Catalyst Academies Trust

UID 2575·Companies House 08407989·Incorporated February 2013·Compare

Schools

Flags

2 high severity

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

Total income

£16.0m

2,310 pupils

Avg staff costs

76.3%

of income

Avg reserves

9.8%

of income

Avg absence

More metrics

Avg FSM

21.2%

free school meals

Capacity

98%

2,310 / 2,354 places

Total admin cost

£713k

£309 per pupil

Trust overview

2 of 5 schools report staff costs above the DfE's 78% review point. Staffing ratios reflect phase mix, curriculum and local context as much as efficiency.

1 of 5 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.

2 of 5 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 at or below the national average in 5 of 5 schools.

All 5 inspected schools meet the expected standard or above — Good or better under the legacy framework, or Expected standard or above under the Report Card.

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

100%meeting standard or above

Across 5 graded schools, including 1 under the new Report Card framework. The two frameworks are not directly comparable.

Sub-judgements — earlier framework

Quality of education

100% Good+

Outst. 1Good 1

Behaviour & attitudes

100% Good+

Outst. 1Good 1

Personal development

100% Good+

Outst. 1Good 1

Leadership & management

100% Good+

Outst. 2Good 3

Performance (trust avg)

Key Stage 2

Expected standard (RWM)

83.2%

+22.2pp

vs national

National averages: 2023/24

Trust details

AddressDilkes Academy, South Ockendon, RM15 5JQ

Companies House08407989

Incorporated18 February 2013

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

Expected standard 1

Personal development

Year	Schools	Pupils	Total income	Total expenditure	Avg staff costs %	Avg reserves %
2021/22	5	2,217	£13.1m	£12.2m	71.4%	13.6%
2022/23	5	2,187	£14.2m	£13.5m	70.0%	14.7%
2023/24	5	2,293	£14.7m	£13.9m	76.0%	15.7%
2024/25partial	5	2,310	£16.0m	£14.9m	76.3%	9.8%
2025/26	5	2,279	—	—	—	—

Central services

2024/25

Centralisation

2.8%

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

£436,000

CS staff costs

£388,000

CS income

£12,000

Admin & clerical£139,000

Teaching staff£249,000

ICT£0

Premises-£2,000

Legal & professional£56,000

Auditor costs-£7,000

Governance

Source: Companies House

Board of trustees

Accounts to Aug 2025

9 current directors · Average tenure: 9.3 years · 1 change in last 12 months

Directors / Trustees (9)

Daniel Adam Williams

director·< 1 year

Kevin William Imbush

director·7 years

Mark John Pettican

director·7 years

Daniel Foxwell-jones

director·7 years

Darren Antony Walters

director·10 years

Tony Reg Parfett

director·10 years

Timothy Richard Drakes

director·13 years

Lea Tyler

director·13 years

Keith Charles Williams

director·13 years

5 former officers — most recent departure: Jan 2025

Donna Marie Dalrymple

director·7 years·Resigned Jan 2025

Sarah Jane Coote

director·9 years·Resigned Mar 2019

Kirsten Elizabeth Regan

director·11 years·Resigned Mar 2017

Darren Antony Walters

director·13 years·Resigned Jun 2014

Maureen Ann Wright

director·13 years·Resigned Dec 2015

Member schools (5)

5 schools|5 with risk flags|2 high severity

School	URN	Phase	Risk flags
Aveley Primary School	146818	Primary	workforce pressurehigh staff costs
Benyon Primary School	139382	Primary	workforce pressurehigh absencehigh staff costs
Dilkes Academy	139104	Primary	workforce pressurehigh staff costs
Quarry Hill Academy	139576	Primary	workforce pressure
Somers Heath Primary School	144448	Primary	workforce pressurehigh staff costs