The Laurus Trust

UID 2627·Companies House 07907463·Incorporated January 2012·Compare

Schools

Flags

11 high severity

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

Total income

£72.0m

9,592 pupils

Avg staff costs

79.0%

of income

Avg reserves

4.4%

of income

Avg absence

More metrics

Avg FSM

18.1%

free school meals

Capacity

93%

9,592 / 10,287 places

Total admin cost

£4.4m

£457 per pupil

Trust overview

9 of 12 schools report staff costs above the DfE's 78% review point. Staffing ratios reflect phase mix, curriculum and local context as much as efficiency.

3 of 12 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 4 percentage points over two years of published returns.

4 of 12 schools spent more than their income in the latest year. Single-year deficits are common around growth, building works or falling rolls; multi-year patterns matter more than one snapshot.

Absence is at or below the national average in 6 of 11 schools.

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

10 of 11 inspected schools meet the expected standard or above.

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

91%meeting standard or above

Across 11 graded schools.

Sub-judgements — earlier framework

Quality of education

89% Good+

Outst. 6Good 2RI 1

Behaviour & attitudes

89% Good+

Outst. 6Good 2RI 1

Personal development

89% Good+

Outst. 8RI 1

Leadership & management

91% Good+

Outst. 7Good 3RI 1

Performance (trust avg)

Key Stage 4

Attainment 8

54.2

+8.0

vs national

Key Stage 2

Expected standard (RWM)

72.0%

+11.0pp

vs national

National averages: 2023/24

Trust details

AddressCheadle Hulme High School Woods Lane, Cheadle, SK8 7JY

Companies House07907463

Incorporated12 January 2012

Year	Schools	Pupils	Total income	Total expenditure	Avg staff costs %	Avg reserves %
2021/22	7	6,045	£40.1m	£36.3m	70.8%	10.9%
2022/23	9	7,958	£56.2m	£53.4m	73.0%	4.5%
2023/24	10	8,773	£59.0m	£59.0m	80.9%	1.7%
2024/25partial	13	9,592	£72.0m	£69.5m	79.0%	4.4%
2025/26	13	9,745	—	—	—	—

Central services

2024/25

Centralisation

7.2%

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

£5,424,000

CS staff costs

£4,357,000

CS income

£5,201,000

Admin & clerical£2,437,000

Teaching staff£1,694,000

ICT£0

Premises£274,000

Legal & professional£29,000

Auditor costs£34,000

Governance

Source: Companies House

Board of trustees

Accounts to Aug 2025

12 current directors · Average tenure: 5.7 years

Directors / Trustees (12)

Simeon John Mellor

director·1 year

Nicholas David James Thompson

director·1 year

Linda Mary Magrath

director·1 year

Julie Crawford

director·2 years

Alan George Gilmour

director·3 years

Sally Elizabeth Mcgill

director·3 years

Gillian Ann Turnpenney

director·4 years

Kalkivayi Seshagiri Ravi kumar

director·7 years

Wendy Mason

director·8 years

Dagmar Kent Kershaw

director·8 years

Anthony Richard Morrell Little

director·10 years

Charles John Rev Nevin

director·14 years

Company Secretary

Nicola Burgess

secretary·10 years

16 former officers — most recent departure: Nov 2024

Jane Marie Crombleholme

director·6 years·Resigned Sept 2024

Vivienne Elaine Horsfield

director·6 years·Resigned Aug 2021

Jenny Louise Singleton

director·8 years·Resigned Nov 2019

Linda Mary Magrath

director·9 years·Resigned Feb 2019

Lisa Woolley

director·9 years·Resigned Nov 2024

Estelle Goodwin

Member schools (13)

13 schools|12 with risk flags|8 high severity

School	URN	Phase	Risk flags
Cheadle Hulme High School	137843	Secondary	high staff costs
Cheadle Hulme Primary School	145870	Primary	high staff costsworkforce pressure
Crown Street Primary School	150774	Primary	—
Didsbury High School	143729	Secondary	high absencehigh staff costs
Gorsey Bank Primary School	143011	Primary	workforce pressurehigh staff costsin year deficit
Hazel Grove High School	137923	Secondary	workforce pressurehigh absencehigh staff costs
Hazel Grove Primary School	151030	Primary	in year deficithigh staff costsperformance decline
Laurus Cheadle Hulme	145893	Secondary	high absencehigh staff costsworkforce pressure
Laurus Grace	151136	Not applicable	high staff costsworkforce pressure
Laurus Ryecroft	145894	Secondary	high staff costsworkforce pressure
Norris Bank Primary School	151687	Primary	in year deficit
Priestnall School	149936	Secondary	ofsted concernin year deficitworkforce pressurehigh absencehigh staff costs
Woodford Primary School	149080	Primary	high staff costsin year deficit