Life Education Trust

UID 16371·Companies House 08102628·Incorporated June 2012·Compare

Schools

Flags

12 high severity

Finance: 2025/26Ofsted: Nov 2024Performance: 2025/26Workforce: 2026/27Attendance: 2025/26

Total income

£24.5m

2,956 pupils

Avg staff costs

73.3%

of income

Avg reserves

4.7%

of income

Avg absence

More metrics

Avg FSM

21.5%

free school meals

Capacity

94%

2,956 / 3,139 places

Total admin cost

£867k

£293 per pupil

Trust overview

3 of 12 schools report staff costs above the DfE's 78% review point. Staffing ratios reflect phase mix, curriculum and local context as much as efficiency.

3 of 12 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.

4 of 12 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 at or below the national average in 7 of 12 schools.

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

10 of 12 inspected schools meet the expected standard or above.

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

9 schools with workforce pressure6 schools in deficit4 schools with staff costs above 78%3 schools with Ofsted concerns2 schools with declining results3 schools with absence above 8%

Ofsted & results

Ofsted

75%meeting standard or above

Across 12 graded schools.

Sub-judgements — earlier framework

Quality of education

70% Good+

Good 7RI 3

Behaviour & attitudes

90% Good+

Outst. 2Good 7RI 1

Personal development

100% Good+

Outst. 2Good 8

Leadership & management

75% Good+

Outst. 2Good 7RI 1Inad. 2

Performance (trust avg)

Key Stage 4

Attainment 8

51.4

+5.2

vs national

Key Stage 2

Expected standard (RWM)

68.8%

+7.8pp

vs national

National averages: 2023/24

Trust details

AddressThe Frances Bardsley Academy For Girls, Romford, RM1 2RR

Companies House08102628

Incorporated12 June 2012

Growth

Year	Schools	Pupils	Total income	Total expenditure	Avg staff costs %	Avg reserves %
2021/22	6	2,177	£14.1m	£11.5m	70.6%	5.7%
2022/23	9	2,472	£18.1m	£16.6m	70.3%	7.5%
2023/24	10	2,534	£19.1m	£17.2m	69.7%	7.2%
2024/25partial	12	2,956	£24.5m	£22.3m	73.3%	4.7%
2025/26	12	2,838	—	—	—	—

Central services

2024/25

Centralisation

7.4%

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

£1,774,000

CS staff costs

£1,255,000

CS income

£160,000

Admin & clerical£731,000

Teaching staff£321,000

ICT£4,000

Premises£11,000

Legal & professional£170,000

Auditor costs£61,000

Governance

Source: Companies House

Board of trustees

Accounts to Aug 2025

9 current directors · Average tenure: 6.3 years · 3 changes in last 12 months

Directors / Trustees (9)

Pauline Elizabeth Harris

director·< 1 year

Nidhi Mittal

director·< 1 year

Philip Dr Kirkman

director·1 year

Perninder Singh Dhadwar

director·2 years

Dean Graham Jefferys

director·5 years

Tony Frederick Morgan

director·7 years

Louise Douglas

director·10 years

Julian Dutnall

director·14 years

Sophia Malik

director·14 years

29 former officers — most recent departure: Oct 2025

Paul Tinsley

director·5 years·Resigned Jan 2023

Robert Bristow

director·6 years·Resigned May 2025

David Mansfield

director·6 years·Resigned Sept 2019

David Mansfield

director·7 years·Resigned Aug 2019

Mary Cherry

director·7 years·Resigned Oct 2025

Steve Odart

Member schools (12)

12 schools|12 with risk flags|10 high severity

School	URN	Phase	Risk flags
Benhurst Primary School	143216	Primary	workforce pressure
Chappel CofE Controlled Primary School	150123	Primary	ofsted concernin year deficitworkforce pressurehigh staff costs
Dame Tipping Church of England Primary School	146185	Primary	workforce pressure
Dr Walker's CofE Primary School	151943	Primary	in year deficitworkforce pressureofsted concernhigh absence
Ford End Church of England Primary School	148210	Primary	workforce pressurehigh absence
Fordham All Saints CofE Voluntary Controlled Primary School	150124	Primary	ofsted concernworkforce pressurein year deficit
Holy Trinity CofE Primary School, Eight Ash Green and Aldham	150062	Primary	in year deficitperformance declineworkforce pressure
Langenhoe Community Primary School	151064	Primary	in year deficithigh staff costs
Margaretting Church of England Voluntary Controlled Primary School	146242	Primary	high staff costsperformance decline
Roxwell Church of England Primary School	147444	Primary	workforce pressure
Spring Meadow Primary School & Nursery	152157	Primary	high absencehigh staff costsin year deficit
The Frances Bardsley Academy for Girls	138326	Secondary	workforce pressure