The Forge Trust

UID 16355·Companies House 09443602·Incorporated February 2015·Compare

Schools

Flags

5 high severity

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

Total income

£16.2m

2,283 pupils

Avg staff costs

75.3%

of income

Avg reserves

19.1%

of income

Avg absence

More metrics

Avg FSM

36.5%

free school meals

Capacity

85%

2,283 / 2,684 places

Total admin cost

£646k

£283 per pupil

Trust overview

2 of 8 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 8 schools hold reserves below the DfE's 5% reference point.

Reserves above 20% of income in much of the trust — public data does not show whether this reflects planned projects or accumulated headroom.

Trust-average reserves have fallen about 4 percentage points over two years of published returns.

Absence is at or below the national average in 6 of 8 schools.

7 of 8 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

88%meeting standard or above

Across 8 graded schools, including 1 under the new Report Card framework. The two frameworks are not directly comparable.

Sub-judgements — earlier framework

Quality of education

80% Good+

Good 4RI 1

Behaviour & attitudes

100% Good+

Outst. 1Good 4

Personal development

100% Good+

Good 5

Leadership & management

88% Good+

Outst. 1Good 6RI 1

Performance (trust avg)

Key Stage 2

Expected standard (RWM)

73.3%

+12.3pp

vs national

National averages: 2023/24

Trust details

AddressThe Sir Donald Bailey Academy, Newark, NG24 4EP

Companies House09443602

Incorporated17 February 2015

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

Strong standard 1

Achievement

Strong 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	7	2,138	£11.0m	£10.8m	71.4%	21.6%
2022/23	7	2,171	£13.8m	£13.1m	73.8%	24.0%
2023/24	8	2,285	£15.8m	£15.2m	76.8%	20.5%
2024/25partial	8	2,283	£16.2m	£15.4m	75.3%	19.1%
2025/26	8	2,165	—	—	—	—

Central services

2024/25

Centralisation

5.0%

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

£805,000

CS staff costs

£638,000

CS income

£72,000

Admin & clerical£181,000

Teaching staff£423,000

ICT£0

Premises£0

Legal & professional£21,000

Auditor costs£23,000

Governance

Source: Companies House

Board of trustees

Accounts to Aug 2025

10 current directors · Average tenure: 3.6 years · 3 changes in last 12 months

Directors / Trustees (10)

Peter Prince Towner

director·< 1 year

Michele Ann Cammack

director·< 1 year

Andrew Bailey

director·1 year

Susan Bird

director·1 year

Paul Gill

director·2 years

Lorraine Pannell

director·2 years

Penelope Clare Worrell

director·2 years

Linda Jane Sargisson

director·5 years

Patricia Ann Astill

director·7 years

Susan Trentini

director·11 years

21 former officers — most recent departure: Apr 2026

Haley Sharon Berry

director·2 years·Resigned Apr 2026

Gentian Marguerite Bradley

director·3 years·Resigned Aug 2023

Gary Corban

director·3 years·Resigned Sept 2023

Beryce Amy Nixon

director·3 years·Resigned Aug 2023

Daniel Peter Johnson

director·3 years·Resigned Oct 2023

Declan Ray Barker

Member schools (8)

8 schools|8 with risk flags|5 high severity

School	URN	Phase	Risk flags
Maun Infant and Nursery School	151216	Primary	ofsted concernworkforce pressurein year deficit
The Forest View Academy	143886	Primary	high staff costsworkforce pressure
The Marton Academy	144912	Primary	workforce pressurehigh staff costs
The Parkgate Academy	143140	Primary	workforce pressurehigh absence
The Python Hill Academy	146314	Primary	workforce pressure
The Sir Donald Bailey Academy	141760	Primary	workforce pressure
The St Augustine's Academy	148383	Primary	workforce pressurehigh staff costs
The West Park Academy	144885	Primary	workforce pressurehigh staff costsin year deficitperformance decline