The Spencer Academies Trust

UID 4609·Companies House 07353824·Incorporated August 2010·Compare

Schools

Flags

8 high severity

Finance: 2024/25Ofsted: Jun 2025Performance: 2025/26Workforce: 2025/26Attendance: 2025/26

Total income

£128.7m

18,320 pupils

Avg staff costs

73.1%

of income

Avg reserves

7.7%

of income

Avg absence

6.0%

Persistent: 14.5%

More metrics

Avg FSM

28.3%

free school meals

Capacity

98%

18,320 / 18,765 places

Trust overview

5 of 27 schools have staff costs above the DfE's 78% review threshold — review against school context.

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

7 of 27 schools had expenditure exceeding income this year.

Overall absence is above the national average in 41% of schools (11 of 27).

8 schools have persistent absence above 20%.

96% 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

10 schools with workforce pressure5 schools with staff costs above 78%4 schools with absence above 8%3 schools in deficit1 school with declining results1 school with Ofsted concerns

Ofsted sub-judgements

Quality of education

100% Good+

Outst. 7Good 15

Behaviour & attitudes

100% Good+

Outst. 9Good 13

Personal development

95% Good+

Outst. 10Good 11RI 1

Leadership & management

100% Good+

Outst. 9Good 18

Performance (trust avg)

Key Stage 4

Attainment 8

49.2

+3.0

vs national

Key Stage 2

Expected standard (RWM)

65.1%

+4.1pp

vs national

National averages: 2023/24

Trust details

AddressSpencer Place Regan Way, Nottingham, NG9 6RZ

Companies House07353824

Incorporated23 August 2010

Trust growth over time

matpulse.co.uk

Schools Pupils

Year	Schools	Pupils	Total income	Total expenditure	Avg staff costs %	Avg reserves %
2021/22	25	16,933	£106.7m	£107.1m	78.0%	13.0%
2022/23	26	17,551	£118.5m	£111.4m	71.6%	10.5%
2023/24	26	18,088	£127.4m	£125.3m	72.9%	7.7%
2024/25partial	27	18,594	—	—	—	—

Central services — 2023/24

Centralisation

5.7%

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

£7,713,000

CS staff costs

£4,709,000

CS income

£1,886,000

Admin & clerical£2,110,000

Teaching staff£2,483,000

ICT£2,092,000

Premises£184,000

Legal & professional£281,000

Auditor costs£126,000

Governance

Accounts to Aug 2025Source: Companies House

7 current directors · Average tenure: 8.9 years · 5 changes in last 12 months

Directors / Trustees (7)

Jonathan Dale

director·< 1 year

Sharon Louise Mullins

director·3 years

Gabriel Mukuka

director·5 years

James Adrian Smith

director·10 years

Malcolm Clive Batchelor

director·11 years

Michelle Thompson

director·15 years

Geoffrey Weightman

director·15 years

Company Secretary

Laurie Coy

secretary·3 years

35 former officers — most recent departure: Mar 2026

Mandeep Kaur Budwal-jagait

director·2 years·Resigned Mar 2026

Melanie Currie

director·3 years·Resigned Jan 2026

Rachel Louise Hudd

secretary·4 years·Resigned May 2022

Jonathan Dale

director·6 years·Resigned Dec 2023

Kathryn Anna Godfrey

secretary·8 years·Resigned Oct 2021

Rachel Louise Hudd

Member schools (27)

27 schools|17 with risk flags|7 high severity

School	URN	Phase	Risk flags
Arnold Hill Spencer Academy	146562	Secondary	high absence
Ashwood Spencer Academy	146079	Primary	workforce pressure
Bispham Spencer Academy	150411	Primary	—
Brackensdale Spencer Academy	148384	Primary	high staff costsin year deficit
Castleward Spencer Academy	148585	Primary	workforce pressure
Chellaston Fields Spencer Academy	147070	Primary	—
Chetwynd Spencer Academy	138070	Primary	high staff costs
Clover Leys Spencer Academy	148584	Primary	high staff costsworkforce pressure
Derby Moor Spencer Academy	145327	Secondary	workforce pressurehigh staff costsin year deficit
Fairfield Spencer Academy	140071	Primary	—
Farnborough Spencer Academy	146564	Secondary	high absenceworkforce pressure
George Spencer Academy	136291	Secondary	workforce pressure
Glenbrook Spencer Academy	140548	Primary	workforce pressure
Heanor Gate Spencer Academy	137606	Secondary	workforce pressure
Highfields Spencer Academy	147869	Primary	—
Hilton Spencer Academy	146211	Primary	high staff costsworkforce pressure
Inkersall Spencer Academy	142043	Primary	—
John Port Spencer Academy	145500	Secondary	ofsted concern
Long Field Spencer Academy	138628	Secondary	high absence
Millside Spencer Academy	149105	Primary	—