Reach South Academy Trust

UID 16503·Companies House 10151730·Incorporated April 2016·Compare

Schools

Flags

41 high severity

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

Total income

£65.5m

5,775 pupils

Avg staff costs

72.3%

of income

Avg reserves

6.7%

of income

Avg absence

More metrics

Avg FSM

41.8%

free school meals

Capacity

82%

5,775 / 7,002 places

Total admin cost

£2.3m

£406 per pupil

Trust overview

4 of 19 schools report staff costs above the DfE's 78% review point. Staffing ratios reflect phase mix, curriculum and local context as much as efficiency.

4 of 19 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 above the national average in 12 of 18 schools. Attendance tracks intake and local circumstances as well as school practice.

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

14 of 18 inspected schools meet the expected standard or above; 4 have at least one area judged below it. Inspection dates vary — some grades predate current leadership.

4 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

78%meeting standard or above

Across 18 graded schools, including 4 under the new Report Card framework. The two frameworks are not directly comparable.

Sub-judgements — earlier framework

Quality of education

80% Good+

Good 12RI 2Inad. 1

Behaviour & attitudes

87% Good+

Good 13RI 1Inad. 1

Personal development

93% Good+

Outst. 1Good 13Inad. 1

Leadership & management

89% Good+

Good 16RI 1Inad. 1

Performance (trust avg)

Key Stage 4

Attainment 8

21.4

-24.8

vs national

Key Stage 2

Expected standard (RWM)

51.2%

-9.8pp

vs national

National averages: 2023/24

Trust details

AddressC/O Utc Plymouth Park Avenue, Plymouth, PL1 4RL

Companies House10151730

Incorporated27 April 2016

Report Card inspections (new framework)

About these grades

Grade distribution across 4 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 2Needs attention 2

Achievement

Expected standard 1Needs attention 2Strong standard 1

Inclusion

Year	Schools	Pupils	Total income	Total expenditure	Avg staff costs %	Avg reserves %
2021/22	18	5,423	£50.7m	£46.2m	70.8%	6.2%
2022/23	18	5,473	£54.2m	£49.5m	69.8%	7.0%
2023/24	19	5,609	£58.8m	£55.1m	72.7%	7.7%
2024/25partial	19	5,775	£65.5m	£62.2m	72.3%	6.7%
2025/26	19	5,717	—	—	—	—

Central services

2024/25

Centralisation

9.8%

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

£6,761,000

CS staff costs

£5,111,000

CS income

£3,403,000

Admin & clerical£1,738,000

Teaching staff£2,645,000

ICT£0

Premises£785,000

Legal & professional£346,000

Auditor costs£45,000

Governance

Source: Companies House

Board of trustees

Accounts to Aug 2025

13 current directors · Average tenure: 4.4 years · 4 changes in last 12 months

Directors / Trustees (13)

Nicholas Brian Buckland

director·< 1 year

Hester Alix Elinor Riviere

director·1 year

Natalie Louise Broad

director·1 year

Jeremiah Michael Collins

director·1 year

Heather Jane Mcstay

director·1 year

Benjamin Robert Story

director·2 years

Fary Mahamedi Professor Cachelin

director·2 years

Jairaj Vijay Thakkar

director·4 years

Heather Ann Tomlinson

director·5 years

Alan Newton

director·8 years

Penelope Mary Lady Marland

director·8 years

Marcus Paul Ambrose Agius

director·9 years

Chris Dr Gentle

director·9 years

13 former officers — most recent departure: Sept 2025

Alexander James Crossman

director·5 years·Resigned Dec 2024

Michelle Louise Wilkins

director·8 years·Resigned Nov 2017

Gurbinder Beaver

director·8 years·Resigned Sept 2025

Peter David Spencer King

director·8 years·Resigned Nov 2017

Bronwen Lynne Lacey

director·9 years·Resigned Jan 2021

Nick Timothy

Member schools (20)

20 schools|18 with risk flags|25 high severity

School	URN	Phase	Risk flags
Ace Schools Plymouth	142835	Not applicable	workforce pressurehigh staff costs
Ace Tiverton Special School	147064	Not applicable	high absenceworkforce pressure
Courtlands School	144009	Not applicable	workforce pressurehigh absencehigh staff costsofsted concern
Drake Primary Academy	144385	Primary	workforce pressurein year deficitperformance declineofsted concern
Goosewell Primary Academy	143826	Primary	workforce pressure
High Street Primary Academy	143827	Primary	high absenceperformance decline
Hill View Primary Academy	142352	Primary	high staff costsworkforce pressure
Malmesbury Park Primary School	142354	Primary	—
Marlborough Primary Academy	143891	Primary	workforce pressureperformance decline
Millbay Academy	147905	Secondary	workforce pressurehigh absence
Morice Town Primary Academy	143892	Primary	high absenceworkforce pressureperformance decline
Mount Tamar School	152544	Not applicable	—
Peak Academy	149396	Not applicable	workforce pressurehigh absencein year deficitofsted concern
Pilgrim Primary Academy	144188	Primary	high staff costsworkforce pressure
Sail (Salisbury Academy for Inspirational Learning)	149746	Not applicable	high absenceworkforce pressure
Stoke Damerel Primary Academy	144843	Primary	workforce pressure
Stuart Road Primary Academy	144844	Primary	workforce pressurehigh absencein year deficitperformance decline
The Springfields Academy	145198	Not applicable	high absenceworkforce pressure
Thomas Hall School	147650	All-through	high absenceworkforce pressureofsted concern
UTC Plymouth	146560	Secondary	high absenceworkforce pressure