Great Heights Academy Trust

UID 16954·Companies House 07465343·Incorporated December 2010·Compare

Schools

Flags

1 high severity

Finance: 2024/25Ofsted: Nov 2023Performance: 2025/26Workforce: 2025/26Attendance: 2025/26

Total income

£31.1m

4,611 pupils

Avg staff costs

71.3%

of income

Avg reserves

10.0%

of income

Avg absence

6.1%

Persistent: 14.9%

More metrics

Avg FSM

29.1%

free school meals

Capacity

93%

4,611 / 4,956 places

Trust overview

2 of 9 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.

3 of 9 schools had expenditure exceeding income this year.

Overall absence is above the national average in 33% of schools (3 of 9).

3 schools have persistent absence above 20%.

2 of 9 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

5 of 9 directors appointed in last 2 years2 schools with Ofsted concerns4 schools with workforce pressure3 schools in deficit3 schools with absence above 8%2 schools with staff costs above 78%

Ofsted sub-judgements

Quality of education

88% Good+

Outst. 1Good 6Inad. 1

Behaviour & attitudes

75% Good+

Outst. 2Good 4RI 2

Personal development

88% Good+

Outst. 2Good 5RI 1

Leadership & management

89% Good+

Outst. 2Good 6Inad. 1

Performance (trust avg)

Key Stage 4

Attainment 8

45.1

-1.1

vs national

Key Stage 2

Expected standard (RWM)

75.4%

+14.4pp

vs national

National averages: 2023/24

Trust details

AddressSchool Street, Halifax, HX4 8JB

Companies House07465343

Incorporated9 December 2010

Trust growth over time

matpulse.co.uk

Schools Pupils

Year	Schools	Pupils	Total income	Total expenditure	Avg staff costs %	Avg reserves %
2021/22	8	4,487	£28.6m	£28.0m	75.6%	10.1%
2022/23	8	4,497	£26.6m	£25.0m	71.2%	11.9%
2023/24	9	4,611	£31.1m	£29.3m	71.3%	10.0%
2024/25partial	9	4,413	—	—	—	—

Central services — 2023/24

Centralisation

9.1%

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

£2,937,000

CS staff costs

£2,071,000

CS income

£827,000

Admin & clerical£560,000

Teaching staff£1,319,000

ICT£4,000

Premises£11,000

Legal & professional£154,000

Auditor costs£39,000

Governance

Accounts to Aug 2025Source: Companies House

9 current directors · Average tenure: 4.5 years · 5 changes in last 12 months

Directors / Trustees (9)

Gillian Robinson

director·< 1 year

Christopher James Maddren

director·< 1 year

Diane Mcconnell

director·1 year

Mark Mcmanus

director·1 year

David Purdon

director·1 year

James Edward Power

director·5 years

Mohammed Illiyas Jaffar

director·5 years

John Carlton Midgley

director·8 years

Amanda Jane Bennett

director·15 years

11 former officers — most recent departure: Sept 2025

Victoria Stoneman

director·1 year·Resigned Jul 2025

Emily Carissa Jade Brooke

director·5 years·Resigned Dec 2023

Kenneth Inwood

director·7 years·Resigned Jul 2025

John Edward Berry Midgley

director·7 years·Resigned Sept 2025

Jacqueline Anne Nellis

director·7 years·Resigned Oct 2024

Angela Doctor Birt

Member schools (9)

9 schools|7 with risk flags|1 high severity

School	URN	Phase	Risk flags
Bowling Green Academy	148202	Primary	high staff costsin year deficit
Carlinghow Academy	147584	Primary	workforce pressurehigh absence
Colne Valley High School	140660	Secondary	in year deficitworkforce pressurehigh absence
Marsden Junior School	141687	Primary	high staff costsin year deficitworkforce pressure
Nields Academy	149940	Primary	ofsted concern
Raynville Academy	146927	Primary	—
The Greetland Academy	136375	Primary	—
The Mirfield Free Grammar	136674	Secondary	workforce pressurehigh absence
West Vale Academy	145571	Primary	ofsted concern