BOLTON SCHOOL
Provision of education
Financial health, per its FY2025 accounts
The accounts state that the group reported a net deficit of £1.1 million for the year ended 31 August 2025, resulting in a decrease in total fund balances to £35.9 million. The trustees confirm that the School has sufficient resources to continue as a going concern with no material uncertainties identified. The defined benefit pension scheme remains in a deficit of £1.7 million, which is secured against freehold properties.
What the accounts disclose
“Bolton School’s free reserves are £7.0 million (2024: (£8.4 million). The free reserves target is to maintain a positive and growing position.”
“The School owns all of the issued share capital of Bolton School Services Limited. Its results are shown in Note 4. There are no other related party transactions which need to be disclosed. A number of the governors at the School who held office for at least part of the year had children enrolled at the School during the year. The children attend the School on the same terms as the other pupils. Bolton School has the right to appoint up to five School representatives as trustees of BSBF. Currently appointed School representatives are shown on page 1 of the Trustees report. Transfers to BSBF during the prior year are disclosed in Note 12. Grants received from BSBF during the year are disclosed in Note 7.” — page 57
“The defined benefit pension liability is included in the unrestricted funds as required by FRS 102. The scheme is in deficit by £1.7 million at 31 August 2025 (2024: £1.6 million deficit).” — page 13
“The School has a 100% interest in its trading subsidiary Bolton School Services Limited.” — page 35
Year-over-year changes
- Reserves position vs the charity's own policy moved from "above" (FY2024) to "below" (FY2025).
Corporate structure
- Trading subsidiary: BOLTON SCHOOL SERVICES LIMITED Companies House 02783995
- Registered company of the charity Companies House 05458883
- Profit before tax: £315k
- Donated/gift-aided to the charity: £239k
- Amounts owed to group undertakings 194,890
“Gift aid payments to Bolton School”
Company officers (Companies House)
- QUAYLE, Chris not on trustee list
- BANERJEE, Suvadip on trustee list
- GIBSON, Victoria, Dr on trustee list
- CRAVEN, William John on trustee list
- MCGUFFIE, Stewart Robert on trustee list
- CHADWICK, James Kenneth on trustee list
- CLINTON, Katherine Helen on trustee list
- TAYLOR, Timothy Paul on trustee list
- BAILEY, Sylvia Joy on trustee list
- APSION, George Robert Neville on trustee list
- RILEY, Ian on trustee list
- DIGGLE, Karen Wendy on trustee list
- VALENTINE, Amanda Jayne on trustee list
- FOX, Catherine Lisa
Property (HM Land Registry)
Structured financials (annual return, FY ending 31/08/2025)
Trustees
- AMANDA JAYNE VALENTINE
- Christopher Quayle
- Dr Victoria Gibson
- George Robert Neville Apsion
- Ian Riley
- James Chadwick
- KAREN WENDY DIGGLE
- Katherine Helen Clinton
- Stewart McGuffie
- Suvadip Banerjee
- Sylvia Joy Bailey
- Timothy Paul Taylor
- William John Craven
Income and spending
| Financial year end | Income | Spending |
|---|---|---|
| 31/08/2025 | £35.9m | £37.9m |
| 31/08/2024 | £36.6m | £36.5m |
| 31/08/2023 | £35.1m | £34.6m |
| 31/08/2022 | £34.3m | £32.5m |
| 31/08/2021 | £31.3m | £29.7m |
Common questions
Is BOLTON SCHOOL financially healthy?
Per its FY2025 accounts: The accounts state that the group reported a net deficit of £1.1 million for the year ended 31 August 2025, resulting in a decrease in total fund balances to £35.9 million. The trustees confirm that the School has sufficient resources to continue as a going concern with no material uncertainties identified. The defined benefit pension scheme remains in a deficit of £1.7 million, which is secured against freehold properties. Its FY2025 accounts were audited by Crowe U.K. LLP.
Who funds BOLTON SCHOOL?
Funders whose own accounts filings name BOLTON SCHOOL as a grant recipient include THE LEVERHULME TRUST, LORD LEVERHULME'S CHARITABLE TRUST, THE ROSS WARBURTON CHARITABLE TRUST, THE PETER KERSHAW TRUST, CURIOUS MINDS.
Known funders
| Funder | Year | Amount | Purpose (as stated by the funder) |
|---|---|---|---|
| THE LEVERHULME TRUST | FY2025 | £596k | Arts Scholarships |
| LORD LEVERHULME'S CHARITABLE TRUST | FY2024 | £130k | |
| THE ROSS WARBURTON CHARITABLE TRUST | FY2025 | £35k | |
| THE ROSS WARBURTON CHARITABLE TRUST | FY2024 | £34k | |
| LORD LEVERHULME'S CHARITABLE TRUST | FY2022 | £30k | |
| THE ROSS WARBURTON CHARITABLE TRUST | FY2022 | £26k | |
| THE PETER KERSHAW TRUST | FY2022 | £6k | School bursaries |
| THE PETER KERSHAW TRUST | FY2023 | £5k | School bursary |
| THE PETER KERSHAW TRUST | FY2025 | £5k | School bursaries |
| CURIOUS MINDS | FY2025 | £4k | ACE - Artsmark BeeWell Programme grants |
| THE PETER KERSHAW TRUST | FY2024 | £3k | School bursary |
| CURIOUS MINDS | FY2022 | £0 | SLiCE Programme |
Funders of similar charities
| Funder | Similar charities funded | Amount to them |
|---|---|---|
| THE WELLINGTON SCHOOL FOUNDATION | 1 | £454k |
| THE COPPING JOYCE FOUNDATION | 1 | £173k |
| BOLTON TOGETHER | 1 | £44k |
| THE JMCMRJ SORRELL FOUNDATION | 1 | £25k |
Charities like this
- WELLINGTON SCHOOL 1837
- THE BOLTON SCHOOL BURSARY FOUNDATION
- THE SCHOOLS OF KING EDWARD VI IN BIRMINGHAM
- THISTLEDOWN EDUCATION TRUST
- Active Bolton
- NORTHBOURNE PARK SCHOOL LIMITED
Side by side with its peers
| Charity | Income | Top pay band | Staff >£60k | Reserves vs policy | Fundraising cost | Going concern |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| BOLTON SCHOOL | £35.9m | — | — | below | — | no doubt |
| WELLINGTON SCHOOL 1837 | £18.3m | — | — | below | — | no doubt |
| THE BOLTON SCHOOL BURSARY FOUNDATION | £11.9m | — | 0 | no_policy | — | no doubt |
| THE SCHOOLS OF KING EDWARD VI IN BIRMINGHAM | £32.2m | — | — | unclear | — | no doubt |
| THISTLEDOWN EDUCATION TRUST | £2.1m | — | 0 | unclear | — | no doubt |
| Active Bolton | £3.2m | £110,001 - £120,000 | 1 | below | — | no doubt |