Bedford School Foundation Trust
Analysis
Bedford School Foundation Trust is a registered charity in England and Wales, based in Bedford. It was registered in October 2002, 24 years ago. Its declared purposes cover general charitable purposes and education/training, which this site groups under education and training. Legally it is a charitable company (Companies House number 04479551). It says it makes grants to individuals, makes grants to organisations and provides buildings/facilities/open space.
In the financial year ending June 2025, Bedford School Foundation Trust reported income of £2.7m and spending of £1.5m, leaving 43% of income unspent that year. Across the 5 years on record, from June 2021 to June 2025, income grew from £1.0m to £2.7m (+160%), an average of +27% a year. The sharpest change came in the year to June 2023, when income rose by 142%. Over the whole period it spent 52% of the income it received.
Among 21,402 England and Wales charities whose main cause is education and training and that reported income, Bedford School Foundation Trust sits at the 96th percentile: it is larger than about 96% of them. Against every charity in England and Wales with reported income it ranks in the 97th percentile. Charities of a similar size with the same main cause include The British Editorial Society of Bone and Joint Surgery (£2.6m), Minik Kardes Ltd (£2.7m) and Torah Vodaas Limited (£2.6m).
In its latest detailed accounts, income came from donations and legacies 55%, investments 43% and charitable activities 1.8%. Gifts in wills alone brought in £41k. Charitable activities took 96% of spending and raising funds 0.3%. Grants to other organisations totalled £1.2m. Reserves of £3.0m would cover about 23 months of spending at that rate.
Income and spending
Where the income comes from
- Donations 54%
- Legacies 1.5%
- Charitable activities 1.8%
- Investments 43%
- Other 0.1%
In the charity's own words
The Trust is established to manage funds and property donated to Bedford School so as to promote the education of pupils at Bedford School, to provide scholarships and bursaries to assust pupils to attend the School,to assist with the further education of former pupils of the School, and to support the facilities and activities at the School.
Similar-sized charities, same cause
| Charity | Location | Income |
|---|---|---|
| The British Editorial Society of Bone and Joint Surgery | London | £2.6m |
| Minik Kardes Ltd | London | £2.7m |
| Torah Vodaas Limited | London | £2.6m |
| Richmond House School | Leeds | £2.7m |