Meridian Trust

UID 2526·Companies House 07552498·Incorporated March 2011·Compare

Schools

Flags

131

44 high severity

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

Total income

£162.2m

20,390 pupils

Avg staff costs

71.2%

of income

Avg reserves

10.1%

of income

Avg absence

More metrics

Avg FSM

24.2%

free school meals

Capacity

78%

20,390 / 26,032 places

Total admin cost

£7.6m

£370 per pupil

Trust overview

4 of 36 schools report staff costs above the DfE's 78% review point. Staffing ratios reflect phase mix, curriculum and local context as much as efficiency.

5 of 36 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.

Absence is at or below the national average in 18 of 36 schools.

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

33 of 35 inspected schools meet the expected standard or above.

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.

Ofsted & results

Ofsted

94%meeting standard or above

Across 35 graded schools, including 2 under the new Report Card framework. The two frameworks are not directly comparable.

Sub-judgements — earlier framework

Quality of education

96% Good+

Outst. 5Good 18RI 1

Behaviour & attitudes

100% Good+

Outst. 6Good 18

Personal development

100% Good+

Outst. 7Good 17

Leadership & management

100% Good+

Outst. 10Good 25

Performance (trust avg)

Key Stage 4

Attainment 8

40.0

-6.2

vs national

Key Stage 2

Expected standard (RWM)

58.8%

-2.2pp

vs national

National averages: 2023/24

Trust details

AddressSawtry Village Academy Fen Lane, Huntingdon, PE28 5TQ

Companies House07552498

Incorporated4 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 1Needs attention 1

Achievement

Expected standard 1Needs attention 1

Inclusion

Strong standard 1Expected standard 1

Growth

Year	Schools	Pupils	Total income	Total expenditure	Avg staff costs %	Avg reserves %
2021/22	34	18,800	£116.1m	£113.5m	75.5%	10.4%
2022/23	35	19,383	£133.2m	£124.3m	71.5%	11.9%
2023/24	36	19,718	£147.7m	£138.9m	70.8%	9.5%
2024/25partial	36	20,390	£162.2m	£148.6m	71.2%	10.1%
2025/26	36	20,677	—	—	—	—

Central services

2024/25

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

Source: Companies House

Board of trustees

Accounts to Aug 2025

14 current directors · Average tenure: 6.6 years · 5 changes in last 12 months

Directors / Trustees (14)

Jacqueline Rose Hall

director·< 1 year

Ian Edward Herbert

director·< 1 year

Julie Forsyth Buchanan

director·< 1 year

Robert Page Robson

director·1 year

Darren John Woodward

director·4 years

Robert Stuart Plumbly

director·4 years

Mark Richard Bedlow

director·5 years

Judith Anne Salter

director·6 years

Michael Brian Griffiths

director·7 years

Paul Steven Phillipson

director·8 years

James William Kennedy

director·8 years

Mark Edward Woods

director·14 years

Shirley Marie Jamieson

director·15 years

David Robert Ruddy

director·15 years

Company Secretary

Helen Louise Anderson

secretary·7 years

16 former officers — most recent departure: Mar 2026

Kevin Michael Barton

director·4 years·Resigned Mar 2026

Simon James Piers Evans-evans

director·4 years·Resigned Jan 2023

Sean Patrick Hayes

director·7 years·Resigned Jul 2023

Neil Alexander Grimston

director·9 years·Resigned Sept 2018

Roger Moore

director·10 years·Resigned May 2019

Lesley Christine Birch

Member schools (36)

36 schools|34 with risk flags|22 high severity

School	URN	Phase	Risk flags
Abbey College, Ramsey	137377	Secondary	in year deficitworkforce pressure
Bar Hill Community Primary School	145801	Primary	workforce pressure
Crosshall Infant School	136332	Primary	workforce pressurein year deficithigh staff costs
Crosshall Junior School	136339	Primary	in year deficithigh staff costsworkforce pressure
Downham Feoffees Primary Academy	144947	Primary	workforce pressure
Ely College	143404	Secondary	workforce pressure
Great Ouse Primary Academy	144746	Primary	high staff costsperformance decline
Greater Peterborough UTC	142902	Secondary	high absenceworkforce pressure
Harrold Primary Academy	143084	Primary	workforce pressurein year deficit
Hatton Park Primary School	138993	Primary	workforce pressure
Histon and Impington Brook Primary School	139087	Primary	workforce pressure
Histon and Impington Park Primary School	139086	Primary	—
Lantern Community Primary School	145804	Primary	workforce pressureperformance decline
Lincroft Academy	136471	Secondary	high absenceworkforce pressure
Nene Park Academy	137082	Secondary	workforce pressurehigh absence
Nene Valley Primary School	146854	Primary	in year deficitworkforce pressure
NeneGate	149368	Not applicable	workforce pressurehigh absence
North Cambridge Academy	139401	Secondary	high absenceworkforce pressure
Northstowe Learning Community	148128	All-through	high absenceworkforce pressure
Oakley Primary Academy	143561	Primary	workforce pressure