THE ROYAL CENTRAL SCHOOL OF SPEECH AND DRAMA
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Cash
£6.9m
-51.5% vs 2024
Net assets
£34m
-3.1% vs 2024
Employees
264
-10.2% vs 2024
Profit before tax
-£1m
-45.1% vs 2024
Net assets
2-year trend · vs Consumer Discretionary median
THE ROYAL CENTRAL SCHOOL OF SPEECH AND DRAMA·Consumer Discretionary median
THE ROYAL CENTRAL SCHOOL OF SPEECH AND DRAMA·Consumer Discretionary median
THE ROYAL CENTRAL SCHOOL OF SPEECH AND DRAMA·Consumer Discretionary median
THE ROYAL CENTRAL SCHOOL OF SPEECH AND DRAMA·Consumer Discretionary median
THE ROYAL CENTRAL SCHOOL OF SPEECH AND DRAMA·Consumer Discretionary median
Accounts
2-year trend · Δ = latest vs prior filed period · latest reflected 2025-07-31
| Metric | Trend | 2024-07-31 | 2025-07-31 | Δ vs prior |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Total income | £11,778,000 | £12,972,000 | +10.1% | |
| Operating profit | — | — | — | |
| Profit before tax | -£692,000 | -£1,004,000 | -45.1% | |
| Net profit | -£678,000 | -£979,000 | -44.4% | |
| Cash | £14,151,000 | £6,858,000 | -51.5% | |
| Total assets less current liabilities | £43,277,000 | £42,309,000 | -2.2% | |
| Net assets | £35,124,000 | £34,030,000 | -3.1% | |
| Equity | £35,124,000 | £34,030,000 | -3.1% | |
| Average employees | 294 | 264 | -10.2% | |
| Wages | £11,859,000 | £12,426,000 | +4.8% | |
| Directors' remuneration | £1,115,000 | £1,150,000 | +3.1% | |
| Highest paid director | £229,341 | £226,348 | -1.3% |
Values shown as filed in the company's annual accounts. — indicates the figure wasn't present under that line item in that period. The Δ column is the change from the prior filed period as a percentage of |prior|; lines a company doesn't report show —. About these numbers
Ratios
Computed from the line items above — sparklines read oldest → newest
| Ratio | Trend | 2024-07-31 | 2025-07-31 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Net margin | -5.8% | -7.5% | |
| Gearing (liabilities / total assets) | 36.0% | 27.8% | |
| Current ratio | 1.66x | 2.42x |
Margins divide P&L lines by turnover. Gearing is liabilities over total assets. Current ratio is current assets over creditors falling due within one year. Interest cover is operating profit over absolute finance costs. Sector-distribution context coming next.
Name history
Renamed 2 times since incorporation
- THE ROYAL CENTRAL SCHOOL OF SPEECH AND DRAMA 2012-12-06 → present
- CENTRAL SCHOOL OF SPEECH AND DRAMA(THE) 1978-12-31 → 2012-12-06
- CENTRAL SCHOOL OF SPEECH TRAINING AND DRAMATIC ART (THE) 1925-02-06 → 1978-12-31
Audit & accounting basis
- Accounting basis
- FRS 102
- Reporting scope
- Consolidated group
- Auditor
- HW Fisher Audit
- Audit opinion
- Unqualified (clean)
- Going concern
- Affirmed
“Royal Central has a stable income profile and a cash and investments balance of around £9 million, enabling us to meet our financial obligations, continue to invest strategically, and respond effectively to immediate challenges within the sector. This strong financial footing supports our ability to plan with confidence while maintaining resilience in a rapidly changing external environment. On this basis, we have prepared these financial statements as a going concern and remain confident in our financial sustainability for the future.”
Group structure
- THE ROYAL CENTRAL SCHOOL OF SPEECH AND DRAMA · parent
- CSSD Enterprises Limited
Significant events
- “Royal Central is debt-free and efforts over the coming years will be focused on delivering Royal Central's ambitious capital programme to transform the estate and continue to enhance the student and staff experience.”
- “Royal Central launched a voluntary severance scheme as part of targeted financial recovery measures.”
- “In May 2025 Royal Central hosted an event in New York for alumni, incoming and prospective students.”
- “The Stage has covered news of Royal Central signing up to The Halo Code, the UK's Black hair code. Royal Central is the first drama school to sign up for the initiative.”
- “Several Royal Central graduates were nominated in the 2025 Olivier awards.”
- “Royal Central was awarded two grants totalling more than £550,000 from the Leverhulme Trust to establish a range of student scholarships across its undergraduate provision and Saturday Youth Theatre.”
- “Netflix announced a two-year funding commitment for the 'Performance Making Diploma' through its support of Access All Areas.”
- “Although 2024/25 returned a deficit, we remain cash-positive and debt-free, having fully repaid our loan during the year.”
- “Student recruitment saw significant improvement for 2024/25, achieving an 8% increase in new student intake compared to the previous year.”
- “In April, we were granted planning permission for the Centre for Performance, Technology and Equity development.”
- “We completed a comprehensive site utilisation review, providing valuable insights into how our estate is currently used and identifying opportunities to introduce new ways of working and optimise space for greater efficiency.”
- “In the 2024/25 academic year, Royal Central continued to enhance its capacity in knowledge exchange (KE) and impact activities, with targeted strategic investment to build expertise in this area.”
Auditor, going-concern and subsidiary information is drawn from the narrative of the latest annual accounts. About these numbers
People
19 active · 129 resigned
| Name | Role | Appointed | Born | Nationality |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| DARBY-PHILPOTTS, Kayley Joy Elizabeth Violet | Secretary | 2023-09-15 | — | — |
| AYERS, Margaret | Director | 2025-10-06 | Dec 1967 | British |
| BAINES, Samantha Louise | Director | 2025-10-06 | Mar 1987 | British |
| BEHARI, Richard James | Director | 2022-11-28 | Sep 1979 | British |
| BHANJI, Abdul Fazal | Director | 2018-07-16 | Sep 1949 | British |
| BUSHELL-MINGO, Josette Vinella Xamina | Director | 2021-08-16 | Feb 1964 | British |
| CATLIFF, Nick | Director | 2022-11-28 | Dec 1960 | British |
| CHAN, Yui Chit Daniel | Director | 2020-10-19 | Aug 1990 | British |
| CHOUDURY, Yamin | Director | 2023-10-16 | Nov 1986 | British |
| DELGADO, Maria Milagros, Professor | Director | 2016-10-17 | Jun 1965 | British |
| HAIGH, Andrew Michael, Mr. | Director | 2023-10-16 | Oct 1958 | British |
| HARRIS-UGBOMAH, Deborah | Director | 2025-07-14 | May 1967 | English |
| LAYTON, Matthew Robert | Director | 2022-07-18 | Feb 1961 | British |
| LEE, James Simon Francis, Professor | Director | 2024-07-15 | Sep 1983 | British |
| LEIGHTON, Suzanne Rebecca | Director | 2024-07-15 | Oct 1968 | British |
| MOLLAND, Martha | Director | 2025-08-01 | Apr 2002 | British |
| NEWELL, Gabriella Soleil | Director | 2025-12-08 | Mar 2003 | American |
| PURSER, William Luke | Director | 2023-10-16 | Nov 1975 | British |
| STUART FISHER, Amanda Jain, Dr | Director | 2022-10-26 | Dec 1969 | British |
Show 129 resigned officers
| Name | Role | Appointed | Resigned |
|---|---|---|---|
| SCULLY, Deborah Patricia | Secretary | 1992-03-12 | 2023-09-15 |
| ALEXANDER, Roger Michael | Director | 2005-07-26 | 2014-07-14 |
| ANDREWS, Nicholas William | Director | 1998-06-23 | 2000-03-15 |
| ATTERTON, Edward | Director | — | 1991-09-30 |
| BALSDON, Diana Clare | Director | 2002-03-19 | 2014-07-14 |
| BANGALAN, Glerren Chester | Director | 2024-12-02 | 2025-10-06 |
| BARRACLOUGH, Holly | Director | 2018-07-16 | 2020-07-31 |
| BAWLER, Matthew | Director | 2001-12-11 | 2002-07-31 |
| BEESTONE, Gary | Director | 2021-07-07 | 2025-07-14 |
| BLACKSTOCK, Anthony Brian | Director | 2014-05-12 | 2020-01-08 |
| BOTHAM, Paul Simon | Director | 1999-12-08 | 2000-07-31 |
| BOWLES, Jessica | Director | 1994-03-14 | 1998-03-17 |
| BRANDT, Godfrey Lyton, Dr | Director | — | 2003-03-18 |
| BROWN, Ross, Professor | Director | 2006-07-24 | 2016-07-18 |
| BURGESS, Dilys Averil | Director | — | 1995-05-17 |
| BURKE, Gerald John | Director | — | 2004-03-15 |
| BURLIN, Terence Eric, Professor | Director | — | 1994-03-14 |
| BYNG, Sally, Dr | Director | 1995-03-13 | 2000-03-15 |
| BYRNE, Steven James | Director | 2004-12-13 | 2005-07-31 |
| CAIRD, George, Prof | Director | 2020-10-19 | 2021-08-15 |
| CALLOW, Edward Michael John | Director | 2021-08-01 | 2022-07-31 |
| CASTRO, Anthony Albert | Director | 1996-03-11 | 1998-08-31 |
| CHATTERJEE, Shreya | Director | 2018-11-26 | 2019-10-21 |
| CHILTON, Mary | Director | 2008-10-20 | 2009-07-31 |
| COATES, Rachel | Director | 2023-11-27 | 2024-10-07 |
| COKER, Christina | Director | 2019-01-01 | 2024-07-15 |
| COLLARD, Paul | Director | 1994-03-14 | 1995-06-14 |
| COLLETT, Peter James | Director | 1999-06-28 | 2003-03-18 |
| COLLINGE, Clare Louise Waldegrave | Director | 2018-05-14 | 2023-07-31 |
| COLMAN, Geoffrey Nicholas | Director | 1998-10-20 | 2002-03-19 |
| COMERFORD, Catherine Mary | Director | 2002-03-19 | 2005-03-21 |
| COOPER, Diana Margaret | Director | — | 1992-08-31 |
| CROSSLEY, Gary, Professor | Director | 2000-10-01 | 2007-04-08 |
| CURTIS, Barney | Director | 1999-03-16 | 1999-07-31 |
| DAGNALL, Harry | Director | 1997-06-23 | 1999-02-16 |
| DANIEL, John Sagar, Sir | Director | 1994-03-14 | 1996-07-31 |
| DEAN, Anthony Stephen, Professor | Director | — | 1996-03-11 |
| DICKIE, Victoria Teresa Sheldon | Director | 2008-03-31 | 2017-07-17 |
| DIXEY, Judith Marguerite | Director | 2005-07-26 | 2005-12-12 |
| DOONA, Mia Bethan | Director | 2022-08-01 | 2024-07-31 |
| DUDRAH, Rajinder, Professor | Director | 2021-07-07 | 2023-06-15 |
| ELLIOTT, David Stuart | Director | 1995-03-13 | 1996-07-31 |
| EMANUEL, Susan | Director | 1996-03-11 | 1999-03-16 |
| FARRIER, Stephen Arthur, Dr | Director | 2017-07-22 | 2022-09-04 |
| FINCH, Peter William | Director | 1998-06-23 | 2002-03-19 |
| FORTESCUE, Sarah | Director | 2013-11-25 | 2014-09-30 |
| FOWLER, Robert Stewart | Director | — | 2000-09-30 |
| GIDDINS, Benjamin John | Director | 2011-10-24 | 2012-07-31 |
| GILL, Eleni | Director | 2015-07-13 | 2022-12-09 |
| GOODBAN, Brian Norman Frederick | Director | — | 2005-03-21 |
| GREAVES, Walter | Director | 2005-07-26 | 2008-03-31 |
| GUERREIRO, Sandra | Director | 2005-12-12 | 2006-07-31 |
| HAIGH, Alan Stuart | Director | 2015-05-11 | 2022-07-18 |
| HARBOTTLE, George Laurence | Director | — | 1999-03-16 |
| HARDING ROBERTS, Christopher John | Director | 1993-03-16 | 1993-03-31 |
| HARRIS, Philippa Jill Olivier, Dame | Director | 2010-03-29 | 2018-07-16 |
| HARWOOD, Ronald, Sir | Director | 1996-03-11 | 1999-03-16 |
| HEALAS, Carol Ann | Director | — | 1994-07-31 |
| HEATH, Stephen | Director | 2002-10-22 | 2003-07-31 |
| HEMMING, Matthew | Director | 1998-05-15 | 2000-07-31 |
| HENDERSON, Gavin Douglas, Professor | Director | 2007-09-01 | 2020-07-16 |
| HITT, Phoebe | Director | 2015-12-07 | 2016-10-23 |
| HOLLANTS VAN LOOCKE, Katya-Laura, Mx | Director | 2020-07-31 | 2021-07-31 |
| HOSKING, Renee Doreen | Director | — | 1996-03-11 |
| HOWE, Ella Louise | Director | 2016-07-18 | 2017-07-31 |
| HUET, Emma Frances | Director | 2009-11-23 | 2010-07-31 |
| HUTSON, Alexandra Bethan | Director | 2020-11-23 | 2021-10-01 |
| JARMAN, Richard Neville | Director | 1999-12-08 | 2005-05-03 |
| KAYE, David Wolf | Director | 2001-06-26 | 2011-03-28 |
| KENT, Robert Nicolas | Director | 1996-03-11 | 1997-02-18 |
| LANDON-SMITH, Kristine Ruth | Director | 2009-07-20 | 2011-11-17 |
| LAVENDER, Andrew Mark, Professor | Director | 2003-03-18 | 2006-03-27 |
| LAVERTY, Alastair | Director | 2003-08-01 | 2004-07-31 |
| LEE, Bethany Maria | Director | 2000-12-12 | 2002-06-25 |
| MACKEY, Sally Patricia, Professor | Director | 2003-09-07 | 2007-04-02 |
| MACKEY, Sally Patricia, Professor | Director | 1996-03-11 | 1999-03-16 |
| MARTIN, John Antony Michael | Director | — | 1993-12-31 |
| MASTERSON, Jackie, Dr | Director | — | 1992-08-31 |
| MCGREGOR, Menna Lyn | Director | 2012-11-26 | 2022-07-18 |
| MCVEIGH, Simon William, Professor | Director | 2010-03-29 | 2021-07-07 |
| MCVEIGH, Simon William, Professor | Director | 2010-03-29 | 2021-07-07 |
| MENSAH, Anne Akosua Akpene | Director | 2012-11-26 | 2022-07-18 |
| MENZIES, Lee Fraser | Director | 2002-03-19 | 2010-03-29 |
| MYERS, Jodi Sarah, Ms. | Director | 2008-10-20 | 2018-07-16 |
| NIZARD, Clara Julie | Director | 2017-11-27 | 2018-11-14 |
| PAULSON, Douglas | Director | 2013-06-11 | 2013-09-16 |
| PERRIN, Charles John | Director | 2006-03-27 | 2018-07-16 |
| PETHERBRIDGE, David Alexander Durant | Director | 2007-04-02 | 2010-03-29 |
| PIRRET, Laura Anne | Director | 2016-11-23 | 2017-10-17 |
| POERNIG, Natalie Jade | Director | 2014-08-01 | 2016-07-18 |
| PRIDDLE, Christopher David | Director | 2010-08-01 | 2011-07-31 |
| PUTTNAM OF QUEENSGATE, David, Lord | Director | 1993-03-16 | 1996-03-11 |
| RHYMES, Rupert John | Director | — | 2002-03-19 |
| ROBERTS, Peter Heathcote | Director | 2005-07-26 | 2018-07-16 |
| ROBINSON, Kenneth, Dr | Director | — | 1994-05-10 |
| ROBINSON, Philip Edward Donald | Director | 2003-06-24 | 2010-03-29 |
| ROSS, Walter Alan | Director | — | 2001-03-20 |
| ROWE, Geoffrey Thomas | Director | 2015-07-13 | 2018-02-26 |
| RUSSELL, Thomas Andrew Sillavan | Director | 2002-06-25 | 2005-03-21 |
| SAUNDERS, Jake | Director | 2017-08-01 | 2018-07-31 |
| SCOTT, Jean Grant | Director | 1999-12-08 | 2006-03-27 |
| SCOTT, Martin | Director | 2006-03-27 | 2015-07-13 |
| SEARS, Elizabeth | Director | 2000-12-12 | 2001-07-31 |
| SEIGNIOR, Michael John | Director | 2001-06-26 | 2003-09-06 |
| SEIGNIOR, Michael John | Director | 1998-03-17 | 2001-03-20 |
| SENA, Simone | Director | 2022-11-28 | 2023-10-16 |
| SHIRLEY, Lloyd George | Director | — | 1995-03-13 |
| SMITH, Anthony | Director | — | 1992-03-12 |
| STOIAN, Ariella | Director | 2019-11-25 | 2020-10-30 |
| STONE, Karen Elizabeth | Director | — | 1992-03-12 |
| SUTRO, Joan Maud | Director | — | 1998-03-17 |
| TAIANO, Paul George | Director | 1996-12-10 | 2017-07-17 |
| TAYLOR, Norman John, Professor | Director | 1999-03-16 | 2006-03-27 |
| THOMAS, Ayooluwatunmininu Dawn | Director | 2024-08-01 | 2025-08-01 |
| THOMAS, Simon | Director | 2006-12-12 | 2008-07-31 |
| THOMMES, Emily Laura | Director | 2018-05-14 | 2020-11-23 |
| TULETT, Dominic James Henry | Director | 2010-07-19 | 2017-07-17 |
| TWYNAM, Leonora Mary Alexandra | Director | 2005-07-26 | 2015-07-13 |
| TYLER, William | Director | — | 1995-12-11 |
| VERMA, Jatinder | Director | 2005-07-26 | 2007-05-21 |
| VISWAM, Ajunesh Saji | Director | 2021-11-29 | 2022-09-29 |
| VYVYAN, Simon William | Director | 1995-03-13 | 1998-03-17 |
| WAKELY, Richard Kevin | Director | 1996-12-10 | 1998-08-31 |
| WEBB, Jana Leonie | Director | 2014-11-24 | 2015-09-25 |
| WHITE, Mark Edwin | Director | 2018-07-16 | 2025-03-31 |
| WHITE, Stuart Graham | Director | 1999-12-08 | 2005-03-21 |
| WILLIS, John Edward | Director | 2017-02-27 | 2026-07-06 |
| WITHERS, Matthew Thomas | Director | 2012-08-01 | 2014-07-31 |
| WOOD, David Edward | Director | 1993-03-16 | 1996-03-11 |
Ownership
Persons with significant control
No persons with significant control on record.
Filing timeline
Last 20 of 333 total filings
| Date | Type | Category | Description | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-04-29 | AA | accounts | Accounts with accounts type group | |
| 2025-12-17 | AP01 | officers | Appoint person director company with name date | |
| 2025-10-15 | AP01 | officers | Appoint person director company with name date | |
| 2025-10-07 | AP01 | officers | Appoint person director company with name date | |
| 2025-10-07 | TM01 | officers | Termination director company with name termination date | |
| 2025-08-01 | AP01 | officers | Appoint person director company with name date | |
| 2025-08-01 | TM01 | officers | Termination director company with name termination date | |
| 2025-07-16 | AP01 | officers | Appoint person director company with name date | |
| 2025-07-16 | TM01 | officers | Termination director company with name termination date | |
| 2025-06-05 | CS01 | confirmation-statement | Confirmation statement with no updates | |
| 2025-05-16 | AA | accounts | Accounts with accounts type group | |
| 2025-04-07 | TM01 | officers | Termination director company with name termination date | |
| 2024-12-05 | AP01 | officers | Appoint person director company with name date | |
| 2024-10-11 | TM01 | officers | Termination director company with name termination date | |
| 2024-08-01 | AP01 | officers | Appoint person director company with name date | |
| 2024-08-01 | TM01 | officers | Termination director company with name termination date | |
| 2024-07-23 | AP01 | officers | Appoint person director company with name date | |
| 2024-07-23 | AP01 | officers | Appoint person director company with name date | |
| 2024-07-18 | TM01 | officers | Termination director company with name termination date | |
| 2024-06-14 | CS01 | confirmation-statement | Confirmation statement with no updates |
Public-record activity
Raw counts from Companies House — last 12–24 months
- Filings
- 5
- Capital events
- 0
- Officers appointed
- 3
- Officers resigned
- 2
last 12 months
last 24 months
last 12 months
last 12 months
Direct counts from the register. No score, no rating — see the Filing timeline for the underlying events.