Brunel Academies Trust

UID 17048·Companies House 10074054·Incorporated March 2016·Compare

Schools

Flags

13 high severity

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

Total income

£21.5m

1,524 pupils

Avg staff costs

81.7%

of income

Avg reserves

0.2%

of income

Avg absence

9.5%

Persistent: 27.7%

More metrics

Avg FSM

28.2%

free school meals

Capacity

97%

1,524 / 1,578 places

Trust overview

5 of 8 schools have staff costs above the DfE's 78% review threshold — review against school context.

8 of 8 schools have reserves below the DfE's 5% minimum.

6 of 8 schools had expenditure exceeding income this year.

Overall absence is above the national average in 75% of schools (6 of 8).

7 schools have persistent absence above 20%.

3 of 8 inspected schools have a sub-judgement area rated Requires Improvement — see their profiles for context.

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 0.1%below 5% threshold5 schools with staff costs above 78%5 schools in deficit5 schools with absence above 8%4 schools with workforce pressure3 schools with Ofsted concerns

Ofsted sub-judgements

Quality of education

57% Good+

Good 4RI 3

Behaviour & attitudes

71% Good+

Good 5RI 2

Personal development

86% Good+

Good 6RI 1

Leadership & management

63% Good+

Good 5RI 3

Performance (trust avg)

Key Stage 4

Attainment 8

13.0

-33.2

vs national

Key Stage 2

Expected standard (RWM)

24.0%

-37.0pp

vs national

National averages: 2023/24

Trust details

AddressUnit B4c Orbital Retail Park, Swindon, SN25 4AN

Companies House10074054

Incorporated21 March 2016

Trust growth over time

matpulse.co.uk

Schools Pupils

Year	Schools	Pupils	Total income	Total expenditure	Avg staff costs %	Avg reserves %
2021/22	8	1,463	£21.6m	£19.8m	76.0%	7.1%
2022/23	8	1,487	£24.6m	£21.1m	70.2%	6.0%
2023/24	8	1,524	£21.5m	£22.7m	81.7%	0.2%
2024/25partial	8	1,601	—	—	—	—

Central services — 2023/24

Centralisation

1.1%

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

£265,000

CS staff costs

£165,000

CS income

£0

Admin & clerical£140,000

Teaching staff£25,000

ICT£0

Premises£10,000

Legal & professional£32,000

Auditor costs£24,000

Governance

Accounts to Aug 2025Source: Companies House

9 current directors · Average tenure: 5.5 years · 1 change in last 12 months

Directors / Trustees (9)

Marion Dr Watson

director·1 year

Jeremy Fitzgerald Giles

director·1 year

Trevor John Philip Branch

director·2 years

Nigel Jonathon Green

director·3 years

Andrew James Tait

director·7 years

Christopher David Sims

director·7 years

William Francis Wyldbore-smith

director·8 years

Alison Ruth Lockhart Thunder

director·8 years

Jacqueline Anita Fieldwick

director·10 years

Company Secretary

Michelle Louise Carter

secretary·4 years

12 former officers — most recent departure: Apr 2025

Christopher David George Gould

director·2 years·Resigned Apr 2025

Louise Joanne Moelwyn-hughes

director·2 years·Resigned Mar 2025

Patrick Joseph O'farrell

director·6 years·Resigned May 2023

Michelle Howard

director·6 years·Resigned Jul 2021

Lisa Harding

director·7 years·Resigned Jun 2020

Sarah Gillam

Member schools (8)

8 schools|8 with risk flags|12 high severity

School	URN	Phase	Risk flags
Brimble Hill Special School	143013	Not applicable	high absencehigh staff costsin year deficitworkforce pressure
Churchward School	145874	Not applicable	in year deficithigh absence
Exeter House Special School	141647	Not applicable	workforce pressurehigh absencehigh staff costsin year deficit
St Mark's CofE Junior School, Salisbury	141645	Primary	high staff costsin year deficit
The Chalet School	146668	Not applicable	ofsted concernhigh staff costsin year deficit
Uplands School	143014	Not applicable	high staff costsofsted concernhigh absenceworkforce pressure
Westlea Primary School	140302	Primary	workforce pressurehigh absence
Wyndham Park Infants' School	141646	Primary	ofsted concern