Heartwood Learning Trust

UID 5632·Companies House 07559537·Incorporated March 2011·Compare

Schools

Flags

44 high severity

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

Total income

£59.0m

6,708 pupils

Avg staff costs

79.8%

of income

Avg reserves

0.0%

of income

Avg absence

More metrics

Avg FSM

33.8%

free school meals

Capacity

81%

6,708 / 8,243 places

Total admin cost

£1.8m

£265 per pupil

Trust overview

7 of 14 schools report staff costs above the DfE's 78% review point. Staffing ratios reflect phase mix, curriculum and local context as much as efficiency.

14 of 14 schools hold reserves below the DfE's 5% reference point.

5 of 14 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 above the national average in 8 of 12 schools. Attendance tracks intake and local circumstances as well as school practice.

6 schools report persistent absence above 20%, a level the DfE prioritises for additional support.

10 of 14 inspected schools meet the expected standard or above; 4 have at least one area judged below it. Inspection dates vary — some grades predate current leadership.

2 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.

At a glance

13 schools with workforce pressure9 schools with staff costs above 78%6 schools with absence above 8%6 schools in deficit4 schools with Ofsted concerns1 school with declining results

Ofsted & results

Ofsted

71%meeting standard or above

Across 14 graded schools, including 2 under the new Report Card framework. The two frameworks are not directly comparable.

Sub-judgements — earlier framework

Quality of education

60% Good+

Good 6RI 4

Behaviour & attitudes

60% Good+

Outst. 1Good 5RI 4

Personal development

80% Good+

Good 8RI 2

Leadership & management

79% Good+

Outst. 1Good 10RI 3

Performance (trust avg)

Key Stage 4

Attainment 8

40.5

-5.7

vs national

Key Stage 2

Expected standard (RWM)

64.2%

+3.2pp

vs national

National averages: 2023/24

Trust details

AddressC/O Vale Of York Academy Rawcliffe Drive, York, YO30 6ZS

Companies House07559537

Incorporated10 March 2011

Report Card inspections (new framework)

About these grades

Grade distribution across 2 schoolsinspected under Ofsted's 5-point scale (from November 2025). Not directly comparable with the earlier 1–4 sub-judgements above.

Curriculum & teaching

Expected standard 2

Achievement

Needs attention 1Expected standard 1

Inclusion

Expected standard 2

Attendance & behaviour

Needs attention 2

Growth

Year	Schools	Pupils	Total income	Total expenditure	Avg staff costs %	Avg reserves %
2021/22	14	6,935	£48.7m	£44.1m	69.5%	0.0%
2022/23	14	6,830	£51.4m	£49.1m	75.4%	0.0%
2023/24	14	6,821	£56.8m	£52.7m	73.6%	0.0%
2024/25partial	14	6,708	£59.0m	£55.5m	79.8%	0.0%
2025/26	14	6,536	—	—	—	—

Central services

2024/25

Centralisation

1.4%

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

£802,000

CS staff costs

£275,000

CS income

£296,000

Admin & clerical£1,785,000

Teaching staff-£1,471,000

ICT£5,000

Premises£126,000

Legal & professional£20,000

Auditor costs£31,000

Governance

Source: Companies House

Board of trustees

Accounts to Aug 2025

9 current directors · Average tenure: 3.9 years · 4 changes in last 12 months

Directors / Trustees (9)

Katherine Deborah Mathews

director·< 1 year

Andrew Philip Chandler

director·< 1 year

Nicola Mary Williams Hughes

director·< 1 year

Stephen Patrick Walker

director·< 1 year

Joseph Christopher Mckeogh

director·2 years

Patrick Robert Looker

director·2 years

Marjorie Jane Lewis

director·4 years

Karen Angela Osborne

director·9 years

Andrew Simpkin

director·12 years

Company Secretary

Wendy Ann Romaniak-munro

secretary·1 year

48 former officers — most recent departure: Dec 2024

Steven Charles Reverend Canon Harvey

director·2 years·Resigned Sept 2024

Michael Scott Ratheram

director·3 years·Resigned Jun 2024

Frederick Thomas Owen

director·4 years·Resigned Aug 2023

Peter David Duffield

director·4 years·Resigned Dec 2022

Alison Smith

director·4 years·Resigned Dec 2022

John Gerard Kesterton

Member schools (14)

14 schools|13 with risk flags|24 high severity

School	URN	Phase	Risk flags
Aspire Academy	141037	Not applicable	workforce pressure
Barlby High School	144929	Secondary	workforce pressureofsted concernhigh absencehigh staff costsin year deficit
Burton Green Primary School	143398	Primary	workforce pressurehigh staff costsin year deficitperformance decline
Forest of Galtres Anglican/Methodist Primary School	143289	Primary	workforce pressurein year deficithigh staff costs
George Pindar School	146819	Secondary	high absenceworkforce pressurehigh staff costsofsted concern
Graham School	146769	Secondary	high absenceworkforce pressureofsted concern
Liberty Academy	135598	Secondary	high absenceworkforce pressureofsted concern
Manor Church of England Academy	136544	Secondary	high absenceworkforce pressurehigh staff costs
Newland St John's Church of England Academy	141719	Primary	workforce pressurehigh staff costsin year deficit
Poppleton Ousebank Primary School	141914	Primary	workforce pressurehigh staff costsin year deficit
Skelton Primary School	146997	Primary	workforce pressurehigh staff costsin year deficit
St James' Church of England Academy	141387	Primary	—
The Compass Academy	139483	Not applicable	workforce pressure
Vale of York Academy	143864	Secondary	high absenceworkforce pressurehigh staff costs

Aspire AcademyNot applicable

workforce pressure

Barlby High SchoolSecondary

workforce pressureofsted concernhigh absencehigh staff costsin year deficit

Burton Green Primary SchoolPrimary

workforce pressurehigh staff costsin year deficitperformance decline

Forest of Galtres Anglican/Methodist Primary SchoolPrimary

workforce pressurein year deficithigh staff costs

George Pindar SchoolSecondary

high absenceworkforce pressurehigh staff costsofsted concern

Graham SchoolSecondary

high absenceworkforce pressureofsted concern

Liberty AcademySecondary

high absenceworkforce pressureofsted concern

Manor Church of England AcademySecondary

high absenceworkforce pressurehigh staff costs

Newland St John's Church of England AcademyPrimary

workforce pressurehigh staff costsin year deficit

Poppleton Ousebank Primary SchoolPrimary

workforce pressurehigh staff costsin year deficit

Skelton Primary SchoolPrimary

workforce pressurehigh staff costsin year deficit

St James' Church of England AcademyPrimary

The Compass AcademyNot applicable

workforce pressure

Vale of York AcademySecondary

high absenceworkforce pressurehigh staff costs

Personal development

Expected standard 2

Leadership

Expected standard 2

director·6 years·Resigned Oct 2020

Denise Cooley

director·6 years·Resigned Jul 2020

Philippa Gowland

director·8 years·Resigned Jun 2024

Olivia Seymour

director·8 years·Resigned Aug 2021

Julie Dr Mcgonigle

director·8 years·Resigned Aug 2021

Katherine Ann Sinclair

director·9 years·Resigned Dec 2018

Ian David Thomson

director·9 years·Resigned Aug 2022

Jacqueline Rev Doyle brett

director·9 years·Resigned Jul 2019

Allyson Clare Buckton

director·9 years·Resigned Oct 2016

Dennis Richards

director·9 years·Resigned Oct 2017

Charles Anthony Myers

director·9 years·Resigned Dec 2023

Estelle O'hara

director·11 years·Resigned Apr 2016

Mark Lyddon Bennett

director·11 years·Resigned Mar 2018

Amanda Bowers

director·11 years·Resigned May 2016

Michael Ferguson

director·11 years·Resigned Mar 2019

Thomas John Hanham

director·11 years·Resigned Mar 2015

Katherine Mary Humpleby

director·12 years·Resigned Apr 2018

Helen Elizabeth Woodall

director·12 years·Resigned Apr 2015

Emily Meijer

director·12 years·Resigned Mar 2015

Sarah Ruth The Venerable Bullock

director·12 years·Resigned Apr 2016

David John Michael Judson

director·13 years·Resigned Dec 2020

Andrew Thomas Moorcroft

director·13 years·Resigned Apr 2015

Stephen David Naish

director·13 years·Resigned Apr 2015

Michael Anthony Rev Hand

director·13 years·Resigned Jun 2017

Edith Margaret Jones

director·13 years·Resigned Mar 2015

Fiona Mary Scott Long

director·13 years·Resigned Mar 2015

Linda Patricia Hodson

director·13 years·Resigned Dec 2013

Peter John Revd Canon Moger

director·13 years·Resigned Apr 2016

Wendy Anne Robinson

director·13 years·Resigned Jul 2014

Janis Leah Wright

director·13 years·Resigned Apr 2015

Christopher Rev Canon Coates

director·13 years·Resigned Mar 2015

Martin William The Right Rev Wallace

director·13 years·Resigned Jun 2013

Charles Thomas Anelay

director·13 years·Resigned Jun 2013

Karly Wallace

director·14 years·Resigned Nov 2013

Simon Bryan-smith

secretary·14 years·Resigned Dec 2024

Rachel Louise Snowden

director·15 years·Resigned Apr 2015

Ruth Barbara Somerville

director·15 years·Resigned Jun 2014

PRIMA SECRETARY LIMITED

corporate-secretary·15 years·Resigned Jan 2012

Simon Frazer Quartermaine

director·15 years·Resigned Feb 2012

Susan Duxbury

director·15 years·Resigned Mar 2015

John Philip Dr Adams

director·15 years·Resigned Sept 2013

David Hosier

director·15 years·Resigned Mar 2015

Brian Crosby

director·15 years·Resigned Sept 2018