Learning for Life Trust

UID 15717·Companies House 09690231·Incorporated July 2015·Compare

Schools

Flags

4 high severity

Finance: 2025/26Ofsted: Nov 2023Performance: 2025/26Workforce: 2026/27Attendance: 2025/26

Total income

£14.8m

1,926 pupils

Avg staff costs

78.4%

of income

Avg reserves

-3.5%

of income

Avg absence

More metrics

Avg FSM

10.6%

free school meals

Capacity

96%

1,926 / 2,007 places

Total admin cost

£597k

£310 per pupil

Trust overview

With 4 schools, trust-wide averages move materially with a single school's results.

1 of 4 schools report staff costs above the DfE's 78% review point. Staffing ratios reflect phase mix, curriculum and local context as much as efficiency.

2 of 4 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.

Trust-average reserves have fallen about 3 percentage points over two years of published returns.

Absence is at or below the national average in 3 of 4 schools.

3 of 4 inspected schools meet the expected standard or above; 1 have at least one area judged below it. Inspection dates vary — some grades predate current leadership.

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

75%meeting standard or above

Across 4 graded schools.

Sub-judgements — earlier framework

Quality of education

0% Good+

RI 1

Behaviour & attitudes

100% Good+

Good 1

Personal development

100% Good+

Good 1

Leadership & management

75% Good+

Good 3RI 1

Performance (trust avg)

Key Stage 4

Attainment 8

51.9

+5.7

vs national

Key Stage 2

Expected standard (RWM)

64.3%

+3.3pp

vs national

National averages: 2023/24

Trust details

AddressFairfield Primary School, Cockermouth, CA13 0DX

Companies House09690231

Incorporated16 July 2015

Year	Schools	Pupils	Total income	Total expenditure	Avg staff costs %	Avg reserves %
2021/22	3	1,907	£11.7m	£11.4m	75.0%	8.9%
2022/23	3	1,641	£12.7m	£12.3m	73.4%	9.0%
2023/24	3	1,856	£13.5m	£13.1m	75.5%	8.2%
2024/25partial	3	1,862	£14.2m	£14.2m	76.4%	6.4%
2025/26	3	1,848	—	—	—	—

Central services

2024/25

Centralisation

2.0%

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

£307,000

CS staff costs

£136,000

CS income

£64,000

Admin & clerical£18,000

Teaching staff£110,000

ICT£25,000

Premises£91,000

Legal & professional£40,000

Auditor costs£14,000

Governance

Source: Companies House

Board of trustees

Accounts to Aug 2025

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

Directors / Trustees (6)

Paul Andrew Terry

director·2 years

Monica Louise Desmond

director·3 years

John Brettle

director·3 years

Brendon Cook

director·4 years

Huw Gwilym Dr Morgan

director·5 years

Oliver Paul Nicols

director·11 years

Company Secretary

Carolyn Parker

secretary·11 years

9 former officers — most recent departure: May 2026

Charlotte Hermin Dumbill

director·< 1 year·Resigned May 2026

Richard Philip Ernest Watson

director·1 year·Resigned Oct 2025

Alexander Wilkinson

director·5 years·Resigned Dec 2022

Christopher John Steele

director·8 years·Resigned Aug 2024

Andrew Cooney

director·9 years·Resigned Dec 2020

Craig Smith

Member schools (4)

4 schools|4 with risk flags|2 high severity

School	URN	Phase	Risk flags
Broughton Moor Primary School	152201	Primary	workforce pressurehigh absenceofsted concernhigh staff costsin year deficit
Broughton Primary School	137513	Primary	in year deficitworkforce pressure
Cockermouth School	142306	Secondary	high absencein year deficit
Fairfield Primary School	142196	Primary	workforce pressure