Initio Learning Trust

UID 5526·Companies House 09362004·Incorporated December 2014·Compare

Schools

Flags

6 high severity

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

Total income

£49.7m

7,460 pupils

Avg staff costs

75.6%

of income

Avg reserves

-0.0%

of income

Avg absence

5.7%

Persistent: 12.4%

More metrics

Avg FSM

14.2%

free school meals

Capacity

84%

7,460 / 8,872 places

Trust overview

5 of 19 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.

4 of 19 schools had expenditure exceeding income this year.

Overall absence is above the national average in 21% of schools (4 of 19).

3 schools have persistent absence above 20%.

95% 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

Trust-wide reserves at -0.3%below 5% threshold11 schools with workforce pressure5 schools with staff costs above 78%3 schools with absence above 8%2 schools in deficit1 school with declining results1 school with Ofsted concerns

Ofsted sub-judgements

Quality of education

93% Good+

Good 13RI 1

Behaviour & attitudes

100% Good+

Outst. 1Good 13

Personal development

100% Good+

Outst. 3Good 11

Leadership & management

95% Good+

Good 18RI 1

Performance (trust avg)

Key Stage 4

Attainment 8

44.3

-1.9

vs national

Key Stage 2

Expected standard (RWM)

62.9%

+1.9pp

vs national

National averages: 2023/24

Trust details

AddressAllenbourn Middle School, Wimborne, BH21 1PL

Companies House09362004

Incorporated19 December 2014

Trust growth over time

matpulse.co.uk

Schools Pupils

Year	Schools	Pupils	Total income	Total expenditure	Avg staff costs %	Avg reserves %
2021/22	18	7,449	£43.6m	£40.2m	70.8%	4.6%
2022/23	18	7,445	£42.2m	£41.3m	73.6%	0.0%
2023/24	18	7,311	£48.9m	£46.9m	75.6%	-0.1%
2024/25partial	19	7,219	£780k	£794k	74.4%	2.2%

Central services — 2023/24

Centralisation

0.0%

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

£0

CS staff costs

£0

CS income

£0

Admin & clerical£0

Teaching staff£0

ICT£0

Premises£0

Legal & professional£0

Auditor costs£0

Governance

Accounts to Aug 2025Source: Companies House

8 current directors · Average tenure: 2.4 years · 5 changes in last 12 months

Directors / Trustees (8)

Peter James David Papworth

director·< 1 year

Caroline Jane Ibbetson Dr Spearing

director·< 1 year

John Miller

director·1 year

Stuart Ingram

director·2 years

Geoffrey James Bates

director·2 years

Richard John Purchase

director·3 years

Deborah Mary Mrs. Fleming

director·3 years

Noel Harrison

director·5 years

21 former officers — most recent departure: Jan 2026

Maria Patricia Mackenzie

director·3 years·Resigned Dec 2025

Clive Bath

director·3 years·Resigned Jan 2026

Fiona Brigid Holmes

director·6 years·Resigned Oct 2021

Rachel King

director·7 years·Resigned Oct 2020

Sarah Jane Cooper

director·7 years·Resigned Jun 2020

Peter Lance Taylor

Member schools (19)

19 schools|15 with risk flags|5 high severity

School	URN	Phase	Risk flags
Allenbourn Middle School	141757	Middle deemed secondary	workforce pressure
Bridport Primary School	142690	Primary	workforce pressureperformance decline
Bridport, St Mary's Church of England Primary School	142691	Primary	high staff costs
Burton Bradstock Church of England Voluntary Controlled School	142692	Primary	workforce pressure
Colehill First School	141768	Primary	—
Corfe Hills School	136574	Secondary	high staff costsin year deficithigh absence
Emmanuel Church of England Middle School	145405	Middle deemed secondary	—
Hayeswood First School	141786	Primary	workforce pressure
Hillside Community First School	146690	Primary	high staff costsin year deficit
Lockyer's Middle School	145811	Middle deemed secondary	workforce pressure
Merley First School	141794	Primary	workforce pressure
Pamphill Church of England First School	147893	Primary	—
Queen Elizabeth's School	141526	Secondary	ofsted concernhigh absenceworkforce pressure
St John's Church of England First School, Wimborne	141821	Primary	workforce pressure
St Mary's Church of England First School, Charminster	151330	Primary	—
St Michael's Church of England Middle School, Colehill	141829	Middle deemed secondary	high staff costs
The Sir John Colfox Academy	141735	Secondary	workforce pressurehigh absence
Verwood Church of England First School	146720	Primary	high staff costsworkforce pressure
Witchampton Church of England First School	141854	Primary	workforce pressure