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"Haines Watts have audited our accounts for several years and have a very good understanding of the independent school sector. The audit team is very professinal and helpful. Overall Haines Watts have always been very responsive to our needs and I would have no hesitation in recommending them to potential customers."

Vincent Iwanek, Bursar, Coventry School Foundation.

The independent schools sector is experiencing a range of sometimes conflicting pressures. On the one hand, parental dissatisfaction with the education provided in parts of the state system is leading to increased demand for places, whilst on the other hand, financial pressures on parents are leading to heightened sensitivity to fees.

For proprietor-operated schools, the ever-increasing burden of regulation is resulting in reducing margins and the need to maximise income and minimise taxation has never been higher.

For charitable schools there is ongoing emphasis on delivery of public benefit but this should not distract attention from the three "p's" of school management, pupils, people and property. Attracting and retaining pupils, ensuring that staffing is at the right level and maintaining and developing the school's buildings and facilities remain the key criteria for ongoing success in this sector.

The HW schools-sector experts have recent and relevant experience of helping schools with improving their accounting systems, minimising exposure to irrecoverable VAT, making maximum usage of tax-effective fund-raising provisions and enhancing the timeliness and accuracy of financial management information. We have also been involved in assisting schools with longer-term forecasting and with their consideration of options for securing their future, including joining forces with other schools by means of joint ventures or mergers.

At HW Chartered Accountants we are committed to providing:

• A well-planned, hassle-free, but thorough and insightful school audit process
• Practical problem-solving and relevant, implementable solutions
• Expert advice and support to management and governors in every area of school finance
• An in-depth understanding of all stakeholder needs
• Clarity about costs overall and at every stage
• Direct partner dialogue with clients of all sizes
• Year round 'hotline' support and far-sighted, timely newsletters

If you would like to dicuss how we can help or for more information please contact your local office.

Education articles

Below are articles written for the education sector. Please click the headings below to read the full article.

Changes to VAT on overseas supplies

Securing an endowment

The art of survival

Charities face further VAT bills

Charity or not

Bursaries and ’Who pays for them?’

Hard times or great expectations?

Bursaries in demand

More choice for charities - an introduction to CIOs

Comments on class sizes

Measuring up to school’s finances

Credit squeeze bites as parents delay paying school fees

OPTING OUT OF CHARITABLE STATUS

COLLECTING THE DEBTS

MAKING SCHOOL ACCOUNTS SIMPLE

Fraud on board?