Blessed Christopher Wharton Catholic Academy Trust

UID 2353·Companies House 09066969·Incorporated June 2014·Compare

Schools

Flags

5 high severity

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

Total income

£38.5m

4,615 pupils

Avg staff costs

74.4%

of income

Avg reserves

10.1%

of income

Avg absence

5.6%

Persistent: 14.7%

More metrics

Avg FSM

25.8%

free school meals

Capacity

64%

4,615 / 7,236 places

Trust overview

2 of 19 schools have staff costs above the DfE's 78% review threshold — review against school context.

1 school is operating in deficit — this may reflect planned investment or require financial planning.

2 of 19 schools had expenditure exceeding income this year.

Overall absence is above the national average in 26% of schools (5 of 19).

4 schools have persistent absence above 20%.

89% 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

3 schools with declining results2 schools in deficit2 schools with absence above 8%2 schools with staff costs above 78%6 schools with workforce pressure2 schools with Ofsted concerns

Ofsted sub-judgements

Quality of education

80% Good+

Good 8RI 2

Behaviour & attitudes

90% Good+

Outst. 2Good 7RI 1

Personal development

90% Good+

Outst. 2Good 7RI 1

Leadership & management

95% Good+

Good 18RI 1

Performance (trust avg)

Key Stage 4

Attainment 8

36.6

-9.6

vs national

Key Stage 2

Expected standard (RWM)

63.2%

+2.2pp

vs national

National averages: 2023/24

Trust details

AddressSt Bede's And St Joseph's Catholic College Beacon Villa, Ignis (Lower School Site), Bradford, BD8 7AP

Companies House09066969

Incorporated2 June 2014

Trust growth over time

matpulse.co.uk

Schools Pupils

Year	Schools	Pupils	Total income	Total expenditure	Avg staff costs %	Avg reserves %
2021/22	17	4,728	£27.7m	£26.2m	71.7%	8.2%
2022/23	19	6,800	£39.9m	£38.9m	73.8%	7.0%
2023/24	19	6,621	£38.5m	£37.0m	74.4%	10.1%
2024/25partial	19	6,469	—	—	—	—

Central services — 2023/24

Centralisation

4.3%

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

£1,682,000

CS staff costs

£825,000

CS income

£21,000

Admin & clerical£342,000

Teaching staff£452,000

ICT£0

Premises£72,000

Legal & professional£425,000

Auditor costs£43,000

Governance

Accounts to Aug 2025Source: Companies House

6 current directors · Average tenure: 4.5 years

Directors / Trustees (6)

Caroline Handley

director·1 year

Duncan Jonathan Martin

director·4 years

Sarah Martin

director·4 years

Roxanna Drake

director·5 years

Clare Bussingham

director·5 years

Mark John Benedict Dalton

director·6 years

22 former officers — most recent departure: Nov 2024

Keiron Father Walker

director·2 years·Resigned Nov 2024

Paul Father Grogan

director·5 years·Resigned Aug 2023

Jonathan Mark Howell

director·5 years·Resigned Dec 2021

Joe Mcdonnell

director·5 years·Resigned Nov 2024

Paul Professor Ryan

director·5 years·Resigned Aug 2021

Ray Lloyd

School	URN	Phase	Risk flags
Our Lady and St Brendan's Catholic Primary School, A Voluntary Academy	148256	Primary	ofsted concernworkforce pressure
Our Lady of Victories Catholic School	141059	Primary	—
St Anne's Catholic Primary School	141062	Primary	—
St Anthony's Catholic Primary School, A Voluntary Academy	147981	Primary	performance decline
St Anthony's Catholic Primary School, A Voluntary Academy	147982	Primary	—
St Bede's and St Joseph's Catholic College, A Voluntary Academy	148520	Secondary	in year deficithigh absence
St Columba's Catholic Primary School, a Voluntary Academy	148258	Primary	workforce pressure
St Cuthbert and the First Martyrs' Catholic Primary School, A Voluntary Academy	147923	Primary	—
St Francis Catholic Primary School, A Voluntary Academy	147922	Primary	—
St John the Evangelist Catholic Primary School	142945	Primary	performance decline
St Joseph's Catholic Primary School	143032	Primary	high staff costs
St Joseph's Catholic Primary School, A Voluntary Academy	148101	Primary	workforce pressure
St Joseph's Catholic Primary School, A Voluntary Academy	147924	Primary	performance decline
St Matthew's Catholic Primary School, a Voluntary Academy	148478	Primary	workforce pressurehigh staff costsin year deficit
St Walburga's Catholic Primary School, A Voluntary Academy	142947	Primary	—
St William's Catholic Primary School, A Voluntary Academy	148102	Primary	workforce pressure
St Winefride's Catholic Primary School, A Voluntary Academy	142951	Primary	—
St. Clare's Catholic Primary School, A Voluntary Academy	148477	Primary	workforce pressure
The Holy Family Catholic School, a Voluntary Academy	149299	Secondary	high absenceofsted concern

·Resigned Sept 2020

Elizabeth Snelling

director·7 years·Resigned Aug 2021

Maureen Anne Cairns

director·8 years·Resigned Dec 2018

Margaret Stichbury

director·9 years·Resigned Oct 2020

Lynne Margaret Royle

director·10 years·Resigned Mar 2021

Paul Raymond Booth

director·11 years·Resigned Dec 2021

Martin David Bland

director·11 years·Resigned Jan 2015

Bernadette Mary Cawley

director·11 years·Resigned Aug 2018

John Clive Midgley

director·11 years·Resigned Oct 2015

Keith Michael Moreton

director·11 years·Resigned Jul 2018

Neil Geoffrey Moules

director·11 years·Resigned Dec 2019

Deirdre Mary Dr Naylor

director·11 years·Resigned Feb 2021

Cameron James Elliot Robson

director·11 years·Resigned Dec 2019

Andrew Liam Monsignor Summersgill

director·11 years·Resigned Dec 2020

David Patrick Johnson

director·11 years·Resigned Jun 2018

John Michael Devlin