DocuSign Envelope ID: DD144E45-C547-45E7-9488-E6FF503E3861
Company registration number: 02430025 Charity registration number: 900280
Bristol Old Vic Theatre School Limited
(A company limited by guarantee)
Annual Report and Financial Statements
for the Year Ended 31 July 2023
DocuSign Envelope ID: DD144E45-C547-45E7-9488-E6FF503E3861
Bristol Old Vic Theatre School Limited
Contents
| Legal and Administrative Information | 1 to 2 |
|---|---|
| Report of the Chair of the Trustees | 3 |
| Report of the Members of Council | 4 to 15 |
| Independent Auditor's Report | 16 to 19 |
| Consolidated Statement of Financial Activities | 20 |
| Consolidated Balance Sheet | 21 to 22 |
| Charity Balance Sheet | 23 to 24 |
| Consolidated and Charity Cash Flow Statement | 25 to 26 |
| Notes to the Financial Statements | 27 to 47 |
DocuSign Envelope ID: DD144E45-C547-45E7-9488-E6FF503E3861
Bristol Old Vic Theatre School Limited
Legal and Administrative Information
Constitution Bristol Old Vic Theatre School Limited is a charitable company limited by guarantee and a registered charity governed by its memorandum and articles of association. Charity number 900280. Company number 02430025. The Members of the Council of Management (the Council) of the charitable company are its trustees for the purposes of charity law. Members of Council G W Stobart, (Chair of Trustees) I Ameke (appointed 20 March 2023) P C Baker J Boyle (resigned 18 December 2023) A W S Conner P B Eccleson C M T Evans (resigned 3 July 2023) V A Fitzgerald (appointed 26 October 2022 and resigned 12 September 2023) R M James (appointed 11 December 2023) F Lloyd (appointed 11 December 2023) P Macquire-Samson (resigned 20 March 2023) R McKen A Milne (appointed 26 October 2022) P A Tanner Secretary D R Lawton (resigned 25 November 2022) B J Stokes (appointed 1 December 2022 and resigned 28 February 2023) F Francombe (appointed 1 March 2023) Charity Name Bristol Old Vic Theatre School Limited (also known as BOVTS) Senior Management Team Principal & CEO F Francombe Finance Director D Lawton (resigned 25 November 2022) Artistic Director J Stephens (resigned 12 January 2023) A De Souza (appointed 1 February 2023) Director of Drama S Harvey (appointed 1 August 2023) Director of Studies
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Bristol Old Vic Theatre School Limited
Legal and Administrative Information
Registered Office 1 - 2 Downside Road Clifton Bristol BS8 2XF Bankers The Co-Operative Bank plc PO Box 250 Skelmersdale WN8 6WT Solicitors Veale Wasbrough Vizards Narrow Quay House Narrow Quay Bristol BS1 4QA Auditor Corrigan Accountants Limited 1st Floor 25 King Street Bristol BS1 4PB
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Bristol Old Vic Theatre School Limited
Report of the Chair of the Trustees for the Year Ended 31 July 2023
Firstly I want to express my thanks to:
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All Trustees who have served during the year, the new trustees who have joined our Council (Austin Milne, Ifeoma Ameke, Robert James and Faye Lloyd) and particular thanks to Victoria Fitzgerald who resigned as a Trustee and chair of our finance committee and to Priscilla Macquire-Samson, Camilla Evans and Jo Boyle who resigned as a Trustees).
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Paul Eccleson who was appointed as Deputy Chair of Trustees and who, after consultation with all trustees, will take over as Chair of Trustees in September 2024 when my period as a Trustee expires.
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To all members of staff at the School including our visiting professionals. You are a truly dedicated and inspirational group and with our students the beating heart of the School.
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The Executive Leadership Team and other senior executives at the School ably led by Fiona Francombe. We do now have a team in place that gives me confidence that we can meet the many challenges that the School faces, and will face, over the coming years.
This report is tinged with some sadness as my predecessor Lucy Bowden died during the year after a long illness. She contributed hugely to the School and we will particularly miss her wise counsel and her infectious cheerfulness.
The report of the Council of Trustees goes into more detail about the issues facing the School. This has been and will continue to be a huge period of change for the School. The external environment for everyone in Higher Education could not be tougher. And the School is going through a significant change in direction partly driven by those external pressures but also because the School needs to reimagine what it does and who it serves.
It has been a pleasure and privilege to have been the Chair of Trustees of the School and as this will be my last report I want to take the opportunity to wish the School well into the future. The School really is an amazing institution.
Guy Stobart Chair
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Bristol Old Vic Theatre School Limited
Report of the Members of Council
The Members of the Council of Management (the Council) serving during the year and since the year end were as follows:
Member of Council (Trustees):
G W Stobart, (Chair of Trustees) I Ameke (appointed 20 March 2023) P C Baker J Boyle (resigned 18 December 2023) A W S Conner P B Eccleson C M T Evans (resigned 3 July 2023) V A Fitzgerald (appointed 26 October 2022 and resigned 12 September 2023)
R M James (appointed 11 December 2023) F Lloyd (appointed 11 December 2023) P Macquire-Samson (resigned 20 March 2023) R McKen A Milne (appointed 26 October 2022) P A Tanner
The Members of the Council are also members of the company. Each member’s liability in respect of the guarantee is £1.
Principal Activities
The organisation’s principal activity is to train students for careers in theatre, radio, television and film on a variety of courses. That is starting to change as the School looks also to deliver training to a wider audience including commercial and public bodies.
Review of business
Both the level of activity and the year-end financial position were satisfactory. A summary of the achievements and performance during the year and its prospects for the future are set out on pages 9 to 14 of this Report.
The Members of the Council wish to record their thanks for many generous contributions to the School’s Special Funds from which grants are made to students during the year.
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Bristol Old Vic Theatre School Limited
Report of the Members of Council
The School ceased to be a member of the Conservatoire for Dance and Drama (CDD) for funding purposes from 1 Aug 2022, and CDD ceased to have any active role from November 2022 when a resolution was passed to wind up CDD and CDD appointed Liquidators. Five of the six CDD member schools sought self-registration with the Office for Students (OfS). BOVTS was not in a structural position to apply for self-registration at that time and instead negotiated a closer partnership with the University of the West of England (UWE) whereby BOVTS’ students would be wholly UWE students. This revised agreement started on 1st August 2022.
The School thanks colleagues at UWE Bristol for their continued support, both on academic and operational matters pertaining to our students.
Structure, Governance and Management
The following corporate governance statement provides information about the company’s (‘the School’) governance and legal structure.
Principles
The School is committed to best practice in all aspects of corporate governance. It endeavours to conduct its business in accordance with the seven principles published by the Committee on Standards in Public Life, namely selflessness, integrity, objectivity, accountability, openness, honesty and leadership.
Governing document
The School is a charitable company limited by guarantee and governed by its Memorandum and Articles of Association dated 22 September 1989 as amended in December 2010. The Company is registered with the Charity Commission (registration number 900280).
The Council
The business is managed by the Council, the Members of the Council being the company’s directors for the purposes of company law and the company’s trustees for the purposes of charity law. Day to day management of the business is delegated by the Council to the Executive Leadership Team.
The Articles of Association state that Members of the Council may serve for three-year terms up to a maximum of three times. The Chair is appointed by the Members of Council and may serve for up to two three-year terms.
In selecting Council Members consideration is given to the overall breadth of knowledge and skills required of the School’s Council.
Members receive the appropriate training documentation about becoming a charity trustee and company director and are given an induction by the Principal and Head of Finance.
The Council is the governing body of the School. Within certain constraints the responsibility for financial affairs, borrowings, investments, buying, selling, leasing and mortgaging property, contracts and general business of the School is delegated to the Executive Leadership Team which comprises the Principal, Director of Studies and Director of Drama with the Head of Finance in an advisory capacity. In consultation with senior members of staff and certain trustees, the Principal produces the strategic plan of the School, for adoption by the Council.
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Bristol Old Vic Theatre School Limited
Report of the Members of Council
The Council appoints the Principal, with the other members of the Executive Leadership Team being appointed by the Principal in consultation with the Council. The Council normally meets four times a year at which the Principal and Executive Leadership Team are in attendance. The Council has two permanent sub committees, the Finance Committee and the Audit Committee. These Committees have written terms of reference. However, ad hoc committees are set up by the Council from time to time to advise the Council on specific questions. A Student Welfare committee was set up during the year and reports in to the full Council of Trustees.
Staff are represented by an elected staff representative who is invited to full Council of Trustees’ meetings. In addition, a Staff Liaison Group attended by volunteer representatives from both academic and professional services staff, meets monthly to discuss pertinent matters including the introduction of policies, and any suggested changes or amendments to existing policies.
The pay of the Executive Leadership Team is provided within note 6 to the financial statements. All staff are reviewed annually and any pay increases are approved by the Finance Committee. The Principal’s salary is reviewed by the Council of Trustees.
The Members of Council examine the major risks that the School faces each financial year. The Company has developed systems to monitor and control these risks and to mitigate any impact they may have on the School. In 22-23 these risks particularly revolved around the removal of financial support through grant funding from the Office for Students (OfS) and the School’s inability to accept international students due to a decision made by UKVI in July 2023 as a result of the CDD wind-down and the revised relationship with UWE Bristol.
Audit Committee
The Council’s Audit Committee normally meets four times a year with the School’s Principal, Director of Studies and Head of Finance, other members of staff as required and the internal and external auditors in attendance when appropriate. The Audit Committee considers detailed reports from the internal and external auditors, which include recommendations for the improvement of the School’s system of internal control, together with management responses and implementation plans. This Committee also receives and considers reports from the OfS, the Charity Commission, and UWE Bristol as they affect the School’s business, and monitors adherence to regulatory requirements. Further, this committee monitors the School’s major risks at each of its meetings.
The Audit Committee is responsible for the charity’s risk management policy which comprises:
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A quarterly review of the principal risks and uncertainties that the charity and its subsidiaries face;
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The establishment of policies, systems and procedures to mitigate those risks identified in the
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quarterly review; and
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The implementation of procedures designed to minimize or manage any potential impact on the
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charity should those risks materialise.
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Bristol Old Vic Theatre School Limited
Report of the Members of Council
The trustees consider that the major risks facing the company at the end of 2022/23, and suitable mitigating strategies, were:
Risk Mitigation End of 2022-23 Position 5 year modelling regularly reviewed Monitoring of announcements and according to dynamic circumstances policy changes affecting funding (e.g. UKVI & 23-24 budget setting). Changes to funding allocations to specialist HE providers; Banks engaged to discuss future result in material loss of updating of five year financial lending requirement as 3-5 year funding affecting forecast to model impact of changes financial position becomes clearer. financial viability of the such as loss of ISTA funding; full 23-24 budget presented to Council in School review of options to realign the July 2023, which included School to operate within future departmental savings identified income streams. during budget meetings UWE submitted a request for an UKVI removal of School's exceptional arrangement in this case. position in issuing Identified as UWE's responsibility in BOVTS received response from UKVI Certificate of Acceptance revised Responsibilities Schedule in July '23 confirming removal of to Study (CAS) resulting since closer partnership in August 22. BOVTS right to issue CAS. Offers in no international UWE engaged and aware of issue. made to UK students over students being able to international to ensure maximum enter the UK to study. income is realised. 12 month cashflow prepared and updated on rolling monthly basis. UWE staged payments from UWE to Cashflow depletion due Leverage capital assets to provide BOVTS evened out to alleviate to loss of income from additional cash during deficit years. potential in-month deficit. The ISTA & international Regular cash flow reporting provided Christchurch property was sold in student fees to management and Board. August 2023 and proceeds from the sale were received during August 2023.
Finance Committee
The Council’s Finance Committee normally meets four times a year with the School’s Principal, Head of Finance and other members of staff as required in attendance. It reviews the School’s financial arrangements and performance against budget, including the School’s financial strategy and annual budget.
It also reviews the operation of the School’s finance function, the appointment of bankers and other financial professionals, together with personnel, premises and other matters of the School which require a financial consideration.
Principal & Chief Executive Officer
The Chief Executive and academic leader of the School is the Principal. She has a general responsibility for ensuring that all funds are used properly and that in its activities the School achieves value for money. She acts as Accountable Officer for the School.
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Bristol Old Vic Theatre School Limited
Report of the Members of Council
Internal Control
Council has responsibility for maintaining a sound system of internal control that supports the achievement of the School’s policies, aims and objectives, while safeguarding public and other funds and assets for which it is responsible. The system of internal control is designed to manage rather than eliminate the risk of failure to achieve policies, aims and objectives, and it can therefore provide only a reasonable and not an absolute assurance of effectiveness.
The system of internal control is based on an ongoing process designed to identify the principal risks to the achievement of the School’s goals, to evaluate the nature and extent of those risks and to manage them efficiently and effectively. Council’s review of the effectiveness of the system of internal control is informed by the School’s management, who have the responsibility for the development and maintenance of the internal control framework, and by comments made by the internal and external auditors in their management letter and other reports. Council has concluded that the system of internal control is appropriate to the present needs of the School.
Register of Interests
The School maintains a Register of Interests of Members of Council and Senior Officers, which may be viewed by arrangement with the Company Secretary.
Changes in Fixed Assets
The movements in fixed assets during the year are set out in note 7 to the financial statements.
The freehold premises at 1-2 Downside Road, and 3 Downside Road, Clifton, Bristol and Christchurch Studios, 38 Portland Street, Clifton, Bristol are owned by the School and provide suitable accommodation for carrying on the business of the Theatre School. Care is taken to ensure that the premises are properly maintained and that, where finances permit, necessary and up to date equipment is provided. Christchurch Studios, 38 Portland Steet was sold with cash proceeds of £1,375,000 being received on 21 August 2023. The property has been leased back from the purchaser with the first lease payment of £5,000 being taken from the total sale proceeds of £1,380,000.
Consideration of the School’s use of Christchurch Studios, costs to maintain the building, future requirements of the film, audio and television department in line with industry developments and the School’s financial position going into 23-24, led Trustees to make a decision to sell Christchurch Studios on a sale and leaseback basis at a full Council of Trustees meeting on 02 May 2023. JLL were appointed as selling agents, and a Working Group established to oversee the sale. A declaration of interest was received by Paul Baker due to his working involvement with JLL and he was not part of the Working Group, nor involved at any stage throughout the sale process.
On 2nd May 2023 Trustees resolved to proceed with the highest best and final offer for the property. JLL prepared a Charity Commission report and the sale to Crossman Acquisitions Ltd. was completed on Friday 18th August 2023.
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Bristol Old Vic Theatre School Limited
Report of the Members of Council
Related Parties
The charity owns the entire share capital of BOVTS Productions Limited and BOVTS Communications Limited which are trading subsidiaries of the charity. A summary of the trading results of the subsidiaries is set out in note 8 to the financial statements. Details of senior management remuneration are given in note 6. The executive leadership team is considered to be the key personnel as defined by FRS102.
The School was part of the Conservatoire for Dance and Drama (CDD). The School gave notice to CDD of its intention to resign effective at the end of July 2022 and ceased to have an active role from November 2022. The School received a final distribution of grant funding prior to CDD liquidation.
A review of the activities to further its charitable purposes for public benefit
In planning all of the School's activities for the year the Council is mindful of the need to provide public benefit. The School continues to increase funds available for distribution to support students who face financial challenges during their training through events and performances that have taken place in Bristol and the West Country, and donations from individuals and Trusts have been received to add to the School's existing student support funds.
The School continues to present its public productions in a wide range of accessible venues across Bristol at affordable prices. The School has a strong youth group developing theatre skills for young people; it runs a wide range of short courses for young people and adults over the year, and runs a summer Foundation course.
The Theatre School’s commitment to educating school-aged children in possible careers in the theatrical and screen industries is delivered by our Student Recruitment and Outreach Officer. Schools across the Bristol and wider City Region are visited, workshops arranged and hosted by the Theatre School and performances delivered in the Autumn Term to primary schools.
Further details of the School's activities below explain how the charity fulfills its objectives and all of the activities that provide public benefit.
The School's object and aim is to promote, maintain, improve and advance education particularly by operating as a drama school operating a vocational education and training establishment to further the education and training of actors, stage managers, designers, directors and allied management, craft and technical skills and by the production of educational plays and the encouragement of the arts and also to present, promote, manage and produce such plays, drama, comedies and other productions to maintain, improve and advance the education of the students or to encourage the arts.
The School's strategies for achieving its stated object and aim of training students to the highest standard for careers in the arts and entertainment industry include providing a practical approach to acquiring specialist performance and technical skills, and providing students with a wide range of professional and vocationally relevant performance and production opportunities. The training operates in a producing house environment with all aspects of the School working to this ethos. The students learn through doing, and this is evident in all aspects of their day-to-day training.
All teaching staff have a professional background in their subject specialism and students train using, as far as possible, industry standard resources. The School’s resources continue to be challenged and reviewed due to its financial position, whilst also always ensuring the relevance and standard of our students’ training.
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Bristol Old Vic Theatre School Limited
Report of the Members of Council
Significant activities that contribute to the achievement of the objectives include constant contact with professional artists and organisations to ensure the currency of the curriculum, and the wide range of performance and recording locations available to students to showcase their work. The School invests significant time and energy for final year students in preparing them for their future employment thus ensuring the School's outstanding graduate employment record.
The School's Principal has continued her involvement in the Bristol One City strategy, which includes participating in the biannual One City Gathering, as well as being a member of the One City Culture Board.
The Culture Board champions, initiates and drives projects within Bristol that contribute to a sustainable, inclusive and growing culture & creative sector from which all will benefit. She is also a Trustee for Cathedral Schools Trust, a multi-academy trust in the Bristol area, and a Member for Venturers Trust, both of which provide her with insight over emerging developments in education that are highly relevant in enabling BOVTS to better understand and prepare for the challenges faced by under-graduate students joining the School.
Sustainability
The Theatre School recognises the importance of working sustainably, not only within the School community but in the venues and work we undertake externally as well. The School’s current buildings do not lend themselves to energy efficiency, and this must be a future consideration for the School in any future property strategy. However, interventions already underway include reducing energy usage and recycling as much as possible. Current industry developments in lighting are utilised across filming & theatrical productions.
As much as reasonably possible, BOVTS works within Theatre Green Book and ‘we are albert’ guidelines and practices. The School has prepared a schedule of moving to paperless systems, started by introduction of Google Classroom suite this year. There will soon be a prioritised Action Plan for rest of School to go paperless, overseen by the School’s Data Protection Officer. Green travel policies are under consideration.
The School's vision statement
Bristol Old Vic Theatre School will be an exemplar in modern international drama training, preparing exceptional young professionals to forge their careers in tomorrow's creative industries.
The School’s values:
Belong: we are sincere, we accept uniqueness and we adapt to include everyone who is part of our diverse and welcoming cultural community.
Challenge with a safety net: we are always learning in a practical and dynamic way; creating and collaborating within a forward-looking, safe and caring environment.
Identify great talent: we look to all backgrounds and communities to find the creative potential who will join us in setting the tone for excellence in our industry.
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Report of the Members of Council
Inner confidence: we are proud of our expertise and passionate about passing it on to the next generation of industry professionals, knowing they will make a difference.
Work productively & properly: we are efficient, respectful and collaborative and understand that everyone needs down-time.
Achievements and performances
This has been another successful year for the School, ending the year with a total of 204 UK students in training and with an additional 26 international students; a total of 230 students.
In total 121 students graduated in July 2023; 62 from undergraduate courses and 59 from post graduate courses. Graduate employment was very encouraging across the board, with some students able to accept professional work before the academic year due to modules all being completed. The School’s nuancing of its training to individual capabilities and interests is evident in the professional positions they have secured post-study.
Communication with students continues to improve, mainly due to our Director of Studies’ work in leading the academic side of the School being visible, offering clarity to students and supporting staff to deliver their roles effectively. The School thanks Stuart Harvey for his work and commitment to hearing its student voice.
Once again the School asked a lot of its staff and students and all rose to the challenge. This academic year the School produced 15 plays (in 6 venues across Bristol), 6 films and 3 showcases, as well as a Writer’s Festival. There were also London Showcases for both the BA Acting and MFA Professional Acting cohorts, a screening of the films made across the courses and an Exhibition of work by our MA Design, BA Costume and BA Production Arts students.
Two productions (Y2 BA Acting course) were staged at the Malcolm X Community Centre in St Pauls, one of the Y3 productions Emilia was at Circomedia in St Pauls, with This House at the Tobacco Factory. This makes a valuable statement to our audiences, students and to the wider Bristol community that we are consciously diversifying our reach as a School. This visibility and accessibility must be maintained, particularly as property considerations, including where the film, audio and television department will be housed after August 2025, and the very real need for the School to have its own venue must remain ever present in the School’s medium to long-term strategic planning.
Ali de Souza joined the School as Director of Drama in February 2023, taking over from Jenny Stephens (Artistic Director) who had been a member of staff for over eleven years. Under Jenny’s tenure the School realised much increased diversity across its student cohort and ambitious productions that are still talked about within the School. We extend huge thanks to Jenny for all she contributed to School life, and wish her all the best for her freelance career.
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Bristol Old Vic Theatre School Limited
Report of the Members of Council
The work produced across all courses the School is of a very high level and for that the School community must feel justifiably proud. However, the workload for our staff and students is untenable, and the School’s financial position cannot sustain it. Learning outcomes across the School must be rationalised, which will lead to more time to learn, more opportunities to make mistakes in a safe environment, and a more realistic approach to the resources that will be available. The Executive Team are continuing to work with course leaders to combine learning opportunities, lower production throughput and reduce the scale of some of our productions and films whilst also ensuring it is not to the detriment of our students’ ability to enter the world of work with the skills, knowledge and aptitude required of them.
Staffing and Teaching
The School continued to see further staff changes this year, which echoed workplaces in the wider world experiencing staff churn as a residual side effect following Covid. The amount of change the School has begun, and must continue, to undergo in order to live within its means whilst continuing its high delivery standards to students was also a factor.
The Finance department underwent change at a senior level, with the departure of the Finance Director in November ’22 for personal reasons, the creation of an unsuccessful Chief Operating Officer role and a prolonged interim position whilst internal restructuring was underway. The arrival of Julia Trow as Head of Finance in June ’23 has undoubtedly been a positive addition to the staff cohort, and acknowledgement of Julia’s ongoing steady scrutiny and diligent work must be noted.
Further thanks must also go to Carol Fairlamb, the School’s Head of Voice, for her teaching and contribution to School life during her eleven year tenure, and to Richard Maxwell (Head of TV Production) for his work over sixteen years at the School.
The School has been able to continue to attract staff of a high calibre in both the academic and professional services’ sides of the School and internal appointments have been made where appropriate in order to progress, invest in and develop our staff.
The Student Support team was expanded this year in order to provide higher levels of support to all our students, particularly those whose mainstream education was so badly affected by the pandemic. Although a more normal year in terms of the logistical effects of Covid that previous years have presented, there is most definitely a residual effect in terms of our students’ mental health. Julia Heeley’s work in providing support to our students should be recognised in an often overlooked yet vital area of the School.
In July 2023 the School announced to staff and students that Trustees had made the decision to cease the current Production Arts (PA) course from 2024 onwards and that from the Autumn Term 2023, the Executive team should engage with PA staff to consider new options for delivering modern, profitable world-class technical training, if that is feasible. The decision had been made due to the financial unviability of the course, and to the historic challenge in recruiting students to the course. It was further evident that the recruitment challenge was being experienced by peer drama schools and an article in trade press over the ‘crisis in recruiting to technical courses blaming a collapse in arts education and theatre careers advice in schools’ testified to that.
Funding was secured by Flip Tanner (BOVTS Trustee) from the Backstage Trust for BOVTS to lead in considering technical training across the drama school sector with work beginning with staff from September 2023.
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Bristol Old Vic Theatre School Limited
Report of the Members of Council
Financial Review
Income is £3,284,982, a decrease of 10.5% over the previous year (2022 £3,669,192). The loss of ISTA funding when CDD in July 2022 ceased to operate significantly contributed to that decrease. Expenditure is £3,975,387 an increase of 18.9% over the previous year (2022 £3,341,847). Net losses were £698,300 (there was a net gain of £335,034 in 2022). Total funds were £6,854,504 (£7,552,804 in 2022). The main sources of funding of the School remains the tuition fees from the Office for Students through the University of the West of England, and to a lesser extent production income, short courses and donations for student support.
The school had budgeted for the above loss as explained in the 2022 accounts and has financed the loss from its pre existing reserves. However the School has recognised the need to undertake a major restructuring to bring it back in to profitability. Because of the School’s ongoing obligations to its existing students significantly reducing expenditure will take time, and investment and expenditure is required as the School looks to grow new income generating activities. The School is also looking to become registered as a Higher Education Institution in its own right and the cost of achieving that will also slow down the rate at which overall expenditure can be curtailed. Self registration will particularly enable the School to apply to teach overseas students again.
Investment Policy
The School takes a cautious approach to investment of funds in the current financial economic climate, and the investment policy is reviewed at the Finance Committee meetings.
The Council uses Rathbones Investment Management Ltd as investment managers for some of its restricted funds for student support. Other funds for student support and the Development Appeal are held in cash.
Based on a medium risk tolerance the investments are managed to generate a return over time above the rate of inflation.
Reserves Policy
The Council has addressed the policy in respect of reserves for the benefit of the School’s progress. We aim to have 3 months of expenditure in our reserves.
The Student Fund was designated to provide financial support for students who do not fall into the categories prescribed by some of the restricted scholarship funds.
The Stability Fund was designated by the Council to allow the School to continue to operate for a full term and create a financial buffer should there be a sharp fiscal downturn with significant loss of income.
The Building Fund was designated to recognise the need to reserve sufficient funds for the maintenance and improvement of the School’s various sites.
The Artistic Fund was created to enable the School to develop and research its production portfolio and provide a reserve for performing in new ways and at potentially more expensive venues in and around Bristol.
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Bristol Old Vic Theatre School Limited
Report of the Members of Council
Plans for future periods
Although the reputation of the School remains high and the numbers applying for our most sought after course (BA Acting) continue to be very positive as do the numbers applying for the other courses and programmes we provide, the School is facing considerable challenges. These challenges are particularly in relation to the School’s finances. The ongoing freeze in student tuition fees, the loss of ISTA referred to in last year’s accounts, the loss of our ability, for now, to take overseas students when coupled with the high levels of inflation that affect all our costs is reflected in the losses.
The School is going through a deep seated review of its strategy and is looking to focus on its most successful courses, to cut costs where ever possible, to grow other sources of income so that it is less dependant on the public purse. The School is also looking at all of its assets and reserves to see if they can more effectively be used to support the School during this period of transition. The School recognises the need to be an organisation that is financially viable into the future and is putting considerable effort into achieving that. While the School has a balance sheet with property assets against which it has no borrowing, the School recognises that that in itself is not sufficient for its long term sustainability.
Auditor
A resolution to reappoint Corrigan Accountants Limited for the ensuing year will be proposed at the Annual General Meeting in accordance with section 408 of the Companies Act 2006.
Statement of Members of Council’s responsibilities
Members of Council are responsible for the charitable company keeping proper accounting records which disclose with reasonable accuracy at any time the financial position of the charitable company and the group and to enable them to ensure that the financial statements comply with the Companies Act 2006.
Company law requires the Members of Council to ensure that there are prepared financial statements for each financial period which give a true and fair view of the state of affairs of the charitable company and group and of the incoming resources and application of resources including Income & Expenditure of the charitable company and group for that period. In preparing those financial statements, Members of Council are required to:
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select the most appropriate accounting policies and apply them consistently;
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observe the methods and principles in the Charities SORP;
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make judgements and estimates that are reasonable and prudent;
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state whether applicable UK accounting standards have been followed, subject to any material departures disclosed and explained in the financial statements; and
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prepare the financial statements on the going concern basis unless it is inappropriate to presume that the charitable company will continue in business.
The Members of Council have taken reasonable steps to:
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ensure that funds from the Office for Students are used only for the purposes for which they have been given and any other conditions which the Funding Council may from time to time prescribe;
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ensure that there are appropriate financial and management controls in place to safeguard public funds and funds from other sources;
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DocuSign Envelope ID: DD144E45-C547-45E7-9488-E6FF503E3861
Bristol Old Vic Theatre School Limited
Report of the Members of Council
-
safeguard the assets of the School and to prevent and detect fraud;
-
secure the economical, efficient and effective management of the School’s resources and expenditure.
The Members of Council have referred to the guidance in the Charity Commission’s general guidance on Public Benefit when reviewing the Charity’s aims and objectives and in planning the Charity’s future activities. In particular, the Members of Council have considered how planned activities will contribute to the aims and objectives they have set.
Directors' declaration
So far as the directors are aware, there is no relevant information (as defined by Section 418 of the Companies Act 2006) of which the company's auditor is unaware, and each director has taken all the steps that they ought to have taken as a director in order to make themself aware of any relevant audit information and to establish that the company's auditor is aware of that information.
This report has been prepared in accordance with the special provisions of Part 15 of the Companies Act 2006 relating to small companies.
15 April 2024
Approved on behalf of the Council on ....................
......................................... G W Stobart Member of Council
Page 15
DocuSign Envelope ID: DD144E45-C547-45E7-9488-E6FF503E3861
Bristol Old Vic Theatre School Limited
Independent Auditor's Report to the Members of Bristol Old Vic Theatre School Limited
Opinion
We have audited the financial statements of Bristol Old Vic Theatre School Limited (the 'charitable parent company') and its subsidiaries (the 'group') for the year ended 31 July 2023, which comprise the Consolidated Statement of Financial Activities, Consolidated Balance Sheet, Charity Balance Sheet, Consolidated and Charity Cash Flow Statement and Notes to the Financial Statements, including significant accounting policies. The financial reporting framework that has been applied in their preparation is United Kingdom Accounting Standards, comprising Charities SORP - FRS 102 'The Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland' and applicable law (United Kingdom Generally Accepted Accounting Practice).
In our opinion the financial statements:
-
give a true and fair view of the state of the group's and parent charity's affairs as at 31 July 2023 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 auditor responsibilities for the audit of the financial statements section of our report. We are independent of the group in accordance with the ethical requirements that are relevant to our audit of the financial statements in the UK, including the FRC’s Ethical Standard, and we have fulfilled our other ethical responsibilities in accordance with these requirements. We believe that the audit evidence we have obtained is sufficient and appropriate to provide a basis for our opinion.
Conclusions relating to going concern
In auditing the financial statements, we have concluded that the 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 group's ability to continue as a going concern for a period of at least twelve months from when the original financial statements were 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 16
DocuSign Envelope ID: DD144E45-C547-45E7-9488-E6FF503E3861
Bristol Old Vic Theatre School Limited
Independent Auditor's Report to the Members of Bristol Old Vic Theatre School Limited
Other information
The other information comprises the information included in the Report of the Members of the Council of Management, other than the financial statements and our auditor’s 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.
Matters on which we are required to report by exception
We have nothing to report in respect of the following matters where the Charities Act 2011 requires us to report to you if, in our opinion:
-
adequate accounting records have not been kept by the parent charitable company, or returns adequate for our audit have not been received from branches not visited by us; or
-
the parent charitable company 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 exemption in preparing the directors’ report and take advantage of the small companies exemption from the requirement to prepare a strategic report.
Responsibilities of trustees
As explained more fully in the Statement of the Members of Council's responsibilities (set out on page 14), the trustees (who are also the directors of the parent 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 group's and parent 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 group of parent charitable company or to cease operations, or have no realistic alternative but to do so.
Page 17
DocuSign Envelope ID: DD144E45-C547-45E7-9488-E6FF503E3861
Bristol Old Vic Theatre School Limited
Independent Auditor's Report to the Members of Bristol Old Vic Theatre School Limited
Auditor responsibilities for the audit of the financial statements
We have been appointed auditor under section 151 of the Charities Act 2011 and report in accordance with this Act.
Our objectives are to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the financial statements as a whole are free from material misstatement, whether due to fraud or error, and to issue an auditor’s report that includes our opinion. Reasonable assurance is a high level of assurance, but is not a guarantee that an audit conducted in accordance with ISAs (UK) will always detect a material misstatement when it exists. Misstatements can arise from fraud or error and are considered material if, individually or in the aggregate, they could reasonably be expected to influence the economic decisions of users taken on the basis of these financial statements.
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 applicable to the company and the sector in which it operates.
-
We obtained an understanding of how the company is complying with those legal and regulatory frameworks by making enquiries to management. We corroborated these enquiries through our review of board minutes.
-
We assessed the susceptibility of the company’s financial statements to material misstatement, including how fraud might occur. Audit procedures performed by the engagement team included:
-
identifying and assessing the design effectiveness of controls management has in place to prevent and detect fraud;
-
understanding how those charged with governance considered and addressed the potential for override of controls or other inappropriate influence over the financial reporting process;
-
challenging assumptions and judgements made by management in its significant accounting estimates;
-
identifying and testing journal entries, in particular any unusual journal entries; and
o assessing the extent of compliance with the relevant laws and regulations.
Because of the inherent limitations of an audit, there is a risk that we will not detect all irregularities, including those leading to a material misstatement in the financial statements or non-compliance with regulation. This risk increases the more that compliance with a law or regulation is removed from the events and transactions reflected in the financial statements, as we will be less likely to become aware of instances of non-compliance. The risk is also greater regarding irregularities occurring due to fraud rather than error, as fraud involves intentional concealment, forgery, collusion, omission or misrepresentation.
Page 18
DocuSign Envelope ID: DD144E45-C547-45E7-9488-E6FF503E3861
Bristol Old Vic Theatre School Limited
Independent Auditor's Report to the Members of Bristol Old Vic Theatre School Limited
A further description of our responsibilities is available on the Financial Reporting Council’s website at: https://www.frc.org.uk/Our-Work/Audit/Audit-and-assurance/Standards-and-guidance/Standards-andguidance-for-auditors/Auditors-responsibilities-for-audit/Description-of-auditors-responsibilities-for-audit .aspx. This description forms part of our auditor’s report.
Use of our report
This report is made solely to the charitable parent company's trustees, as a body, in accordance with Part 4 of the Charities (Accounts and Reports) Regulations 2008. Our audit work has been undertaken so that we might state to the charitable parent company's trustees those matters we are required to state to them in an auditor’s report and for no other purpose. To the fullest extent permitted by law, we do not accept or assume responsibility to anyone other than the charitable company's trustees as a body, for our audit work, for this report, or for the opinions we have formed.
......................................
Stuart Crisp BSc FCA (Senior Statutory Auditor) For and on behalf of Corrigan Accountants Limited, Statutory Auditor
1st Floor 25 King Street Bristol BS1 4PB 15 April 2024 Date:.............................
Corrigan Accountants Limited is eligible to act as an auditor in terms of section 1212 of the Companies Act 2006.
Page 19
DocuSign Envelope ID: DD144E45-C547-45E7-9488-E6FF503E3861
Bristol Old Vic Theatre School Limited
Consolidated Statement of Financial Activities for the Year Ended 31 July 2023 (Including Consolidated Income and Expenditure Account)
| Note Incoming resources: Donations and legacies 3 Charitable activities 3 Other trading activities 3 Income from investments 3 Total income Resources expended: Raising funds 4 Charitable activities 4 Commercial trading 4 Total expenditure Net (expenditure)/income before investment gains Net (losses)/gains on investments 8 Net income/(expenditure) Transfers between funds Reconciliation of funds Total funds brought forward (restated) Total funds carried forward 13 |
Unrestricted funds £ 256,702 2,935,022 2,138 46,370 3,240,232 (216) (3,838,129) (170) (3,838,515) (598,283) (9,296) (607,579) - 5,905,933 5,298,354 |
Restricted funds £ 32,765 - - 11,985 44,750 (5,224) (131,648) - (136,872) (92,122) 1,401 (90,721) - 1,646,871 1,556,150 |
Total 2023 £ 289,467 2,935,022 2,138 58,355 3,284,982 (5,440) (3,969,777) (170) (3,975,387) (690,405) (7,895) (698,300) - 7,552,804 6,854,504 |
Total 2022 £ 947,706 2,663,150 8,099 50,237 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3,669,192 | ||||
| (5,552) (3,335,597) (698) |
||||
| (3,341,847) | ||||
| 327,345 7,689 |
||||
| 335,034 | ||||
| - 7,217,770 |
||||
| 7,552,804 |
The Statement of Financial Activities includes all gains and losses recognised in the year.
All incoming resources and resources expended derive from continuing operations.
The accompanying accounting policies and notes form an integral part of the financial statements.
The notes on pages 27 to 47 form an integral part of these financial statements. Page 20
DocuSign Envelope ID: DD144E45-C547-45E7-9488-E6FF503E3861
Bristol Old Vic Theatre School Limited
(Registration number: 02430025) Consolidated Balance Sheet as at 31 July 2023
| Note Fixed assets Tangible assets 7 Investments 8 Current assets Debtors 9 Cash at bank and in hand Creditors: Amounts falling due within one year 10 Net current assets Total assets less current liabilities Creditors: Amounts falling due after more than one year 11 Net assets Funds of the group: Restricted income funds 13 Unrestricted funds 13 Revaluation reserve 12 Total funds |
Group unrestricted funds 2023 £ 4,719,563 467,785 5,187,348 101,633 627,696 729,329 (505,824) 223,505 5,410,853 (112,500) 5,298,353 - 2,891,161 2,407,192 5,298,353 |
Group restricted funds 2023 £ 791,615 428,741 1,220,356 - 335,795 335,795 - 335,795 1,556,151 - 1,556,151 1,556,151 - - 1,556,151 |
Group total funds 2023 £ 5,511,178 896,526 6,407,704 101,633 963,491 1,065,124 (505,824) 559,300 6,967,004 (112,500) 6,854,504 1,556,151 2,891,161 2,407,192 6,854,504 |
(Restated) Group total funds 2022 £ 5,606,841 909,645 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 6,516,486 | ||||
| 49,728 1,637,796 |
||||
| 1,687,524 (485,652) |
||||
| 1,201,872 | ||||
| 7,718,358 (165,554) |
||||
| 7,552,804 | ||||
| 1,646,871 3,498,741 2,407,192 |
||||
| 7,552,804 |
The notes on pages 27 to 47 form an integral part of these financial statements. Page 21
DocuSign Envelope ID: DD144E45-C547-45E7-9488-E6FF503E3861
Bristol Old Vic Theatre School Limited
(Registration number: 02430025) Consolidated Balance Sheet as at 31 July 2023
The trustees have prepared financial statements in accordance with section 398 of the Companies Act 2006 and section 138 of the Charities Act 2011. These financial statements are prepared in accordance with the special provisions of Part 15 of the Companies Act relating to small companies and constitute the annual accounts required by the Companies Act 2006 and are for circulation to members of the company.
The accompanying accounting policies and notes form an integral part of the financial statements.
The financial statements on pages 20 to 47 were approved and authorised by the Members of the 15 April 2024 Council on .................... and signed on their behalf by:
.........................................
G W Stobart Member of Council
......................................... F E Purcell Principal & CEO
The notes on pages 27 to 47 form an integral part of these financial statements. Page 22
DocuSign Envelope ID: DD144E45-C547-45E7-9488-E6FF503E3861
Bristol Old Vic Theatre School Limited
(Registration number: 02430025) Charity Balance Sheet as at 31 July 2023
| Note Fixed assets Tangible assets 7 Investments 8 Current assets Debtors 9 Cash at bank and in hand Creditors: Amounts falling due within one year 10 Net current assets Total assets less current liabilities Creditors: Amounts falling due after more than one year 11 Net assets Funds of the charity: Restricted income funds 13 Unrestricted funds 13 Revaluation reserve 12 Total funds Parent company's profit for the year |
Charity unrestricted funds 2023 £ 4,719,563 488,785 5,208,348 101,115 621,752 722,867 (505,824) 217,043 5,425,391 (112,500) 5,312,891 - 2,905,699 2,407,192 5,312,891 (607,507) |
Charity restricted funds 2023 £ 791,615 428,741 1,220,356 - 335,795 335,795 - 335,795 1,556,151 - 1,556,151 1,556,151 - - 1,556,151 (90,721) |
Charity total funds 2023 £ 5,511,178 917,526 6,428,704 101,115 957,547 1,058,662 (505,824) 552,838 6,981,542 (112,500) 6,869,042 1,556,151 2,905,699 2,407,192 6,869,042 (698,228) |
(Restated) Charity total funds 2022 £ 5,606,841 930,645 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 6,537,486 | ||||
| 49,541 1,631,780 |
||||
| 1,681,321 (485,983) |
||||
| 1,195,338 | ||||
| 7,732,824 (165,554) |
||||
| 7,567,270 | ||||
| 1,646,871 3,513,207 2,407,192 |
||||
| 7,567,270 | ||||
| 335,070 |
The notes on pages 27 to 47 form an integral part of these financial statements. Page 23
DocuSign Envelope ID: DD144E45-C547-45E7-9488-E6FF503E3861
Bristol Old Vic Theatre School Limited
(Registration number: 02430025) Charity Balance Sheet as at 31 July 2023
These financial statements have been prepared in accordance with section 398 of the Companies Act 2006 and section 138 of the Charities Act 2011. These financial statements are prepared in accordance with the special provisions of Part 15 of the Companies Act relating to small companies and constitute the annual accounts required by the Companies Act 2006 and are for circulation to members of the company.
The accompanying accounting policies and notes form an integral part of the financial statements.
The financial statements on pages 20 to 47 were approved and authorised for issue by the Members of 15 April 2024 the Council on .................... and signed on their behalf by:
......................................... G W Stobart Member of Council
......................................... F E Purcell Principal & CEO
The notes on pages 27 to 47 form an integral part of these financial statements. Page 24
DocuSign Envelope ID: DD144E45-C547-45E7-9488-E6FF503E3861
Bristol Old Vic Theatre School Limited
Consolidated and Charity Cash Flow Statement for the Year Ended 31 July 2023
| Note Cash flows from operating activities Net cash (expenditure)/income Adjustments Depreciation Interest receivable Dividends receivable Mortgage interest Loss on investments Adjustment for management charges taken from investment gains (Increase)/decrease in debtors 9 Increase/(decrease) in creditors 10 Net cash flows from operating activities Cash flows from investing activities Interest received Dividends received Purchase of tangible fixed assets 7 Net cash flows from investing activities Cash flows from financing activities Repayment of borrowings 10 Mortgage interest paid Net cash flows from financing activities Net (decrease)/increase in cash and cash equivalents |
Group 2023 £ (698,300) 97,837 (36,925) (21,430) 11,190 7,895 5,224 (51,574) 77,573 (608,510) 36,925 21,430 (2,172) 56,183 (110,788) (11,190) (121,978) (674,305) |
Group 2022 £ 327,345 105,795 (32,203) (18,034) 1,534 - 5,336 (2,139) (179,507) 208,127 32,203 18,034 (20,954) 29,283 (123,915) (1,534) (125,449) 111,961 |
Charity 2023 £ (698,228) 97,837 (36,925) (21,430) 11,190 7,895 5,224 (51,905) 77,904 (608,438) 36,925 21,430 (2,172) 56,183 (110,788) (11,190) (121,978) (674,233) |
Charity 2022 £ 327,381 105,795 (32,203) (18,034) 1,534 - 5,336 551 (179,446) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 210,914 | ||||
| 32,203 18,034 (20,954) |
||||
| 29,283 | ||||
| (123,915) (1,534) |
||||
| (125,449) | ||||
| 114,748 |
The notes on pages 27 to 47 form an integral part of these financial statements.
Page 25
DocuSign Envelope ID: DD144E45-C547-45E7-9488-E6FF503E3861
Bristol Old Vic Theatre School Limited
Consolidated and Charity Cash Flow Statement for the Year Ended 31 July 2023
| Note Cash and cash equivalents at 1 August Cash and cash equivalents at 31 July Analysis of changes in net debt Cash at bank and in hand Debts due within one year Debts due after one year |
Group 2023 £ 1,637,796 963,491 At 31 July 2022 £ 1,637,796 (116,578) (165,554) 1,355,664 |
Group 2022 £ 1,525,835 1,637,796 Cash flows £ (674,305) 116,578 (5,792) (563,519) |
Charity 2023 £ 1,631,780 957,547 Other non-cash changes £ - (58,846) 58,846 - |
Charity 2022 £ 1,517,032 |
||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1,631,780 | ||||||
| At 31 July 2023 £ 963,491 (58,846) (112,500) 792,145 |
The notes on pages 27 to 47 form an integral part of these financial statements. Page 26
DocuSign Envelope ID: DD144E45-C547-45E7-9488-E6FF503E3861
Bristol Old Vic Theatre School Limited
Notes to the Financial Statements for the Year Ended 31 July 2023
1 Accounting policies
Basis of preparation
The financial statements have been prepared in accordance with Accounting and Reporting by Charities: Statement of Recommended Practice applicable to charities preparing their accounts in accordance with the Financial Reporting Standard applicable to the UK and republic of Ireland (Charities SORP (FRS 102)), the Financial reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland (FRS102) and the Companies Act 2006.
Bristol Old Vic Theatre School 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 note(s) below.
Going concern
The charity reported a consolidated net deficit of £698,300 for the year (2022: £335,034 surplus). The loss reflects the loss of ISTA funding which, along with other factors such as the removal of the School’s right (after the winding up of the Conservatoire of Dance and Drama) to enroll international students (taking effect since the year end for 2023/24), means the School expects to report a deficit again in the current financial year and in 2024/25. The trustees have therefore considered as part of their going concern assessment whether sufficient funds will be available to support those losses and to continue to meet liabilities as they fall due in the next 12 months.
The trustees have updated their financial forecast to model the impact of the above changes, including a number of options to realign the School to operate within future income streams over the longer term. This work is ongoing and is subject to regular review and challenge from the trustees. The going concern assessment for these financial statements conducted by the trustees has included a review of the 12-month cashflow forecast to April 2025 which reflects the latest forecast income and expenditure for the year to July 2024, together with the approved budget for 2024/25. The approved budget for 2024/25 utilises best estimates of income drawn from recent student application numbers and enrolments as well as cost savings identified. The actions above will ensure that the School retains sufficient funds while medium term measures planned take effect. These include profitable initiatives using the School’s brand and expertise to build its activities in the UK and internationally and to enable the School to achieve its own registration as a Higher Education institution at an appropriate time and thereby enable the School to reinstate international students.
Based on the cashflow forecasts for the 12 month period following the date of the approval of these financial statements, the trustees believe the charitable company will have adequate resources to continue in operational existence for at least the next 12 months, and so the financial statements have been prepared on the going concern basis.
Group financial statements
The financial statements consolidate the results of the charity and its wholly owned subsidiaries BOVTS Communications Limited and BOVTS Productions Limited on a line-by-line basis. A separate Statement of Financial Activities (including an Income & Expenditure Account) for the charity has not been presented because the charity has taken advantage of the exemption afforded by section 408 of the Companies Act 2006.
Page 27
DocuSign Envelope ID: DD144E45-C547-45E7-9488-E6FF503E3861
Bristol Old Vic Theatre School Limited
Notes to the Financial Statements for the Year Ended 31 July 2023
Related party transactions
The charity has taken advantage of the exemption in FRS102 not to disclose transactions with group companies which are eliminated on consolidation in the group financial statements.
Fixed assets
Fixed assets are initially recorded at cost. Depreciation is calculated so as to write off the cost of tangible fixed assets, less their estimated residual values, on a straight line basis over the expected useful economic lives of the assets concerned.
Plant and equipment over the value of £1,000 is depreciated at 25% per annum. Smaller items of plant and equipment are written off in the year of acquisition.
The charity has taken advantage of the transitional arrangements in the adoption of FRS102 by electing to report the charity’s freehold land and buildings at their fair value as determined by professional chartered surveyors as at the date of transition, being 1 August 2014, and to use this value as their deemed cost carried forward at that date (see Note 7). Under FRS 102, the School is required each year to depreciate its freehold property. In managing the property care is taken to ensure that the premises are properly maintained to provide suitable accommodation for carrying on the business of the Theatre School. These maintenance costs are written off in full in each year’s financial statements.
The Members of Council consider the useful economic lives of the listed buildings to be at least 50 years and on this basis (after excluding non-depreciable land) tangible fixed assets are depreciated on a straight-line basis over their estimated useful lives as follows:
-
Freehold Land Nil
-
Freehold Buildings 2%
Incoming resources
Incoming resources are recognised in the financial statements on the following basis:
Productions
Income from theatre admission fees is included in incoming resources in the period in which the relevant production takes place.
Donations and grants
Income from donations and grants, including capital grants, is recognised when the charity has entitlement to the funds; any performance conditions have been met; it is probable that the income will be received; and the amount can be measured reliably.
Tuition fees
Fees receivable and charges for the services are accounted for in the period in which the services are provided.
Interest receivable
Interest is recognised on a receivable basis.
Page 28
DocuSign Envelope ID: DD144E45-C547-45E7-9488-E6FF503E3861
Bristol Old Vic Theatre School Limited
Notes to the Financial Statements for the Year Ended 31 July 2023
Operating leases
Rentals payable under operating leases are charged on a straight-line basis over the lease term.
Resources expended
Expenditure is recognised when there is a legal or constructive obligation to make a payment to a third party. Contractual arrangements and performance-related grants are recognised as goods or services are supplied. Other grant payments are recognised when a constructive obligation arises that results in the payment being unavoidable.
Costs of generating funds are those costs incurred in attracting voluntary income, and those incurred in trading activities that raise funds.
Charitable activities include both the direct costs and support costs relating to those activities. Governance costs include those incurred in the governance of the charity and its assets and are primarily associated with constitutional and statutory requirements.
Pension scheme
The company operates a defined contribution pension scheme. The amount charged to the SOFA in respect of pension costs is the contribution payable in the year.
Foreign currency translation
Monetary assets and liabilities denominated in foreign currencies are translated into sterling at the rates of exchange ruling at the balance sheet date. Transactions in foreign currencies are recorded at the rate ruling at the date of the transaction. All differences are taken to the Statement of Financial Activities.
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 charity 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 charity for particular purposes. The cost 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.
Note 13 explains that the classification of reserves as at 31 July 2022 has been restated from the reserves previously reported in the previous year’s financial statements.
Investments
Listed shares are valued at market value at the balance sheet date. Unlisted shares in subsidiaries are valued at cost.
Unrealised gains and losses represent the movement in market values during the year and are charged or credited to the statement of financial activities based on their market value at the year end.
Page 29
DocuSign Envelope ID: DD144E45-C547-45E7-9488-E6FF503E3861
Bristol Old Vic Theatre School Limited
Notes to the Financial Statements for the Year Ended 31 July 2023
Key management personnel
The Members of the Council of Management, who are the company’s directors and charity’s trustees, consider that the senior management team comprises the key management personnel of the School in charge of directing and controlling, running and operating the School on a day to day basis.
All Members of the Council of Management give their time freely and received no remuneration in the year. Details of Members of Council of Management expenses and related party transactions are disclosed in note 6 to the accounts.
The pay of the senior management team is reviewed annually and may be increased in line with inflation or average earnings. In view of the nature of the charity, the trustees may benchmark the pay of the senior management team against other schools of a similar size and nature.
Taxation
The charity is exempt from tax on income and gains falling within section 505 of the Taxes Act 1988 or section 252 of the Taxation of Chargeable Gains Act 1992 to the extent that these are applied to its charitable objects.
Debtors
Trade and other debtors are recognised at the settlement amount due after any trade discount offered. Prepayments are valued at the amount prepaid after taking account of any trade discounts due.
Cash at bank and in hand
Cash at bank and cash in hand includes cash and short term highly liquid investments with a short maturity of three months or less from the date of acquisition or opening of the deposit or similar account.
Creditors and provisions
Creditors and provisions are recognised where the charity has a present obligation resulting from a past event that will probably result in the transfer of funds to a third party and the amount due to settle the obligation can be measured or estimated reliably.
Creditors and provisions are normally recognised at their settlement amount after allowing for any trade discounts due.
Concessionary loans
Bank loans and concessionary loans which are repayable in more than one year are initially recognised and measured at the amount received. The carrying amount is adjusted in subsequent years to reflect any repayments and accrued interest.
Financial instruments
The charity only has financial assets and financial liabilities of a kind that qualify as basic financial instruments. The related accounting policies are described above.
Page 30
DocuSign Envelope ID: DD144E45-C547-45E7-9488-E6FF503E3861
Bristol Old Vic Theatre School Limited
Notes to the Financial Statements for the Year Ended 31 July 2023
2 Legal status
The charity is a company limited by guarantee, incorporated in England and Wales, and has no share capital. In the event of the charity being wound up, the liability in respect of the guarantee is limited to 1 per member of the charity.
3 Analysis of income
| 3 Analysis of income | |
|---|---|
| Donations and legacies Donations & gifts Grants received from OfS through CDD: Core funding Higher education Capital investment fund Widening participation grants Kickstarter grant |
Unrestricted funds 2023 Restricted funds 2023 Total funds 2023 Unrestricted funds 2022 Restricted funds 2022 Total funds 2022 £ £ £ £ £ £ 3,323 32,765 36,088 9,970 31,820 41,790 251,209 - 251,209 785,796 - 785,796 - - - 100,529 - 100,529 - - - 5,000 - 5,000 - - - 9,475 - 9,475 2,170 - 2,170 5,116 - 5,116 |
| 256,702 32,765 289,467 915,886 31,820 947,706 |
The £251,209 received from the CDD in the year under review represents the School’s final distribution from the CDD when the CDD was placed into voluntary liquidation in October 2022.
Page 31
DocuSign Envelope ID: DD144E45-C547-45E7-9488-E6FF503E3861
Bristol Old Vic Theatre School Limited
Notes to the Financial Statements for the Year Ended 31 July 2023
| Charitable activities Students (UK/EU only) Conservatoire scholarship scheme: Cash bursaries Students (non UK/EU international) Auditions & interview fees Theatre skills, youth & adult courses Production income Other trading activities Commercial hires & room rental Other Income from investments Bank interest Other Total income |
Unrestricted funds 2023 Restricted funds 2023 Total funds 2023 Unrestricted funds 2022 Restricted funds 2022 Total funds 2022 £ £ £ £ £ £ 1,950,325 - 1,950,325 1,878,675 - 1,878,675 - - - (80,892) - (80,892) 674,894 - 674,894 580,712 - 580,712 54,500 - 54,500 54,575 - 54,575 189,528 - 189,528 151,802 - 151,802 65,775 - 65,775 78,278 - 78,278 |
|---|---|
| 2,935,022 - 2,935,022 2,663,150 - 2,663,150 |
|
| Unrestricted funds 2023 Restricted funds 2023 Total funds 2023 Unrestricted funds 2022 Restricted funds 2022 Total funds 2022 £ £ £ £ £ £ 1,847 - 1,847 2,650 - 2,650 291 - 291 5,449 - 5,449 |
|
| 2,138 - 2,138 8,099 - 8,099 |
|
| Unrestricted funds 2023 Restricted funds 2023 Total funds 2023 Unrestricted funds 2022 Restricted funds 2022 Total funds 2022 £ £ £ £ £ £ 34,540 2,385 36,925 32,114 89 32,203 11,830 9,600 21,430 - 18,034 18,034 |
|
| 46,370 11,985 58,355 32,114 18,123 50,237 |
|
| 3,240,232 44,750 3,284,982 3,619,249 49,943 3,669,192 |
Page 32
DocuSign Envelope ID: DD144E45-C547-45E7-9488-E6FF503E3861
Bristol Old Vic Theatre School Limited
Notes to the Financial Statements for the Year Ended 31 July 2023
4 Analysis of expenditure
| Raising funds Staging fundraising events Investment management costs Charitable activities Wages & salaries Visiting specialists Teaching costs Widening participation & development Equipment & maintenance Productions Marketing & publicity Telephone Stationery, printing & post Travel & entertaining Auditions/interviews Sundry costs Insurance Rent, rates & water Light & heat Cleaning Repairs & maintenance Mortgage interest Bank interest Depreciation Grants awarded Governance costs |
Unrestricted funds 2023 Restricted funds 2023 Total funds 2023 Unrestricted funds 2022 Restricted funds 2022 Total funds 2022 £ £ £ £ £ £ 216 - 216 216 - 216 - 5,224 5,224 - 5,336 5,336 |
|---|---|
| 216 5,224 5,440 216 5,336 5,552 |
|
| 1,922,966 - 1,922,966 1,628,042 - 1,628,042 182,696 - 182,696 225,123 - 225,123 292,974 - 292,974 131,543 - 131,543 39,828 - 39,828 63,098 - 63,098 102,079 - 102,079 87,563 - 87,563 302,758 - 302,758 359,289 - 359,289 123,337 - 123,337 100,447 - 100,447 13,385 - 13,385 13,410 - 13,410 31,745 - 31,745 32,403 - 32,403 7,245 - 7,245 3,978 - 3,978 58,978 - 58,978 58,672 - 58,672 120,281 - 120,281 103,342 4,375 107,717 41,973 - 41,973 26,543 - 26,543 71,304 - 71,304 15,384 - 15,384 44,369 - 44,369 43,998 - 43,998 77,080 - 77,080 86,384 - 86,384 186,756 - 186,756 123,994 - 123,994 11,190 - 11,190 1,534 - 1,534 4,464 - 4,464 6,462 - 6,462 78,989 18,848 97,837 86,947 18,848 105,795 100 112,800 112,900 839 57,651 58,490 123,632 - 123,632 55,728 - 55,728 |
|
| 3,838,129 131,648 3,969,777 3,254,723 80,874 3,335,597 |
Page 33
DocuSign Envelope ID: DD144E45-C547-45E7-9488-E6FF503E3861
Bristol Old Vic Theatre School Limited
Notes to the Financial Statements for the Year Ended 31 July 2023
| Costs of commercial trading Total expenditure Analysis of governance costs Auditor's fees Legal & professional |
Unrestricted funds 2023 Restricted funds 2023 Total funds 2023 Unrestricted funds 2022 Restricted funds 2022 Total funds 2022 £ £ £ £ £ £ 170 - 170 698 - 698 |
|---|---|
| 3,838,515 136,872 3,975,387 3,255,637 86,210 3,341,847 |
|
| 15,036 - 15,036 3,415 - 3,415 108,596 - 108,596 52,313 - 52,313 |
|
| 123,632 - 123,632 55,728 - 55,728 |
5 Charity activity
| Unrestricted funds £ Gross income 3,240,232 Surplus / (loss) for the year (607,579) |
Restricted funds £ 44,750 (90,721) |
Total 2023 £ 3,284,982 (698,300) |
Unrestricted funds £ 3,619,249 363,612 |
Restricted funds £ 49,943 (28,578) |
Total 2022 £ 3,669,192 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 335,034 |
6 Employee information
The aggregate payroll costs were as follows:
| Group employment costs - all employees Wages and salaries Social security costs Pension costs (defined contribution scheme) |
2023 £ 1,688,058 164,069 70,839 1,922,966 |
2022 £ 1,424,134 136,456 67,452 |
|---|---|---|
| 1,628,042 |
Page 34
DocuSign Envelope ID: DD144E45-C547-45E7-9488-E6FF503E3861
Bristol Old Vic Theatre School Limited
Notes to the Financial Statements for the Year Ended 31 July 2023
One employee received employee benefits (excluding employer pension costs) between the band £70,000 and £79,999 (2022: one).
No other employee earned more than £60,000 per annum this year or last year.
The total employee benefits (excluding employer pension costs) paid to senior management, i.e. the key management personnel, during the year was £240,178 (2022: £198,244).
No Members of the Council were reimbursed for travel expenses during the period (2022: one totalling £248.40). There were payments made to related parties of Members of Council totalling £2,463 (2022: £1,826).
No remuneration, benefits or pension contributions have been paid to or on behalf of the Members of the Council.
The number of persons employed by the charity and the group during the period was 54 (2022: 49).
The number of personnel employed by the charity and the group during the period on an FTE basis (which does not include visiting specialists) is analysed below:
| Teaching and production Administration |
2023 No 23 22 45 |
2022 No 25 16 |
|---|---|---|
| 41 |
Page 35
DocuSign Envelope ID: DD144E45-C547-45E7-9488-E6FF503E3861
Bristol Old Vic Theatre School Limited
Notes to the Financial Statements for the Year Ended 31 July 2023
7 Tangible fixed assets
Group
| Group | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Valuation/cost At 1 August 2022 At 31 July 2023 Depreciation At 1 August 2022 Charge for the year At 31 July 2023 Net book value At 31 July 2023 At 31 July 2022 |
1 - 2 Downside Road £ 1,750,000 1,750,000 104,000 13,000 117,000 1,633,000 1,646,000 |
3 Downside Road £ 1,400,000 1,400,000 96,000 12,000 108,000 1,292,000 1,304,000 |
Link Building £ 1,960,451 1,960,451 274,463 39,209 313,672 1,646,779 1,685,988 |
38 Portland Street £ 1,050,000 1,050,000 112,000 14,000 126,000 924,000 938,000 |
Total £ 6,160,451 |
| 6,160,451 | |||||
| 586,463 78,209 |
|||||
| 664,672 | |||||
| 5,495,779 | |||||
| 5,573,988 |
For the purposes of transition to FRS102 the freehold land and buildings known as 1-2 and 3 Downside Road, Clifton, Bristol were revalued on an existing use basis as at 31 July 2014 by Alder King, Chartered Surveyors at £1,750,000 and £1,400,000 respectively.
The freehold land and buildings at 38 Portland Street, Clifton, Bristol were valued on an existing use basis on 31 July 2014 by Alder King, Chartered Surveyors at £1,050,000.
The Link Building has been valued at cost since the costs were incurred after the date of transition to FRS102.
Page 36
DocuSign Envelope ID: DD144E45-C547-45E7-9488-E6FF503E3861
Bristol Old Vic Theatre School Limited
Notes to the Financial Statements for the Year Ended 31 July 2023
| Cost At 1 August 2022 Additions At 31 July 2023 Depreciation At 1 August 2022 Charge for the year At 31 July 2023 Net book value At 31 July 2023 At 31 July 2022 Total tangible fixed assets: At 1 August 2022 At 31 July 2023 |
Stage equipment £ 126,428 - 126,428 118,325 5,140 123,465 2,963 8,103 |
Film equipment £ 66,423 - 66,423 56,674 3,760 60,434 5,989 9,749 |
Computer equipment £ 130,827 2,172 132,999 115,826 10,726 126,552 6,447 15,001 |
Computer equipment £ 130,827 2,172 132,999 115,826 10,726 126,552 6,447 15,001 |
Total £ 323,678 2,172 325,850 290,825 19,626 310,451 15,399 32,853 5,606,841 5,511,178 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 132,999 | |||||
| 115,826 10,726 |
|||||
| 126,552 | |||||
| 6,447 | |||||
| 15,001 | |||||
Page 37
DocuSign Envelope ID: DD144E45-C547-45E7-9488-E6FF503E3861
Bristol Old Vic Theatre School Limited
Notes to the Financial Statements for the Year Ended 31 July 2023
8 Investments
| D Dibden Fund R Newitt Fund 2023 2022 Group: £ £ £ £ Unit trusts & listed share at market value 421,662 379,000 800,662 867,397 Cash held by investment managers for reinvestment 46,123 49,741 95,864 42,248 467,785 428,741 896,526 909,645 2023 2022 Charity: £ £ Unit trusts & listed share at market value 896,526 909,645 Investments in subsidiary companies 21,000 21,000 917,526 930,645 2023 2022 BOVTS Productions Limited: £ £ Net assets 4,553 4,589 BOVTS Productions Limited did not trade during the year. 2023 2022 BOVTS Communications Limited: £ £ Net assets 3,124 1,945 |
D Dibden Fund R Newitt Fund 2023 2022 Group: £ £ £ £ Unit trusts & listed share at market value 421,662 379,000 800,662 867,397 Cash held by investment managers for reinvestment 46,123 49,741 95,864 42,248 467,785 428,741 896,526 909,645 2023 2022 Charity: £ £ Unit trusts & listed share at market value 896,526 909,645 Investments in subsidiary companies 21,000 21,000 917,526 930,645 2023 2022 BOVTS Productions Limited: £ £ Net assets 4,553 4,589 BOVTS Productions Limited did not trade during the year. 2023 2022 BOVTS Communications Limited: £ £ Net assets 3,124 1,945 |
D Dibden Fund R Newitt Fund 2023 2022 Group: £ £ £ £ Unit trusts & listed share at market value 421,662 379,000 800,662 867,397 Cash held by investment managers for reinvestment 46,123 49,741 95,864 42,248 467,785 428,741 896,526 909,645 2023 2022 Charity: £ £ Unit trusts & listed share at market value 896,526 909,645 Investments in subsidiary companies 21,000 21,000 917,526 930,645 2023 2022 BOVTS Productions Limited: £ £ Net assets 4,553 4,589 BOVTS Productions Limited did not trade during the year. 2023 2022 BOVTS Communications Limited: £ £ Net assets 3,124 1,945 |
|---|---|---|
| 467,785 428,741 |
896,526 909,645 |
|
| year. | 2023 2022 £ £ 896,526 909,645 21,000 21,000 |
|
| 917,526 930,645 |
||
| 2023 2022 £ £ |
||
| 4,553 4,589 |
||
| 2023 2022 £ £ |
||
| 3,124 1,945 |
The Charity owns 100% of the share capital of both BOVTS Productions Ltd and BOVTS Communications Ltd, both of whose registered offices are at 1-2 Downside Road, Clifton, Bristol BS8 2XF, their company numbers are 02528810 and 05598315 respectively. There was no significant trading activity in either subsidiary in the year.
Page 38
DocuSign Envelope ID: DD144E45-C547-45E7-9488-E6FF503E3861
Bristol Old Vic Theatre School Limited
Notes to the Financial Statements for the Year Ended 31 July 2023
9 Debtors
| 9 Debtors | ||
|---|---|---|
| Group Amounts falling due within one year: 2023 £ 2022 £ Trade debtors 74,390 5,768 Other debtors 9,093 17,948 Prepayments & accrued income 18,150 26,012 101,633 49,728 10 Creditors: amounts falling due within one year Group 2023 £ 2022 £ Trade creditors 84,571 95,155 PAYE & social security 56,687 51,006 Other creditors 10,354 - Accruals & deferred income 295,366 222,913 Amounts due to subsidiaries - - Bank loans (see note 11) 58,846 116,578 505,824 485,652 |
Charity 2023 £ 2022 £ 74,390 5,581 8,575 17,948 18,150 26,012 101,115 49,541 Charity 2023 £ 2022 £ 84,571 95,155 56,687 51,006 10,354 - 295,366 222,913 - 331 58,846 116,578 505,824 485,983 |
|
| 485,983 |
Within creditors there was a balance of £172,151 (2022: £137,853) in respect of fees received in advance of courses taking place. A balance of £27,303 (2022: £26,565) was released in the year to the Statement of Financial Activities.
Page 39
DocuSign Envelope ID: DD144E45-C547-45E7-9488-E6FF503E3861
Bristol Old Vic Theatre School Limited
Notes to the Financial Statements for the Year Ended 31 July 2023
11 Creditors: amounts falling due after one year
| Bank loans Bank loans payable by instalments Included within current liabilities Bank loan instalments due after five years |
Group 2023 £ 2022 £ 112,500 165,554 Group 2023 £ 2022 £ 171,346 282,132 (58,846) (116,578) 112,500 165,554 Group 2023 £ 2022 £ - - |
Charity 2023 £ 2022 £ 112,500 165,554 Charity 2023 £ 2022 £ 171,346 282,132 (58,846) (116,578) 112,500 165,554 Charity 2023 £ 2022 £ - - |
|---|---|---|
There are two bank loans. The first is with Allica Bank Ltd and the principal is charged at 0.875% above 3 month LIBOR (currently 4.47%) payable quarterly in arrears, repayable in equal amounts over twenty years from March 2005 and secured by a first legal charge over the Downside Road properties. This loan has been fully repaid with the final repayment being made on 2 October 2023.
The second bank loan of £250,000 was taken out with RBS under the Government backed CBILS scheme. No interest was payable in the first 12 months but is now charged at 2.09% above base rate (currently 4.25%). Repayments started in November 2021 on a monthly basis over a five year period.
12 Revaluation reserve
| Group and charity Brought Forward Revaluation for the purposes of transition to FRS102 Carried Forward |
2023 £ 2,407,192 - 2,407,192 |
2022 £ 2,407,192 - 2,407,192 |
|---|---|---|
Page 40
DocuSign Envelope ID: DD144E45-C547-45E7-9488-E6FF503E3861
Bristol Old Vic Theatre School Limited
Notes to the Financial Statements for the Year Ended 31 July 2023
13 Reconciliation of movements in funds
Group and charity
| Unrestricted funds General General Fund Designated Capital Fund Student Fund Building Fund Stability Fund Artistic Fund Revaluation Reserve Total unrestricted funds Restricted funds Scholarship Fund Development Appeal Total restricted funds Total funds |
(Restated) Balance at 1 August 2022 £ 1,653,534 23,343 29,140 692,724 1,000,000 100,000 2,407,192 4,252,399 5,905,933 825,451 821,420 1,646,871 7,552,804 |
Incoming resources £ 3,240,232 - - - - - - - 3,240,232 44,750 - 44,750 3,284,982 |
Resources expended £ (3,833,430) (5,085) - - - - - (5,085) (3,838,515) (5,224) (18,848) (24,072) (3,862,587) |
Grants awarded £ - - - - - - - - - (112,800) - (112,800) (112,800) |
Other recognised gains / (losses) £ (9,296) - - - - - - - (9,296) 1,401 - 1,401 (7,895) |
Balance at 31 July 2023 £ 1,051,040 18,258 29,140 692,724 1,000,000 100,000 2,407,192 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4,247,314 | ||||||
| 5,298,354 | ||||||
| 753,578 802,572 |
||||||
| 1,556,150 | ||||||
| 6,854,504 |
Page 41
DocuSign Envelope ID: DD144E45-C547-45E7-9488-E6FF503E3861
Bristol Old Vic Theatre School Limited
Notes to the Financial Statements for the Year Ended 31 July 2023
| Unrestricted funds General General Fund Designated Capital Fund Student Fund Building Fund Stability Fund Artistic Fund Revaluation Reserve Total unrestricted funds Restricted funds Scholarship Fund Development Appeal Special Grants Total restricted funds Total funds |
(Restated) Balance at 1 August 2021 £ 1,276,191 26,084 29,140 692,724 1,000,000 100,000 2,407,192 4,255,140 5,531,331 841,796 840,268 4,375 1,686,439 7,217,770 |
Incoming resources £ 3,623,905 5,000 - - - - - 5,000 3,628,905 40,287 - - 40,287 3,669,192 |
Resources expended £ (3,247,896) (7,741) - - - - - (7,741) (3,255,637) (5,336) (18,848) (4,375) (28,559) (3,284,196) |
Grants awarded £ (2,395) - - - - - - - (2,395) (55,256) - - (55,256) (57,651) |
Other recognised gains / (losses) £ 3,729 - - - - - - - 3,729 3,960 - - 3,960 7,689 |
(Restated) Balance at 31 July 2022 £ 1,653,534 23,343 29,140 692,724 1,000,000 100,000 2,407,192 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4,252,399 | ||||||
| 5,905,933 | ||||||
| 825,451 821,420 - |
||||||
| 1,646,871 | ||||||
| 7,552,804 |
Page 42
DocuSign Envelope ID: DD144E45-C547-45E7-9488-E6FF503E3861
Bristol Old Vic Theatre School Limited
Notes to the Financial Statements for the Year Ended 31 July 2023
Unrestricted Funds
The Council of Management has designated funds from the general reserves for the following purposes:
Student Fund - this fund has been designated to provide additional support for the School’s students over and above those restricted funds provided for the same purpose to support students facing financial difficulty.
Building Fund - this fund is for the long term maintenance and improvement of the charity’s freehold properties. Following the results of this year no transfer was made to this fund from the General Fund.
Stability Fund - this fund is intended to provide a complete term’s expenditure in the event of a major loss of income. This year's figures equate to approximately £1M, and so no transfer has been made from General Funds this year.
Artistic Fund - this fund has been designated to enable the charity to research and develop its artistic programme in support of its objects.
Capital Fund - this fund represents the un-amortised funds from OFS provided for the purchase of capital assets which are being depreciated at 25% per annum on a straight line basis.
The Group General Fund includes negative reserves from the two subsidiaries of £13,323 (2022: £13,251).
Restricted Funds (restatement of the 31st July 2022 reserves)
Scholarship Funds were received from outside donors for the purposes of making awards to and providing financial support for students.
Trustees have recently carried out a review of the restricted funds and how these are classified. After seeking professional advice the Dibden Fund, previously reported within restricted reserves in the 31 July 2022 financial statements, has been reclassified as an unrestricted fund and is now included under general unrestricted funds. Prior year comparatives have been updated to reflect this correction.
Development Appeal Funds were received from donations specifically for the purpose of a capital project and represent the balance of monies being used to fitout the link building.
Page 43
DocuSign Envelope ID: DD144E45-C547-45E7-9488-E6FF503E3861
Bristol Old Vic Theatre School Limited
Notes to the Financial Statements for the Year Ended 31 July 2023
Balances on the Charity's fund accounts are represented by:
| Balances on the Charity's fund accou | nts are represen | ted by: | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cash at bank and in hand Tangible fixed assets at net book value Investments Other current assets and liabilities At 31 July 2023 Cash at bank and in hand Tangible fixed assets at net book value Investments Other currents assets and liabilities At 31 July 2022 |
Scholarship Fund £ 324,838 - 428,741 - 753,579 Scholarship Fund £ 483,355 - 432,564 - 915,919 |
Development Appeal £ 10,957 791,615 - - 802,572 Development Appeal £ 10,957 810,463 - - 821,420 |
Unrestricted Funds £ 621,752 4,719,563 488,785 (517,209) 5,312,891 Unrestricted Funds £ 1,137,468 4,796,378 498,081 (601,996) 5,829,931 |
Total Funds 2023 £ 957,547 5,511,178 917,526 (517,209) |
| 6,869,042 | ||||
| Total Funds 2022 £ 1,631,780 5,606,841 930,645 (601,996) |
||||
| 7,567,270 |
Where the above funds are represented by underlying bank balances, these balances are maintained in separate bank accounts where the donor has specifically requested this. In all other cases, the bank balances are consolidated in order to achieve the maximum return on the charity’s assets in terms of interest receivable.
14 Lease commitments
| Within one year In two to five years In over five years |
Land & buildings 2023 £ 2022 £ 30,000 30,000 52,500 82,500 - - 82,500 112,500 |
Plant & machinery 2023 £ 2022 £ 8,244 16,503 - 8,244 - - 8,244 24,747 |
Plant & machinery 2023 £ 2022 £ 8,244 16,503 - 8,244 - - 8,244 24,747 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 24,747 |
The rental payments recognised as an expense in the year were £38,244 (2022: £46,503).
Page 44
DocuSign Envelope ID: DD144E45-C547-45E7-9488-E6FF503E3861
Bristol Old Vic Theatre School Limited
Notes to the Financial Statements for the Year Ended 31 July 2023
15 Net income/(expenditure)
Net income/(expenditure) is stated after charging/(crediting):
| Group and charity Depreciation - owned assets Audit fees - audit services Audit fees - tax services Audit fees - other services Operating leases - land and buildings Operating leases - equipment Mortgage interest payable |
2023 £ 97,837 9,286 - 5,750 30,000 8,244 11,190 |
2022 £ 105,795 6,200 180 2,260 30,000 16,503 1,534 |
|---|---|---|
16 Financial instruments
Financial instruments measured at amortised cost comprise the loan financing from Allica Bank Ltd and a CBILS loan from RBS.
| CBILS loan from RBS. | ||
|---|---|---|
| 2023 | 2022 | |
| Group and charity | £ | £ |
| Amounts payable falling due within one year | 58,846 | 116,578 |
| Amounts payable falling due within two to five years | 112,500 | 165,554 |
| Amounts payable falling due after five years | - | - |
| 171,346 | 282,132 |
The details of loan financing are given in note 11. The market risk facing the charity is that interest rates have risen and are expected to remain at current levels in the short term at least. The Members of Council consider that the risk in interest rates having a material impact on the charity is low.
Page 45
DocuSign Envelope ID: DD144E45-C547-45E7-9488-E6FF503E3861
Bristol Old Vic Theatre School Limited
Notes to the Financial Statements for the Year Ended 31 July 2023
17 Related party transactions
The Charity resigned as a Member of the Conservatoire for Dance and Drama (CDD) and ceased to have an active role from November 2022. A resolution was passed to wind up CDD and liquidators were appointed on 28 November 2022.
| Core funding Higher education innovation fund Research fund Capital investment fund Widening participation grants Balance due from the Conservatoire |
2023 2022 £ £ 251,209 785,796 - 100,529 - - - 5,000 - 9,475 |
|---|---|
| 251,209 900,800 |
|
| 2023 2022 £ £ - - |
Information regarding trustees' expenses and remuneration is disclosed in note 6.
The £251,209 received from the CDD in the year under review represents the School’s final distribution from the CDD when the CDD was placed into voluntary liquidation in October 2022.
Page 46
DocuSign Envelope ID: DD144E45-C547-45E7-9488-E6FF503E3861
Bristol Old Vic Theatre School Limited
Notes to the Financial Statements for the Year Ended 31 July 2023
18 Access & participation
The Charity is no longer a member of CDD and therefore has not reported on expenditure incurred in pursuance of the CDD's access and participation plan.
| Access investment: Outreach work with schools and young people Financial support: Support for current students (academic and pastoral) Support for disabled students Hardship awards Support for progression from HE into employment Staffing and administration |
2023 2022 £ £ - 15,008 - 13,578 - 866 - 80,892 - 13,909 - 53,710(included in total salaries & wages - see note 6) - 177,963 |
|---|---|
19 Post balance sheet event
The Charity’s freehold property at 38 Portland Street was sold with cash proceeds of £1,375,000 received on 21 August 2023. The property has been leased back from the purchaser with the first lease payment of £5,000 being taken from the total sale proceeds of £1,380,000.
Page 47