Activate Learning Education Trust

UID 15710·Companies House 08707909·Incorporated September 2013·Compare

Schools

Flags

8 high severity

Finance: 2024/25Ofsted: Feb 2025Performance: 2025/26Workforce: 2025/26Attendance: 2025/26

Total income

£26.1m

3,086 pupils

Avg staff costs

68.2%

of income

Avg reserves

-7.0%

of income

Avg absence

11.8%

Persistent: 35.4%

More metrics

Avg FSM

25.5%

free school meals

Capacity

59%

3,086 / 5,219 places

Trust overview

1 of 6 schools have staff costs above the DfE's 78% review threshold — review against school context.

3 schools are operating in deficit — this may reflect planned investment or require financial planning.

1 of 6 schools had expenditure exceeding income this year.

Overall absence is above the national average in 100% of schools (6 of 6).

6 schools have persistent absence above 20%.

83% of inspected schools are rated Good or Outstanding across sub-judgements.

Reference points from DfE published guidance. Whether any metric warrants action depends on the trust's context and strategy.

At a glance

Trust-wide reserves at 4.1%below 5% threshold6 schools with absence above 8%2 schools with workforce pressure1 school in deficit1 school with staff costs above 78%1 school with Ofsted concerns

Ofsted sub-judgements

Quality of education

83% Good+

Good 5RI 1

Behaviour & attitudes

83% Good+

Good 5RI 1

Personal development

100% Good+

Good 6

Leadership & management

83% Good+

Good 5RI 1

Performance (trust avg)

Key Stage 4

Attainment 8

37.6

-8.6

vs national

National averages: 2023/24

Trust details

AddressC/O Utc Reading, Reading, RG1 5RQ

Companies House08707909

Incorporated26 September 2013

Trust growth over time

matpulse.co.uk

Schools Pupils

Year	Schools	Pupils	Total income	Total expenditure	Avg staff costs %	Avg reserves %
2021/22	6	3,171	£21.8m	£20.1m	67.1%	-12.8%
2022/23	6	3,242	£24.1m	£22.0m	68.6%	-10.6%
2023/24	6	3,086	£26.1m	£24.3m	68.2%	-7.0%
2024/25partial	6	3,021	—	—	—	—

Central services — 2023/24

Centralisation

6.8%

of total trust spend

Typical MAT centralisation ranges from 3-7% of total trust spend. Figures below 2% may indicate limited central coordination; above 10% warrants review of value for money.

CS expenditure

£1,784,000

CS staff costs

£1,325,000

CS income

£315,000

Admin & clerical£964,000

Teaching staff£250,000

ICT£0

Premises£0

Legal & professional£175,000

Auditor costs£41,000

Governance

Accounts to Aug 2025Source: Companies House

10 current directors · Average tenure: 3.4 years · 5 changes in last 12 months

Directors / Trustees (10)

Michael Edward Stratford

director·< 1 year

Louise Gail Scott

director·< 1 year

George David Stone

director·< 1 year

Svetlana Dayblovskaya

director·1 year

Catalina Marin

director·1 year

Lee Nicholls

director·4 years

Joanne Stephanie Harper

director·4 years

Ann Marie Mccall

director·6 years

Keith Charles Dennis Mitchell

director·7 years

Nicholas Evans

director·8 years

Company Secretary

Carol Marie Flach

secretary·< 1 year

17 former officers — most recent departure: Dec 2025

Karen Iles

director·1 year·Resigned Dec 2025

Gary Clive Headland

director·4 years·Resigned May 2022

Cheryl Ann Ashby

director·4 years·Resigned Jan 2024

David John Carr

director·5 years·Resigned Feb 2025

Colin George Dr Pearson

director·5 years·Resigned Aug 2024

Rachel Elizabeth Cave

Member schools (6)

6 schools|6 with risk flags|7 high severity

School	URN	Phase	Risk flags
The Bicester School	142024	Secondary	high absence
Theale Green School	145945	Secondary	high absence
UTC Heathrow	146375	Secondary	high absence
UTC Oxfordshire	141111	Secondary	high absenceworkforce pressure
UTC Reading	139268	Secondary	workforce pressurehigh absence
UTC Swindon	145155	Secondary	high staff costsin year deficitofsted concernhigh absence