The Blessed Edward Bamber Catholic Multi Academy Trust

UID 2355·Companies House 09111449·Incorporated July 2014·Compare

Schools

Flags

12 high severity

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

Total income

£32.9m

4,426 pupils

Avg staff costs

73.2%

of income

Avg reserves

7.5%

of income

Avg absence

More metrics

Avg FSM

29.1%

free school meals

Capacity

87%

4,426 / 5,066 places

Total admin cost

£1.5m

£335 per pupil

Trust overview

2 of 18 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 18 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 6 percentage points over two years of published returns.

Absence is at or below the national average in 16 of 18 schools.

16 of 18 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

89%meeting standard or above

Across 18 graded schools, including 1 under the new Report Card framework. The two frameworks are not directly comparable.

Sub-judgements — earlier framework

Quality of education

67% Good+

Good 4RI 2

Behaviour & attitudes

100% Good+

Outst. 1Good 5

Personal development

100% Good+

Good 6

Leadership & management

89% Good+

Outst. 2Good 14RI 2

Performance (trust avg)

Key Stage 4

Attainment 8

41.5

-4.7

vs national

Key Stage 2

Expected standard (RWM)

58.1%

-2.9pp

vs national

National averages: 2023/24

Trust details

Address154 High Cross Road, Poulton-Le-Fylde, FY6 8DA

Companies House09111449

Incorporated2 July 2014

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

Expected standard 1

Attendance & behaviour

Strong standard 1

Personal development

Year	Schools	Pupils	Total income	Total expenditure	Avg staff costs %	Avg reserves %
2021/22	7	2,322	£15.6m	£14.8m	72.2%	11.3%
2022/23	8	2,517	£15.0m	£14.5m	71.2%	18.1%
2023/24	15	3,876	£28.5m	£27.9m	73.5%	6.4%
2024/25partial	17	4,221	£31.7m	£30.3m	73.0%	7.9%
2025/26	17	4,150	—	—	—	—

Central services

2024/25

Centralisation

6.4%

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

£2,153,000

CS staff costs

£1,012,000

CS income

£522,000

Admin & clerical£502,000

Teaching staff£445,000

ICT£115,000

Premises£28,000

Legal & professional£288,000

Auditor costs£71,000

Governance

Source: Companies House

Board of trustees

Accounts to Aug 2025

8 current directors · Average tenure: 9.1 years · 3 changes in last 12 months

Directors / Trustees (8)

David Eric Brookes

director·4 years

Christopher Michael Massey

director·5 years

Mary Louise Speakman

director·5 years

Richard Turpin

director·10 years

Susan Ridyard

director·11 years

Camilla Mary Hardy

director·11 years

Elizabeth Sarah Boniface

director·11 years

Elizabeth Margaret Kelly

director·12 years

24 former officers — most recent departure: Nov 2025

Sandra Theresa Witton

director·4 years·Resigned Nov 2025

Andrew Fr Dawson

director·4 years·Resigned Aug 2025

Helen O'neill

director·6 years·Resigned Feb 2020

Julie Anne Mcleod

director·7 years·Resigned Dec 2021

Paul Hardy

director·7 years·Resigned Oct 2025

James Fr Burns

Member schools (20)

20 schools|17 with risk flags|12 high severity

School	URN	Phase	Risk flags
Christ the King Catholic Academy	141288	Primary	workforce pressure
Holy Family Catholic Primary School	150579	Primary	performance decline
Holy Family Catholic Primary School, Warton	151083	Primary	high staff costsin year deficitworkforce pressure
Our Lady of the Assumption Catholic Primary School, Blackpool	150866	Primary	workforce pressurein year deficitperformance declinehigh staff costs
Our Lady Star of the Sea Catholic Primary School	152400	Primary	—
Sacred Heart Catholic Primary School, Thornton Cleveleys	149265	Primary	workforce pressure
St Cuthbert's Catholic Academy	141115	Primary	workforce pressure
St John Vianney's Catholic Primary School, Blackpool	150825	Primary	in year deficitworkforce pressure
St John's Catholic Primary School, Poulton-Le-Fylde	152365	Primary	high staff costsin year deficitofsted concern
St Joseph's Catholic Primary School, Medlar-with-Wesham	151087	Primary	workforce pressure
St Kentigern's Catholic Primary School	149262	Primary	workforce pressure
St Mary's Catholic Academy	141257	Secondary	—
St Mary's Catholic Primary School, Great Eccleston	149264	Primary	workforce pressurein year deficit
St Peter's Catholic Primary School, Lytham	152401	Primary	—
St Teresa's Catholic Primary School	149266	Primary	workforce pressure
St William's Catholic Primary School, Pilling	150580	Primary	workforce pressurehigh absencein year deficitperformance decline
St Wulstan's and St Edmund's Catholic Academy	149263	Primary	workforce pressureofsted concern
St. Bernadette's Catholic Primary School	151273	Primary	workforce pressurehigh staff costsin year deficit
St. Mary's Catholic Primary School, Fleetwood	151272	Primary	in year deficitworkforce pressurehigh absence
The Willows Catholic Primary School, Kirkham	151086	Primary	workforce pressurehigh staff costsin year deficit