company Limited by Guarantee)**
**TRUSTEES' REPORT AND FINANCIAL STATEMENTS**
**FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 AUGUST 2025**
Docusign Envelope ID: 582E0113-9573-8712-83B1-D747BAEC145F
## **THE BELMONT-BIRKLANDS SCHOOL TRUST LIMITED (A Company Limited by Guarantee)**
## **CONTENTS**
||Page|
|---|---|
|**Reference and Administrative Details of the Company, its Trustees and Advisers**|1|
|**Trustees' Report**|2 - 12|
|**Independent Auditors' Report on the Financial Statements**|13 - 16|
|**Statement of Financial Activities**|17|
|**Balance Sheet**|18 - 19|
|**Statement of Cash Flows**|20|
|**Notes to the Financial Statements**|21 - 37|
Docusign Envelope ID: 582E0113-9573-8712-83B1-D747BAEC145F
## **THE BELMONT-BIRKLANDS SCHOOL TRUST LIMITED**
## **(A Company Limited by Guarantee)**
## **REFERENCE AND ADMINISTRATIVE DETAILS OF THE COMPANY, ITS TRUSTEES AND ADVISERS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 AUGUST 2025**
|**Trustees**|Mrs C Brooksbank|
|---|---|
||Mrs C Beeley (resigned 31 August 2025)|
||Mr S Blower|
||Mrs C A Jones|
||Dr B Whitehead|
||Ms K Standen|
||Mrs F Trowell (resigned 4 September 2024)|
||Mrs A F Coad (appointed 7 October 2025)|
|**Company registered**
**number**
962198
**Charity registered**
**number**
529584
**Registered office**
Swarcliffe Hall
Birstwith
Harrogate
Yorkshire
HG3 2JG
**Company secretary**
Mrs H Kernaghan
**Independent auditors**
AAB Audit & Accountancy Limited
Statutory Auditor
Gresham House
5-7 St Pauls Street
Leeds
LS1 2JG
**Bankers**
Bank of Scotland
Quay West
Quay Parade
Swansea
SA1 8AB
United Trust Bank Ltd
One Ropemaker Street
London
EC2Y 9AW||
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Docusign Envelope ID: 582E0113-9573-8712-83B1-D747BAEC145F
## **THE BELMONT-BIRKLANDS SCHOOL TRUST LIMITED**
## **(A Company Limited by Guarantee)**
## **TRUSTEES' REPORT FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 AUGUST 2025**
## **INTRODUCTION**
The Governors of Belmont Birklands School Trust Ltd present their annual report together with the financial statements of the Charity for the 1 September 2024 to 31 August 2025. The Annual report serves the purposes of both a Trustees' report and a directors' report under company law. The Trustees confirm that the Annual report and financial statements of the charitable company comply with the current statutory requirements, the requirements of the charitable company's governing document and the provisions of the Statement of Recommended Practice (SORP) applicable to charities preparing their accounts in accordance with the Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland (FRS102) (effective 1 January 2019).
The school is a company limited by guarantee, with no share capital, and is a registered charity (registration no. 529584). The charitable company’s Memorandum and Articles of Association are the primary governing documents of the school.
Belmont Birklands School Trust Ltd operates Belmont Grosvenor School (BGS), which is a mainstream independent school for pupils aged from 3 months - 11 years, located in rural Nidderdale, North Yorkshire, just 9 miles from the spa town of Harrogate.
The school is housed in a Grade II listed Gothic building set in impressive grounds extending to some 20 acres. The building and gardens themselves are a significant educational resource and provide a perfect environment for Learning Outside the Classroom, as well as Forest School activities for all year groups from Pre-Reception – Year 6 to enhance the children's health and wellbeing and promote appreciation of their natural environment.
## **TRUSTEES**
The Governors act as Trustees of Belmont Birklands School Trust Ltd and constitute the Governing Body of the school. They are responsible for the strategic direction of the school and the overall management of Belmont Birklands School Trust Ltd.
The day-to-day management of the school is the responsibility of the head. The head has responsibility for setting and maintaining the academic standards of the school, recruitment and retention of pupils, staff recruitment and development, and for ensuring adherence to financial budgets. The head is supported by an experienced Senior Leadership Team (SLT).
Trustees are selected in accordance with the requirements of the school. As a board, the Trustees need relevant skills and experience to enable them to advise on the educational progression of the school, the financial management of the school, and the wellbeing of all stakeholders at the school. Individually, a Trustee should possess skills and experience enabling them to advise the school on aspects of business and collectively, the Trustees should possess skills and experience that enable them to advise the school on all aspects of business. The school is open to anybody being a Trustee regardless of age, disability, gender reassignment, race, religion or belief, sex, sexual orientation, marriage and civil partnership, and pregnancy and maternity.
The Trustees meet at least six times per year with additional meetings, as required, to discuss any major issues as they arise. Beyond these meetings, Trustees play an active part in school life, from attending key events in the school calendar, to joining pupils and staff at celebration Golden Table lunches, to participating in staff INSET days, participation in some Extra Curricular Activities, and undertaking Learning Walks and lesson observations in school during termly Governor Days. Sub-committees are set up to review specific areas and issues as the need arises.
All Trustees are volunteers and give their time freely. All Trustees undertake training on Safeguarding. A named Trustee is responsible for this area and undergoes additional training and attends regular Safeguarding meetings at the school.
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Docusign Envelope ID: 582E0113-9573-8712-83B1-D747BAEC145F
## **THE BELMONT-BIRKLANDS SCHOOL TRUST LIMITED**
## **(A Company Limited by Guarantee)**
## **TRUSTEES' REPORT (CONTINUED) FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 AUGUST 2025**
## **Trustee members**
The Trustees who held office during the year and to the date of this report are as follows:
|**Name**|**Background/**
**area of expertise**|**Areas of responsibility**|
|---|---|---|
|Mrs Charlie Brooksbank
Chair of Governors from
12 September 2023|Chartered Physiotherapist|**Education; Recruitment;**
**Special Educational Needs and Disability.**
VAT sub-committee; Risk Register, Single
Central Register|
|Dr Belinda Whitehead
Safeguarding Governor|Scientist|**Safeguarding and Child Protection;**
**Marketing.**
Child Protection and Looked after Children;
Single Central Register|
|Ms K Standen|Communications|**Communications;**
**Health & Safety.**
Trustees Report; Governors’ Compliance
Checklist co-ordinator; VAT sub-committee.|
|Mr Simon Blower|Education
Co-founder of Pobble - an online
platform for children promoting a
love of writing.|**Education, Curriculum and Assessment;**
**EYFS and Magic Tree Nursery.**|
|Mrs Carole-Ann Jones|Professional
Development
and
Human Resources|**Professional Development and**
**HR; Recruitment.**|
|Mrs Carol Beeley
Finance Governor
Mrs Beeley stood down in July
2025|Accountant|**Finance.**
VAT Sub-Committee.|
|Mrs Alicia Coad
Mrs Coad joined the Board in
September 2025|Educational Marketing Consultant|**Marketing and Communications**|
||||
Over the course of the past year and at the time of writing, we have seen the following changes to the Board of Governors:
After almost two years in the role, Mrs Carol Beeley stood down as Finance Governor in July 2025 to focus on her accounting consultancy business.
In September 2025 we welcomed marketing consultant Mrs Alicia Coad to the governing body.
## **PROFESSIONAL RELATIONSHIPS**
- After 13 years teaching at BGS, and with leadership roles in the last three years, Mrs Sian de Gracia was appointed head with effect from September 2024. She is an active member of IAPS, attending IAPS Conference and networking with IAPS contacts across the region.
- The school is a member of the Independent Schools Bursars Association (ISBA) and the Association of Governing Bodies of Independent Schools (AGBIS)
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Docusign Envelope ID: 582E0113-9573-8712-83B1-D747BAEC145F
## **THE BELMONT-BIRKLANDS SCHOOL TRUST LIMITED**
## **(A Company Limited by Guarantee)**
## **TRUSTEES' REPORT (CONTINUED) FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 AUGUST 2025**
- The Governors complete their AGBIS Governors’ Compliance Checklist document following monitoring visits, ensuring the school stays compliant in all statutory areas
- New Governor, Mrs Alicia Coad is an Associate heading up the marketing and admissions area of the Independent Schools Portal, providing CPD to marketing and admissions professionals in the Independent Schools sector.
## **VISION & AIMS**
The primary object of the charity, as set out in its Memorandum and Articles of Association, is for the advancement of education.
**At Belmont Grosvenor School, our vision is to nurture and challenge children to make outstanding progress in all that they try, building strong foundations for them to thrive in our ever-changing world.**
At BGS, we aim to:
- **Promote wellbeing** - To ensure happiness and wellbeing are at the heart of everything we do
- **Create stimulating learning environments** - To utilise our spectacularly beautiful setting by offering an outstanding breadth of learning experiences both inside and outside the classroom
- **Personalise learning** - To collaborate with families to understand the children as individuals. We will draw out and stretch their unique talents and abilities
- **Develop progressive learning opportunities** - To combine a strong educational foundation with our bespoke BGS Learning Habits ensuring children are equipped to succeed
- **Engage our community** - To engage with our incredible community; ensuring everybody’s contribution to school life is valued and children and adults alike forge firm friendships
- **Prepare for the future** - To prepare each child for the secondary school that best suits their individual character, talents and ambitions.
Daily life at Belmont Grosvenor is centred around our six core values:
We are a **down to earth** , **ambitious** , **nurturing** , **resilient** , **inclusive** and **joyful** school.
- **Down to earth:** We are warm and friendly and make everyone feel welcome
- **Ambitious:** We have big dreams, and we are determined to achieve them
- **Nurturing:** We are supportive and caring to the world around us
- **Resilient:** We embrace changes, seize opportunities and enjoy taking risks
- **Inclusive:** We celebrate individuality and respect everyone for who they are
- **Joyful:** We cherish childhood and make every day fun. We inspire a lasting love of learning.
## **PUBLIC BENEFIT**
The Trustees give careful consideration to the Charity Commission’s general guidance on public benefit and confirm that they give due regard to this guidance in setting the school’s strategic plan.
Belmont Grosvenor School is a charitable trust which seeks to benefit the public through the pursuit of its stated aims. Its broad range of activities and the depth of involvement in the local community are hopefully a clear demonstration of its commitment in this regard.
## **Fees**
The fees are set at a level to ensure the financial viability of the school and at a level that is consistent with our aim of providing education for the preparation of children for senior school and subsequently, university and the workplace.
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Docusign Envelope ID: 582E0113-9573-8712-83B1-D747BAEC145F
## **THE BELMONT-BIRKLANDS SCHOOL TRUST LIMITED**
## **(A Company Limited by Guarantee)**
## **TRUSTEES' REPORT (CONTINUED) FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 AUGUST 2025**
## **Bursaries and other financial assistance**
Belmont Grosvenor School operates a means-tested bursary scheme which is open to existing pupils and to external applicants to promote the inclusion of less financially advantaged pupils. Applications in all cases are assessed by the Trustees. A full financial review is carried out annually for successful recipients to ensure the financial assistance is offered to those who need it most. Further details of our bursary policy and how to apply are available on the school website.
During the reporting period 3 pupils were in receipt of support from the bursary scheme.
A Hardship Fund is also available for existing parents/pupils of the school who are experiencing short-term financial difficulties. The school provides such financial assistance out of fee income only, so the extent of help available is limited, dependent upon pupil numbers and fee levels.
During the reporting period, no pupils applied for support from the Hardship Fund.
We understand the need for financial planning and stability within each family, therefore a school fees plan is available to all parents. Within the nursery, parents are welcome to use Employer Childcare Vouchers to fund nursery fees.
We expanded our offering of eligibility for 2-year-olds to the **15-hour** universal entitlement from April 2024.
The Trustees have agreed, after due financial consideration that from September 2025 we will be extending our offer to 30 hours of funded childcare for children aged 9 months to three years.
Three- and four-year-old children in receipt of Universal Early Years Funding can access the expertise and facilities of the school without having to commit to their ongoing compulsory education at Belmont Grosvenor School. However, it is a key priority for school to retain pupils at this important educational milestone.
Belmont Grosvenor School aims to attract and retain high calibre staff. To this end, we offer a generous discount scheme to all staff members who choose BGS as the childcare provider or school for their child. At the time of writing, 5 members of staff and 6 pupils are benefitting from this opportunity.
## **Relationships and the community**
_**Community events:**_ The school continues to enjoy a strong relationship with the local community and its members are invited to take part in school events, where possible, such as the annual Bonfire Night celebration and the Christmas Fayre which are highlights of the autumn term.
_**School visitors:**_ We have regular visits from the fire service and police to support the school’s academic and PSHEE curriculum.
_**Sports facilities:**_ Our swimming pool is rented out to local groups at advantageous rates, ensuring that many children within the community have access to swimming lessons, reducing pressure on council-run facilities.
Saddler Tennis, who offer tennis lessons to the local community at the village tennis courts, have access to our gym free of charge for tennis coaching in bad weather.
_**Charity support and fundraising:**_ We continue to work alongside Harrogate-based charity, on hugely popular wreathmaking workshops for pupils and parents, donating £1,165 to the charity this year.
We have continued to support the Harrogate Foodbank as well, donating items as part of our Harvest Festival celebrations. In addition, through other charity fundraising events throughout the year we have raised £900.
Our annual Christmas Carol Service is held in the local village at St James’s Church with the retiring collection donated to church funds.
With the support of the school’s very active PTA, school fundraising efforts during the period of this report
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Docusign Envelope ID: 582E0113-9573-8712-83B1-D747BAEC145F
## **THE BELMONT-BIRKLANDS SCHOOL TRUST LIMITED**
## **(A Company Limited by Guarantee)**
## **TRUSTEES' REPORT (CONTINUED) FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 AUGUST 2025**
raised more than £22,000 and a separate initiative to raise funds to improve the school’s swimming pool infrastructure contributed a further £5,239.
PTA events throughout the year funded activities for the benefit of BGS pupils, including visits, additional learning resource subscriptions, and equipment for specialist departments. Donations were made by the PTA towards sound and lighting equipment and new stage curtains for the Performing Arts Department and a contribution to the swimming pool refurbishment.
_**Local primary school support:**_ Where the school diary and manpower permit, two local primary schools, Birstwith CE Primary School in the village of Birstwith and Admiral Long CE Primary School in Burnt Yates, have use of our school minibuses and our driver free of charge, enabling them to offer their pupils curriculum enhancing visits and recreational trips.
We act as a LAMDA examination hub and welcome external candidates to join our pupils for their exams.
We have an annual cross-country event where local state primary and independent schools are invited to participate.
_**Menwith Hill relationship:**_ We continue to foster a positive relationship with the local United States Air Force base at Menwith Hill and attract several families who choose BGS as the childcare and school provider for their children. The presence of a number of American children adds to the cultural richness of the school.
## **Holiday provision**
BGS offers a holiday camp during the school holidays for BGS children in all age groups, which makes use of the school’s extensive grounds. This provision is particularly popular with our American families due to their working patterns and leave entitlement.
## **Contribution to the local economy**
_**Significant local employer:**_ The school contributes to the local economy through the employment of both teaching and ancillary staff. In 2024-25, 90% of the staff on roll live within the HG postcode area.
_**Work experience opportunities:**_ We continue to offer work experience opportunities for local young people from state and independent schools in both the school and Magic Tree Nursery, with three students doing work experience with us between April and August 2025.
## **FINANCIAL PERFORMANCE**
The principal source of income is school fees.
The school made a surplus of £196,034 compared to a surplus of £25,591 in the previous year. Total income increased by 15.28% (£276,233). Overheads increased by 5.94% (105,790). Compared to 2023-4, energy costs during the reporting period were reduced. The school is continually looking to reduce overheads where possible.
The lodge continues to be an asset to the school, visually enhancing its surroundings and earning net rental income of £9,729 per annum.
As a charity, the parents of our pupils have the assurance that all the income of the school must be applied for educational purposes.
From January 2025, in line with government policy, VAT has been applied to school fees, with the exception of Pre-school care (nursery & Pre-Reception). American families serving at the local USAF Base at Menwith Hill who choose BGS as the childcare provider or school for their children are Zero Rated due to the NATO Status of Forces Agreement (SOFA).
We have been able to re-claim some input VAT from purchases made going back up to 5 years, however due to partial exemption, and very few capital projects in the period concerned this refund has been minimal.
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Docusign Envelope ID: 582E0113-9573-8712-83B1-D747BAEC145F
## **THE BELMONT-BIRKLANDS SCHOOL TRUST LIMITED**
## **(A Company Limited by Guarantee)**
## **TRUSTEES' REPORT (CONTINUED) FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 AUGUST 2025**
The imposition of VAT during this period had a significant impact upon the staff involved, with minimal time to train and prepare for such a huge legislative change. We are now submitting quarterly VAT returns to HMRC.
New government legislation removed the partial relief on business rates we received due to our charitable status in April 2025, resulting in an additional charge to the school of £21,184 in this reporting period.
We also pay tax as an employer through the National Insurance contributions we make.
In addition to the very substantial benefits our school brings to our pupils, stakeholders and the wider community through the education we offer, we create a social asset without cost to the Exchequer.
The Governors have carried out a robust review of the school’s five-year budget because of these changes, with financial controls put in place to adjust to this new legislation.
## **RESERVES POLICY**
The reserves policy is to maintain a minimum level of reserves to ensure the school can continue its current level of services having regard to possible future fluctuations in income and expenditure. At 31[st] August 2025 the unrestricted income funds, excluding the revaluation reserve, showed a deficit of £270,932 (2024: £454,884) and restricted funds showed a reserve of £12,084 (2024: Nil).
## **ISI INSPECTION OUTCOMES**
Our most recent ISI Inspection of both school and EYFS took place between 10th and 12th June 2025. The report details inspection of all areas of school since the previous inspection in September 2022.
It’s important to note that the ISI Inspection has changed and reports now read more formally and contain very little qualitative language. The school report no longer contains an overarching judgement (‘Excellent’ for Belmont Grosvenor School and ‘Outstanding’ for Magic Tree Nursery in 2022), rather the Independent Schools Regulations are scrutinised and judged as either ‘met’ or ‘not met’. The Nursery, which was also inspected at the same time does, however, still gain an overarching judgement.
We were delighted the inspectors identified many positives within the quality of education and pastoral provision in our school and highlights from their report attest to the strengths of our unique setting and the Vision and Values that drive Belmont Grosvenor School. Highlights from the report include:
Quality of education, training and recreation:
- Leaders provide a curriculum that effectively balances core learning in developing language and numeracy skills with a broad range of subjects encompassing scientific, aesthetic and creative disciplines.
- Pupils experience an enriching outdoor curriculum which develops their practical skills.
- Staff in the early years use carefully planned activities that help children to develop and learn effectively.
- Pupils develop and extend their skills and embrace the school’s ethos of ‘having a go’ at new activities, which has a positive impact on their wellbeing and self-esteem.
- Pupils make good progress and achieve well by the end of their time at school.
Pupils’ physical and mental health and emotional wellbeing:
Pupils learn how their physical wellbeing can have a positive impact on their emotional wellbeing.
- Relationships between pupils are positive and founded on mutual respect.
- Teachers know the pupils well and support them with kindness and understanding.
As part of our commitment to maintaining the highest standards at Belmont Grosvenor School, we view inspections as a golden opportunity to listen, improve and grow. During this process, the inspection identified two areas of regulatory compliance that required further attention:
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Docusign Envelope ID: 582E0113-9573-8712-83B1-D747BAEC145F
## **THE BELMONT-BIRKLANDS SCHOOL TRUST LIMITED**
## **(A Company Limited by Guarantee)**
## **TRUSTEES' REPORT (CONTINUED) FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 AUGUST 2025**
- While references are routinely collected as part of a robust safer recruitment process, in a very small number of cases since our last inspection in 2022, it was not possible to obtain a second reference before the staff member commenced employment. As a result, that standard was recorded as ‘not met’. It is important to note, however, that in every case, first references were obtained and verified, and all staff held satisfactory DBS checks.
- For staff who have lived or worked abroad, ISI regulations require that overseas police checks are obtained and verified to ensure they contain all necessary safeguarding information. While checks are always requested, in one case, the verification process was not as robust as the inspector required. Although this was rectified during the inspection, this led to that standard being ‘not met’ at the time. As safer recruitment sits within Safeguarding, this automatically led to a ‘not met’ judgment in Leadership, Management and Governance.
Where any of the Standards are found to be ‘not met’ this automatically leads to a follow up ISI Progress Monitoring Inspection to assess the school’s progress against the identified improvement areas. This is an unannounced one-day inspection.
At the time of writing, we can report that this inspection took place on 27[th] February 2026. This rigorous inspection scrutinised our safeguarding procedures and progress made against the school’s ISI-approved postinspection Action Plan. We are delighted to report that the inspector found all ISI Standards to be ‘met’ following this visit.
The Quality of the Early Years Foundation Stage
Magic Tree Nursery was also inspected in June 2025 against the statutory framework for the EYFS. After a rigorous process, the overall effectiveness of the early years provision was judged as ‘Good’ and highlights include:
- Children experience a well-planned curriculum that builds their knowledge and skills.
- Children demonstrate positive behaviour and engagement across the setting and staff maintain a calm environment where clear expectations are reinforced consistently.
- Children are supported to develop confidence, resilience and self-awareness.
- Staff promote high expectations for behaviour through calm, consistent routines.
- Staff support children to settle through close and sensitive observations.
- Children benefit from wider enrichment opportunities. These sessions provide variety and promote confidence.
## **MAGIC TREE NURSERY DEVELOPMENT**
In line with recommendations from our last Ofsted inspection, we have continued to enhance the provision of natural resources and familiar everyday objects for use in children’s play.
This programme of works has been championed and directed by our Head of Early Years, Mrs Julie Dent who has been in post since February 2024.
Demand for places, many of which are in receipt of government funding, remains very strong although parental financial constraints and strong state primaries in the local area mean this does not always convert into main school admissions into our Reception class.
As is the case sector wide, we do face recruitment challenges exacerbated by our rural location which can be a limiting factor in the expansion of the nursery due to strict staff ratios.
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Docusign Envelope ID: 582E0113-9573-8712-83B1-D747BAEC145F
## **THE BELMONT-BIRKLANDS SCHOOL TRUST LIMITED**
## **(A Company Limited by Guarantee)**
## **TRUSTEES' REPORT (CONTINUED) FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 AUGUST 2025**
## **RISK MANAGEMENT**
The Trustees are responsible for, and actively review on a regular basis, the major risks which the charitable company faces. Risks are identified, assessed and managed throughout the year. The Trustees believe that appropriate controls are in place to manage risks successfully. The key controls are:
- Comprehensive strategic planning, budgeting and management accounting
- Established organisational structure and lines of reporting
- Formal agendas and minutes of Governors’ meetings
- Formal written policies
- Comprehensive insurance policies
- Formal risk assessments undertaken
- Comprehensive Risk Register reviewed on a termly basis and/or more frequently when new risks arise, or risk profiles change
- Clear authorisation and approval levels
- Safeguarding procedures as required by law for the protection of children.
## **PLANS FOR FUTURE PERIOD**
## **Recruitment**
Several pupils were recruited as the year progressed which ended with higher numbers than had been expected and which had informed the initial budget. The draft budget for September 2024 anticipated 132 pupils but we opened in September 2024 with 142 pupils and increased this number to 143 by the end of the summer term of 2025. Recruitment remains a top priority at all times throughout the year and our adaptable, inclusive and opendoor approach to those interested in a place continues to yield pleasing conversion rates.
The Magic Tree Nursery continues to be successful, and the challenge continues to be retention of more of these pupils as they reach school age. At the time of writing, we are currently full in nursery and all babies and children who had been on our waiting list have now been offered a place.
We began the year facing financial uncertainty caused by the imposition of VAT on independent school fees, with the risk that some pupils might have to withdraw. In fact, we only lost one pupil mid-year as a direct result of the imposition of VAT on school fees.
We anticipated that in September 2025 the imposition of VAT on fees might suppress interest in pupils taking up independent school places. Any such uncertainty makes recruitment an even greater priority throughout the year to ensure the ongoing success of the school and the Trustees are redoubling efforts in this regard.
We continue to seek to increase pupil numbers across all year groups using strategic marketing and advertising and working closely with existing families. The focus is to retain pupils as they approach the end of Early Years. We continually monitor pupil numbers, and should it be necessary, we adjust our cost base accordingly.
We continue to foster a positive relationship with our contacts at the American Air Force Base at Menwith Hill and raise awareness of the Belmont Grosvenor School offer before families arrive in the UK. The virtual tour of our facilities hosted on the school website helps facilitate an understanding of the uniqueness of Belmont Grosvenor School from afar.
The arrival and departure of families at Menwith Hill, due to military postings, can see our pupil numbers fluctuate during the year.
## **Marketing**
Our marketing activities, led by a professional PR consultant, continue to reap rewards. Recruitment is a key focus of our marketing efforts, and we promote our Open Morning events through a range of channels. Attendance at these events continues to be good and conversion rates from EYFS into school have remained
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Docusign Envelope ID: 582E0113-9573-8712-83B1-D747BAEC145F
## **THE BELMONT-BIRKLANDS SCHOOL TRUST LIMITED**
## **(A Company Limited by Guarantee)**
## **TRUSTEES' REPORT (CONTINUED) FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 AUGUST 2025**
positive. We continually explore new channels and media opportunities for marketing in the local area and analyse their effectiveness to ensure the marketing budget is used effectively.
Our school website showcases photography and a video gallery which provides a charming insight into all areas of the school and nursery. We have continued to offer virtual tours which are invaluable to prospective parents from overseas and those relocating within the UK.
The school maintains a high profile on social media, celebrating the achievements of our pupils both in and out of school and showcasing the children in our unique setting, living out the school’s six core values.
## **Strategic direction**
The Trustees intend to continue their current strategies of maintaining the school’s position as a truly independent Preparatory School in the area in what remains a competitive market by investing to provide high quality education for our pupils. Achieving a high standard of academic results is a constant aim whilst maintaining the breadth and depth of the education provided.
The head and senior teaching staff continue to review the curriculum to ensure that the education remains appropriate for our pupils’ development.
We are happy to report that 100% of pupils met or exceeded the expected standard in English, Maths, Writing, Spelling and Reading by the end of KS2 in July 2025.
By the end of KS1 in July 2025, 100% met or exceeded the expected standard in English, 80% in Reading, 60% in Spelling and 90% in Maths.
While across years 2-6, by July 2025, 88% of pupils met or exceeded expected progress in Reading, 77% met or exceeded the expected progress standard in Spelling, 97% met or exceeded the expected progress standard in Maths and 93% met or exceeded the expected progress in English. These results have informed our selection of learning tools and schemes for the current year with investment being focused where it is most needed and with resources and interventions directed to any pupil needing support to achieve their individual potential.
It is worth noting that we have 28% of pupils with some level of SEN support need within this cohort which makes the attainment and progress even more positive.
We continue to invest in the training and development of our staff in support of Our Aims. In the day-to-day running of the school Headteacher Mrs de Gracia, has been supported by an experienced Senior Leadership Team (SLT) comprising Mr Chris Walker promoted to Deputy Head in August 2024 and who has begun studying for his NPQSL in the summer term, Mrs Sophie Johnston-Bannister as Assistant Head, Mr Peter Baird, promoted to Assistant Head in September 2024, Mrs Julie Dent as Head of Early Years and Mrs Helen Kernaghan as School Business Manager.
Given the increased recognition over recent years of the impact of social and emotional aspects of learning on academic attainment in school, we have a member of staff, Mr Nick Wield, qualified as an Emotional Literacy Support Assistant (ELSA), to offer support to our pupils in this regard.
The work of the SLT is guided by the BGS School Development Plan. This underwent a comprehensive review in 2022 under former head, Mr Sadler. This 5-year plan is a ‘live’ document with progress monitored and tracked against each development objective to help us achieve our goal of **:**
- Becoming the No 1 choice of nursery, pre-prep and prep education in North Yorkshire
- Continuously providing our children with the best education, experiences and facilities possible
- Providing a working environment for staff that promotes continuous learning, challenge, development and growth.
Three years into the plan significant progress had been made across most areas of the School Development Plan, with many aspects of the plan now marked as ‘Complete’
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Docusign Envelope ID: 582E0113-9573-8712-83B1-D747BAEC145F
## **THE BELMONT-BIRKLANDS SCHOOL TRUST LIMITED**
## **(A Company Limited by Guarantee)**
## **TRUSTEES' REPORT (CONTINUED) FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 AUGUST 2025**
## **Investment plans**
Our future plans are financed primarily from fee income.
We continue to invest in improvement of our grounds and facilities as funds permit, and over the summer of 2025, invested in decoration and new curtains in our gym/assembly hall to enhance this performance space, and completed updates to the swimming pool infrastructure. We received a small donation of just over £5,000 from the PTA towards these costs.
During the year we completed a major investment and upgrade of the school’s IT infrastructure which has delivered manifold benefits for staff and pupils alike. At the time of writing, we have appointed a new IT partner and service level provider, replaced and upgraded the school IT infrastructure, server and associated Wi-fi infrastructure which has delivered consistent Wi-fi around the school – something of a challenge in a Grade II Listed building with three-foot thick walls!
We have installed new desktop computers for all office and admin staff, new laptops for all teaching staff, and 10 new laptops for pupils to use. Our redundant White Boards in all teaching spaces have been replaced with 75-inch LG TV screens and we have purchased desktop visualiser equipment to create opportunities for enhanced modelling in teaching and learning. Our 22-machine computer suite has been totally rejuvenated, and our Performing Arts space has a new projector.
We continue to respond to the challenges of operating in a Grade II Listed building, undertaking repairs and maintenance as required.
A focus for academic year 2025-26 has been to upgrade our performing arts space with new lighting and sound equipment. This includes a new digital sound desk, LED stage lights, and new microphones.
## **Teachers’ Pension Scheme**
We continue to monitor the situation regarding future changes to the Teachers’ Pension Scheme (TPS) following the increase in the employer contribution to 28.6% in April 2024. This increase placed additional burden on the school’s finances and has been factored into our budget forecast modelling.
Since September 2022 any new teaching staff joining BGS are enrolled in NEST, however we do still have five members of staff in the TPS, down from six the previous year following retirement of one staff member.
This year, the Trustees have undertaken a detailed review of the impact of rising TPS contributions on the school budget and the potential risks inherent in making changes to staff terms and conditions and we continue to monitor the situation. We continue to follow advice and guidance from ISBA on this matter to help us determine the best course of action for our school and its staff moving forward and we would take specialist professional advice before making any changes to this benefit should it be deemed appropriate to do so in the future.
## **Finally...**
The Trustees continue to monitor closely the forecast and actual pupil numbers and the school’s cost base and will set the fee increase for next academic year accordingly, while remaining cognisant of the financial impact on our families of the ongoing cost of living crisis and, of course, the changes to VAT policy and business rates relief. However, as a governing body, our primary objective remains the highest possible educational provision for our pupils.
The school is in good health spiritually, and the school community is ready to face the challenges this school year will bring, but we recognise there will be a need for very careful financial husbandry throughout the year and our emphasis will remain on pupil recruitment and retention across all year groups.
Page 11
Docusign Envelope ID: 582E0113-9573-8712-83B1-D747BAEC145F
## **THE BELMONT-BIRKLANDS SCHOOL TRUST LIMITED**
## **(A Company Limited by Guarantee)**
## **TRUSTEES' REPORT (CONTINUED) FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 AUGUST 2025**
## _**Auditor**_
Each of the persons who is a Trustee at the date of approval of this report confirms that:
- so far as they are aware, there is no relevant audit information of which the charity's auditor is unaware; and
- they have taken all steps that they ought to have taken as a Trustee to make themselves aware of any relevant audit information and to establish that the charity's auditor is aware of that information.
AAB Audit & Accountancy Limited is deemed to have been re-appointed in accordance with section 487 of the Companies Act 2006.
Approved by order of the members of the Board of Trustees and signed on their behalf by:
................................................ **Mrs C Brooksbank** (Trustee) Date: 28 May 2026
Page 12
Docusign Envelope ID: 582E0113-9573-8712-83B1-D747BAEC145F
## **THE BELMONT-BIRKLANDS SCHOOL TRUST LIMITED**
## **(A Company Limited by Guarantee)**
## **INDEPENDENT AUDITORS' REPORT TO THE MEMBERS OF THE BELMONT-BIRKLANDS SCHOOL TRUST LIMITED**
## **Opinion**
We have audited the financial statements of The Belmont-Birklands School Trust Limited (the 'charitable company') for the year ended 31 August 2025 which comprise the Statement of Financial Activities, the Balance Sheet, the Statement of Cash Flows and the related notes, including a summary of 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 charitable company's affairs as at 31 August 2025 and of its incoming resources and application of resources, including its 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 Auditors' responsibilities for the audit of the financial statements section of our report. We are independent of the charitable company in accordance with the ethical requirements that are relevant to our audit of the financial statements in the United Kingdom, including the Financial Reporting Council's Ethical Standard, and we have fulfilled our other ethical responsibilities in accordance with these requirements. We believe that the audit evidence we have obtained is sufficient and appropriate to provide a basis for our opinion.
## **Conclusions relating to going concern**
In auditing the financial statements, we have concluded that the Trustees' use of the going concern basis of accounting in the preparation of the financial statements is appropriate.
Based on the work we have performed, we have not identified any material uncertainties relating to events or conditions that, individually or collectively, may cast significant doubt on the charitable company'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.
Page 13
Docusign Envelope ID: 582E0113-9573-8712-83B1-D747BAEC145F
## **THE BELMONT-BIRKLANDS SCHOOL TRUST LIMITED**
## **(A Company Limited by Guarantee)**
## **INDEPENDENT AUDITORS' REPORT TO THE MEMBERS OF THE BELMONT-BIRKLANDS SCHOOL TRUST LIMITED (CONTINUED)**
## **Other information**
The other information comprises the information included in the Annual Report other than the financial statements and our Auditors' Report thereon. The Trustees are responsible for the other information contained within the Annual Report. 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 course of the audit, or otherwise appears to be materially misstated. If we identify such material inconsistencies or apparent material misstatements, we are required to determine whether this gives rise to a material misstatement in the financial statements themselves. If, based on the work we have performed, we conclude that there is a material misstatement of this other information, we are required to report that fact.
We have nothing to report in this regard.
## **Opinion on other matters prescribed by the Companies Act 2006**
In our opinion, based on the work undertaken in the course of the audit:
- the information given in the Trustees' Report for the financial year for which the financial statements are prepared is consistent with the financial statements.
- the Trustees' Report has been prepared in accordance with applicable legal requirements.
## **Matters on which we are required to report by exception**
In the light of our knowledge and understanding of the charitable company and its environment obtained in the course of the audit, we have not identified material misstatements in the Trustees' Report.
We have nothing to report in respect of the following matters in relation to which Companies Act 2006 requires us to report to you if, in our opinion:
- adequate accounting records have not been kept, or returns adequate for our audit have not been received from branches not visited by us; 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; or
- the Trustees were not entitled to prepare the financial statements in accordance with the small companies regime and take advantage of the small companies' exemptions in preparing the Trustees' Report and from the requirement to prepare a Strategic Report.
## **Responsibilities of Trustees**
As explained more fully in the Trustees' Responsibilities Statement, the Trustees (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.
Page 14
Docusign Envelope ID: 582E0113-9573-8712-83B1-D747BAEC145F
## **THE BELMONT-BIRKLANDS SCHOOL TRUST LIMITED**
## **(A Company Limited by Guarantee)**
## **INDEPENDENT AUDITORS' REPORT TO THE MEMBERS OF THE BELMONT-BIRKLANDS SCHOOL TRUST LIMITED (CONTINUED)**
## **Auditors' 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 Auditors' 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.
Irregularities, including fraud, are instances of non-compliance with laws and regulations. We design procedures in line with our responsibilities, outlined above, to detect material misstatements in respect of irregularities, including fraud. The extent to which our procedures are capable of detecting irregularities, including fraud is detailed below:
We obtained an understanding of the legal and regulatory frameworks within which the charitable company 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 ability to operate or to avoid a material penalty. The laws and regulations we considered in this context for the UK operations were The Education (Independent School Standards) Regulations 2014.
We identified the greatest risk of material impact on the financial statements from irregularities including fraud to be:
- Management override of controls to manipulate the Charity's financial statements.
- Timing of revenue recognition.
- Compliance with relevant laws and regulations which directly impact the financial statements and those that the Charity needs to comply with for the purpose of its operations.
Our audit procedures to respond to these risks included:
- Testing of journal entries and other adjustments for appropriateness.
- Testing a sample of income in the period around the year end date to determine if income was recognised in the appropriate year.
- Evaluating the business rationale of significant transactions outside the normal course of business.
- Enquiries of management about litigation and claims and inspection of relevant correspondence.
- Reviewing legal and professional fees to identify indications of actual or potential litigation, claims and any non-compliance with laws and regulations.
- Analytical procedures to identify any unusual or unexpected trends or relationship;
- Reviewing minutes of meetings of those charged with governance to identify any matters indicating actual or potential fraud.
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 Auditors' Report.
Page 15
Docusign Envelope ID: 582E0113-9573-8712-83B1-D747BAEC145F
## **THE BELMONT-BIRKLANDS SCHOOL TRUST LIMITED**
## **(A Company Limited by Guarantee)**
## **INDEPENDENT AUDITORS' REPORT TO THE MEMBERS OF THE BELMONT-BIRKLANDS SCHOOL TRUST LIMITED (CONTINUED)**
## **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 Auditors' 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 its members, as a body, for our audit work, for this report, or for the opinions we have formed.
## **Helen Daniels LLB, FCA, CTA (Senior Statutory Auditor)**
for and on behalf of
## **AAB Audit & Accountancy Limited**
Statutory Auditor Gresham House 5-7 St Pauls Street Leeds LS1 2JG
28 May 2026
Page 16
Docusign Envelope ID: 582E0113-9573-8712-83B1-D747BAEC145F
## **THE BELMONT-BIRKLANDS SCHOOL TRUST LIMITED**
## **(A Company Limited by Guarantee)**
## **STATEMENT OF FINANCIAL ACTIVITIES (INCORPORATING INCOME AND EXPENDITURE ACCOUNT) FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 AUGUST 2025**
|Note
**Income from:**
Donations and legacies
5
Charitable activities
6
Other trading activities
7
Investments
8
**Total income**
**Expenditure on:**
Charitable activities
9
**Total expenditure**
**Net movement in funds**
**Reconciliation of funds:**
Total funds brought forward
Net movement in funds
**Total funds carried forward**|Unrestricted
funds
2025
£
-
1,980,251
31,874
31,873
2,043,998
1,860,046
1,860,046
183,952
1,155,732
183,952
1,339,684|Restricted
funds
2025
£
39,660
-
-
-
39,660
27,578
27,578
12,082
-
12,082
12,082|Total
funds
2025
£
39,660
1,980,251
31,874
31,873
2,083,658
1,887,624
1,887,624
196,034
1,155,732
196,034
1,351,766|Total
funds
2024
£
-
1,756,803
24,435
26,187|
|---|---|---|---|---|
|||||1,807,425|
|||||1,781,834|
|||||1,781,834|
|||||25,591|
|||||1,130,141
25,591|
|||||1,155,732|
The Statement of Financial Activities includes all gains and losses recognised in the year.
The notes on pages 21 to 37 form part of these financial statements.
Page 17
Docusign Envelope ID: 582E0113-9573-8712-83B1-D747BAEC145F
## **THE BELMONT-BIRKLANDS SCHOOL TRUST LIMITED (A Company Limited by Guarantee) REGISTERED NUMBER: 962198**
## **BALANCE SHEET AS AT 31 AUGUST 2025**
|Note
**Fixed assets**
Tangible assets
14
Investment property
15
**Current assets**
Stocks
16
Debtors
17
Cash at bank and in hand
**Current liabilities**
Creditors: amounts falling due within one
year
18
**Net current liabilities / assets**
**Total assets less current liabilities**
Creditors: amounts falling due after more
than one year
19
**Total net assets**|16,061
638,973
1,071,638
1,726,672
(3,624,245)|2025
£
3,016,139
250,000
3,266,139
(1,897,573)
1,368,566
(16,800)
1,351,766|17,185
95,654
1,048,719
1,161,558
(586,158)|2024
£
2,974,370
250,000
3,224,370
575,400
3,799,770
(2,644,038)
1,155,732|
|---|---|---|---|---|
Page 18
Docusign Envelope ID: 582E0113-9573-8712-83B1-D747BAEC145F
## **THE BELMONT-BIRKLANDS SCHOOL TRUST LIMITED (A Company Limited by Guarantee) REGISTERED NUMBER: 962198**
## **BALANCE SHEET (CONTINUED) AS AT 31 AUGUST 2025**
|Note
**Charity funds**
Restricted funds
21
Unrestricted funds
21
**Total funds**|2025
£
12,082
1,339,684
1,351,766|2024
£
-
1,155,732|
|---|---|---|
||||
|||1,155,732|
The Trustees acknowledge their responsibilities for complying with the requirements of the Act with respect to accounting records and preparation of financial statements.
The financial statements have been prepared in accordance with the provisions applicable to entities subject to the small companies regime.
The financial statements were approved and authorised for issue by the Trustees on 28 May 2026 and signed on their behalf by:
**Mrs C Brooksbank**
(Trustee)
The notes on pages 21 to 37 form part of these financial statements.
Page 19
Docusign Envelope ID: 582E0113-9573-8712-83B1-D747BAEC145F
## **THE BELMONT-BIRKLANDS SCHOOL TRUST LIMITED (A Company Limited by Guarantee)**
|**STATEMENT OF CASH FLOWS**
**FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 AUGUST 2025**
**Cash flows from operating activities**
Net cash used in operating activities
**Cash flows from investing activities**
Dividends, interests and rents from investments
Purchase of tangible fixed assets
**Net cash (used in)/provided by investing activities**
**Change in cash and cash equivalents in the year**
Cash and cash equivalents at the beginning of the year
**Cash and cash equivalents at the end of the year**|2025
£
65,580
31,873
(74,534)
(42,661)
22,919
1,048,719
1,071,638|2024
£
305,866
26,187
(392)
25,795
331,661
717,058
1,048,719|
|---|---|---|
The notes on pages 21 to 37 form part of these financial statements
Page 20
Docusign Envelope ID: 582E0113-9573-8712-83B1-D747BAEC145F
## **THE BELMONT-BIRKLANDS SCHOOL TRUST LIMITED**
## **(A Company Limited by Guarantee)**
**NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 AUGUST 2025**
## **1. General information**
The charity is a private company limited by guarantee, registered in England and Wales and a registered charity in England and Wales. The address of the registered office is Swarcliffe Hall, Birstwith, Harrogate, HG3 2JS. The principal activity is the provision of mainstream independent education for pupils from 3 months to 11 years.
## **2. Accounting policies**
## **2.1 Basis of preparation of financial statements**
The financial statements have been prepared on a historical cost basis and in accordance with the Charities SORP (FRS 102) - Accounting and Reporting by Charities: 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) (effective 1 January 2019), the Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland (FRS 102) and the Companies Act 2006.
The financial statements are prepared in sterling, which is the functional currency of the entity.
The Belmont-Birklands School Trust Limited meets the definition of a public benefit entity under FRS 102. Assets and liabilities are initially recognised at historical cost or transaction value unless otherwise stated in the relevant accounting policy and investment properties measured at fair value through income or expenditure.
## **2.2 Going concern**
The financial statements have been prepared on the basis that the charity can continue to operate as a going concern. The Charity is dependent on the continuing support from a private individual in the form of a loan. At the year end, the loan and interest balance is repayable on 21 January 2026. In November 2025, the loan was formally extended, the new agreement provides for the loan and interest balance repayment on 21 January 2027. The lenders have indicated that they will not seek repayment for a period of at least 12 months from the date that the financial statements are signed. The loan is secured by a charge on the property and details are included in note 18.
At 31 August 2025, the Charity has net current liabilities of £1,897,573 (2024 - net current assets of £575,400). The management accounts show that the Charity has operated at surplus in the period from 1 September 2025 to the date of signing the accounts.
The Trustees have produced forecasts covering the period to August 2027 which demonstrates that there are sufficient cash reserves to enable the Charity to meet its obligations as they fall due for a period of at least 12 months from the date of signing these financial statements. As such the Trustees are satisfied that the Charity has adequate resources to continue to operate for the foreseeable future. For this reason, they continue to adopt the going concern basis for preparing these financial statements.
## **2.3 Income**
Income from charitable trading activities include school fee income due for the year, together with the sale of school meals and other disbursements.
Investment income is recognised in the accounts on a receivable basis.
Page 21
Docusign Envelope ID: 582E0113-9573-8712-83B1-D747BAEC145F
## **THE BELMONT-BIRKLANDS SCHOOL TRUST LIMITED**
## **(A Company Limited by Guarantee)**
**NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 AUGUST 2025**
## **2. Accounting policies (continued)**
## **2.4 Expenditure**
Expenditure is recognised once there is a legal or constructive obligation to transfer economic benefit to a third party, it is probable that a transfer of economic benefits will be required in settlement and the amount of the obligation can be measured reliably. Expenditure is classified by activity. The costs of each activity are made up of the total of direct costs and shared costs, including support costs involved in undertaking each activity. Direct costs attributable to a single activity are allocated directly to that activity. Shared costs which contribute to more than one activity and support costs which are not attributable to a single activity are apportioned between those activities on a basis consistent with the use of resources. Central staff costs are allocated on the basis of time spent, and depreciation charges allocated on the portion of the asset’s use.
Expenditure on charitable activities is incurred on directly undertaking the activities which further the Company's objectives, as well as any associated support costs.
All expenditure is inclusive of irrecoverable VAT.
## **2.5 Tangible fixed assets and depreciation**
Tangible fixed assets are initially recognised at cost. After recognition, under the cost model, tangible fixed assets are measured at cost less accumulated depreciation and any accumulated impairment losses. All costs incurred to bring a tangible fixed asset into its intended working condition should be included in the measurement of cost.
Depreciation is charged so as to allocate the cost of tangible fixed assets less their residual value over their estimated useful lives, using the straight-line method.
Depreciation is provided on the following basis:
|Fixtures and fittings|-|20%|
|---|---|---|
|Office equipment|-|33%|
The charity's policy is to provide depreciation at 2% on freehold buildings but not to provide depreciation on freehold land. However as the buildings are maintained to a very high standard and revalued regularly their residual value is considered by the Governors to be not less than their carrying value and therefore the actual depreciation provided in the financial statements in respect of freehold buildings is nil.
## **2.6 Investments**
Investment property is initially recorded at cost, which includes purchase price and any directly attributable expenditure.
Investment property is revalued to its fair value at each reporting date and any changes in fair value are recognised in income or expenditure.
If a reliable measure of fair value is no longer available without undue cost or effort for an item of investment property, it shall be transferred to tangible assets and treated as such until it is expected that fair value will be reliably measurable on an on-going basis.
## **2.7 Stocks**
Stocks are valued at the lower of cost and net realisable value after making due allowance for obsolete and slow-moving stocks. Cost includes all direct costs and an appropriate proportion of fixed and variable overheads.
Page 22
Docusign Envelope ID: 582E0113-9573-8712-83B1-D747BAEC145F
## **THE BELMONT-BIRKLANDS SCHOOL TRUST LIMITED**
## **(A Company Limited by Guarantee)**
**NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 AUGUST 2025**
## **2. Accounting policies (continued)**
## **2.8 Financial instruments**
The Company only has financial assets and financial liabilities of a kind that qualify as basic financial instruments. Basic financial instruments are initially recognised at transaction value and subsequently measured at their settlement value with the exception of bank loans which are subsequently measured at amortised cost using the effective interest method.
## **2.9 Operating leases**
Rentals paid under operating leases are charged to the Statement of Financial Activities on a straight-line basis over the lease term.
## **2.10 Pensions**
The school participates in a multi employer defined benefit pension scheme and a defined contribution pension scheme.
The School contributes to the Teachers' Pension Defined Benefits Scheme (TPS) at rates set by the Scheme Actuary and advised to the School by the Scheme Administrator. The TPS is an unfunded scheme and contributions are calculated so as to spread the cost of pensions over employees' working lives with the School 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 of quadrennial valuations using a prospective unit credit method. As stated in note 26, the TPS is a multi-employer scheme and there is insufficient information available to use defined benefit accounting. The TPS is therefore treated as a defined contribution scheme for accounting purposes and the contributions recognised in the period to which they relate.
Contribution to both schemes are charged to the statements of Financial Activities in the period to which they relate.
## **2.11 Fund accounting**
General funds are unrestricted funds which are available for use at the discretion of the Trustees in furtherance of the general objectives of the Company and which have not been designated for other purposes.
Designated funds comprise unrestricted funds that have been set aside by the Trustees for particular purposes. The aim and use of each designated fund is set out in the notes to the financial statements.
Restricted funds are funds which are to be used in accordance with specific restrictions imposed by donors or which have been raised by the Company for particular purposes. The costs of raising and administering such funds are charged against the specific fund. The aim and use of each restricted fund is set out in the notes to the financial statements.
Investment income, gains and losses are allocated to the appropriate fund.
Page 23
Docusign Envelope ID: 582E0113-9573-8712-83B1-D747BAEC145F
## **THE BELMONT-BIRKLANDS SCHOOL TRUST LIMITED**
## **(A Company Limited by Guarantee)**
## **NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 AUGUST 2025**
## **3. Critical accounting estimates and areas of judgment**
Estimates and judgments are continually evaluated and are based on historical experience and other factors, including expectations of future events that are believed to be reasonable under the circumstances.
Critical accounting estimates and assumptions:
The preparation of the financial statements requires management to make judgements, estimates and assumptions that affect the amounts reported for assets and liabilities as at the balance sheet date and the amounts reported for revenues and expenses during the year. However, the nature of estimation means that actual outcomes could differ from those estimates. Details of these judgements are set out in the accounting policies.
## **4. Limited by guarantee**
The company is limited by guarantee and as such does not have a share capital. The liability of the members is limited to a value not exceeding £1 per member upon the winding up of the company.
## **5. Income from donations and legacies**
||Restricted|Total|Total|
|---|---|---|---|
||funds|funds|funds|
||2025|2025|2024|
||£|£|£|
|Donations|39,660|39,660|-|
## **6. Income from charitable activities**
|School fees
Dinners and other disbursements|Unrestricted
funds
2025
£
1,819,953
160,298
1,980,251|Total
funds
2025
£
1,819,953
160,298|
|---|---|---|
|||1,980,251|
Page 24
Docusign Envelope ID: 582E0113-9573-8712-83B1-D747BAEC145F
## **THE BELMONT-BIRKLANDS SCHOOL TRUST LIMITED**
## **(A Company Limited by Guarantee)**
## **NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 AUGUST 2025**
**6. Income from charitable activities (continued)**
|School fees
Dinners and other disbursements|Unrestricted
funds
2024
£
1,581,172
175,631
1,756,803|Total
funds
2024
£
1,581,172
175,631|
|---|---|---|
|||1,756,803|
|**7.**|**Income from other trading activities**|
|---|---|
||**Income from non charitable trading activities**|
|Swimming pool hire
Swimming pool hire
**8.**
**Investment income**
Income from investment properties
Bank Interest receivable|Unrestricted
funds
2025
£
31,874
Unrestricted
funds
2024
£
24,435
Unrestricted
funds
2025
£
13,000
18,873
31,873|Total
funds
2025
£
31,874|
|---|---|---|
|||Total
funds
2024
£
24,435|
|||Total
funds
2025
£
13,000
18,873|
|||31,873|
Page 25
Docusign Envelope ID: 582E0113-9573-8712-83B1-D747BAEC145F
## **THE BELMONT-BIRKLANDS SCHOOL TRUST LIMITED**
## **(A Company Limited by Guarantee)**
## **NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 AUGUST 2025**
## **8. Investment income (continued)**
|Income from investment properties
Bank Interest receivable|Unrestricted
funds
2024
£
13,000
13,187
26,187|Total
funds
2024
£
13,000
13,187|
|---|---|---|
|||26,187|
## **9. Analysis of expenditure on charitable activities Summary by fund type**
|Nursery and Preparatory School
Support costs
Nursery and Preparatory School
Support costs|Unrestricted
funds
2025
£
1,667,452
192,594
1,860,046|Restricted
funds
2025
£
27,578
-
27,578
Unrestricted
funds
2024
£
1,595,903
185,931
1,781,834|Total
2025
£
1,695,030
192,594|
|---|---|---|---|
||||1,887,624|
||||Total
2024
£
1,595,903
185,931|
||||1,781,834|
Page 26
Docusign Envelope ID: 582E0113-9573-8712-83B1-D747BAEC145F
## **THE BELMONT-BIRKLANDS SCHOOL TRUST LIMITED**
## **(A Company Limited by Guarantee)**
## **NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 AUGUST 2025**
## **10. Analysis of expenditure by activities**
|Nursery & Preparatory School
Support costs
Nursery & Preparatory School
Support costs|Activities
undertaken
directly
2025
£
1,695,030
-
1,695,030
Activities
undertaken
directly
2024
£
1,595,903
-
1,595,903|Support
costs
2025
£
-
192,594
192,594
Support
costs
2024
£
-
185,931
185,931|Total
funds
2025
£
1,695,030
192,594|
|---|---|---|---|
||||1,887,624|
||||Total
funds
2024
£
1,595,903
185,931|
||||1,781,834|
## **Analysis of support costs**
|Staff costs
Premises
General office
Governance costs|Support
costs
2025
£
130,801
30,778
15,493
15,522
192,594|Total
funds
2025
£
130,801
30,778
15,493
15,522|
|---|---|---|
|||192,594|
Page 27
Docusign Envelope ID: 582E0113-9573-8712-83B1-D747BAEC145F
## **THE BELMONT-BIRKLANDS SCHOOL TRUST LIMITED**
## **(A Company Limited by Guarantee)**
## **NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 AUGUST 2025**
## **10. Analysis of expenditure by activities (continued)**
## **Analysis of support costs (continued)**
|Staff costs
Premises
General office costs
Governance costs|Support
costs
2024
£
124,670
29,334
15,376
16,551
185,931|Total
funds
2024
£
124,670
29,334
15,376
16,551|
|---|---|---|
|||185,931|
The charity has a policy of allocating 10% of its charitable expenditure as support costs to different activities. Support costs totalling £192,594 (2024 - £185,931) have been allocated based on this policy in these areas.
## **11. Auditors' remuneration**
||2025|2024|
|---|---|---|
||£|£|
|Fees payable to the Company's auditor for the audit of the Company's|||
|annual accounts|4,420|4,226|
|Fees payable to the Company's auditor in respect of:|||
|All non-audit services not included above|6,140|5,870|
## **12. Staff costs**
The total staff costs and employee benefits for the reporting period are analysed as follows:
|Wages and salaries
Social security costs
Contribution to defined contribution pension schemes|2025
£
1,134,153
93,115
80,735
1,308,003|2024
£
1,064,658
80,186
101,848|
|---|---|---|
||||
|||1,246,692|
Page 28
Docusign Envelope ID: 582E0113-9573-8712-83B1-D747BAEC145F
## **THE BELMONT-BIRKLANDS SCHOOL TRUST LIMITED**
## **(A Company Limited by Guarantee)**
## **NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 AUGUST 2025**
## **12. Staff costs (continued)**
The average number of persons employed by the Company during the year was as follows:
|Number of admin staff
Number of teaching staff|2025
No.
9
43
52|2024
No.
10
31|
|---|---|---|
||||
|||41|
The average headcount expressed as full-time equivalents was:
|Number of admin staff
Number of teaching staff|2025
No.
6
29
35|2024
No.
7
33|
|---|---|---|
||||
|||40|
The number of employees whose employee benefits (excluding employer pension costs) exceeded £60,000 was:
|||2025|2024|
|---|---|---|---|
|||No.|No.|
|In the band £70,001|- £80,000|-|1|
Key management personnel include all persons that have authority and responsibility for planning, directing and controlling the activities of the charity. The total paid to key management personnel, being the head teacher and other members of the senior management team, for services provided to the charity was £265,821 (2024: £290,561).
## **13. Trustees' remuneration and expenses**
During the year, no Trustees received any remuneration or other benefits (2024 - £NIL).
During the year ended 31 August 2025, no Trustee expenses have been incurred (2024 - £NIL).
Page 29
Docusign Envelope ID: 582E0113-9573-8712-83B1-D747BAEC145F
## **THE BELMONT-BIRKLANDS SCHOOL TRUST LIMITED**
## **(A Company Limited by Guarantee)**
## **NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 AUGUST 2025**
## **14. Tangible fixed assets**
|**Cost or valuation**
At 1 September 2024
Additions
At 31 August 2025
**Depreciation**
At 1 September 2024
Charge for the year
At 31 August 2025
**Net book value**
At 31 August 2025
At 31 August 2024|Freehold
property
£
2,950,000
-
2,950,000
-
-
-
2,950,000
2,950,000|Fixtures and
fittings
£
136,341
-
136,341
112,724
7,544
120,268
16,073
23,617|Office
equipment
£
37,792
74,534
112,326
37,039
25,221
62,260
50,066
753|Total
£
3,124,133
74,534|
|---|---|---|---|---|
|||||3,198,667|
|||||149,763
32,765|
|||||182,528|
|||||3,016,139|
|||||2,974,370|
All the fixed assets are held to meet the charity's objectives.
The freehold land and buildings included in the accounts at a value of £3,200,000 (£250,000 classified as investment property, £2,950,000 as freehold property) are subject to a legal charge. At 31 August 2025, £2,624,238 was payable by the charity under the legal charge and is included in note 18 to the financial statements.
The freehold property was formally valued on 17th January 2022 on an open market value basis of £3,200,000 by Mr D Brumfitt MRICS, a representative of Feather Smailes Scales LLP. The Trustees have reviewed the valuation of the property as at 31st August 2025 and have concluded that the valuation reflects the market value of the property at that date.
The Company has adopted a policy of revaluation for tangible fixed assets. Had these assets been measured at historic cost, the carrying values would have been as follows:
||2025|2024|
|---|---|---|
||£|£|
|Freehold property|822,573|855,358|
Page 30
Docusign Envelope ID: 582E0113-9573-8712-83B1-D747BAEC145F
## **THE BELMONT-BIRKLANDS SCHOOL TRUST LIMITED**
## **(A Company Limited by Guarantee)**
## **NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 AUGUST 2025**
## **15. Investment property**
|**Valuation**
At 1 September 2024
At 31 August 2025|Freehold
investment
property
£
250,000|
|---|---|
||250,000|
All investments shown above are held at valuation.
The freehold property was formally valued on 17th January 2022 on an open market value basis of £3,200,000 by Mr D Brumfitt MRICS, a representative of Feather Smailes Scales LLP. Of this, £250,000 relates to investment property that is not used in the main course of business. The Trustees have reviewed the valuation of the property as at 31st August 2025 and have concluded that the valuation reflects the market value of the property at that date.
## **16. Stocks**
||2025|2024|
|---|---|---|
||£|£|
|Finished goods and goods for resale|16,061|17,185|
## **17. Debtors**
|**Due within one year**
Trade debtors
Other debtors
Prepayments and accrued income|2025
£
570,527
1,000
67,446
638,973|2024
£
9,503
1,000
85,151|
|---|---|---|
||||
|||95,654|
Page 31
Docusign Envelope ID: 582E0113-9573-8712-83B1-D747BAEC145F
## **THE BELMONT-BIRKLANDS SCHOOL TRUST LIMITED**
## **(A Company Limited by Guarantee)**
## **NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 AUGUST 2025**
## **18. Creditors: Amounts falling due within one year**
|Trade creditors
Accruals and deferred income
Other taxation and social security
Loans|2025
£
77,609
869,348
53,050
2,624,238
3,624,245|2024
£
25,276
538,138
22,744
-|
|---|---|---|
||||
|||586,158|
The loan is secured by a charge on the property. At the year end this loan and interest was payable on 21 January 2026.
In November 2025, the loan was formally extended, the new agreement provides for the loan and interest balance repayment in January 2027.
## **19. Creditors: Amounts falling due after more than one year**
|Loans
Other creditors
Included within the above are amounts falling due as follows:
**Between one and two years**
Other loans|2025
£
-
16,800
16,800
2025
£
-|2024
£
2,624,238
19,800|
|---|---|---|
||||
|||2,644,038|
|||2024
£
2,624,238|
The loan is secured by a charge on the property.
Page 32
Docusign Envelope ID: 582E0113-9573-8712-83B1-D747BAEC145F
## **THE BELMONT-BIRKLANDS SCHOOL TRUST LIMITED (A Company Limited by Guarantee)**
## **NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 AUGUST 2025**
## **20. Accruals and deferred income**
|Deferred income at 1 September 2024
Resources deferred during the year
Amounts released from previous periods
**Deferred income at 31 August 2025**|2025
£
484,945
791,670
(484,945)
791,670|2024
£
184,622
484,945
(184,622)
484,945|
|---|---|---|
Deferred income relates to amounts invoiced during the year for services or activities that will be delivered in the new school term which started on 03 September 2025.
Page 33
Docusign Envelope ID: 582E0113-9573-8712-83B1-D747BAEC145F
## **THE BELMONT-BIRKLANDS SCHOOL TRUST LIMITED**
## **(A Company Limited by Guarantee)**
## **NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 AUGUST 2025**
## **21. Statement of funds**
## **Statement of funds - current year**
|Balance at 1
September
2024
£
Income
£
**Unrestricted funds**
General Funds - all funds
(454,884)
2,043,998
Revaluation reserve
1,610,616
-
1,155,732
2,043,998
**Restricted funds**
Restricted Funds - all funds
-
39,660
Restricted funds relates to donations received in the year specifically
activities.
**Total of funds**
1,155,732
2,083,658|Expenditure
£
(1,860,046)
-
(1,860,046)
(27,578)
for the drama
(1,887,624)|Balance at
31 August
2025
£
(270,932)
1,610,616
1,339,684
12,082
club and its
1,351,766|
|---|---|---|
Page 34
Docusign Envelope ID: 582E0113-9573-8712-83B1-D747BAEC145F
## **THE BELMONT-BIRKLANDS SCHOOL TRUST LIMITED**
## **(A Company Limited by Guarantee)**
## **NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 AUGUST 2025**
## **21. Statement of funds (continued)**
## **Statement of funds - prior year**
|**Unrestricted funds**
**Designated funds**
Designated Funds - all funds
**General funds**
General Funds - all funds
Revaluation reserve
**Total Unrestricted funds**|Balance at
1 September
2023
£
54,812
(535,287)
1,610,616
1,075,329
1,130,141|Income
£
-
1,807,425
-
1,807,425
1,807,425|Expenditure
£
-
(1,781,834)
-
(1,781,834)
(1,781,834)|Transfers
in/out
£
(54,812)
54,812
-
54,812
-|Balance at
31 August
2024
£
-
(454,884)
1,610,616
1,155,732
1,155,732|
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
## **22. Analysis of net assets between funds**
## **Analysis of net assets between funds - current year**
|Tangible fixed assets
Investment property
Current assets
Creditors due within one year
Creditors due in more than one year
**Total**|Unrestricted
funds
2025
£
3,016,139
250,000
1,691,320
(3,600,975)
(16,800)
1,339,684|Restricted
funds
2025
£
-
-
12,082
-
-
12,082|Total
funds
2025
£
3,016,139
250,000
1,703,402
(3,600,975)
(16,800)|
|---|---|---|---|
||||1,351,766|
Page 35
Docusign Envelope ID: 582E0113-9573-8712-83B1-D747BAEC145F
## **THE BELMONT-BIRKLANDS SCHOOL TRUST LIMITED**
## **(A Company Limited by Guarantee)**
## **NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 AUGUST 2025**
**22. Analysis of net assets between funds (continued)**
**Analysis of net assets between funds - prior year**
|Tangible fixed assets
Investment property
Current assets
Creditors due within one year
Creditors due in more than one year
**Total**|Unrestricted
funds
2024
£
2,974,370
250,000
1,161,558
(586,158)
(2,644,038)
1,155,732|Total
funds
2024
£
2,974,370
250,000
1,161,558
(586,158)
(2,644,038)
1,155,732|
|---|---|---|
Page 36
Docusign Envelope ID: 582E0113-9573-8712-83B1-D747BAEC145F
## **THE BELMONT-BIRKLANDS SCHOOL TRUST LIMITED**
## **(A Company Limited by Guarantee)**
## **NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 AUGUST 2025**
## **23. Pension commitments**
There are two pension schemes in operation for employees of the Charity, these are both expensed from unrestricted funds. These are a defined contribution scheme for non-teaching staff and the Teachers' Pension Scheme ('TPS'), a defined benefit pension scheme. The assets of the defined contribution scheme are held separately from those of the Charity in an independently administered fund. The pension cost charge represents contributions payable by the Charity to the fund.
The total pension cost for the period was £72,661 (2024: £101,848). Total contributions of £29,780 (2024: £30,164) were outstanding at the period end. These balances are included in taxation and social security creditors.
Teachers' 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 £64,713 (2024: £92,360) and at the yearend £7,650 (2024 - £11,149) 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 was published in October 2023. The Valuation Report shows notional assets of £222.2bn and liabilities of £262bn, resulting in a scheme deficit of £39.8bn.
The employer contribution rate for the TPS is 28.6%, and employers are also required to pay a scheme administration levy of 0.08% giving a total employer contribution rate of 28.68%.
## **24. Operating lease commitments**
At 31 August 2025 the Company had commitments to make future minimum lease payments under noncancellable operating leases as follows:
||||2025|2024|
|---|---|---|---|---|
||||£|£|
|Not later than|1|year|14,905|14,905|
## **25. Related party transactions**
There were no transactions with related parties during the current year.
Page 37
Docusign EnvelopÈ ID". 582E0113-95734712-83B1-D7478AEC145F