Council for Subject Associations

Charity number: 1125954 Registered number: 6331989

COUNCIL FOR SUBJECT ASSOCIATIONS

TRUSTEES REPORT AND UNAUDITED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 AUGUST 2011 COUNCIL FOR SUBJECT ASSOCIATIONS

CONTENTS

Reference and administrative details of the charity, its trustees and advisers

Trustees' report 1 - 7

Independent examiner's report 8 – 9

Statement of financial activities 9

Balance sheet

Notes to the financial statements 10 COUNCIL FOR SUBJECT ASSOCIATIONS REFERENCE AND ADMINISTRATIVE DETAILS OF THE CHARITY, ITS TRUSTEES AND ADVISERS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 AUGUST 2011

Trustees J. Steers, Chair W. Musk, Treasurer F. Hartley J. Lyon J. Matthews (until 01/04/2011) R. Nash (elected 01/04/2011) R. Rivett A. Tapsfield S. Trotman (co-opted 01/04/2011)

Company registered number 6331989

Charity registered number 1125954

Registered office c/o NSEAD 3 Mason's Wharf Corsham Wiltshire SN13 9FY

Company Secretary J. Matthews

Accountant Mr Stuart J Pollard Managing Director and Senior Auditor Auditing Solutions Ltd Clackerbrook Farm 46 The Common Bromham Chippenham Wiltshire SN15 2JJ Page 1 COUNCIL FOR SUBJECT ASSOCIATIONS TRUSTEES' REPORT FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 AUGUST 2011

The Trustees (who are also directors of the charity for the purposes of the Companies Act) present their annual report together with the financial statements of the Council for Subject Associations Limited (the company) for the year ended 31 August 2011. The Trustees confirm that the annual report and financial statements of the company comply with the current statutory requirements, the requirements of the company's governing document and the provisions of the Statement of Recommended Practice (SORP) "Accounting and Reporting by Charities" issued in March 2005.

Structure, governance and management: o Constitution The Council for Subject Associations (CfSA) was established in September 2007 as a company limited by guarantee and was granted charitable status by the Charity Commission in 2008. The Memorandum and Articles of the charity are available on the CfSA website at www.subjectassocation.org.uk. o Method of appointment or election of Trustees Members of the Main Board are elected for a period of three years from the inauguration of the main Board in March 2008, after which they may be re-elected at an Annual General Meeting. However as set out in the Memorandum and Articles, the term of office of Treasurer is two years from the date of the inauguration of the Main Board. All full members of the association are eligible to vote in the election, using a single transferable voting system. All members of the Board give their time voluntarily and receive no benefits from the charity. o Policies adopted for the induction and training of Trustees New Board members are given copies of the Board Handbook as part of their induction which is reinforced via a “buddy” system where an established Board Member works closely to support a new Board Member. The Board undertakes an annual self review, this reflective process allows the Board to measure progress and highlight areas for development. It also informs the production of CfSA’s Operational Plan. o Organisational structure and decision making CfSA has provision for a Main Board of eleven directors, including the Chair and Treasurer and meets at least four times a year. At 1st September 2010 there were 7 elected Board members. As a result of one resignation and the 2011 election process, there were 8 Board members from 1st April 2011.

The Finance and Governance, Human Resources, Publications, Membership and Marketing & Communications Committees were conflated and all such matters are now considered by the whole Board as a consequence of necessary restructuring of the organisation. As part of the planned process to control costs, as of April 2010 CfSA had no full time permanent paid staff. From 1st September 2011 the Company Secretary will be paid for approximately 20 days per year, undertaking some work on behalf of the Board and maintaining contact with members. Nine Board meetings (two via teleconference) were held in the year to 31st August 2011. Page 2 COUNCIL FOR SUBJECT ASSOCIATIONS TRUSTEES' REPORT (continued) FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 AUGUST 2011 o Related party relationships Insofar as it is complementary to the charity’s objects, the charity is guided by national educational policy. The CfSA has maintained dialogue with the Teacher Development Agency (TDA) , Department for Education (DfE) and the General Teaching Council (GTC) in addition to a number of project steering groups which focus on the interests of CfSA members. These act as links on behalf of member associations and have proved invaluable in identifying relevant policy initiatives and opportunities for prospective funding. CfSA is a member of the National Council for Voluntary Organisations (NCVO) and calls upon advice and support as and when necessary. o Risk management The Trustees have assessed the major risks to which the association is exposed, in particular those related to the operations and finance of the association. A risk management policy has been agreed by the Board and the risk register is regularly reviewed and updated. The trustees are satisfied that systems and procedures are in place to mitigate exposure to major risks.

Objectives and activities o Objectives In setting objectives and planning for activities, the Trustees have given due consideration to general guidance published by the Charity Commissioners relating to public benefit. The principal object of the company is to advance the education of the public (including pupils at schools and other educational settings) in all subjects taught in schools in the United Kingdom, principally through activities that support teachers, advisers and other subject specialists through subject associations. o Strategies and activities for achieving objectives for the public benefit Strategic Aim 1 The CfSA will act on behalf of its subject association members and speak with a single representative voice to support and promote their interests when dealing with the government, its agencies and other education stakeholders. It will create a community of practice, within which, subject associations can discuss issues of common interest and importance.

CfSA met with several key stakeholders during the year including:  Nick Gibb MP (Minister for Schools). Delegation included the Chair and representatives of ASE, DATA and ASPE. Key points discussed included:

o Course textbooks to support the curriculum in each subject that present pupils with ‘core subject knowledge’ – this could be an opportunity for SAs.

o Sequential learning and the most appropriate time to introduce particular knowledge.

o The importance for teachers of sound subject knowledge Page 3 COUNCIL FOR SUBJECT ASSOCIATIONS TRUSTEES' REPORT (continued) FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 AUGUST 2011

o CPD with a focus on pedagogy and the deepening of subject knowledge (sabbaticals were mentioned by NG).

o Chartered teacher status as a means of recognising CPD

o The proposed ‘Specialist Leaders of Education’ (SLE) and the involvement of the subject associations with these.

Nick Gibbs final comment was: ‘This is the era of the subject.’

Other significant meetings included: o Cambridge Primary Review in Jan 2011

o Open University in Jan 2011

o Cultural Learning Alliance throughout 2010 and 2011

o The DfE to discuss the primary capacity review in March 2011

o OCR re Examinations in Nov 2010

o Tim Oates (Chair, Expert Panel for the Curriculum Review) speaking to members in April 2011

o Policy officials at the DfE in August 2011 to discuss teacher development policies.

o In addition, CfSA wrote to Michael Gove highlighting the role of subject associations in June 2011

Following consultation with members, CfSA produced the following documents:

o Submission on the Inquiry into the English Baccalaureate – March 2011 o Response to the National Curriculum Review Consultation - April 2011 o Response to the Proposals for inspection arrangements for maintained schools and academies from January 2012 - April 2011 o Comments on the revision of Teachers’ Standards - April 2011 o Response to ‘Training our next generation of outstanding teachers’ - July 2011 Page 4 COUNCIL FOR SUBJECT ASSOCIATIONS TRUSTEES' REPORT (continued) FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 AUGUST 2011

Strategic Aim 2 The CfSA will promote the benefits of subject association membership and aim to raise awareness of the vast range of resources that they offer.

A paper was prepared for the National College for School Leadership (NSCL) highlighting the value of subjects and a CfSA think piece ‘Putting Subjects at the Core of the Curriculum’ was widely distributed.

Strategic Aim 3 The CfSA will assist its subject association members to strengthen their position by offering a range of resources, services and benefits that will help them to grow and to increase capacity in order that they might represent their subject communities effectively.

After it became necessary to slim down CfSA’s operations during the summer of 2010, a number of associations decided not to renew their membership for 2010/11. However Trustees were gratified that 30 members continued to pay their subscription. Membership remained steady throughout the year and as at August 2011 there were 30 members. Throughout the year CfSA has maintained contact with ‘non-member’ subject associations in order to encourage them to join.

The trustees highly valued the support and encouragement which they received from the membership. Members are increasingly inclined to contribute to discussions, both face-to- face and by email. The Comprehensive Spending Review in the autumn of 2010 had a significant negative impact on member’s income from Government contracts and, as a knock- on effect, the ability of individual teachers to pay the membership fees to subject associations. This issue was discussed at the 2011 AGM, where many members reported the need to restructure their organisations, leading to redundancies. Subsequently CfSA conducted a survey of members and the evidence from this and the AGM discussion were used to support CfSA’s responses. The ongoing review of the National Curriculum was another cause for concern as it was impacting on the strategic planning of members. CfSA has continued to talk to the DfE regarding the value of Subject Association membership in terms of promoting good practice in teaching and learning.

Strategic Aim 4 The CfSA will develop as an organisation, increasing its capacity to represent the interests of its members as a Charitable Company Limited by Guarantee. The findings from the Board self evaluation process were reported in December 2010. The consensus within the report meant that identifying the future focus of CfSA was straightforward.

Following the mandate provided by Members in the previous year, the Board continued their planning for CfSA’s structure to be slimmed down. The new base at Corsham and support from the NSEAD staff in terms of bookkeeping and storage significantly reduced overheads. Other cost savings came from changing accountants and the use of teleconferencing for Board meetings

COUNCIL FOR SUBJECT ASSOCIATIONS TRUSTEES' REPORT (continued) FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 AUGUST 2011

Operational Plan In order to achieve CfSA’s Strategic Aims, the Board develops an annual costed Operational Plan. For 2011/12 the broad outlines for the Operational Plan are:

Positioning of CfSA o Clarify the role of CfSA within the coalition government’s political/educational context to ensure a position of influence for subject associations. o Engaging with policy makers to further the educational work of members. o Review the vision, objectives, structure and operation of CfSA. o Providing a forum and information for members by ensuring CfSA’s vision and objectives are shared and understood by its members.

Securing the future of CfSA o Investigate means of maintaining sustainability, increasing income and developing possible sponsorship to underwrite CfSA. o Develop a programme of activities within the resources available that will recruit, retain and involve members. o Maintain meaningful contact with all member organisations, identifying how CfSA can support them as they move through the coming years. o Operate within a realistic budget, review income and resources, including the practical and financial impacts of having a paid officer

Governance o The cycle of Board elections was completed at the 2011 AGM. o Ensure the financial and governance operations of CfSA continue to be transparent.

Financial review The CfSA was set up in 2007 with a three year grant from DCSF. The business model was a challenging one, relying on significant numbers of schools buying into the termly publication ‘Primary Subjects’ and on both a challenging assumption about the number of subject associations and educational bodies which might join CfSA and on steep increases in subscriptions which Members would pay. In retrospect, this was over ambitious in the light of the financial situation in 2009/10 and the pressure on subject association funding. Financial security has been a major concern for the trustees. In September 2009 the Treasurer alerted the Board that the income would not fully cover projected expenditure in the second half of the financial year and various options were discussed. The Board decided to act prudently and, reduce expenditure. Professional advice was sought and the CfSA gave notice to the university to reduce its office space in Reading. Staff working hours were also temporarily reduced. However, in response to the receipt of the additional £65K core funding and the indication that the DCSF would consider the request for continued funding for 2010/11, CfSA staff were returned to full time working. The Board was reassured that approval of this extra funding meant that the organisation was reasonably secure to the end of August 2010. The CfSA discharged its contract to the DCSF to provide seven issues of Primary Subjects, but the cost of producing the publication was high and sales were disappointing.

COUNCIL FOR SUBJECT ASSOCIATIONS INDEPENDENT EXAMINER'S REPORT FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 AUGUST 2011

The move from a paper-based resource to an electronic publication from January 2010 brought substantial savings. The core funding from DCSF had been designed to taper over three years as the CfSA attracted new sources of income. However, as the financial climate became tighter, it proved more problematic than anticipated to identify sponsorship. Therefore, the DCSF decision not to continue providing core funding for CfSA was very significant.

The CfSA adopted a Reserves Policy which was principally designed to provide cover for contingencies such as winding down the CfSA in a controlled way. This worked well and enabled the organisation to pay off its staff and outstanding bills from the operation in Reading and to begin its different style of operations from Corsham with sufficient reserves.

Plans for the future The CfSA continues to look out for alternative sources of funding to enable it to continue to provide full services to members, but the Trustees recognised during 2009/10 that gaining substantial subsidy was very unlikely.

Without ongoing funding there is some inevitable uncertainty about the charity's long term future. However the Trustees believe that there is a continuing, important role for CfSA to act as an advocate for subject associations and to promote the value that subject associations can add to the teaching profession and indirectly to learners.

The Trustees thank all members for the support which they give to the association to enable it to continue its work. Our aims are to continue to work on behalf of members to provide a voice for subjects, particularly with government policy makers; to promote the importance of subject associations in strengthening the quality of teaching and learning; and, to sustain an active dialogue with all our members. The Trustees will work with members to create a programme of services and support that meets their wishes.

Statement of Trustees' responsibilities The Trustees (who are also directors of Council for Subject Associations Limited for the purposes of company law) are responsible for preparing the Trustees' report and the financial statements in accordance with applicable law and United Kingdom Accounting Standards (United Kingdom Generally Accepted Accounting Practice). Company and charity law requires the Trustees to prepare financial statements for each financial year which give a true and fair view of the state of affairs of the charitable company and of the incoming resources and application of resources, including the income and expenditure, of the charitable company for that period. In preparing these financial statements, the Trustees are required to: o select suitable accounting policies and then apply them consistently; o observe the methods and principles in the Charities SORP; o make judgments and estimates that are reasonable and prudent; o prepare the financial statements on the going concern basis unless it is inappropriate to presume that the charitable company will continue in operation.

COUNCIL FOR SUBJECT ASSOCIATIONS INDEPENDENT EXAMINER'S REPORT FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 AUGUST 2011

The Trustees are responsible for keeping proper accounting records that disclose with reasonable accuracy at any time the financial position of the charitable company and enable them to ensure that the financial statements comply with the Companies Act 2006. They are also responsible for safeguarding the assets of the charitable company and hence for taking reasonable steps for the prevention and detection of fraud and other irregularities.

In preparing this report, the Trustees have taken advantage of the small companies exemptions provided by section 415A of the Companies Act 2006.

This report was approved by the Trustees on 17th April 2012 and signed on their behalf, by:

John M Steers, Chair Page 8 COUNCIL FOR SUBJECT ASSOCIATIONS INDEPENDENT EXAMINER'S REPORT FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 AUGUST 2011

Respective Responsibilities of trustees and examiner The charity’s trustees are responsible for the preparation of the accounts. The Charity’s trustees consider that an audit is not required for this year under section 144 of the Charities Act 2011 (the Charities Act) and that an independent examination is needed.

It is my responsibility to: - o examine the accounts under section 145 of the Charities Act; o to follow the procedures laid down in the general Directions given by the Charity Commission (under section 145 (5) (b) of the Charities Act); o to state whether particular matters have come to my attention.

Basis of independent examiner’s statement My examination was carried out in accordance with General Directions given by the Charity Commission. An examination include a review of the accounting records kept by the charity and a comparison of the accounts presented with those records. It also includes consideration of any unusual items or disclosures in the accounts, and seeking explanation from the trustees concerning any such matters. The procedures undertaken do not provide all the evidence that would be required in an audit, and consequently no opinion is given as to whether the accounts present a ‘true and fair’ view and the report is limited to those matters set out in the statement below.

Independent Examiner’s Statement In connection with my examination, no matter has come to my attention which gives me reasonable cause to believe that in, any material respect, the requirements: o to keep accounting records in accordance with section 130 of the Charities Act; o to prepare accounts which accord with the accounting records and comply with the accounting requirements of the Charities Act have not been met; or To which, in my opinion, attention should be drawn in order to enable a proper understanding of the accounts to be reached.

Signed: Stuart J Pollard

Mr Stuart J Pollard Managing Director and Senior Auditor Auditing Solutions Ltd

Examiner wished to disclose the following: Due to the significant reduction in funding available for education related bodies, the Council has, of necessity, significantly reduced its activities with a resultant major reduction in the level of income and expenditure transactions in 2010-11. These have resulted in income of less than £10,000, which removes the need for the Council to submit formal Accounts to the Charity Commission. Additionally, due to changes in personnel, there is very little information available relating to the 2009-10 financial year, apart from a Statement of Accounts, which were prepared on behalf of the Council by Creaseys LLP in an Income and Expenditure format with a closing Balance Sheet.

Due to the significantly reduced levels of income and expenditure in 2010-11, the Accounts are prepared for the year on a Receipts and Payments basis. We have, consequently, verified the transactions by reference to the Council’s accounting and other supporting records (i.e. bank statements, debtor accounts raised and trader invoices paid) within the financial year, agreeing detail to the accompanying Statements of Receipts and Payments.

We also note that two sets of accounting records are being maintained, one by the Honorary Treasurer on various notes, but not in a formal cashbook record or format, the other by an officer at NSEAD using Sage software. We consider the duplication of effort involved at present to be unnecessary and would suggest that a single set of records be maintained with full and effectively cross-referenced records held by the nominated officer, together with regular reconciliation between the accounting records and bank statement detail throughout the financial year: we have provided the Honorary Treasurer with a suitable spreadsheet format for future year’s accounting records.

CfSA Accounts 2010-11

Bank reconciliation as at 31st August 2011 Current A/c £2,453.53 Deposit A/c £25,139.03 Pay Pal A/c £135.82 £27,728.38 Less: uncleared 2010-11 cheques 839 £16.00 £16.00

Closing cashbook balance as at 31st August 2011 £27,712.38

Opening balance 1st September 2010 £37,941.79 Plus: receipts £8,421.56 £46,363.35 Less Payments £18,650.97 Closing cashbook balance as at 31st August 2011 £27,712.38

Council for Subject Associations

Summary of Receipts and Payments Account for the year-ended 31st August 2011

Previous year £ Receipts £ Subscriptions 8400.00 Sale of "Primary Subjects" 9.00 Bank Interest 12.56

£0.00 Total Receipts £8,421.56

Payments

Liaison officer 6341.90 Audit / Accountancy 4798.44 Office rent 2500.00 Trustee travel 1465.95 IT services 958.96 Telephone charges 931.97 Web site 411.25 Meeting refreshments 343.62 Storage - Primary subjects 248.03 Postage 179.42 Teleconference Meetings 147.06 NCVO subs 146.00 Publication refunds 64.64 Bank charges 48.35 Cleaning 37.60 Book purchase 27.78

£0.00 Total Payments £18,650.97