Stowe School Limited

Analysis

Stowe School Limited is a registered charity in England and Wales, based in Buckingham. It was registered in March 1963, 63 years ago. Its declared purposes cover education/training, arts/culture/heritage/science and environment/conservation/heritage, which this site groups under arts, culture, heritage and science. Legally it is a charitable company (Companies House number 00187251). It says it makes grants to individuals, provides human resources and provides buildings/facilities/open space.

In the financial year ending August 2025, Stowe School Limited reported income of £53.6m and spending of £49.4m, spending 92% of its income. Across the 5 years on record, from August 2021 to August 2025, income grew from £35.2m to £53.6m (+52%), an average of +11% a year. The sharpest change came in the year to August 2024, when income rose by 22%. Over the whole period it spent 92% of the income it received.

Among 17,634 England and Wales charities whose main cause is arts, culture, heritage and science and that reported income, Stowe School Limited sits at the 100th percentile: it is one of the largest 1% in its cause. Against every charity in England and Wales with reported income it ranks in the 100th percentile. Charities of a similar size with the same main cause include The Associated Board of the Royal Schools of Music (£51.6m), Cyngor Celfyddydau Cymru (£57.7m) and Paul Hamlyn Foundation (£50.7m).

In its latest detailed accounts, income came from charitable activities 88%, donations and legacies 8.0%, investments 2.1% and trading 1.5%. Charitable activities took 98% of spending and raising funds 1.8%. Reserves of £67.1m would cover about 16 months of spending at that rate. It employed 786 people.