THE ABBEY SCHOOL, READING

Values shown as filed in the company's annual accounts. — indicates the figure wasn't present under that line item in that period. About these numbers

Margins divide P&L lines by turnover. Gearing is liabilities over total assets. Current ratio is current assets over creditors falling due within one year. Interest cover is operating profit over absolute finance costs. Sector-distribution context coming next.

Accounting basis

FRS 102

Reporting scope

Consolidated group

Auditor

James Cowper Kreston Audit

Audit opinion

Unqualified (clean)

Going concern

Affirmed

“The School has a strong asset base and generates a positive cash flow from its operations, and the Governors will continue to monitor and review financial and operating plans with the School's executive team to maintain a robust financial footing as we move forward. We are of the opinion that the charity will continue to have sufficient resources to meet its liabilities as they fall due and as such we remain satisfied that The Abbey School can continue operating for the foreseeable future. Our accounts for the year ended 31 August 2025 have been prepared in the knowledge that the School is a financially viable organisation.”

Group structure

1. THE ABBEY SCHOOL, READING · parent
   1. Abbey Commercial Enterprises Limited 100% · England and Wales · non-educational activities associated with the School

Significant events

• “Introduction of 20% VAT on school fees, falling birth rates, increase in energy costs and consequent pressure on family budgets.”
• “Decision to stop offering IB qualifications in the Sixth Form and redesign of Senior curriculum.”
• “Appointment of Dr Sarah Tullis as Head of the Senior School.”
• “Appointment of Beccy Newton as Head of Junior School.”
• “Two longest-serving governors, Michael Emmanuel and Sue Colebrook, came to the end of their appointments.”
• “School awarded Independent Girls' School of the Year 2024-2025.”
• “New Sixth Form Centre opened, creating a first-class space for collaborative learning and study.”
• “Fringe Festival hosted as culmination of 'Year of Celebration of the Creative Industries'.”
• “Visual Effects talk by Emmy-nominated VFX Supervisor Scott Pritchard.”
• “Healthcare Specialisms event with Abbey Alumnae Dr Shonelley Novintan and other medical professionals.”
• “Pop Up Poetry Party for ages 7-11 with local poet A.F. Harold.”
• “Mock Trials at Royal Courts of Justice with students from Abbey and ARCH linked schools.”
• “Behind the Mic event with Abbey alumna Jenni Falconer.”
• “West End Actress and Wicked star Kate Leiper visited to talk about her career.”
• “BBC staff panel discussion on careers at the BBC.”
• “Professor Sakthi Vaiyapuri from University of Reading gave a talk on snakes.”
• “Jo Trott Memorial Lecture with Dr Detina Zalli from University of Cambridge.”
• “Geri Halliwell-Horner gave a talk on her latest book.”
• “Reading Festival of Sport hosted at Abbey Junior School with GB gymnast Claudia Fragapane and Louis Pugh.”
• “Social Enterprise Project in collaboration with Henley Business School.”

Auditor, going-concern and subsidiary information is drawn from the narrative of the latest annual accounts. About these numbers

Filings

5

last 12 months

Capital events

0

last 24 months

Officers appointed

1

last 12 months

Officers resigned

1

last 12 months

Direct counts from the register. No score, no rating — see the Filing timeline for the underlying events.

• Turnover

  -5.6%

  £19,410,361 → £18,325,018

• Cash

  -50.5%

  £2,984,675 → £1,476,187

• Net assets

  -3.8%

  £16,994,002 → £16,353,381

• Employees

  -0.6%

  313 → 311

• Wages

  -2.5%

  £10,048,316 → £9,795,754

Each % is (latest − prior) ÷ |prior| for the line item as filed. The comparison is only shown when the latest and prior accounts cover broadly equal-length periods — short or long stubs (typical around incorporation or a year-end change) are suppressed rather than misrepresented. Lines a company doesn't report are omitted. About these numbers