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NORWOOD SCHOOLS LTD

Registered charity 307992 · accounts filings on the Charity Commission register · also known as NORWOOD

Promotion of education and the relief in need of people with learning difficulties and children and families in need through the provision of support, particularly in the areas of special education, respite and recreational services, family support including social work, and adoption, the beneficiaries of which activities shall be drawn primarily, but not exclusively, from the Jewish community.

Causes: Education/training · Disability · Accommodation/housing · website · Get email alerts

Latest income
£32.7m
Latest spending
£31.1m
Registered
1962
Accounts read
FY2025

Financial health, per its FY2025 accounts

The accounts state that the charity achieved an operating surplus of £1.6m for the year ended 31 March 2025, driven by increased charitable activity income and parent company grants. However, the trustees report that free reserves of £4.9m remain below the stated policy target of three months' expenditure (£7.8m), with pro-forma reserves dropping to £1.9m due to planned strategic investments. The charity relies on statutory funding and parent company support to manage a persistent funding shortfall in adult social care costs.

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

What the accounts disclose

Reserves position: below the charity's own stated reserves policy (held: £4.9m; policy: three months of unrestricted expenditure)
“At 31 March 2025, the charity’s free reserves are below that target.” — page 17
Per its FY2025 accounts as filed with the Charity Commission.
Related-party transaction: Norwood Schools Limited received income of £8,033,000 from Norwood Ravenswood.
“Norwood Schools Limited received income of £8,033,000 (2024: £5,300,000) from Norwood Ravenswood.” — page 41
“Norwood Schools Limited incurred expenditure of £1,241,000 (£2024: £3,725,000) on behalf of Norwood Ravenswood.” — page 41
Per its FY2025 accounts as filed with the Charity Commission.
Related-party transaction: Norwood Schools Limited incurred expenditure of £1,241,000 on behalf of Norwood Ravenswood.
“Norwood Schools Limited received income of £8,033,000 (2024: £5,300,000) from Norwood Ravenswood.” — page 41
“Norwood Schools Limited incurred expenditure of £1,241,000 (£2024: £3,725,000) on behalf of Norwood Ravenswood.” — page 41
Per its FY2025 accounts as filed with the Charity Commission.
Related-party transaction: Norwood Schools Limited paid £10,000 for expenditure on behalf of The Hope Charity.
“Norwood Schools Limited received income of £8,033,000 (2024: £5,300,000) from Norwood Ravenswood.” — page 41
“Norwood Schools Limited incurred expenditure of £1,241,000 (£2024: £3,725,000) on behalf of Norwood Ravenswood.” — page 41
Per its FY2025 accounts as filed with the Charity Commission.

Accounts audited by HaysMac LLP. Discloses 4 of 6 completeness components.

Property (HM Land Registry)

13 registered titles in England and Wales held by the charity’s company or corporate body (7 freehold); recorded price paid £2.7m. All charity-held property. Contains HM Land Registry data © Crown copyright, OGL v3.0.

Structured financials (annual return, FY ending 31/03/2025)

Total income
£32.7m
Total spending
£31.1m
Cost of raising funds
£331k
Reserves (reported)
£1.9m
Employees
684

Reported reserves equal ~0.7 months of spending — in the bottom quarter for charities its size (median 4.6 months; benchmarks).

Per its annual return, largest income source: Charitable activities (74% of income) — components as reported reconcile to the return’s total income; not from the accounts narrative.

Per its annual return, cost of raising funds: 1.0% of total income — below the median for charities its size (3.8%) (benchmarks).

Trustees · trustee networks

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

Operates in: Throughout England

Income and spending

Financial year endIncomeSpending
31/03/2025£32.7m£31.1m
31/03/2024£29.8m£29.5m
31/03/2023£28.8m£28.4m
31/03/2022£29.1m£28.7m
31/03/2021£30.9m£30.1m

Common questions

Is NORWOOD SCHOOLS LTD financially healthy?

Per its FY2025 accounts: The accounts state that the charity achieved an operating surplus of £1.6m for the year ended 31 March 2025, driven by increased charitable activity income and parent company grants. However, the trustees report that free reserves of £4.9m remain below the stated policy target of three months' expenditure (£7.8m), with pro-forma reserves dropping to £1.9m due to planned strategic investments. The charity relies on statutory funding and parent company support to manage a persistent funding shortfall in adult social care costs. Its FY2025 accounts were audited by HaysMac LLP.

Funders of similar charities

Funders whose accounts show grants to charities similar to this one (and no recorded grant to this charity) — a starting list for fundraisers.

FunderSimilar charities fundedAmount to them
SALOMAN FOUNDATION1—
ACHISOMOCH AID COMPANY LIMITED1£233k
THE DORFMAN FOUNDATION1£160k
THE RICHARD HARRIS CHARITABLE TRUST1£150k
THE WIGODER FAMILY FOUNDATION1£136k
THE AMAR FAMILY CHARITABLE TRUST1£116k
E B M CHARITABLE TRUST1£70k
THE ARCHIE SHERMAN CHARITABLE TRUST1£48k

Charities like this

Semantically similar by activities and financial character, from our analysed corpus. Compare with NORWOOD RAVENSWOOD.

Side by side with its peers

CharityIncomeTop pay bandStaff >£60kReserves vs policyFundraising costGoing concern
NORWOOD SCHOOLS LTD£32.7m——below—no doubt
NORWOOD RAVENSWOOD FY2025£34.4m——above—no doubt
THE WOODLAND CENTRE TRUST FY2025£409k—0below—no doubt
SPECIAL NEEDS ENTERPRISES (NORFOLK) LIMITED FY2025£332k—0unclear—no doubt
THE CEDARWOOD TRUST FY2025£503k—0below—noted
KUPAS TORAS CHESED LTD FY2025£164k—0below—no doubt

Each row is that charity’s latest analysed filing; every value is quote-backed on its own page.