GERMAN SCHOOL ASSOCIATION LIMITED

Registered charity 325073 · accounts filings on the Charity Commission register · also known as THE GERMAN SCHOOL

To educate children and adults in the language, literature and general culture of GermanyTo promote the education of German speaking persons of all ages resident in Germany and elsewhere in the language, literature and general culture of EnglandGenerally to promote the study of German culture in England, and English culture in Germany.

Causes: Education/training · Arts/culture/heritage/science · website · Get email alerts

Latest income

£14.5m

Latest spending

£14.5m

Registered

1974

Accounts read

FY2025

Financial health, per its FY2025 accounts

The accounts state that the charity reported a group surplus of £20,922 for the year ended 31 August 2025, with unrestricted reserves totaling £9,654,851. The trustees consider there are no material uncertainties regarding the charity's ability to continue as a going concern. The organization remains dependent on significant financial and in-kind support from the German Government, including seconded teachers and rent-free premises.

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

What the accounts disclose

Reserves policy: at least equivalent to 6 months expenditure (held: £9.7m)

“it has been determined that the appropriate level of reserves should be at least equivalent to 6 months expenditure, with current general reserves being £7,400,322 (8 months expenditure cover)” — page 15

Per its FY2025 accounts as filed with the Charity Commission.

Related-party transaction: Note 12

“Some Management Committee members of the school are parents of children attending the school. The places are funded in the same way as all the other places at the school and the children receive the same service and benefits as other children. Aggregate donations from related parties were Nil (2024: £Nil)” — page 31

Per its FY2025 accounts as filed with the Charity Commission.

Accounts audited by Sayer Vincent LLP. Discloses 4 of 6 completeness components.

Funders the charity credits

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

Zentralstelle für das Auslandschulwesen (ZfA) — “Als anerkannte Deutsche Auslandsschule erhalten wir finanzielle Unterstützung durch die Zentralstelle für das Auslandschulwesen (ZfA) gemäß …” (source page)

Structured financials (annual return, FY ending 31/08/2025)

Total income

£14.4m

Total spending

£14.5m

Reserves (reported)

£9.7m

Employees

130

Reported reserves equal ~8.0 months of spending — above the median for charities its size (median 4.6 months; benchmarks).

Per its annual return, largest income source: Charitable activities (58% 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: 0.0% of total income — below the median for charities its size (3.8%) (benchmarks).

Trustees · trustee networks

Dr Paula Constance Walterchair
Caroline Beate Cartellieri Karlsen
Gemma Farmer
Guido Kirschner
Jan-Harald Fuchs
Kai-Uwe Karl
Rachel Bochenski
Sonja Haas

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

Operates in: Surrey · Throughout London

Income and spending

Financial year end	Income	Spending
31/08/2025	£14.5m	£14.5m
31/08/2024	£13.7m	£13.1m
31/08/2023	£12.4m	£11.9m
31/08/2022	£11.3m	£10.8m
31/08/2021	£10.5m	£10.5m

Common questions

Is GERMAN SCHOOL ASSOCIATION LIMITED financially healthy?

Per its FY2025 accounts: The accounts state that the charity reported a group surplus of £20,922 for the year ended 31 August 2025, with unrestricted reserves totaling £9,654,851. The trustees consider there are no material uncertainties regarding the charity's ability to continue as a going concern. The organization remains dependent on significant financial and in-kind support from the German Government, including seconded teachers and rent-free premises. Its FY2025 accounts were audited by Sayer Vincent 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.

Funder	Similar charities funded	Amount to them
THE SCHRODER FOUNDATION	1	£80k
The Schroder 1905 Trust	1	£10k

Charities like this

Semantically similar by activities and financial character, from our analysed corpus. Compare with THE BRITISH-GERMAN ASSOCIATION.

THE BRITISH-GERMAN ASSOCIATION income £356k
THE ENGLISH ASSOCIATION income £245k
GERMAN CHURCH SYDENHAM income £104k
The English Language Centre income £6.8m
DE NEDERLANDSE REGENBOOG SCHOOL income £212k
GERMAN YOUNG MEN'S CHRISTIAN ASSOCIATION IN LONDON income £3.7m

Side by side with its peers

Charity	Income	Top pay band	Staff >£60k	Reserves vs policy	Fundraising cost	Going concern
GERMAN SCHOOL ASSOCIATION LIMITED	£14.5m	—	—	above	—	no doubt
THE BRITISH-GERMAN ASSOCIATION FY2025	£356k	—	0	unclear	—	no doubt
THE ENGLISH ASSOCIATION FY2025	£245k	—	0	unclear	—	no doubt
GERMAN CHURCH SYDENHAM FY2024	£104k	—	0	unclear	—	no doubt
The English Language Centre FY2024	£6.8m	—	—	unclear	—	no doubt
DE NEDERLANDSE REGENBOOG SCHOOL FY2024	£212k	—	0	below	—	no doubt

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