North East Learning Trust

UID 4516·Companies House 07492165·Incorporated January 2011·Compare

Schools

Flags

10 high severity

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

Total income

£68.3m

8,187 pupils

Avg staff costs

69.3%

of income

Avg reserves

10.2%

of income

Avg absence

More metrics

Avg FSM

30.4%

free school meals

Capacity

83%

8,187 / 9,823 places

Total admin cost

£2.4m

£289 per pupil

Trust overview

All 13 schools with reported data have staff costs below the DfE's 78% review point.

2 of 13 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.

Every school with reported data balanced its in-year budget in the latest return.

Absence is above the national average in 9 of 13 schools. Attendance tracks intake and local circumstances as well as school practice.

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

12 of 13 inspected schools meet the expected standard or above.

1 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

92%meeting standard or above

Across 13 graded schools, including 1 under the new Report Card framework. The two frameworks are not directly comparable.

Sub-judgements — earlier framework

Quality of education

90% Good+

Outst. 1Good 8Inad. 1

Behaviour & attitudes

80% Good+

Outst. 2Good 6RI 2

Personal development

90% Good+

Outst. 3Good 6Inad. 1

Leadership & management

92% Good+

Outst. 3Good 9Inad. 1

Performance (trust avg)

Key Stage 4

Attainment 8

48.9

+2.7

vs national

Key Stage 2

Expected standard (RWM)

73.6%

+12.6pp

vs national

National averages: 2023/24

Trust details

AddressT/A The Academy At Shotton Hall, Peterlee, SR8 1AU

Companies House07492165

Incorporated13 January 2011

Report Card inspections (new framework)

About these grades

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

Curriculum & teaching

Expected standard 1

Achievement

Expected standard 1

Inclusion

Strong standard 1

Attendance & behaviour

Strong standard 1

Personal development

Year	Schools	Pupils	Total income	Total expenditure	Avg staff costs %	Avg reserves %
2021/22	12	8,371	£57.0m	£52.8m	68.3%	12.4%
2022/23	12	8,397	£59.2m	£56.3m	69.2%	12.5%
2023/24	13	8,424	£64.5m	£61.3m	69.1%	11.6%
2024/25partial	13	8,187	£68.3m	£63.0m	69.3%	10.2%
2025/26	13	8,042	—	—	—	—

Central services

2024/25

Centralisation

9.5%

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

£6,584,000

CS staff costs

£4,650,000

CS income

£2,293,000

Admin & clerical£405,000

Teaching staff£2,527,000

ICT£380,000

Premises£420,000

Legal & professional£300,000

Auditor costs£78,000

Governance

Source: Companies House

Board of trustees

Accounts to Aug 2025

8 current directors · Average tenure: 9.6 years · 1 change in last 12 months

Directors / Trustees (8)

Ernie Milne

director·1 year

Judith Cook

director·4 years

Justin Charles Bartlett

director·8 years

Amanda Moon

director·9 years

Sandra Mason

director·9 years

Margaret Patricia Saxton

director·12 years

Susan Mcdonnell

director·15 years

Lesley Anne Powell

director·15 years

Company Secretary

Lee Alexander

secretary·14 years

26 former officers — most recent departure: Feb 2026

Bryan Stephenson

director·3 years·Resigned Feb 2026

Suzanne Duncan

director·6 years·Resigned Sept 2024

Roland Fairlamb

director·7 years·Resigned Jan 2021

Derek Gibson

director·9 years·Resigned Mar 2023

Barbara Waugh

director·9 years·Resigned Oct 2018

Janice Victoria Dr Gorlach

Member schools (14)

14 schools|13 with risk flags|6 high severity

School	URN	Phase	Risk flags
Ashington Academy	144601	Secondary	high absenceworkforce pressure
Bedlington Academy	144977	Secondary	high absenceworkforce pressure
Biddick Academy	139839	Secondary	ofsted concernhigh absenceworkforce pressure
Browney Primary Academy	140359	Primary	workforce pressureperformance decline
Carville Academy	150961	Primary	—
Diamond Hall Junior Academy	143363	Primary	high absenceworkforce pressure
Easington Academy	138075	Secondary	high absenceworkforce pressure
Hermitage Academy	147531	Secondary	high absenceworkforce pressure
Meadowdale Academy	138078	Primary	workforce pressure
Middleton-In-Teesdale Academy	149475	Primary	workforce pressureofsted concernin year deficit
Rye Hills Academy	148728	Secondary	high absence
Sacriston Academy	144953	Primary	workforce pressureperformance decline
Teesdale School and Sixth Form	144496	Secondary	high absenceworkforce pressure
The Academy at Shotton Hall	136451	Secondary	high absence