Aston Community Education Trust

UID 2195·Companies House 07577113·Incorporated March 2011·Compare

Schools

Flags

5 high severity

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

Total income

£40.3m

5,820 pupils

Avg staff costs

71.7%

of income

Avg reserves

8.8%

of income

Avg absence

6.6%

Persistent: 17.8%

More metrics

Avg FSM

32.7%

free school meals

Capacity

89%

5,820 / 6,552 places

Trust overview

1 of 12 schools have staff costs above the DfE's 78% review threshold — review against school context.

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

Overall absence is above the national average in 67% of schools (8 of 12).

6 schools have persistent absence above 20%.

92% 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

5 schools with workforce pressure4 schools with absence above 8%3 schools with declining results1 school with Ofsted concerns1 school with staff costs above 78%

Ofsted sub-judgements

Quality of education

90% Good+

Good 9RI 1

Behaviour & attitudes

90% Good+

Good 9RI 1

Personal development

90% Good+

Outst. 1Good 8RI 1

Leadership & management

92% Good+

Good 11RI 1

Performance (trust avg)

Key Stage 4

Attainment 8

41.6

-4.6

vs national

Key Stage 2

Expected standard (RWM)

60.7%

-0.3pp

vs national

National averages: 2023/24

Trust details

AddressAcet House 66 Holderness Drive, Sheffield, S26 2BH

Companies House07577113

Incorporated24 March 2011

Trust growth over time

matpulse.co.uk

Schools Pupils

Year	Schools	Pupils	Total income	Total expenditure	Avg staff costs %	Avg reserves %
2021/22	12	5,773	£35.4m	£34.1m	73.6%	8.3%
2022/23	12	5,791	£38.1m	£36.9m	70.3%	9.0%
2023/24	12	5,820	£40.3m	£38.6m	71.7%	8.8%
2024/25partial	12	5,683	—	—	—	—

Central services — 2023/24

Centralisation

7.8%

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

£3,254,000

CS staff costs

£2,686,000

CS income

£601,000

Admin & clerical£955,000

Teaching staff£1,132,000

ICT£13,000

Premises£372,000

Legal & professional£0

Auditor costs£32,000

Governance

Accounts to Aug 2025Source: Companies House

11 current directors · Average tenure: 4.7 years · 8 changes in last 12 months

Directors / Trustees (11)

Jacqueline Lindsay Ball

director·< 1 year

Maxwell Magadzire

director·< 1 year

Jude Hunton

director·< 1 year

Craig Dillon

director·< 1 year

Lawrence Bate

director·< 1 year

Sarah Jane Sprack

director·2 years

Jane Ford

director·6 years

Craig Mcgowan

director·6 years

Andrew Paul Brickles

director·8 years

Catharine Kinsella

director·9 years

John Barton

director·15 years

Company Secretary

Natalie Borrington

secretary·2 years

23 former officers — most recent departure: Jan 2026

Laura Rowe

director·< 1 year·Resigned Nov 2025

Jill Pyper

director·2 years·Resigned Jan 2026

Sally Wheatley

director·4 years·Resigned Nov 2025

Helen Barbara Rogers

director·5 years·Resigned Dec 2024

Jenny Hudson

director·8 years·Resigned Aug 2022

Iain Alexander Somerville

Member schools (12)

12 schools|9 with risk flags|5 high severity

School	URN	Phase	Risk flags
Aston Academy	136718	Secondary	ofsted concernhigh absence
Aughton Primary Academy	143482	Primary	performance decline
Brookfield Primary Academy	145928	Primary	workforce pressure
Langwith Bassett Primary Academy	145967	Primary	—
Listerdale Primary Academy	141539	Primary	—
Lowedges Primary Academy	141102	Primary	high absence
Shirebrook Academy	136127	Secondary	high absenceworkforce pressure
Springwood Primary Academy	142139	Primary	workforce pressureperformance decline
Swinton Academy	143141	Secondary	high staff costshigh absenceworkforce pressure
Temple Normanton Primary Academy	144344	Primary	workforce pressure
Thurcroft Junior Academy	138357	Primary	—
Waverley Primary Academy	147871	Primary	performance decline