Aspire Community Trust

UID 16748·Incorporated September 2017·Compare

Schools

Flags

15 high severity

Finance: 2025/26Ofsted: Jan 2026Performance: 2025/26Workforce: 2026/27Attendance: 2025/26

Total income

£26.9m

3,265 pupils

Avg staff costs

79.9%

of income

Avg reserves

-3.0%

of income

Avg absence

8.5%

Persistent: 25.6%

More metrics

Avg FSM

46.1%

free school meals

Capacity

99%

3,265 / 3,305 places

Total admin cost

£1.5m

£473 per pupil

Trust overview

2 of 8 schools report staff costs above the DfE's 78% review point. Staffing ratios reflect phase mix, curriculum and local context as much as efficiency.

3 of 8 schools report negative revenue reserves at year-end. A year-end snapshot can reflect planned spend-down, in-trust transfers or timing; the trust's audited accounts give the fuller picture.

4 of 8 schools spent more than their income in the latest year. Single-year deficits are common around growth, building works or falling rolls; multi-year patterns matter more than one snapshot.

Absence is above the national average in 5 of 8 schools. Attendance tracks intake and local circumstances as well as school practice.

4 schools report persistent absence above 20%, a level the DfE prioritises for additional support.

6 of 8 inspected schools meet the expected standard or above; 2 have at least one area judged below it. Inspection dates vary — some grades predate current leadership.

1 of these inspections used the new Report Card framework; its scale is not directly comparable with legacy grades.

Generated from published DfE and Ofsted data — year-end snapshots that cannot show in-year plans, restructuring or local context. Reference points are DfE review thresholds, not judgements.

Ofsted & results

Ofsted

75%meeting standard or above

Across 8 graded schools, including 1 under the new Report Card framework. The two frameworks are not directly comparable.

Sub-judgements — earlier framework

Quality of education

83% Good+

Outst. 3Good 2Inad. 1

Behaviour & attitudes

83% Good+

Outst. 3Good 2RI 1

Personal development

83% Good+

Outst. 3Good 2RI 1

Leadership & management

88% Good+

Outst. 4Good 3Inad. 1

Performance (trust avg)

Key Stage 4

Attainment 8

46.9

+0.7

vs national

Key Stage 2

Expected standard (RWM)

47.0%

-14.0pp

vs national

National averages: 2023/24

Trust details

Incorporated1 September 2017

Report Card inspections (new framework)

About these grades

Grade distribution across 1 schoolinspected under Ofsted's 5-point scale (from November 2025). Not directly comparable with the earlier 1–4 sub-judgements above.

Curriculum & teaching

Expected standard 1

Achievement

Expected standard 1

Inclusion

Expected standard 1

Attendance & behaviour

Needs attention 1

Personal development

Year	Schools	Pupils	Total income	Total expenditure	Avg staff costs %	Avg reserves %
2021/22	8	3,199	£21.5m	£21.7m	80.5%	0.1%
2022/23	8	3,257	£23.2m	£23.5m	79.9%	-1.8%
2023/24	8	3,267	£25.2m	£24.7m	76.0%	-0.2%
2024/25partial	8	3,265	£26.9m	£27.2m	79.9%	-3.0%
2025/26	8	3,238	—	—	—	—

Member schools (8)

8 schools|8 with risk flags|11 high severity

School	URN	Phase	Risk flags
Bassett Green Primary School	131839	Primary	workforce pressureofsted concern
Bevois Town Primary School	116088	Primary	workforce pressure
Cantell School	116469	Secondary	high absencein year deficit
Mansbridge Primary School	116117	Primary	high absencehigh staff costsin year deficit
Mount Pleasant Infants	116093	Primary	workforce pressurehigh absencein year deficit
Mount Pleasant Juniors	116092	Primary	high absenceworkforce pressurein year deficit
Swaythling Primary School	116109	Primary	workforce pressurehigh absencehigh staff costsin year deficit
Vermont School	116625	Not applicable	high staff costshigh absencein year deficitofsted concernworkforce pressure