THE BRITISH PHYSICS OLYMPIAD TRUST

Registered charity 1146064 · accounts filings on the Charity Commission register · also known as BPHO

The BPhO provides competitive physics problems and competition exam papers within schools. It runs twelve key competitions over four age groups (Yr10 - Yr13), providing resources to stretch able school physics students, part of a process to select and train two teams to represent the UK at the International Physics Olympiad and at the International Olympiad on Astronomy & Astrophysics each year.

Objects

THE TRUSTEES SHALL HOLD THE CAPITAL AND INCOME OF THE TRUST FUND UPON TRUST TO APPLY THE INCOME, AND ALL OR SUCH PART OR PARTS OF THE CAPITAL, AT SUCH TIMES, AND IN SUCH MANNER, AS THE TRUSTEES MAY IN THEIR DISCRETION THINK FIT TO ADVANCE THE EDUCATION AND ENGAGEMENT OF STUDENTS IN THE SUBJECT OF PHYSICS IN SUCH WAYS AS THE TRUSTEES SEE FIT, INCLUDING:A) THE ORGANISATION OF ANNUAL COMPETITIONS, ANDB) THE SUPPORT OF A TEAM TO REPRESENT BRITAIN AT THE INTERNATIONAL PHYSICS OLYMPIAD

The charity’s charitable objects and area of benefit, quoted from its governing document as held on the Charity Commission register.

Causes: Education/training · website · Get email alerts

Latest income

£276k

Latest spending

£357k

Registered

2012

Accounts read

FY2025

Financial health, per its FY2025 accounts

The accounts state that the charity's unrestricted funds decreased from £425,739 to £344,398 due to a net deficit of £81,341 for the year. The trustees report that the charity maintains unrestricted reserves equivalent to approximately two to three years of operating costs, placing it in a strong position to continue delivering activities without reliance on reserves.

Automated summary of the FY2025 accounts; the evidenced findings below carry the verbatim passages.

What the accounts disclose

Reserves policy: two to three years of operating costs (held: £344k)

“The charity maintains unrestricted reserves equivalent to approximately two to three years of operating costs.” — page 10

Per its FY2025 accounts as filed with the Charity Commission.

Related-party transaction: Dr Sian Tedaldi is a trustee and is based within the Outreach Office of the Physics Department at the University of Oxford, where she oversees BPhO activities. The BPhO Administrator is an employee of the University of Oxford.

“One of the Trustees, Dr Sian Tedaldi, is based within the Outreach Office and, in her professional role at Oxford, oversees the BPhO’s outreach activities and manages the BPhO Administrator. The BPhO Administrator is an employee of the University of Oxford and supports the day-to-day running of the BPhO, devoting a proportion of their time to the administration of BPhO competitions and events.”

Per its FY2025 accounts as filed with the Charity Commission.

Accounts independently examined (not a full audit). Discloses 5 of 6 completeness components.

Policies the charity declares

In its annual return the charity told the Commission that it has the policies listed below. This is self-declared: it is not verified by the Commission or by this site, and it is not evidence of how a policy works in practice.

Complaints handling
Financial reserves policy and procedures
Internal charity financial controls policy and procedures
Risk management
Safeguarding policy and procedures
Safeguarding vulnerable beneficiaries
Serious incident reporting policy and procedures
Trustee conflicts of interest policy and procedures

Funders the charity credits

Named as funders/supporters on the charity’s own website (the charity’s claim, distinct from accounts-verified grants).

G Research — “This is a free event, thanks to the generosity of the BPhO sponsor, G Research .” (source page)
G-Research — “The BPhO is sponsored by G-Research” (source page)

Public profiles (found on the charity’s own website): facebook

Trustees · trustee networks

ROBIN WILLIAM MINTO HUGHESchair
DR SIAN HAYLEY EVA TEDALDI
Dr ANSON CHEE HANN CHEUNG
Dr Gareth John Conduit

Trustee list from the Charity Commission register (current, not historical).

Operates in: Throughout England And Wales

Income and spending

Financial year end	Income	Spending
31/08/2025	£276k	£357k
31/08/2024	£303k	£232k
31/08/2023	£235k	£112k
31/08/2022	£179k	£67k
31/08/2021	£124k	£42k

Common questions

Is THE BRITISH PHYSICS OLYMPIAD TRUST financially healthy?

Per its FY2025 accounts: The accounts state that the charity's unrestricted funds decreased from £425,739 to £344,398 due to a net deficit of £81,341 for the year. The trustees report that the charity maintains unrestricted reserves equivalent to approximately two to three years of operating costs, placing it in a strong position to continue delivering activities without reliance on reserves. Its FY2025 accounts were independently examined.