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15.

January

2019.

Business focus ushers in major changes at Castle House School

P R E S S R E L E A S E

Ref: HWPR065 Date: 15th January 2019

Business focus ushers in major changes at Castle House School

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Tapping into its Stafford-based accountant's business acumen has given an independent preparatory school the chance to enhance experiential learning whilst also expanding its offering to Years 7 and 8 and providing educational sessions for nursery school age children.

Founded in 1944, Castle House School in Chetwyn End, Newport, currently provides a comprehensive curriculum for children up to Year 6 (age 11 years). Now, it is expanding its offering to educate 12-13 year olds.

Meanwhile, the school's on-site nursery has been set up to provide an educational experience - as opposed to a day care service - with lessons, meals and a wide variety of facilities included as standard. Parents can find out more about these exciting new developments when the school holds an ‘open week' from February 11 to 15.

Working with Howards Chartered Certified Accountants to adopt a business approach is enabling the school to make some big improvements with any surplus monies reinvested for the benefit of all the children. Reference and fiction books now sit alongside the latest technology in the updated library/ICT suite and the school has bought a new minibus.

Head teacher Ian Sterling says: "The school celebrates its 75^th anniversary in 2019 so it was time to update the way we do things to fall in line with modern thinking.

"Restructuring our approach to finance has meant adopting a more business-like model and enhancing our systems and processes to ensure regulatory compliance. Now, we can focus on showcasing what the school has to offer and instilling a sense of kindness, fair play and co-operation."

Since there was no mandatory requirement for a formal audit, Howards amended Castle House School's Articles of Association. The accountancy firm also introduced more cost-effective processes surrounding the submission of annual accounts to help the school fulfil its obligations to the Charities Commission.

Matt Bailey, managing director at Howards, says: "The dedicated staff at Castle House School are committed to experiential and hands-on learning both inside and outside the classroom. Carrying out cost/benefit analyses puts things into perspective, enabling the teachers to channel resources into initiatives that will have the biggest impact for their pupils."

Ian adds: "The team at Howards is extremely supportive, working late into the evening and even interrupting their family holidays to ensure that help is available when we need it.

"This truly personal touch makes all the difference, and Matt's background in the education sector is an added bonus because it means we have access to crucial advice that helps us to adapt to changes in the economic climate."

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Caption: Left, Matt Bailey, managing director of Howards and Ian Stirling, head teacher at Castle House School.

About Howards

Howards was founded in 2005 following the merger of Barrington's and Wood & Co, two well-established and successful Stafford firms of accountants. The combined experience and areas of individual expertise that the company now enjoys has been passed on to its clients, who all benefit from Howards' deeper knowledge base and wider range of professional services. As well as Managing Director Matt Bailey, the senior team at Howards consists of commercial and taxation specialist Ryan Hudson, audit expert Rebecca Nott - who has been with the firm for over 13 years - and Nick Archer, who specialises in client services and business development.

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