The Purcell School

Also known as: The Purcell School Limited

Provision of co-educational specialist music and general education

Activities & Mission

Provision of co-educational specialist music and general education

Areas of Operation

Where this charity is registered to operate, as self-declared to the Charity Commission. These are regulatory classifications, not a list of active programmes, and don't necessarily indicate fundraising activity in each location.

Local Authority

Hertfordshire

Financial Information

Latest Income

£7,602,678

Latest Expenditure

£8,469,586

Financial Efficiency

Program Ratio 109.5%

% of income going directly to charitable activities

Higher than 90% of UK Arts charities with income £1M to £10M (sample: 780). How is this calculated?

Overall Efficiency 98.3%

% of expenditure going to programs (vs overhead)

Higher than 63% of UK Arts charities with income £1M to £10M. How is this calculated?

Administrative Ratio 4.0%

Overhead (fundraising + governance) as % of total expenditure

Lower overhead than 56% of UK Arts charities with income £1M to £10M. (Lower overhead is generally read as more efficient.) How is this calculated?

Latest Financial Breakdown

Income Sources

Donations & Legacies £356,180

Charitable Activities £6,939,878

Other Trading £236,588

Investments £70,032

Other Income £0

Expenditure Categories

Charitable Expenditure £8,328,731

Raising Funds £140,855

Governance £197,088

Grants to Institutions £0

Other Expenditure £0

Financial Trend

Annual Returns

As filed with the Charity Commission for England and Wales. Most recent filing covers the financial year ending 2024.

Financial Year	Income	Expenditure	Charitable Spending	Net Assets	Reserves	Staff
2024	£7,602,678	£8,469,586	£8,328,731	£11,112,514	£0	169 / 0
2023	£6,948,008	£7,729,521	£7,564,449	£11,979,422	£326,927	164 / 0
2022	£6,655,875	£7,236,597	£7,179,735	£12,760,935	£844,721	166 / 0
2021	£6,340,442	£6,497,673	£6,407,790	£13,341,657	£11,946,995	159 / 0
2020	£6,133,536	£6,215,066	£6,123,210	£13,498,888	£13,498,888	151 / 0

Staff column shows: Employees / Volunteers

Frequently asked questions about The Purcell School

What does The Purcell School do?

Provision of co-educational specialist music and general education

How much income did The Purcell School report in 2024?

The Purcell School reported total income of £7.60m and reported expenditure of £8.47m for the financial year ending 2024, based on the most recent annual return filed with the Charity Commission.

How efficient is The Purcell School?

The Purcell School has a program ratio of 109.5%, meaning that share of its income goes directly to charitable activities. This is higher than 90% of UK Arts charities with income £1M to £10M (sample of 780 charities). See our methodology for how this is calculated.

When was The Purcell School registered as a charity?

The Purcell School was registered with the Charity Commission for England and Wales on 24 February 1964 as charity number 312855. It has been registered for 62 years.

Who runs The Purcell School?

The Purcell School is governed by a board of 8 trustees. The chair of trustees is Bernard Trafford. Trustees are legally responsible for the charity's governance and are listed in full on its profile.

Where does The Purcell School operate?

The Purcell School operates in Hertfordshire, as recorded in its Charity Commission filing.

Is The Purcell School a registered charity?

Yes — The Purcell School is a registered charity in England and Wales, charity number 312855.