[ Sustainability ] Fulfilling the needs of current generations without compromising the needs of future generations, while ensuring a balance between economic growth, environmental care and social well-being.
D E A N C LO S E F O U N D AT I O N
A N N UA L R E PO RT 2022 | 2023
Introduction
Sustainability is a term that has recently come to be used mainly in the context of natural resources and the environment, but its meaning is much wider than that. Sustainability is really about intergenerational ethics; it is focused on ensuring that the decisions we make now do not adversely affect future generations, but instead that we take a long-term view in our planning and use of resources to ensure that we replenish scarce resources and provide for the needs of those who will come after us. The most recent Strategic Plan for the Dean Close Foundation takes sustainability in this wider sense as its theme, aiming to secure the future of our schools and nurseries for the coming decades and to ensure that they continue to have the freedom to provide, and indeed to improve and develop, the distinctive style of education that we believe in, based on our foundational Christian ethos and our commitment to the Dean Close values. The aims of the strategy are summarised in this way:
• To safeguard the future of our schools and nurseries for the coming decades. • To maintain our foundational Christian ethos and our commitment to the Dean Close values. • To continue to offer a distinctive, broad, high-quality education to the widest range of pupils possible. • To develop our education offering further, in response to the changing world around us. • To minimise the constraints, including but not limited to finance, that limit our freedom to develop as we choose. • To develop resilience, reduce and manage risk. • To ensure that, as a people-focused organisation, we attract, retain, develop and fulfil the highest quality staff. • To ensure a lasting, significant contribution to our local community and our partner organisations.
What follows in this Annual Report will pick up a number of these aims and explore the actions we are taking to achieve them. These are grouped into the four pillars of our strategy: Education, Finance, People and Relationships, with a senior member of the Executive Team leading in each of these areas. It is a particularly challenging time to be looking so far ahead, with a number of threats in the immediate foreground of our future, but at Dean Close we respond warmly to challenge, just as we teach our young people to do, and it seems right to keep our eyes on a longer horizon, thereby ensuring that we do not lose our overall sense of direction while dealing with the immediate. I hope you will enjoy exploring how we are setting about meeting the challenges we face, and at the same time will experience some of the joy of the task; ultimately we are here to give better futures to hundreds of young people, and there couldn’t be a better reason to rise to the challenges. Emma Taylor Warden
• To minimise our environmental impact, seeking to reduce waste and promote greener solutions.
[
2
]
DEAN CLOSE FOUNDATION ANNUAL REPORT 2022|23
“
For an organization to be sustainable in the fullest sense of that word, the governance has to be, too. The Foundation is a charitable structure built to serve the children and young people in our schools and nurseries, and the Board of Trustees is responsible for setting its strategic direction and overseeing its work.
The actions we take today will shape what we can and cannot do, in a future which will almost certainly be very different.
These duties and structures, though, are infused with the energy of commitment from Trustees, Council members and leaders in schools and nurseries, who are devoted to our purpose: education and development for the next generation – who will then be responsible, in turn, for the generation that comes after them. So our conversations in committees are powered by the sense of the urgency of immediate actions as well as the need to think beyond the now. We plan in detail for the term ahead but must also consider what might happen in the decade ahead. The actions we take today will shape what we can and cannot do, in a future which will almost certainly be very different. This is never easy, but it is also what makes the work so interesting – whether for the Warden and her colleagues, or for volunteer members of the Board of Trustees. Good governance is fuelled by strong working relationships, with levels of trust that allow open discussion of issues, together with an understanding of the day-to-day reality of life in a school or in a nursery. Like any board, the Trustees exercise their oversight through regular reports, key indicators and meetings – but the eye-to-eye conversations between us, full of honest reflection and creative thought, are a vital part of ensuring that the Foundation can continue to serve children and young people into the future. Kathryn Carden Chair of the Board
DEAN CLOSE FOUNDATION ANNUAL REPORT 2022|23
[
3
]
Education Pillar
Executive overview All the schools and nurseries in the Dean Close Foundation share some common principles which underpin the design of the curriculum and the provision for pupils. Each school and nursery is different, so heads and managers are asked to come up with a unique approach, based on the Foundation principles, to suit their geography, the age of the children and the expectations of parents. The core principles focus on our aim that each child should Flourish, and on our values of Courage, Love and Contribution, as well as the 5 Cs, the Skills for the Future that we believe are applicable to all children (and indeed adults) of all ages. We continually adapt our offering to meet the changing needs of pupils and to ensure we are equipping them with the knowledge, skills and attitudes that will enable them to thrive at the next stage of their lives.
Modern boarding Sustaining our boarding into the future means we must keep adapting and changing to keep up with demands of a 21st century family. Comparing boarding in the late 1980s with 2023 is rather like finding common ground between a Ford Sierra and a Tesla Model Y. Both cars meet the daily needs of a family of five but how they achieve this and how they make people feel when on the journey makes them distant cousins, at best. The biggest change is not so much in the facilities, although things are certainly more comfortable, but it is in the people. The modern Housemaster and Housemistress are expert administrators, counsellors, medics, teachers, entertainers and party planners, interior designers, technicians, chefs, investigators, journalists, essayists, exponents of tough love and shoulders to cry on. They work very closely with parents who may come from very different backgrounds, diverse values and each with their own unique set of circumstances that need to be understood. My own Housemaster was great in so many ways, but the expectations of the modern boarding family are such that we need an altogether different breed to meet the need. So like comparing a Ford Sierra and a Model Y, our Housemasters and Housemistresses are the power unit of any house and are the hallmark of modern boarding. Bradley Salisbury Executive Team Member and Head of Dean Close School
[
4
]
DEAN CLOSE FOUNDATION ANNUAL REPORT 2022|23
Preparing pupils for the modern world With a programme that starts in Year 7 and runs all the way through to Year 14 (the year after pupils have left), the training of Decanians for next steps is as broad as it is deep. When they approach the final stages in the Sixth Form, we include the following features:
• Degree apprenticeships • Work experience & Internships • Talks from Admissions Tutors • University visits • UK and International university fairs • 1:1 career counselling • Speed interview workshops • Student life seminars • First term at university survivors’ panel
Focusing on skills for the future SKILLS FOR THE FUTURE
In addition to the focused post-school sessions, Deputy Head Academic, James Hole has designed a course for all members of the Lower Sixth that aims to provide mortar for the bricks of the A Level courses. A carousel of sessions on everything from literature, art and culture to personal safety and health to taxes and mortgages.
In 2022 the Foundation launched a new initiative aimed at equipping pupils of all ages with critical skills for life, known by us as the 5Cs. These skills will help our pupils to flourish in the widest sense of the word; careers and future employability are vital, but we also want to enable them to navigate the future world. They are: Compassion - encouraging pupils to show respect, empathy, care and understanding towards others and an ethical approach to work and civic responsibility. Critical Thinking - developing problem-solving and analytical abilities, learning what makes a good argument and how to make good decisions.
Compassion Collaboration Critical Thinking Communication
Collaboration - learning to understand their own strengths and weaknesses as well as those of others around them, working together towards shared goals and enhancing the success of the group.
Creativity
Communication - articulating ideas and sharing information in a variety of contexts, learning the importance of context, audience and purpose. Creativity - developing a mindset that looks for new and innovative approaches in a variety of contexts, including, but not limited to, the creative, expressive and performing arts. This year, all our schools and nurseries have worked to embed these five skills into their curriculum in many different ways.
DEAN CLOSE FOUNDATION ANNUAL REPORT 2022|23
[
5
]
The Flecker challenge
Flourishing fridays At Dean Close St John’s, the children have been fabulous in their ability to embrace our skills curriculum and have been provided with a diverse range of opportunities. Our focus on Communication has included sign language teaching in ‘flourishing Friday’ in which children not only learnt some of the basic signs, but also used signing to sing a song at the Advent Concert. There has also been some exciting work in the classroom with the Communications Award, developed to further enhance the children’s ability to be confident with public speaking. This has included learning a poem off by heart, giving a talk and taking part in a debate. The children have fully embraced the teaching of the skills and are able to see already the difference it is making to them as they reflect on their journey to date.
The Flecker Challenge was launched at Dean Close School during the pandemic to provide pupils with avenues to test and reward their thinking beyond the curriculum and pursue their interests in new, imaginative ways, with judgement weighted towards those submissions that went the furthest at emphasising our 5Cs, that are so important to academic study, but also essential for life. Award-winning entries included:
Our link with an old pupil of both St John’s and Dean Close gave an excellent opportunity to highlight Compassion. Raising funds for a charity she was working with in Zambia gave the children an insight into how they can make a difference to others. It connected them to something very specific and allowed them to understand how showing compassion is vital, demonstrating that ability to look outwards.
Mini first aid
• A documentary-style video into the fixing allegations surrounding the 2021 F1 season with sharp editing, clever pacing and eye-popping visuals to build up a narrative that grips you whether you are an F1 fan or not. (Communication) • An essay investigating the enduring stigma surrounding periods in Uganda and the interconnected effects of the poverty cycle trapping many Ugandan families, and what could be done to change this. The multi-level empathetic approach and spirited call to arms for a unified effort to affect change were an excellent fit for this award. (Compassion) • A creative and inventive response to Design Technology’s Squashed Tomato Challenge to design a low-cost, high-effect way to transport tomatoes down a mountainside in Nepal without squashing them. (Creativity) • An essay on achieving a carbon-neutral grid, which cuts to the heart of a challenge we all face collectively – sustaining our planet and its lifeforms; a clear and shrewd assessment of current technologies and sustainable energy options avoiding the all-too understandable doom-scrolling to strike a refreshingly optimistic note and a belief in our ability to work together. (Collaboration) • An extensive and serious overview of the Ottoman Empire in video format, notable for the depth of research and of thought in regard to both subject content and methods, that yielded strong analysis of the reasons for the growth and eventual decline of this influential world power. (Critical Thinking)
[
6
]
Our Little Trees pre-school children participated in Mini First Aid sessions across the group of nurseries which was also extended to KS1 children within Dean Close Airthrie and St John’s. The emphasis was on making the learning experience engaging and empowering for children while instilling valuable life-saving skills. The course provided multiple benefits including developing essential life skills, fostering a sense of responsibility and increasing confidence and awareness in handling emergency situations. The course covered basic topics such as trips, falls and bumps and the care needed. The children enjoyed applying plasters to a teddy bear and a cold compress to his head when he fell off the chair. Each child demonstrated calling 999 and asking for help on a selection of toy telephones in a role play environment that created a fun atmosphere. This was a 5Cs initiative where the children embraced compassion, critical thinking, collaboration and communication.
DEAN CLOSE FOUNDATION ANNUAL REPORT 2022|23
Restructured curriculum Dean Close Preparatory School has re-structured its curriculum, framed on the 5Cs, which is gradually being rolled-out across all year groups and all subjects. Staff have been given training on embedding the 5Cs in their teaching through weekly CPD sessions and use of 'WalkThrus', eg. collaboration being taught in role-plays in MFL lessons. The profile of the 5Cs has been raised through posters around school (in all classrooms) and shared with pupils in assemblies, eg. the Director of Studies (Mr Donnelly) looking at current world events and the use of critical thinking with sources of information. Our rewards system, through EPraise, sees pupils being awarded certificates in assembly based around Values and 5Cs.
Rewarding values
A snapshot The 5Cs have been a focus of lesson observations across Dean Close Pre-Prep in all sorts of ways. The curriculum encourages critical thinking through problem-solving across subjects, with META Club (Metacognition) providing focused activities and open-ended questions in lessons stimulating deeper thinking. Daily activities foster communication skills, notably with our newest non-English speaking child. Tools like gesticulation, sign language, and a translation device have been instrumental. Makaton, storytelling and ICT lessons further support this skill. Classroom observations reveal diverse group activities promoting teamwork, from science challenges to Class and School Council meetings. Examples like 'Singing Squirrels' and playground games vividly illustrate this skill in action. Creativity flourishes through art, craft, story writing and various subject-based projects.
At Dean Close Airthrie, the values of love, contribution and courage are not only cherished, but actively celebrated through the new reward system. Acts of kindness, compassion and an excellent attitude to learning are met with praise and rewards, creating a supportive environment where love is not only taught but practised. Pupils engaging in meaningful contributions, whether academically or socially, receive recognition that fuels a sense of accomplishment and community.
Finally, recognising and celebrating acts of kindness through Love stickers and signals is a part of our ethos and our charity events and discussions about feelings enhance empathy among children.
Additionally, the courage to take on challenges, express creativity and stand up for what is right is met with admiration and rewards. This holistic approach to acknowledging positive values not only motivates children to uphold these principles but also fosters a culture where love, contribution and courage are deeply ingrained in the school's identity, shaping the character of its pupils. Children acquire Leaf (house) Points through demonstrating the school values. They are then able to ‘purchase’ rewards at Mr Dobbie’s shop. Whether it’s a wearing casual clothes for a day, an Amazon voucher, hot chocolate with the Head (and many others), the children feel recognised and acknowledged, reinforcing the importance of positive behaviour.
DEAN CLOSE FOUNDATION ANNUAL REPORT 2022|23
[
7
]
781 Girls
PUPIL
848 Boys
NUMBERS
[ ] [ ] GCSEs
74
Plays and performances
35% of all pupil grades were 9-8 54% of all pupil grades were 9-7
70-100% of pupils achieved grades 9-7 in Music, Greek, Biology, Art, PE, Latin and Physics
1,491 School fixtures
A levels 27 A level courses
91
School trips
37% of pupil grades were A*-A 63% of pupil grades were A*-B
70-100% of pupils achieved A*-B in Further Maths, Music, Spanish, Art, History of Art, English Literature and Maths.
8,840 Stories read in our nurseries
45%
92%
of pupils went to a Russell Group University
got into their first or second choice University
Most Popular Degree Courses (including combinations) Business, Economics, Accounting Fine Art, Illustration, History of Art Engineering Sport
[
8
]
14 5 3 3
History, Politics, International Relations Biochemistry Biomedical, medical sciences Natural Sciences
3 3 3 3
DEAN CLOSE FOUNDATION ANNUAL REPORT 2022|23
People Pillar
Executive Overview Whilst our focus this year has been on Sustainability more broadly, we have also made a concerted effort on sustainability with our employees. The Foundation, and what we stand for, relies on the quality, commitment and dedication of our employees and we are always looking for ways to ensure our colleagues are supported, nurtured and enabled to flourish. How we keep our employees engaged and satisfied during work takes many forms, and here are a few insights on our initiatives. Jennie Thomas Executive Team Member and Director of HR
Recruitment
Benefits
Our recruitment process is robust and ensures the safety of our pupils and children. Recruiting the wrong person is extremely costly in terms of money and reputation, but also the education and provision for our children suffer greatly if the wrong decision is made. To assist with our recruitment process, we have implemented an Application Tracking System (ATS) for our recruitment team, which ensures regulatory processes are followed but also ensures that candidates get a consistent and professional service. With 288 employees (including casual employees) joining us in 2022/23, a professional system that is efficient, compliant with a user-friendly interface is paramount. Phase 2 of the ATS will see all contracts and paperwork going online, which further complements our sustainability strategy. Since I started in 2019 HR has gone from the one of the highest users of paper to almost completely paperless.
A new health care cash plan has seen 570 employees join the scheme with the Foundation paying the premium. In 2022/2023, 471 claims were received and employees got cash back for treatments. The platform also offers a 24-hour GP service, online and face-to-face counselling, multiple shopping discounts and many more offers. We are particularly pleased that 165 claims were for professional therapies including physio, chiropractic treatment, osteopathy and acupuncture amongst others. This suggests our employees are looking after their health holistically and we feel proud to be able to support this.
Induction We introduced a Foundation-wide induction programme where new members come together from different schools and departments to hear from senior leaders about their roles and vision across the Foundation. This has proved very successful in ensuring new employees feel supported and integrated, meeting colleagues from across many different areas.
DEAN CLOSE FOUNDATION ANNUAL REPORT 2022|23
[
9
]
Learning and development
We introduced both the Healthy Workplace and Healthy Leadership programmes which gave all employees the opportunity to access development for themselves, to increase their self-awareness which in turn would also impact the teams around them. Laura Mears, Salmon Swimming Leadership Development says: “The Healthy Workplace Programme looks at creating a good work life balance which not only focuses on work but also on scheduling time to recharge. The Healthy Leadership Programme is a three day course offered to 90+ managers across the Foundation to provide leadership training and direction and introduce common language amongst our leaders. These examples hopefully go some way to show how we attract, retain, develop and reward our employees to create a culture which keeps are employees committed to the Foundations Vision and Values. Having come from a teaching background myself I know how hard people work in schools. It is therefore crucial to me that these days are jam-packed with the most impactful and relevant tools on the planet, along with lots of time to process ideas and share good practice with colleagues. In our Leadership Training, the first session kicks off with a deep-dive on the Five Voices, a personality tool from GIANT. A very general difference in our perspectives is whether we primarily evaluate data and make decisions based on people and values or systems and processes, as well as present or future considerations. It is always a real delight when colleagues who have struggled to ‘get one another’ not only start to understand different perspectives, but to appreciate and collaborate as well. These small groups have helped to nurture strong relationships across the Foundation which can only lead to a healthier, more unified staff, along with a deeper sense of a shared culture and noble purpose.”
[
10
]
DEAN CLOSE FOUNDATION ANNUAL REPORT 2022|23
Feedback from attendees: “The whole leadership programme and 5 voices has totally changed the way I view work relationships and how I approach my work.” “I have found the entire course to be of great value. My biggest takeaway has been the need for me to look after my own mental health, and health in general, in order that I can focus on delivering focused work and support my team.” “Really enjoyed learning about the different tools that are available.” “I found the content revealing, inspiring and hugely thought-provoking. I came away buzzing and wanting to share with colleagues.”
[ Sustainability ]
DEAN CLOSE FOUNDATION ANNUAL REPORT 2022|23
766 Foundation Employees
236
288
Teachers
New Recuits
154
95
employees have an LOS of 5-9 years
employees have an LOS of 10 -19 years
DEAN CLOSE FOUNDATION ANNUAL REPORT 2022|23
employees have an LOS of 30 or greater years
employees have an LOS of 20-29 years
1 employee has a LOS of
£
13
41
45 Years
Paycare 471 claims 167 highest number of claims (for Dental Treatment) Highest value of claims was for Professional Therapies.
[ ] 46 [ ] 383
employees attended a Healthy Workplace Workshop
leaders have taken part in the Healthy Leadership Programme
[
11
]
Relationship Pillar
Executive overview Dean Close is an organisation in which relationships matter. Our children and young people learn how to build healthy friendships, to demonstrate tolerance, to listen thoughtfully to the ideas of others, and to seek opportunities to serve the groups and societies to which they belong. Our Christian ethos means that we take care to emphasise the bonds of love and respect between children and their parents, and our obligation to help the least well-off members of our society. We are also committed to fostering relationships with a wide variety of external groups and organisations, so that Dean Close plays its part in the education not only of the children in our own schools, but in educational initiatives across Cheltenham and beyond. Under this pillar within our strategy, we also consider our relationship with the earth and its resources, seeking to be good stewards of our estate and to minimise the negative impact of our activities on the environment. Emma Taylor Executive Team Member and Warden
Partnerships Partnerships and alliances play a vital role across the Foundation, where each constituency has developed a collection of relationships which bring a variety of benefits and experiences to the children in and outside of our schools. These range from sharing resources, staffing or planning, through to large scale sponsorships and joint ventures, on a local, national and international level. These relationships are all aimed at building strength and a better future for all. A formal arrangement where we share resources, staffing or planning include:
[
•
Supporting school staff as governors in local primary settings.
•
Cheltenham Education Partnership – a formal partnership of the secondary schools in Cheltenham.
•
Learning Support Hub meeting other SENCOs.
•
Use of facilities by local state schools such as swimming, Forest School, Rainbows.
12
]
DEAN CLOSE FOUNDATION ANNUAL REPORT 2022|23
Investing in Chaplaincy
A regular arrangement with another school/organisation, eg. developing resources, shared CPD, educational enrichment include: • • • • • • • •
Skills days hosting children from local schools Inviting children to school productions The Monmouth Group of Heads The Independent Schools Christian Alliance TISCA Society of Heads Schools HMC IAPS
An agreement to work together occasionally or a more one-sided outreach. These include: •
Work placements for university students.
•
Nyakatakura Memorial Secondary School, Uganda.
•
Primary schools attending workshops run by Sixth Formers on Field Days.
•
Sixth Formers volunteer in Bettridge School and escorting trips.
Dean Close has changed almost beyond recognition since its foundation in 1886. However, the principles on which the School was founded remain constant. At the core of these is the Christian character of the School. In the context of the late 19th Century this might not have needed much explanation or elaboration, but in 2023, within a much more secular society, serving a rich, broad and multicultural clientele, and with a variety of schools and nurseries in different contexts and with different histories, it is important to explain the relevance of this Christian distinctiveness to new generations. It is for this reason that we derived the Foundation values of Flourishing, Love, Courage and Contribution, to make our Christian values understandable and inclusive. One of the key elements of this distinctiveness is the importance of our Chaplaincy Team, and this year we have bucked the trend in other schools by investing further in chaplaincy, appointing a new Senior Chaplain, the Revd Ian Gulland, who is primarily based at Dean Close School, and an Associate Chaplain, the Revd Alice Monaghan, who serves the community at Dean Close Preparatory and Pre-preparatory schools. Both chaplains also provide support to Dean Close St John’s, Dean Close Airthrie, our nurseries and the staff working in central roles across the Foundation. Ian was formerly the Vicar of Padstow, and prior to that worked in a number of roles within engineering and management. He joins us as a resident member of the School community, with his wife Vicky and their three boys, who all attend DCPS. Alice has experience as a school chaplain, having previously served at Westonbirt School. She lives in Churchdown with her husband John, who is also ordained. Chaplains not only oversee public events such as chapel services, but also offer confidential support to pupils and staff who may be facing difficulties, for example bereavement or family breakdown. The chaplaincy team also includes several recent graduates each year who benefit from leadership training and experience, and who are often able to relate particularly well to young people in our schools.
DEAN CLOSE FOUNDATION ANNUAL REPORT 2022|23
[
13
]
Alumni
Sustaining Connections One of the most heartening aspects of our community's spirit is the way everyone stays connected even after they have left. Dean Close takes immense pride in its long-standing tradition of maintaining strong bonds with its alumni, the Old Decanians (ODs). Even after decades have passed since their time within the School's walls, these alumni remain deeply connected. This enduring relationship is a testament to the School's commitment to fostering lifelong friendships and the sense of community that continues to thrive. We regularly give reminiscent tours to ODs who left… some over 50 years ago! And they love to see what has evolved since their departure. These visits offer our alumni a chance to recollect about their time at Dean Close and marvel at the progress and development that has taken place since their departure. It's a bridge between the past and the present. In December 2022 we gave a tour to Hans von Dietze, Gate, Class of 1980. Hans came to visit and show his children where he went to school.
Connections are also rekindled through a variety of events, from the joyous Christmas community events like the Nine Lessons and Carols Service to annual school plays, Commemoration of Benefactors Service, class reunions and OD community gatherings that stretch across the globe – from London to Hong Kong and even further. Sporting events like golf and clay pigeon shoots also provide opportunities for alumni to come together. These gatherings serve as reminders of the lifelong friendships forged within our School.
[
14
]
“
“Firstly, a big 'Thank you' for the extensive tour and allowing me the time to travel back and reminisce. So many memories came flooding back at each of the areas of the school we visited. After decades of having Dean Close as a distant childhood memory, it was nice to see the school and share the day with my children and yourselves. I couldn't have asked for a better day… As we walked and talked, so many names came up, of teachers and of students… I am already looking forward to my next visit in 25 years or so!” Has von Dietze
DEAN CLOSE FOUNDATION ANNUAL REPORT 2022|23
Class reunions and beyond
We welcomed back the Class of 1973 and 1986 to Speech Day, and it was an example of that special bond. Here's what some of the guests had to say: "There were people I was very close to who I hadn't seen for 50 years, and yet within minutes, it was like old times... magical." "I have to confess that I was slightly apprehensive about the prospect of meeting people whom I haven't seen for 50 years. But I needn't have been, as everyone was clearly so enthusiastic about the day and keen to make it work." "It was, indeed, a wonderful, memorable, funny, and totally unforgettable day."
In February, we hosted 24 guests at a special lunch of thanks in London, followed by Choral Evensong, sung by our Dean Close Chapel Choir, in St. Paul's Cathedral. The feedback from attendees was overwhelmingly positive, highlighting the joy of reconnecting with fellow ODs and the larger Dean Close community.
DEAN CLOSE FOUNDATION ANNUAL REPORT 2022|23
Our London OD community gathered to watch ‘The Great Gatsby’ at St Paul's Church in Covent Garden, performed by Tethered Wits, an OD Theatre Company. Yet another example of the strong connections that alumni maintain.
[
15
]
Development Eternal Threads of Support
Creating Life-changing Opportunities
Legacy gifts are the timeless threads that weave together the past, present and future of our School. They are a testament to the enduring love and commitment of our alumni, parents and friends. This year we received a legacy from Graham Prime BA, BSc, a former pupil of Dean Close School. Graham attended from 1958, describing his time here as ‘the happiest memories of his formative years’ which remained close to his heart throughout his life. He left a legacy of £127,000 to support our Foundation Awards programme.
The Foundation Awards programme has proudly funded 10 Foundationers since 2018, transforming the lives of talented young individuals and giving them the opportunity to flourish through a Dean Close education. With the help of our community we will continue to work hard to develop this programme.
Legacies enable us to provide life-changing educational opportunities to generations of pupils and ensures that Dean Close School remains a beacon of excellence for future generations.
Shaping the Academic Heart
We are currently actively raising funds for a new Humanities Centre expected to be completed by September 2025. This Centre will serve as the academic heart of Dean Close, enriching the educational experiences of our pupils and fostering their intellectual curiosity. The community have been gathering together to learn more and find out how they can support this incredible project.
[
16
]
“
The Denys Carnill Award, which has made a significant difference in the lives of Foundationers like Cherissa, will continue for another five years. We extend our heartfelt gratitude to those who generously supported the first Award – this wouldn’t have been possible without them.
"Dad would be very honoured to know that this Foundation Award is helping to provide the education and opportunities he so valued, at a school that he loved and was proud to be a part of." The Denys Carnill Family
DEAN CLOSE FOUNDATION ANNUAL REPORT 2022|23
Partnership Successes
Over
3,379
£75k
connected ODs 78% UK / 22% Overseas
Raised for Charity
10 19 [ ][ ] 22
105
Legators
Performances by Choristers
Open Door
Fundraising Events
Betteridge School
Food Banks
Monmouth Group
Cheltenham Literature Festival
Partnerships Uganda Nyakaturkura Memorial School
TISCA Cheltenham Educational Partnership Local primary schools Kids Klub Kampala Rainbows Society of Heads Schools
No Child Left Behind
Days4Girls
[
Foundation Awards since 2018
]
A T H A N K YO U T O A L L O U R S U P P O R T E R S C A N B E F O U N D AT T H E B A C K O F T H I S R E P O R T
DEAN CLOSE FOUNDATION ANNUAL REPORT 2022|23
[
17
]
Sustainability Overview
Over the last five years we have been working to improve emissions efficiency for DCF operations through the estates, bursary, grounds and IT departments. We used the financial year audit to August 2022 as a baseline year after tracking data for the whole year across the panoply of energy usage, emissions and waste in all its forms.
define short and long-term emission reduction targets as well as a decarbonisation roadmap. We have had our first net zero workshop at which targets, decarbonisation actions and internal policy to drive decarbonisation was discussed with a representative group of senior school pupils, teachers and staff.
Key Findings of last five years: •
Emissions per head of population in 2022 was 1,182 kgCO2e. On a like-for-like basis versus 2018 they have decreased by 22%.*
•
Emissions per m2 of building in 2022 was 49 kgCO2e. On a like-for-like basis versus 2019 they have decreased by 3%.* (*accounting for natural gas, electricity and transport emission)
Key Findings for the audited data August 2022: •
The most significant emissions sources are from the use of natural gas accounting for our total emissions footprint.
•
Emissions related to the operation of buildings was the most significant contributor to total emissions, accounting for 79% of total emissions.
•
Scope 1 and 2 emissions are from energy consumption (gas and electricity), transport fuel used in company -controlled vehicles, and represent approximately 81% of total emissions. Scope 1 and 2 emissions are within our direct control, and a mix of energy efficiency measures, on-site generation and green energy procurement will enable DCF to reduce these emissions over time.
Next Steps Consultants, Inspired plc, have been hired to help us with a more visible and all-encompassing Target Zero Strategy for the next three years, using the emissions inventory as a baseline. This strategy will
[
18
]
Sustainability Group This year, Earth Week turned into Earth Month at Dean Close School, with the goal of inspiring individuals, organisations and governments to make changes that will reduce our impact on the planet and promote sustainable living. Events ranged from tree walks around the School, sustainable food week in the dining hall, waste week, a new Earth Week podcast plus Earth Hour; a complete refrain from using electricity for one hour. A Ted Talks event was held in the Bacon Theatre where the whole school turned up to see pupils talk about sustainable fashion, vegan lifestyle, the sustainable development goals and ended with a performance of ‘Big Yellow Taxi’ by Mr Slade and Ubani. A collaboration between the Sustainability Group and the Geography Society produced the ‘Earth Magazine’ full of articles, all written by pupils, to raise awareness of some of the issues that face our world today. These included issues around Period Poverty and a lack of sanitary products in third world countries, articles exposing the oil and gas industry, and another on the Turkey and Syrian earthquake. The magazine also ran a photo competition ‘our planet’, through Instagram. As part of the Cheltenham Education Partnership, DCS hosted a pupil-led Ted Talk event where Mimi spoke of organic farming, Ben Mawer spoke of alternatives to meat, Niamh Salisbury presented on sustainable fashion, Charlie Harris talked about the importance of pupil voice then Grace Rutere stole the show with her heart-felt and emotional presentation about period poverty.
DEAN CLOSE FOUNDATION ANNUAL REPORT 2022|23
Eco Commitee The early highlight of the Dean Close Preparatoty School year was the prestigious Eco-Schools Green Flag Award, a testament to the pupils' dedication to assessing, monitoring, and implementing green changes at school. The Committee first began working towards this many years ago, so credit goes also to those pupils who were involved. At the heart of our eco-friendly Committee are various initiatives driven by our pupils. The principle that they steer the club helps foster greater independence and a greater sense that they themselves are the people who make a difference. For Earth Day, DCPS went above and beyond with engaging activities, including a second-hand clothes swap, a staff and pupil celebration cycle, creative art projects using used cereal packets, the construction of bottle bug hotels, the manufacturing of eco bricks,
DEAN CLOSE FOUNDATION ANNUAL REPORT 2022|23
and lively games of nature noughts and crosses. The pupils of the Eco Committee also presented an enlightening talk to the Junior Forms classes, emphasizing the significance of environmental stewardship. For pupils the hardest thing is that they are so often unable to be the agents of change. They don’t drive cars; they don’t do the shopping and they are not involved in the insulation of their homes. For them to have an impact they must get other people to do things. To this end, the Committee decided they wanted to make their voices heard more often. Therefore, they had the idea to put an Eco Fact and an Eco Tip in the Hermes newsletter each week, thus ensuring that people would keep green matters on their agenda. The Eco Committee has created a website, which other pupils can visit and has a ‘Team Green’ Google Classroom where they post ideas and survey fellow pupils about environmental matters.
[
19
]
Financial Pillar
Executive overview The Finance Pillar is focused on ensuring the long-term financial strength of the Foundation to maintain and improve the quality of the education we provide whilst containing fee rises for parents, and to invest for the future. Our strategy of strengthening and deepening the diversification of income has continued to benefit the business. Organic growth in Little Trees was evident in five of the nurseries and bodes well for the coming year. We invested in the management structure of Little Trees by adding two new roles of Regional Manager to support the nursery managers day to day, ahead of growth plans for the next couple of years. The new position of Group Operations Manager works above the Regional Managers reporting to the CFOO (Bursar). Meanwhile, Dean Close Services Ltd has forged ahead with its own growth strategy and the schools each have their individual strategic and development plans. Adrian Bowcher Executive Team Member and CFOO / Bursar
Finances The consolidated surplus for the year before financing costs, investment losses, depreciation and amortisation of goodwill was £1.88m (2022 £1.76m). This was ahead of budget and included a positive variance in net fee income and overall savings against the total expenditure budget. Total incoming resources increased by £2.2m (8%) with all main sources of income higher than the previous year. The increase was mainly derived from an increase in net fee income from the schools, together with an increase in income from the trading subsidiaries, particularly Dean Close Nurseries Limited which performed exceptionally well. With the additional benefit of an increase in donations, for which we are extremely grateful, alongside the core charitable and trading activities, the diversity of the Foundation’s income stream is one of the key elements to reducing risk within the business model. Total expenditure increased by £1.9m (6.7%) and was below budget. The careful control and monitoring of the cost base enabled the
[
20
]
spike in energy prices (an additional £0.5m compared with the previous year), to be absorbed within the overall expenditure budget and also helped to preserve an element of the contingency budget. Energy costs are now managed and partly hedged with futures contracts which will result in savings compared with energy costs this financial year. Capital investment during the year totalled £2m. This included completion works for the refurbishment of the swimming pool on the Cheltenham site, upgrade and refurbishment works to two boarding houses, investment in plant and equipment across all sites and investment in the ICT network including a Core Switch upgrade. There has been little movement within the Balance Sheet compared to the previous year. Debt management together with the monitoring and control of cash flow remain key areas of focus. The Trustees are satisfied with the overall financial position.
DEAN CLOSE FOUNDATION ANNUAL REPORT 2022|23
Dean Close Services
This year we enjoyed a fully booked summer with residential lets at both Dean Close Cheltenham and St John’s. The new Summer Language School hired Dean Close School for an Easter residential ahead of their summer stay, both of which were a success. They reported that we were the best run centre that they had across the country. Easter Revision enjoyed another record year and students continued to join us from across the country and further afield. Many of the tutors are now returning year on year and our reputation is established of a course that delivers results. For the 2024 course we are very much ahead with the number of bookings than that of previous years. Dean Close Swim School is in high demand, making a strong return with 200+ children swimming with us every week after a maintenance closure. We hold a long waiting list and are currently adding to classes or creating new ones to accommodate this demand. Easter Revision and Swim School are key contributors to our growth strategy and we look forward to seeing these flourish, along with other business growth that chimes with the educational goals of the Dean Close Foundation.
DEAN CLOSE FOUNDATION ANNUAL REPORT 2022|23
[
21
]
Financial Results Income 2022/23 School Fees
Charitable Donations & Dividends / Interest
Nurseries
Dean Close Services 0
£2M
£4M
£6M
£8M
£10M £12M £14M £16M £18M £20M
Earnings before Interest, Tax and Depreciation 2022/23 (EBITDA) £900,000
£800,000
£700,000
£600,000
£500,000
£400,000
£300,000
£200,000
£100,000
£0
Schools
Nurseries
Dean Close Services
Profit and Loss (EBITDA) £2,000.00 £1,500.00 £1,000.00 £500.00 £0 £-500.00
[
22
]
15/16
16/17
17/18
18/19
19/20
20/21
21/22
22/23
DEAN CLOSE FOUNDATION ANNUAL REPORT 2022|23
Expenditure
1%
16%
Teaching Welfare
17%
Other Costs (including Fundraising & Governance)
45%
Premises
Trading Expenditure
Administration 10% 11500 2656 2162 4095 205 3450
11%
From the Bursary
23
32
bathrooms refurbished
rooms refurbished
1096 hours of cleaning per week
950
48.4K
tins of paint used
lunches served
From Dean Close Services Ltd
8
Activity Camps
90
Private Lets
DEAN CLOSE FOUNDATION ANNUAL REPORT 2022|23
76
Easter Revision Students
1110
Swimming Lessons
[
23
]
A
E
N
V
R
B
U
M
D EI LU
CE
R
DEAN CLOSE
AIRTHRIE C H E LT E N H A M
TEWKESBURY ABBEY SCHOLA CANTORUM OF DEAN CLOSE PREPARATORY SCHOOL
C HR IS T C HU RCH
[
24
]
DEAN CLOSE FOUNDATION ANNUAL REPORT 2022|23
Our Sustainable Structure
COMMUNIT Y
FUTURES CA M PA I G N
SWIM SCHOOL
DEAN CLOSE FOUNDATION ANNUAL REPORT 2022|23
[
25
]
The Trustees
Outgoing Trustee, Sara Hirst In January 2011 when I joined the Board, Dean Close consisted of three schools with DCSL providing some additional revenue. Twelve and a half years later and I retire from the Board having spent many inspiring hours in the company of very talented and imaginative people; people committed to securing the future of what is now the Dean Close Foundation of Schools and Nurseries and with a very strong and thriving DCSL. To see the changes develop has been an honour and a privilege, for the strength of the Board lies in its determination to sustain the future of all that is best of the Foundation, both in its values of high educational and moral standards, and in its financial stability. The Board is determined to have a constantly reviewed, robust set of ongoing plans, reflecting its ability to adapt to our rapidly changing and uncertain times. The skill set of the Board has kept pace with these global changes and onto the Board has come some excellent experts in their particular field, all of whom are committed to making the necessary economic, management and educational changes involving difficult decisions, but to keep at the heart of DCF, those values which matter so much to generations of Decanians; respect for Chapel, excellence in the classroom, encouragement of the Arts and all matters sporting. At the Board`s centre is concern for the safety and wellbeing of the Dean Close pupils who must adapt to this changing world whilst being instilled with the important values of kindness, honesty and dedication to what is right, with academic excellence and giving to their community always at the forefront of their thinking. The Board ensures that the future of the Foundation is secure by its determination never to stand still.
[
26
]
The Board of Trustees Mrs Kathryn Carden, Chairman of Trustees, Member 1, 4, 6, 7, 8 & 10 Mr Matthew Smith, Vice-Chairman of Trustees, Member 1 & 10, Link to DCPS Revd Matthew Allen, Member of 2 & 4 , Link to DCS Mr Simon Bullingham, Member 1, 2, 3 & 9, Link to DCAS Revd Richard Coombs, Member 4, Link to DCAS Mrs Helen Daltry, Member 1, 3, 4, 6, 7 & 9, Link to DCPPS, DCSL & DCNL Mr Stephen Drew, Member 3 & 8, Link to DCPS Mr Lee Glaser, Member 3, Link to DCSJS Mr Stephen Holliday, Member 3 & 8, Link to DCS Mr Mark Hughes, Member of 1 & 11, Link to DCAS Mrs Frankie Knight, Member of 8 & 11, Link to DCS Mr Ray Lock, Member of 5 & 9, Link to DCPS Mr Gary McDonald, Member 1, 3 & 10, Link to DCSJS Mr Mark Smith, Member 1, Link to DCPS Lt Col Ed Taylor, Member 5 & 11, Link to DCS
Members of: 1. Finance and General Purposes Committee 2. Foundation Estates Planning Committee 3. Safeguarding Committee 4. Nominations Committee 5. Health and Safety Committee 6. Dean Close Services Ltd – Board
7. Dean Close Nurseries Ltd – Board 8. Curriculum Development Committee 9. Development Board 10. Remunerations Committee 11. Concessions Working Party
Council (including all Board of Trustees) AUSTEN Revd Simon BEE Jane BEEVERS Victoria BENNETT Sue BOWEN Meurig BRADBY Hugh BYRD Russel CANSDALE Brig Matthew CHAFFEY Revd Jane CLARK Eleanor CLAYTON Sarah DAVIES Brian DAVIES Natasha DOWLER Caroline DUFFIN Ian EDEN Rebecca FLETCHER Chloe FOSTER Simon HALL John HARDING Brian HARVEY Paul HAYNES Tessa HILDICK-SMITH Richard HILLMAN Alison HIRST Sara HUNT Andrew JUDGE Andrew KEENS Rachel KILPATRICK Iain
LEWIS Robin MACKAY Revd Rupert MAIN David MARSDEN Audrey MOOS James MORRIS Claire MULLINS Dale NAPIER Patricia NICHOLAS Benjamin PACK Charlotte PALMER Hugh PHILIP-SORENSEN Mark PORTER Dr Amanda LORD RIBEIRO Bernard (President) RIDING Karen RITCHIE Dan ROBERTS Dr Chris SHAW Francis SILVESTER Paul SPENCER Tim STALLARD Camille SULLIVAN Beth THOMAS Simon THOMAS Steven THOMPSON Anthony TOWNSEND James WIDDOWSON Tim WILLIAMS Revd Canon Paul WILLIAMS Rt Revd Paul
DEAN CLOSE FOUNDATION ANNUAL REPORT 2022|23
Thank You
Mrs V Aris
Mr J Haigh & Mrs I Haigh
Mr N Powell Mr C Price
Mr S Austin
Mr M Hall
Lt Col AH Ayres (T75)
Miss P J Hall
Mr T Rice
Mr DF Bailey
Peter & Sue Harding
Mr & Mrs H Samoutou
Mr and Mrs Barton
Richard Hardy
Mr P Spearpoint
Mr M Bateman
Lord & Lady Harrowby
Mr R Spragg
Mr MW Bawden
Mr D Hawker
Mr M Strachan
Mr & Mrs TH Bence
Mr & Mrs A Hick
Mr K Swain
Mr and Mrs Nigel Bowden
Mr P Hilltout
Simon and Emma Taylor
Mr L Brignull
Mr and Mrs S Hopkin
Mr & Mrs E Thompson
Mr TM Brown
Mr A Hume
Mrs K Thorn
Mr T Brown
Mr C Wong & Ms L Hung
Dr Philip Toms
Mr & Mrs J E Bull
Mrs R James
Dr & Dr S and K Treatman-Clark
Mr R Bunting
A E Jones
Rev'd J Trickey
Mr N Burch
Mrs S Kenyon
Mr & Mrs D Tucker
Mr & Mrs J Carey
Mr R Lamb
Rev'd C Turner
Noel and Charlotte Chambers
Mr R Leefe
Mr L Turner
Mr K Cook
Mr D Lewis
The Viney Family
The Cornerstone Society
Mrs E Logan
Mr & Mrs G Wadsworth
Mr & Mrs G Curtis
Mr D Main
Mr J Webbern
Mrs P Dann Ward
Bea Marshall
Dr J Wenham
Mr G Davis
The Maysey Family
Laurence Whittingham
DCS Parents Hockey
Ms L McMahon
Mr GN Williams
Mr WR Dickinson
Mrs S Mitchell
Mr JCB Winter
Mr M Downward
J Peter Morgan
Wg Cdr J Worrall
Mr JW Eaden
The Mossop Family
The Youde Family.
Dr M Eaton
Mr CAP Newman
Mr & Mrs A Elgar
Maj GRH Noott RM
Mr P Farrant
Mr & Mrs T Odell
Mrs M Ferguson
The Old Decanian Society
Mr & Mrs R Fitzjohn
Mr M Orrom
Mrs S Fowler
Mrs S Padfield
Mr M Garber
Dr D Paine
Mr D Gethin-Jones
Mr M Parker
DEAN CLOSE FOUNDATION ANNUAL REPORT 2022|23
[
27
]
[ ] www.deanclosefoundation.org.uk