The Blessed Edward Bamber Catholic Multi Academy Trust

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

Schools

Flags

6 high severity

Finance: 2025/26Ofsted: Jun 2025Performance: 2025/26Workforce: 2025/26Attendance: 2025/26

Total income

£32.1m

4,443 pupils

Avg staff costs

74.1%

of income

Avg reserves

6.1%

of income

Avg absence

5.0%

Persistent: 11.8%

More metrics

Avg FSM

26.8%

free school meals

Capacity

95%

4,443 / 4,680 places

Trust overview

2 of 18 schools have staff costs above the DfE's 78% review threshold — review against school context.

2 schools are operating in deficit — this may reflect planned investment or require financial planning.

8 of 18 schools had expenditure exceeding income this year.

Overall absence is above the national average in 11% of schools (2 of 18).

2 schools have persistent absence above 20%.

89% of inspected schools are rated Good or Outstanding across sub-judgements.

Reference points from DfE published guidance. Whether any metric warrants action depends on the trust's context and strategy.

At a glance

7 schools in deficit3 schools with declining results3 schools with staff costs above 78%2 schools with absence above 8%6 schools with workforce pressure2 schools with Ofsted concerns

Ofsted sub-judgements

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

Trust growth over time

matpulse.co.uk

Schools Pupils

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	4,210	—	—	—	—

Central services — 2023/24

Centralisation

3.7%

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

£1,221,000

CS staff costs

£728,000

CS income

£236,000

Admin & clerical£372,000

Teaching staff£318,000

ICT£81,000

Premises£61,000

Legal & professional£224,000

Auditor costs£52,000

Governance

Accounts to Aug 2025Source: Companies House

8 current directors · Average tenure: 8.8 years · 3 changes in last 12 months

Directors / Trustees (8)

David Eric Brookes

director·3 years

Christopher Michael Massey

director·5 years

Mary Louise Speakman

director·5 years

Richard Turpin

director·9 years

Susan Ridyard

director·11 years

Camilla Mary Hardy

director·11 years

Elizabeth Sarah Boniface

director·11 years

Elizabeth Margaret Kelly

director·11 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 (18)

18 schools|13 with risk flags|6 high severity

School	URN	Phase	Risk flags
Christ the King Catholic Academy	141288	Primary	—
Holy Family Catholic Primary School	150579	Primary	performance decline
Holy Family Catholic Primary School, Warton	151083	Primary	high staff costsin year deficit
Our Lady of the Assumption Catholic Primary School, Blackpool	150866	Primary	workforce pressurein year deficitperformance decline
Sacred Heart Catholic Primary School, Thornton Cleveleys	149265	Primary	—
St Cuthbert's Catholic Academy	141115	Primary	workforce pressure
St John Vianney's Catholic Primary School, Blackpool	150825	Primary	—
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 Teresa's Catholic Primary School	149266	Primary	—
St William's Catholic Primary School, Pilling	150580	Primary	high absencein year deficitperformance decline
St Wulstan's and St Edmund's Catholic Academy	149263	Primary	ofsted concern
St. Bernadette's Catholic Primary School	151273	Primary	high staff costsin year deficitworkforce pressure
St. Mary's Catholic Primary School, Fleetwood	151272	Primary	high absence
The Willows Catholic Primary School, Kirkham	151086	Primary	in year deficit