WELLS CATHEDRAL SCHOOL, LIMITED
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Next accounts due
2026-05-31 (this month)
Last filed for 2024-08-31
Confirmation statement due
2027-01-18 (in 8mo)
Last made up 2026-01-04
Watchouts
Cash
£4M
+36.2% vs 2023
Net assets
£20M
-1% vs 2023
Employees
410
+3.8% vs 2023
Profit before tax
—
Period ending 2024-08-31
Watchouts
Facts from the Companies House register and the latest accounts — not a rating
-
4 officer resignations in last 12 months
Multiple officers have left the board recently — see the People section for who.
Net assets
2-year trend · vs Consumer Discretionary median
Accounts
2-year trend · latest reflected 2024-08-31
| Metric | Trend | 2023-08-31 | 2024-08-31 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Turnover | £20,107,000 | £21,578,000 | |
| Operating profit | £869,000 | £590,000 | |
| Profit before tax | — | — | |
| Net profit | £370,000 | -£210,000 | |
| Cash | £3,010,000 | £4,099,000 | |
| Total assets less current liabilities | £23,874,000 | £24,168,000 | |
| Net assets | £20,206,000 | £19,996,000 | |
| Equity | £20,206,000 | £19,996,000 | |
| Average employees | 395 | 410 | |
| Wages | £9,318,000 | £10,651,000 |
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
Ratios
Computed from the line items above — sparklines read oldest → newest
| Ratio | Trend | 2023-08-31 | 2024-08-31 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Operating margin | 4.3% | 2.7% | |
| Net margin | 1.8% | -1.0% | |
| Return on capital employed | 3.6% | 2.4% | |
| Current ratio | 1.04x | 1.06x | |
| Interest cover | 5.43x | 3.22x |
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.
Audit & accounting basis
- Accounting basis
- FRS 102
- Reporting scope
- Consolidated group
- Auditor
- Crowe U.K. LLP
- Audit opinion
- Unqualified (clean)
- Going concern
- Affirmed
“The Governing Body has concluded that no material uncertainties have been identified that may cast significant doubt on the ability of the School to continue as a going concern. The Governors therefore have a reasonable expectation that the School has adequate resources to continue in operational existence for the foreseeable future. For this reason, the going concern basis continues to be adopted in preparing the Financial Statements.”
Group structure
- WELLS CATHEDRAL SCHOOL, LIMITED · parent
- The Wells Cathedral School Foundation
Significant events
- “During the 2023-24 academic year the School received numerous awards including an Optimus Education Wellbeing Award, winners of the Muddy Stilettos 'Dynamic Performing Arts (Prep School)' award, finalist in the Independent School of the Year Awards for 'Performing Arts (Prep School)', finalist in Talk Education Awards 'Best Use of Technology' and finalist in School House Awards 'Pastoral Wellbeing' category.”
Auditor, going-concern and subsidiary information is drawn from the narrative of the latest annual accounts. About these numbers
People
12 active · 44 resigned
| Name | Role | Appointed | Born | Nationality |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| MCCARTNEY, Robert Denis | Secretary | 2022-07-18 | — | — |
| BERNAL-PALMER, Simon | Director | 2024-07-10 | Sep 1981 | British |
| COOKE, Martin Gordon | Director | 2019-03-25 | Jan 1957 | British |
| DAFFERN, Megan Isabel Jane, Reverend Dr | Director | 2023-09-25 | May 1980 | British |
| GUMMER, Andrew David Frederick | Director | 2019-12-09 | Aug 1961 | British |
| LEWIS, Timothy William Hunt | Director | 2015-03-23 | Aug 1954 | British |
| NANCEKIEVILL, Dorothy Anne | Director | 2022-09-09 | Mar 1958 | British |
| POWELL, Robert | Director | 2015-12-07 | Mar 1963 | British |
| ROBBETTS, Kris | Director | 2019-12-09 | Mar 1978 | British |
| SHELTON, Elizabeth | Director | 2020-07-30 | Oct 1958 | British |
| STEVENS, Timothy David, The Reverend Canon | Director | 2024-07-10 | Jul 1980 | British |
| WRIGHT, Toby Christopher, Very Reverend | Director | 2024-07-10 | Mar 1975 | British |
Show 44 resigned officers
| Name | Role | Appointed | Resigned |
|---|---|---|---|
| DRABBLE, Stuart John | Secretary | 1997-03-24 | 2003-03-31 |
| HICK, Malcolm Richard, Group Captain | Secretary | — | 1997-03-24 |
| KNELL, Peter James | Secretary | 2013-08-01 | 2022-07-12 |
| WEBBER, Steven John Anthony Maltravers | Secretary | 2003-04-01 | 2013-08-01 |
| ACWORTH, Richard Foote, The Venerable | Director | 1993-11-28 | 2003-10-31 |
| ATTERTON, David Valentine, Dr | Director | — | 2002-06-02 |
| AVISS, Derek, Professor | Director | 2019-12-09 | 2020-09-14 |
| BAKER, Julia | Director | 2024-07-10 | 2025-12-08 |
| BALL OBE, Helen Mary, Prebendary | Director | 2003-07-07 | 2021-06-28 |
| BALLAN-WHITFIELD, Joanne Mary | Director | 2007-03-23 | 2013-07-01 |
| BATES, Barbara Christine | Director | 2009-09-25 | 2025-07-04 |
| BROWN OBE, David Alfred John | Director | 2014-01-01 | 2025-08-31 |
| BUFTON, Rosalind Janet | Director | — | 1995-12-11 |
| CAMPBELL-ORDE, Andrew Colin | Director | 2017-07-07 | 2024-06-24 |
| CLARKE, John Martin, The Very Reverend | Director | 2004-10-01 | 2015-12-31 |
| CLARKE, Stella Rosemary, Dr | Director | — | 2008-12-01 |
| COOK, Patrick Donald | Director | 2008-04-05 | 2014-06-30 |
| CUTT, Samuel Robert, The Reverend | Director | — | 1993-10-01 |
| DAVIES, John Harverd, The Very Revd Dr | Director | 2017-01-03 | 2023-01-09 |
| DREW, Rodney Charles Bethell | Director | 2003-03-10 | 2006-07-10 |
| FARRAN, George Orman, Canon | Director | — | 1997-06-27 |
| FEATHERSTONE, Andrew, Revd Canon | Director | 2005-09-01 | 2018-06-01 |
| FLANNIGAN, Sarah Elisabeth | Director | 2016-06-01 | 2019-06-24 |
| INGE, Rosemary Muriel | Director | 1995-12-11 | 2004-12-03 |
| JAMES, Robert, Revd Canon Dr | Director | 2019-12-09 | 2022-08-15 |
| JEPSON-BIDDLE, Nicholas Lawrence, Canon | Director | 2013-05-09 | 2023-08-31 |
| LEWIS, Richard, The Very Reverend | Director | — | 2003-04-30 |
| LUCAS, Paul De Neufville, The Reverend Canon | Director | — | 1999-06-30 |
| MATTHEWS, Melvyn William, Revd Canon | Director | 1997-09-04 | 2005-02-06 |
| MCILWRAITH, Peter | Director | 1996-12-09 | 2014-06-30 |
| MUSSELWHITE, Harry Thomas | Director | 2021-06-28 | 2024-09-06 |
| PERYER, Thomas Stuart | Director | 1997-06-27 | 2003-05-01 |
| PRETTY, Derek William Methven | Director | 2012-03-26 | 2017-07-07 |
| SHARKEY, Jeffrey Neil | Director | 2022-03-21 | 2026-02-12 |
| SMOUT, Martin John | Director | 2008-02-01 | 2017-09-01 |
| SOMMERS, Robert | Director | 2003-07-07 | 2017-01-09 |
| THOMAS, Charles Edward, The Venerable | Director | — | 1993-10-01 |
| TUDWAY QUILTER, David Cuthbert | Director | — | 2004-12-03 |
| VAN DER ZEE, Elsa, Prebendary | Director | 2005-03-21 | 2013-12-31 |
| VAUGHAN, Jonathan Andrew, Professor | Director | 2013-07-01 | 2018-01-01 |
| WALKER, Philip Geoffrey, Reverend Canon | Director | 1994-02-01 | 1997-03-10 |
| WILLEY, Martin Frederick Williams | Director | 1992-12-14 | 2007-06-25 |
| WOODHOUSE, Patrick Henry Forbes, Reverend Canon | Director | 2000-02-05 | 2012-10-14 |
| YOUNG, Roger William, Sir | Director | 1992-03-09 | 1996-12-09 |
Ownership
Persons with significant control
Filing timeline
Last 20 of 240 total filings
Material constitutional events — rename, articles re-file, resolution
- 2024-07-29 RESOLUTIONS Resolution
- 2024-07-29 MA Memorandum articles
| Date | Type | Category | Description | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-04-24 | TM01 | officers | Termination director company with name termination date | |
| 2026-01-11 | CS01 | confirmation-statement | Confirmation statement with no updates | |
| 2025-12-17 | TM01 | officers | Termination director company with name termination date | |
| 2025-09-08 | TM01 | officers | Termination director company with name termination date | |
| 2025-07-18 | TM01 | officers | Termination director company with name termination date | |
| 2025-06-02 | AA | accounts | Accounts with accounts type group | |
| 2025-01-20 | CS01 | confirmation-statement | Confirmation statement with no updates | |
| 2024-09-09 | TM01 | officers | Termination director company with name termination date | |
| 2024-09-03 | AP01 | officers | Appoint person director company with name date | |
| 2024-07-30 | CH01 | officers | Change person director company with change date | |
| 2024-07-29 | RESOLUTIONS | resolution | Resolution | |
| 2024-07-29 | MA | incorporation | Memorandum articles | |
| 2024-07-24 | AP01 | officers | Appoint person director company with name date | |
| 2024-07-24 | AP01 | officers | Appoint person director company with name date | |
| 2024-07-23 | AP01 | officers | Appoint person director company with name date | |
| 2024-07-06 | TM01 | officers | Termination director company with name termination date | |
| 2024-01-10 | AA | accounts | Accounts with accounts type group | |
| 2024-01-05 | CS01 | confirmation-statement | Confirmation statement with no updates | |
| 2023-10-27 | AP01 | officers | Appoint person director company with name date | |
| 2023-09-05 | TM01 | officers | Termination director company with name termination date |
Public-record activity
Raw counts from Companies House — last 12–24 months
- Filings
- 6
- Capital events
- 0
- Officers appointed
- 0
- Officers resigned
- 4
last 12 months
last 24 months
last 12 months
last 12 months
Direct counts from the register. No score, no rating — see the Filing timeline for the underlying events.
Year-on-year
FY2023 → FY2024 · period ending 2024-08-31 vs 2023-08-31
-
Turnover
+7.3%
£20,107,000 £21,578,000
-
Cash
+36.2%
£3,010,000 £4,099,000
-
Net assets
-1%
£20,206,000 £19,996,000
-
Employees
+3.8%
395 410
-
Operating profit
-32.1%
£869,000 £590,000
-
Wages
+14.3%
£9,318,000 £10,651,000
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