The Challenge Academy Trust

UID 16682·Companies House 10689247·Incorporated March 2017·Compare

Schools

Flags

7 high severity

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

Total income

£83.5m

9,120 pupils

Avg staff costs

72.4%

of income

Avg reserves

11.7%

of income

Avg absence

6.9%

Persistent: 17.4%

More metrics

Avg FSM

29.5%

free school meals

Capacity

76%

9,120 / 12,009 places

Trust overview

1 of 14 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.

1 of 14 schools had expenditure exceeding income this year.

Overall absence is above the national average in 69% of schools (9 of 13).

6 schools have persistent absence above 20%.

All 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

5 schools with absence above 8%4 schools with workforce pressure3 schools with declining results2 schools with staff costs above 78%1 school in deficit

Ofsted sub-judgements

Quality of education

100% Good+

Good 9

Behaviour & attitudes

100% Good+

Outst. 2Good 7

Personal development

100% Good+

Outst. 3Good 6

Leadership & management

100% Good+

Good 13

Performance (trust avg)

Key Stage 4

Attainment 8

44.3

-1.9

vs national

Key Stage 2

Expected standard (RWM)

59.7%

-1.3pp

vs national

National averages: 2023/24

Trust details

AddressBridgewater High School (Upper) Broomfields Road, Warrington, WA4 3AE

Companies House10689247

Incorporated24 March 2017

Trust growth over time

matpulse.co.uk

Schools Pupils

Year	Schools	Pupils	Total income	Total expenditure	Avg staff costs %	Avg reserves %
2021/22	11	9,185	£58.6m	£55.5m	73.9%	6.9%
2022/23	12	7,570	£66.3m	£63.1m	72.5%	6.9%
2023/24	13	8,072	£76.1m	£73.4m	72.5%	8.4%
2024/25partial	13	9,201	£9.8m	£9.5m	73.5%	38.9%

Central services — 2023/24

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

Accounts to Aug 2025Source: Companies House

10 current directors · Average tenure: 4.9 years · 1 change in last 12 months

Directors / Trustees (10)

Linda Boys

director·1 year

Matthew William Grant

director·1 year

Peter Winter

director·2 years

John Warren

director·2 years

Phil Mcewan

director·3 years

John Paul Cartwright

director·4 years

Andrew Moorcroft

director·5 years

Sheila Yates

director·9 years

Stephen Nicholas Whatmore

director·9 years

Howard Wilson Platt

director·9 years

13 former officers — most recent departure: Jul 2025

Susila Dr Davis

director·4 years·Resigned Aug 2024

Susan Richardson

director·6 years·Resigned Jul 2023

Lacy Nadine Muir

director·7 years·Resigned Feb 2024

Linda Jane Waterson

director·9 years·Resigned Jul 2025

Matthew William Grant

director·9 years·Resigned Aug 2020

Jane Griffiths

Member schools (14)

14 schools|10 with risk flags|7 high severity

School	URN	Phase	Risk flags
Appleton Thorn Primary School	149676	Primary	performance decline
Beamont Collegiate Academy	139196	Secondary	high staff costsin year deficithigh absence
Bridgewater High School	141598	Secondary	—
Broomfields Junior School	147637	Primary	performance decline
Dallam Community Primary School	150824	Primary	performance declinehigh staff costs
Great Sankey Primary School	144798	Primary	—
Meadowside Community Primary and Nursery School	147636	Primary	workforce pressure
Padgate Academy	146765	Secondary	workforce pressurehigh absence
Penketh High School	145157	Secondary	—
Penketh South Community Primary School	145710	Primary	workforce pressure
Priestley College	144782	16 plus	—
Sir Thomas Boteler Church of England High School	144799	Secondary	high absenceworkforce pressure
South Wirral High School	151354	Secondary	high absence
The Sutton Academy	136141	Secondary	high absence