Cluny School Fund Trustees’ Annual Report
1 April 2024 to 31 March 2025
Charity contact information
Cluny School Fund
Scottish Charity Number: SC048772
Cluny School
Sauchen
Inverurie
Aberdeenshire
AB51 7JQ
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Charity Trustees
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Suzanne Gilmour (Chair)
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Donna Anderson (until December 2025)
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Emma Barrack (currently on maternity leave)
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Objectives and activities
Cluny School is a small primary school, one mile from the village of Sauchen in rural Aberdeenshire.
We aim for our learners to be happy, engaged and prepared for their future.
We aspire for our learners to ‘Learn and Achieve Together’ through a welcoming and Inclusive environment.
We embrace our responsibility to Get It Right For Every Child and aim to source and use the resources available to us to ensure that every learner benefits from their time at Cluny.
Engaging with the Rights of the Child learners are encouraged to be Effective Contributors, Successful Learners, Responsible Citizens and Confident Individuals.
With a strong sense of belonging, Cluny learners are supported to contribute positively to our school, our wider community and beyond.
We aim that everything we do as a school is underpinned by our values Cooperation, Enthusiasm, Honesty, Kindness and Perseverance.
At Cluny School our priority is to ensure pupils can participate in a range of educational opportunities regardless of their background or financial circumstances in support of their learning and their health and wellbeing.
Cluny School Fund (SC048772) aims to promote a wide range of educational experiences for the benefit of all children who attend, with equity and equal opportunities at the heart of this. We currently have 96 pupils who benefit from the varied additional learning opportunities funded by the charity.
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Structure, governance and management
Type of governing document
The Charity is an unincorporated association. It is governed by its constitution which was adopted on 12 October 2018. The Fund was granted charitable status by OSCR on 22 October 2018.
Trustee recruitment and appointment
The Charity’s Trustees are the members of Cluny Primary School staff appointed to the roles of Head Teacher (Chair), Administrator (Treasurer) and Administrative Assistant (Secretary). These roles will remain constant, even if the people in these roles change. These roles are appointed by Aberdeenshire Council.
Management
The Trustees are responsible for the strategic direction and governance of the School Fund. The school teaching staff are also given the opportunity to contribute their ideas and suggestions towards proposed expenditure over £500.
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Achievements and performance
Activities 2024-2025
We aim to ensure all pupils can participate in a range of educational experiences and opportunities regardless of their background or financial circumstances in support of their learning and their health and wellbeing.
Cultural and curriculum-related activities supported by the charity included the annual whole school show, crafts and baking, with homework bags being provided for new P1 pupils. The charity also partially funded a whole school fun day at the end of last term.
As part of the P7 transition, pupils attended outdoor residential activity trips at Abernethy with other schools in the cluster in advance of moving on to secondary school, as well as a leavers party and sailing sessions.
As part of the school improvement priorities, resources were identified by stakeholders to support inclusive approaches to learning. The charity supported the purchase of Chromebooks for all pupils to use when they are in P7 which will continue to enhance flexibility of the children’s learning environment. All pupils across the school have access to a range of resources that support them in achieving their full potential.
Biggest Successes
Every year, Cluny School plans, practices and performs an annual school show. All pupils are involved in organising the production through creating props and tickets, learning their scripts and songs, and performing dressed rehearsals. The school show is a whole community event hosted at the local feeder Academy which is well received by all stakeholders. The show provides a wealth of learning experiences across the curriculum.
Outcomes and Impact
Having the charity fund provides Cluny School the opportunity to explore a variety of learning experiences within and out with the school
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setting. This benefits all pupils and provides a range of first-hand learning experiences in support of their future life and career development. Stakeholder feedback groups continue to indicate their support of the range of learning opportunities provided at Cluny.
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Financial review
Financial Review
The charity has generated a deficit for the year of £7,769.83.
Main sources of income
£840 donations received from School Show
£80.38 from the Salvation Army Clothing Bank
£76.29 from Toasty Tuck
£312.85 from Tombola
£500 received for Sensory Light Fund from Milne family
£1035.43 received from Charities Trust
Wood Family Donations of £1,000 In Aug 24, £150 in Nov 24, £1,000 in March 25
£100 from DC Thomson – pounds for primaries
Main sources of expenditure
Bike Shelter and scooter stand £3,777
Sand and trays £122.94
Cycling bike track day for whole school £1,688.95
ASN resources £560.41
GL Reading Assessments £498.75
Bubble Lamp/Chair £612
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Statement of the charity’s policy on reserves
The Trustees hold the trust fund and the income thereof to pay out all costs and expenses properly incurred by the Trustees in or about the administration of the Trust. All of the Trust’s funds are held in an Unrestricted General Fund meaning there are no restrictions on its use.
The Trustee’s policy is to keep the reserves at no less than 10% of the resources expended.
The current year deficit is covered by the opening funds.
Details of any deficit
The charity has generated a deficit for the year of £7,769.83.
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Future plans
In line with the school improvement plan 2025-2026, the Trustees intend to continue using the fund to provide targeted interventions in support of pupils’ health and wellbeing. As opportunities arise, we intend to provide a range of activities for the pupils that enhance their sporting, arts and cultural experiences. We will also look to promote the creative use of digital technologies and continue to enhance our nurture and outdoor provision. Our aim this year is to build on our current fund by maximising fundraising opportunities, along with applying to funding streams in support of these plans.
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Declaration
Signed on behalf of the charity trustees:
S Suzanne Gilmour Suzanne Gilmour Print name Chair Designation 27/03/2026 Date
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