The Societas Trust

UID 16378·Companies House 09987031·Incorporated February 2016·Compare

Schools

Flags

1 high severity

Finance: 2025/26Ofsted: Nov 2023Performance: 2025/26Workforce: 2025/26Attendance: 2025/26

Total income

£19.1m

2,935 pupils

Avg staff costs

76.9%

of income

Avg reserves

1.1%

of income

Avg absence

5.3%

Persistent: 14.6%

More metrics

Avg FSM

33.7%

free school meals

Capacity

92%

2,935 / 3,185 places

Trust overview

3 of 8 schools have staff costs above the DfE's 78% review threshold — review against school context.

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

5 of 8 schools had expenditure exceeding income this year.

Overall absence is above the national average in 25% of schools (2 of 8).

2 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

Trust-wide reserves at 1.4%below 5% threshold3 schools with staff costs above 78%2 schools with absence above 8%2 schools in deficit1 school with declining results1 school with workforce pressure

Ofsted sub-judgements

Quality of education

100% Good+

Good 4

Behaviour & attitudes

100% Good+

Good 4

Personal development

100% Good+

Outst. 2Good 2

Leadership & management

100% Good+

Good 8

Performance (trust avg)

Key Stage 2

Expected standard (RWM)

62.3%

+1.3pp

vs national

National averages: 2023/24

Trust details

AddressThe Hub Office Ellison Primary Academy, Newcastle-Under-Lyme, ST5 0BL

Companies House09987031

Incorporated4 February 2016

Trust growth over time

matpulse.co.uk

Schools Pupils

Year	Schools	Pupils	Total income	Total expenditure	Avg staff costs %	Avg reserves %
2021/22	7	2,362	£12.9m	£12.5m	70.5%	7.4%
2022/23	7	2,347	£13.8m	£13.7m	73.4%	2.8%
2023/24	7	2,350	£14.9m	£14.6m	77.0%	0.8%
2024/25partial	8	2,933	£4.2m	£4.2m	76.5%	3.0%

Central services — 2023/24

Centralisation

2.3%

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

£441,000

CS staff costs

£143,000

CS income

£2,000

Admin & clerical£135,000

Teaching staff£0

ICT£7,000

Premises£3,000

Legal & professional£185,000

Auditor costs£2,000

Governance

Accounts to Aug 2025Source: Companies House

9 current directors · Average tenure: 6.3 years · 2 changes in last 12 months

Directors / Trustees (9)

Lynette Jane Beckett

director·< 1 year

Karl Andrew Lawton

director·< 1 year

Paula Pattison

director·4 years

Christopher Austin

director·6 years

Mary Hughes

director·6 years

Roger Arthur Machin

director·7 years

Gillian Jenkins

director·10 years

Jon Derek Lovatt

director·10 years

Carol Dudson

director·10 years

17 former officers — most recent departure: Jul 2023

Fiona Ramsay Stagg

director·3 years·Resigned Jul 2023

Angela Bradshaw

director·7 years·Resigned Aug 2021

Robert Knight

director·7 years·Resigned Jul 2019

Guy Paul Weir

director·8 years·Resigned Dec 2022

William Martyn Griffin

director·8 years·Resigned Jul 2019

Christine Madeleine Bartley

Member schools (8)

8 schools|5 with risk flags|1 high severity

School	URN	Phase	Risk flags
Alsagers Bank Primary Academy	148720	Primary	high staff costs
Ash Green Primary Academy	142990	Primary	—
Burnwood Primary Academy	151603	Primary	—
Carmountside Primary Academy	139846	Primary	high absencein year deficit
Ellison Primary Academy	142984	Primary	—
Gladstone Primary Academy	142991	Primary	workforce pressurehigh staff costs
Goldenhill Primary Academy	142992	Primary	high staff costsin year deficitperformance decline
Summerbank Primary Academy	142988	Primary	high absence