BRISTOL OLD VIC THEATRE SCHOOL LIMITED
Provision of education and training for actors and technical skills for the media industry.
Financial health, per its FY2025 accounts
The accounts state that the charity reported a net loss of £807,383 for the year ended 31 July 2025, with total funds decreasing to £5,425,163. Per the trustees' report, the school secured a £2.5m loan from the University of the West of England to assist with cashflow and stabilize undergraduate delivery during a pause in new student recruitment. The auditor confirmed that the use of the going concern basis of accounting is appropriate with no material uncertainties identified.
What the accounts disclose
“Employees receiving total benefits (excluding employer pension costs) Between £80,000 and £89,999 1” — page 47
“No other employee earned more than £60,000 per annum this year or last year.” — page 47
“As shown in Note 3 of these accounts, total income from students (both UK and International) was £2,180,310, amounting to approximately 78.33% of our total income in this FY (£2,783,418).”
“We aim to have 3 months of expenditure in our reserves.”
“The charity owns the entire share capital of BOVTS Productions Limited and BOVTS Communications Limited which are trading subsidiaries of the charity. A summary of the trading results of the subsidiaries is set out in note 8 to the financial statements.” — page 13
“The charity owns the entire share capital of BOVTS Productions Limited and BOVTS Communications Limited which are trading subsidiaries of the charity.” — page 13
Year-over-year changes
- Employees paid over £60,000: 2 (FY2024) → 1 (FY2025).
Leadership, per the charity’s website
- Tom Beasley — Charity CEO
- Stuart Harvey — School Principal
- Paul Eccleson — Chair of Trustees
Property (HM Land Registry)
Structured financials (annual return, FY ending 31/07/2025)
Trustees
- Anthony Edward Thomas
- Austin Milne
- Faye Lloyd
- Karl Michael Wilson
- Lynn Robinson
- Paul Eccleson MSc FICA
- Robert James
- paul christopher baker
- philip alan tanner
Income and spending
| Financial year end | Income | Spending |
|---|---|---|
| 31/07/2025 | £2.8m | £3.6m |
| 31/07/2024 | £2.9m | £3.9m |
| 31/07/2023 | £3.3m | £4.0m |
| 31/07/2022 | £3.7m | £3.3m |
| 31/07/2021 | £3.0m | £2.9m |
Common questions
Is BRISTOL OLD VIC THEATRE SCHOOL LIMITED financially healthy?
Per its FY2025 accounts: The accounts state that the charity reported a net loss of £807,383 for the year ended 31 July 2025, with total funds decreasing to £5,425,163. Per the trustees' report, the school secured a £2.5m loan from the University of the West of England to assist with cashflow and stabilize undergraduate delivery during a pause in new student recruitment. The auditor confirmed that the use of the going concern basis of accounting is appropriate with no material uncertainties identified. Its FY2025 accounts were audited by Corrigan Accountants Limited.
What does the highest-paid employee of BRISTOL OLD VIC THEATRE SCHOOL LIMITED earn?
Per its FY2025 accounts, the highest-paid employee was in the £80,000 - £89,999 band, and 1 employees earned over £60,000.
Who funds BRISTOL OLD VIC THEATRE SCHOOL LIMITED?
Funders whose own accounts filings name BRISTOL OLD VIC THEATRE SCHOOL LIMITED as a grant recipient include THE NISBET TRUST, THE ANDREW LLOYD WEBBER FOUNDATION, THE SOUTH SQUARE TRUST, The Patricia Routledge Foundation, SPIELMAN CHARITABLE TRUST.
Known funders
| Funder | Year | Amount | Purpose (as stated by the funder) |
|---|---|---|---|
| THE NISBET TRUST | FY2023 | £36k | |
| THE ANDREW LLOYD WEBBER FOUNDATION | FY2025 | £29k | Scholarship |
| THE ANDREW LLOYD WEBBER FOUNDATION | FY2023 | £29k | Scholarship |
| THE ANDREW LLOYD WEBBER FOUNDATION | FY2022 | £28k | Scholarship |
| THE ANDREW LLOYD WEBBER FOUNDATION | FY2024 | £19k | Performing Arts Scholarship |
| THE NISBET TRUST | FY2022 | £17k | |
| THE NISBET TRUST | FY2024 | £17k | |
| THE SOUTH SQUARE TRUST | FY2022 | £13k | |
| THE NISBET TRUST | FY2021 | £10k | |
| THE SOUTH SQUARE TRUST | FY2023 | £6k | |
| THE SOUTH SQUARE TRUST | FY2024 | £6k | Arts Institutions and Organisations |
| The Patricia Routledge Foundation | FY2024 | £5k | |
| The Patricia Routledge Foundation | FY2022 | £5k | |
| SPIELMAN CHARITABLE TRUST | FY2025 | £4k | |
| The Patricia Routledge Foundation | FY2025 | £2k |
Funders of similar charities
| Funder | Similar charities funded | Amount to them |
|---|---|---|
| THE HAROLD HYAM WINGATE FOUNDATION | 2 | £24k |
| THE CHILDHOOD TRUST | 2 | £16k |
| THE AUSTIN AND HOPE PILKINGTON TRUST | 2 | £10k |
| CHAPMAN CHARITABLE TRUST | 2 | £9k |
| THE REED FOUNDATION | 1 | — |
| The Marks Family Charitable Trust | 1 | — |
| THE OLD VIC ENDOWMENT TRUST | 1 | £3.6m |
| National Philanthropic Trust UK Limited | 1 | £2.0m |
Charities like this
- THE OXFORD SCHOOL OF DRAMA TRUST
- BRISTOL OLD VIC AND THEATRE ROYAL TRUST LIMITED
- THE OLD VIC THEATRE TRUST 2000
- THE YOUNG VIC COMPANY
- THEATRICAL EDUCATIONAL SERVICES LIMITED
- MOUNTVIEW ACADEMY OF THEATRE ARTS LIMITED
Side by side with its peers
| Charity | Income | Top pay band | Staff >£60k | Reserves vs policy | Fundraising cost | Going concern |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| BRISTOL OLD VIC THEATRE SCHOOL LIMITED | £2.8m | £80,000 - £89,999 | 1 | unclear | — | no doubt |
| THE OXFORD SCHOOL OF DRAMA TRUST | £1.7m | — | — | above | — | no doubt |
| BRISTOL OLD VIC AND THEATRE ROYAL TRUST LIMITED | £7.6m | £80,001 - £90,000 | — | above | — | no doubt |
| THE OLD VIC THEATRE TRUST 2000 | £25.5m | — | 17 | unclear | — | no doubt |
| THE YOUNG VIC COMPANY | £7.2m | — | — | unclear | — | no doubt |
| THEATRICAL EDUCATIONAL SERVICES LIMITED | £581k | — | 1 | unclear | — | no doubt |