Eton

[T.i.p.s.y]

I think you need to get your facts straight first, your statement is incorrect.

There's no need to have a go, I just said I'd never seen reports on any independent schools website.

That aside, this government has happily rewritten many laws since it came in so I don't believe for one second that their hands are tied when it comes to Eton and Winchester, after all they managed to get rid of hereditary peers (although are happy to let people buy them - very socialist!) which I think has more importance than a school of 1300 boys. Maybe we should ask why the Charity Commission aren't pushing these schools in the same way that they push others? And, does it really matter? I don't think its "sad" that they don't divulge their reports as how important is it in the scheme of ANY of our lives. I'm not interested in any report, state school or independent - all it does is make people jump to conclusions when they don't understand the report or give the opportunity for the media to take out sections which seem startlingly negative whilst ignoring the context.

[KenR]

Tipsy

If I was being cynical I might ask the reason why Eton and Winchester don't voluntarily produce an Annual Report & Return the same as all of the other Independent Schools. Have they got something to hide?

The Charity Commission have tried for a long time to get the law changed and for Eton and Winchester to publish reports but all to no avail.

I'm surprised in the current economic climate you think it's not important for Educational institutions to produce and make available to the public Annual Reports of their financial status. I personally think it's essential. As a parent paying fees for KEHS I certainly want to know how the King Edward Foundation are spending my fees.

It wasn't all that long ago that we heard many wonderous stories about how generous and benevolent Robert Maxwell and his organisation were in terms of charitable deeds! We now know what was happening there!

As I said, I don't doubt that Eton and Winchester are probably top of the league in terms of charitable Educational activities, but if so why don't they produce the a report to prove it?

Ken

[Flamenco]

Tipsy

If I was being cynical I might ask the reason why Eton and Winchester don't voluntarily produce an Annual Report & Return the same as all of the other Independent Schools. Have they got something to hide?

I'm surprised in the current economic climate you think it's not important for Educational institutions to produce and make available to the public Annual Reports of their financial status. I personally think it's essential.

But Eton and Winchester do produce Annual Reports & Returns. It's a legal requirement. I've just spoken to the Charities Commission and they confirmed this. Whether they publish on their websites or not is neither here nor there. But for interested parties who really have a desire to view these Accounts and Returns, they can always request from the schools, maybe by paying a small fee. Rather like one can view any public company's Accounts & Returns by applying to Companies House with the payment of a small fee.

It wasn't all that long ago that we heard many wonderous stories about how generous and benevolent Robert Maxwell and his organisation were in terms of charitable deeds! We now know what was happening there!

And I'm sure Robert Maxwell and his organisation did publish all those Accounts & Returns and distributed them to the public. But were the public any the wiser?

Similarly, we saw what happened in the USA with the Enron scandal not too long ago. So what good are these Accounts and Returns if there was intention by the publisher to deceive? How many lay people can really understand and analyse these accounts?

[KenR]

Hi Flamenco

But Eton and Winchester do produce Annual Reports & Returns. It's a legal requirement. I've just spoken to the Charities Commission and they confirmed this.

It's nearly christmas so I think we will a bit of Oh no they don't!

Seriously, Eton and Winchester are Exempt Charities and therefore do not have to produce Annual Reports or Returns on the Charity Commission web site. There are proposals in the Charities Act that in future will remove this anomaly - but for the moment they don't have to.

If you go on the the Charity Commission web site and try searching for Eton all that comes up is Eton Action which is not the college but a small subsidiary charity.

The Charity Commission even publish a list of Exempt Charities on their web site: http://www.charity-commission.gov.uk/su ... 57d001.asp

This includes the following section:-

(b) the universities of Oxford, Cambridge, London, Durham and Newcastle, the colleges and halls in the universities of Oxford, Cambridge, Durham and Newcastle, Queen Mary and Westfield College in the University of London and the colleges of Winchester and Eton;

Regards

Ken

[Flamenco]

Seriously, Eton and Winchester are Exempt Charities and therefore do not have to produce Annual Reports or Returns on the Charity Commission web site.

Hi Ken!

It's quite true that being Exempt Charities, Eton and Winchester do not have to produce Annual Reports or Returns on the Charity Commission Website. But that does not mean they do not produce Accounts & Reports.

I was drawing on the inference from your earlier post when you said,
Quote: If I was being cynical I might ask the reason why Eton and Winchester don't voluntarily produce an Annual Report & Return the same as all of the other Independent Schools. Have they got something to hide?

I then said these two schools do produce reports and anyone who might seriously want to view these reports can apply to the school perhaps for a small fee as defined by law:

http://www.charity-commission.gov.uk/su ... 57b001.asp

3. Section 47(2)

Under s.47(2) all charities, including exempt charities, must provide a copy of their most recent accounts to anyone who requests them.
They may make a reasonable charge for doing this and (provided any charge is paid) must supply the accounts within two months of the request being made. If any doubt exists as to what constitutes the exempt charity’s "most recent accounts", appropriate professional advice should be sought.

So my main point is these schools do produce Accounts & Returns albeit not necessarily posted at the Charities Commission's website; and there's nothing to hide.

But thanks all the same for bringing to our attention some quirky medieval law that still exist in the 21st century.

Regards,

[stevew61]

Looks like a proper job for a journalist to request the accounts and then publish them.

I would be pedantic and ask for the last three hundred years accounts.

steve

[mike1880]

Let us know what the reasonable charge is for that .

Mike

[T.i.p.s.y]

How interesting Flamenco, maybe some peoples statements are incorrect and they need to get their facts right!

You'll never guess what I found out yesterday - there has been a JS at my sons prep school but he's just left! Anyway, I can't imagine they could have given me as much of an insight into daily life at this fantastic school as you have - thank you.

[Flamenco]

How interesting Flamenco, maybe some peoples statements are incorrect and they need to get their facts right!

Now Tipsy, stop being a naughty girl . . . ***:lol:

You'll never guess what I found out yesterday - there has been a JS at my sons prep school but he's just left!

Yes, I've known all along. And he went on to gain a King's Scholarship too. [Check your Inbox]

[T.i.p.s.y]

Flamenco - are you actually the Admissions Tutor scoping me out?