The trustees who are also directors of the charity, present their report with the financial statements of the charity for the year ended 31 January 2026 which are also prepared to meet the requirements for a directors' report and accounts for Companies Act purposes.
The financial statements have been prepared in accordance with the accounting policies set out in note 1 to the financial statements and comply with the trust's governing document, the Companies Act 2006 and "Accounting and Reporting by Charities: Statement of Recommended Practice applicable to charities preparing their accounts in accordance with the Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland (FRS 102)" (effective 1 January 2019).
The objectives of the charity are:
- The advancement of education by the provision of grants for capital projects at Warwick School.
- To provide scholarships and bursaries to pupils and potential pupils of Warwick School so that more pupils benefit from education at Warwick School irrespective of their families' ability to pay fees.
The main objectives and activities for the year were to focus upon the above. To assist the charity to meet these objectives, the management of investments is placed in the hands of a professional advisor to maximise a mixture of growth and return.
Provision of bursaries
During the period under review the charity granted bursaries of £63,190 (2025: £62,525). The trustees are mindful of the income generated by the trust now and projected and have agreed additional bursaries in the medium term.
The Trust investments showed no change in value during the year, but the trustees are mindful that investment values fluctuate, and accept regular advice from the investment advisors to protect the value and income as far as is possible.
The trustees have examined the charity's requirements for reserves in the light of the main risks to the organisation. In their view the company has adequate but not excessive reserves to meet its obligations as they fall due. The level of reserves held at the end of the year was £1,435,586 (2025: £1,422,494) and full details are included in note 17 to the financial statements.
The level of free reserves, being unrestricted funds less fixed assets, as at 31 January 2026 was £116,919 (2025: £146,387).
The large majority of funding during the year arose from rents receivable and dividends on investments.
The policy is for growth and an income return with moderate risk to maximise that growth and income.
The charity will continue as present to and take full advantage of income from investments and rent to achieve its objectives in granting bursaries.
Governing document
The organisation is a charitable company limited by guarantee, incorporated on 14 January 2011 and registered as a charity on 8 June 2011. The company was established under a Memorandum of Association which established the objects and powers of the charitable company and is governed under its Articles of Association.
Appointment of new trustees
New trustees are elected to the board by majority vote of existing trustees.
Trustee induction and training
Potential new trustees meet other trustees prior to appointment. Trustees are encouraged to attend appropriate external training events where these will facilitate the undertaking of their role.
Organisational structure
The board of trustees administers the charity. The board meets a minimum of every twelve months and in the interim is managed by sub-committees comprising trustees.
Risk management
The trustees have conducted a review of the major risks to which the charity is exposed. Where appropriate, systems or procedures have been established to mitigate the risks the charity faces. Internal control risks are minimised by the implementation of procedures for authorisation of all transactions and projects.
Public Benefit Statement
This report sets out the objectives of the charity and which are considered for the future. The award of bursaries is to enable boys to attend Warwick School without restriction to people from whatever means.
In preparing the report, the trustees confirm that they have referred to the Charity Commission guidance on public benefit.
Overview of period
For the year 2025/26 the Trustees are satisfied that the objects of the charity have been achieved with a commitment to funding bursaries within the criteria with additional amounts being considered for 2025/26.
The trustees, who are also the directors for the purpose of company law, and who served during the year and up to the date of signature of the financial statements were:
INDEPENDENT EXAMINER
The independent examiner, Charlotte McIntyre BSc FCA of Ellacotts LLP, will be proposed for re-appointment.
The trustees' report was approved by the Board of Trustees.
I report to the trustees on my examination of the financial statements of Old Warwickian Trust (the trust) for the year ended 31 January 2026.
Having satisfied myself that the financial statements of the trust are not required to be audited under Part 16 of the Companies Act 2006 and are eligible for independent examination, I report in respect of my examination of the trust’s financial statements carried out under section 145 of the Charities Act 2011. In carrying out my examination I have followed the Directions given by the Charity Commission under section 145(5)(b) of the Charities Act 2011.
I have completed my examination. I confirm that no matters have come to my attention in connection with the examination giving me cause to believe that in any material respect:
accounting records were not kept in respect of the trust as required by section 386 of the Companies Act 2006.
the financial statements do not accord with those records; or
the financial statements do not comply with the accounting requirements of section 396 of the Companies Act 2006 other than any requirement that the financial statements give a true and fair view, which is not a matter considered as part of an independent examination; or
the financial statements have not been prepared in accordance with the methods and principles of the Statement of Recommended Practice for accounting and reporting by charities applicable to charities preparing their financial statements in accordance with the Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland (FRS 102).
I have no concerns and have come across no other matters in connection with the examination to which attention should be drawn in this report in order to enable a proper understanding of the financial statements to be reached.
The statement of financial activities includes all gains and losses recognised in the year. All income and expenditure derive from continuing activities.
Old Warwickian Trust is a private company limited by guarantee incorporated in England and Wales. The registered office is Edmund House, Rugby Road, Leamington Spa, Warwickshire, CV32 6EL.
The financial statements have been prepared in accordance with the trust's governing document, the Companies Act 2006, FRS 102 “The Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland” (“FRS 102”) and the Charities SORP "Accounting and Reporting by Charities: Statement of Recommended Practice applicable to charities preparing their accounts in accordance with the Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland (FRS 102)" (effective 1 January 2019). The trust is a Public Benefit Entity as defined by FRS 102.
The trust has taken advantage of the provisions in the SORP for charities not to prepare a Statement of Cash Flows.
The financial statements are prepared in sterling, which is the functional currency of the trust. Monetary amounts in these financial statements are rounded to the nearest £.
The financial statements have been prepared under the historical cost convention, modified to include the revaluation of freehold properties and to include investment properties and certain financial instruments at fair value. The principal accounting policies adopted are set out below.
At the time of approving the financial statements, the trustees have a reasonable expectation that the trust has adequate resources to continue in operational existence for the foreseeable future. Thus the trustees continue to adopt the going concern basis of accounting in preparing the financial statements.
Unrestricted funds are available for use at the discretion of the trustees in furtherance of their charitable objectives.
Cash donations are recognised on receipt. Other donations are recognised once the trust has been notified of the donation, unless performance conditions require deferral of the amount. Income tax recoverable in relation to donations received under Gift Aid or deeds of covenant is recognised at the time of the donation.
All expenditure is accounted for on an accruals basis and has been classified under headings that aggregate all costs related to the category. Where costs cannot be directly attributed to particular headings they have been allocated to activities on a basis consistent with the use of the resources.
Investment property, which is property held to earn rentals and/or for capital appreciation, is initially recognised at cost, which includes the purchase cost and any directly attributable expenditure. Subsequently it is measured at fair value at the reporting end date. The surplus or deficit on revaluation is recognised in profit or loss.
Fixed asset investments are initially measured at transaction price excluding transaction costs, and are subsequently measured at fair value at each reporting date. Changes in fair value are recognised in net income/(expenditure) for the year. Transaction costs are expensed as incurred.
Cash and cash equivalents include cash in hand, deposits held at call with banks, other short-term liquid investments with original maturities of three months or less, and bank overdrafts. Bank overdrafts are shown within borrowings in current liabilities.
The trust only has financial assets and financial liabilities of a kind that qualify as basic financial instruments. Basic financial instruments are initially recognised at transaction value and subsequently measured at their settlement value.
In the application of the trust’s accounting policies, the trustees are required to make judgements, estimates and assumptions about the carrying amount of assets and liabilities that are not readily apparent from other sources. The estimates and associated assumptions are based on historical experience and other factors that are considered to be relevant. Actual results may differ from these estimates.
The estimates and underlying assumptions are reviewed on an ongoing basis. Revisions to accounting estimates are recognised in the period in which the estimate is revised where the revision affects only that period, or in the period of the revision and future periods where the revision affects both current and future periods.
In 2026, the total of £461 (2025: £451) was attributable to unrestricted funds.
In 2026, the total of £35,365 (2025: £68,441) was attributable to unrestricted funds.
In 2026, the total resources expanded amount of £86,644 (2025: £76,491) was charged to unrestricted funds.
Governance costs includes payments to the Independent Examiner of £2,370 (2025: £2,178) for Independent Examiner's fees.
None of the trustees (or any persons connected with them) received or waived any emoluments during the year (2025: none).
The average monthly number of employees during the year was:
The charity is exempt from taxation on its activities because all its income is applied for charitable purposes.
Investment property comprises one dwelling on Hampton Road. The fair value of the investment property has been arrived at on the basis of a valuation carried out during 2018 by Chartered Surveyors, who are not connected with the trust. The valuation was made on an open market value basis by reference to market evidence of transaction prices for similar properties. The trustees have opted not to have the property revalued.
The unrestricted funds of the charity comprise the unexpended balances of donations and grants which are not subject to specific conditions by donors and grantors as to how they may be used. These include designated funds which have been set aside out of unrestricted funds by the trustees for specific purposes.
The Trustees have overall control of the Charitable Company
During the year, members of The Old Warwickian Association gifted £461 to Old Warwickian Trust (2025: £451). Trustees SMC Tubb, JS Barker and AF Keeling were committee members of The Association.
S Hain is an officer of EHB Reeves, a company which provides insurance services to the tenant of a property where OWT is the landlord. In 2025-26 EHB Reeves received commission of £672 (2025: £650).