Chester Diocesan Academies Trust

UID 2647·Companies House 08451787·Incorporated March 2013·Compare

Schools

Flags

13 high severity

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

Total income

£35.7m

5,100 pupils

Avg staff costs

74.4%

of income

Avg reserves

12.4%

of income

Avg absence

6.3%

Persistent: 15.4%

More metrics

Avg FSM

19.2%

free school meals

Capacity

83%

5,100 / 6,133 places

Trust overview

3 of 30 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.

9 of 30 schools had expenditure exceeding income this year.

Overall absence is above the national average in 40% of schools (12 of 30).

6 schools have persistent absence above 20%.

90% 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

10 schools with declining results6 schools with absence above 8%3 schools with staff costs above 78%3 schools in deficit3 schools with Ofsted concerns11 schools with workforce pressure

Ofsted sub-judgements

Quality of education

86% Good+

Outst. 1Good 17RI 1Inad. 2

Behaviour & attitudes

90% Good+

Outst. 5Good 14RI 2

Personal development

90% Good+

Outst. 3Good 16RI 2

Leadership & management

90% Good+

Outst. 1Good 26RI 1Inad. 2

Performance (trust avg)

Key Stage 2

Expected standard (RWM)

55.5%

-5.5pp

vs national

National averages: 2023/24

Trust details

AddressRoom 526, The Heath Business And Technical Park, Room 526, Runcorn, WA7 4QX

Companies House08451787

Incorporated19 March 2013

Trust growth over time

matpulse.co.uk

Schools Pupils

Year	Schools	Pupils	Total income	Total expenditure	Avg staff costs %	Avg reserves %
2021/22	16	2,806	£16.5m	£15.9m	71.1%	15.1%
2022/23	19	3,392	£20.6m	£20.4m	75.6%	8.5%
2023/24	24	3,875	£26.2m	£25.7m	74.5%	14.0%
2024/25partial	28	4,980	£7.4m	£7.4m	75.2%	4.8%

Central services — 2023/24

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

£991,000

CS staff costs

£532,000

CS income

£626,000

Admin & clerical£325,000

Teaching staff£171,000

ICT£0

Premises£1,000

Legal & professional£324,000

Auditor costs£49,000

Governance

Accounts to Aug 2025Source: Companies House

10 current directors · Average tenure: 5.1 years · 2 changes in last 12 months

Directors / Trustees (10)

Elizabeth Louise Holdcroft

director·< 1 year

Alison Margaret Beasley

director·2 years

Victoria Elizabeth Dunbar

director·3 years

Ralph Ian Mainard

director·4 years

John Philip Dr Mason

director·4 years

Christopher Robert Penn

director·5 years

Philip Mark Eastwood

director·6 years

David Rhys The Revd Felix

director·6 years

Neil Macaulay Dixon

director·6 years

Michael William Holland

director·10 years

Company Secretary

Christopher James Williams

secretary·2 years

19 former officers — most recent departure: Dec 2025

Susan Margaret Breckell

director·3 years·Resigned Dec 2025

Marianne Mowatt

director·6 years·Resigned Dec 2021

JN HAMPTON LIMITED

corporate-secretary·6 years·Resigned Aug 2023

Janet Mary Carr

director·7 years·Resigned Nov 2019

Timothy John Leslie

director·7 years·Resigned Jul 2022

Jason Nicholas Hampton

Member schools (30)

30 schools|20 with risk flags|13 high severity

School	URN	Phase	Risk flags
Astbury St Mary's CofE Primary School	145720	Primary	performance decline
Bosley St Mary's CofE Primary School	148660	Primary	high absence
Bredbury St. Marks CofE Primary School	147723	Primary	high absenceperformance decline
Brereton CofE Primary School	144832	Primary	performance declineworkforce pressure
Broadbottom Church of England Primary School	152203	Primary	workforce pressureperformance decline
Bunbury Aldersey CofE Primary School	143155	Primary	—
Clutton Church of England Primary School	145076	Primary	workforce pressure
Dodleston CofE Primary School	150464	Primary	in year deficitworkforce pressurehigh absence
Gee Cross Holy Trinity CofE Primary School	152202	Primary	—
Huxley CofE Primary School	150475	Primary	ofsted concernhigh absence
Little Bollington CofE Primary School	147810	Primary	ofsted concernperformance decline
Little Sutton C of E Primary School	145075	Primary	—
Moreton Christ Church CofE Primary School	146530	Primary	—
Norley Church of England Primary School	150463	Primary	—
Overleigh St Mary's Church of England Primary School	150917	Primary	—
Oxton St Saviour's CofE Primary School	151686	Primary	workforce pressure
St Berteline's CofE Primary School	151844	Primary	—
St George's CofE Primary School	148098	Primary	workforce pressure
St Mary's Church of England Primary School	150879	Primary	performance declineworkforce pressure
St Matthew's Church of England Primary School	140417	Primary	high absenceperformance decline