The Sycamore Church of England Trust Limited

UID 16697·Companies House 10762038·Incorporated May 2017·Compare

Schools

Flags

1 high severity

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

Total income

£11.6m

1,608 pupils

Avg staff costs

72.9%

of income

Avg reserves

4.1%

of income

Avg absence

5.5%

Persistent: 14.0%

More metrics

Avg FSM

32.3%

free school meals

Capacity

79%

1,608 / 2,027 places

Trust overview

1 school is operating in deficit — this may reflect planned investment or require financial planning.

Overall absence is above the national average in 43% of schools (3 of 7).

1 school has persistent absence above 20%.

86% 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

Trust-wide reserves at 5.0%below 5% threshold3 schools with declining results1 school with staff costs above 78%1 school in deficit1 school with Ofsted concerns

Ofsted sub-judgements

Quality of education

83% Good+

Good 5RI 1

Behaviour & attitudes

100% Good+

Outst. 1Good 5

Personal development

100% Good+

Good 6

Leadership & management

86% Good+

Good 6RI 1

Performance (trust avg)

Key Stage 2

Expected standard (RWM)

59.0%

-2.0pp

vs national

National averages: 2023/24

Trust details

AddressThe Sycamore Church Of England Trust Johnson Street, Manchester, M26 1AW

Companies House10762038

Incorporated9 May 2017

Trust growth over time

matpulse.co.uk

Schools Pupils

Year	Schools	Pupils	Total income	Total expenditure	Avg staff costs %	Avg reserves %
2021/22	5	1,322	£7.9m	£7.5m	73.0%	8.4%
2022/23	6	1,576	£9.8m	£9.7m	73.2%	5.2%
2023/24	6	1,364	£10.0m	£9.6m	72.1%	5.0%
2024/25partial	6	1,536	—	—	—	—

Central services — 2023/24

Centralisation

4.7%

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

£547,000

CS staff costs

£316,000

CS income

£167,000

Admin & clerical£115,000

Teaching staff£192,000

ICT£5,000

Premises£1,000

Legal & professional£115,000

Auditor costs£17,000

Governance

Accounts to Aug 2025Source: Companies House

8 current directors · Average tenure: 5.2 years · 2 changes in last 12 months

Directors / Trustees (8)

Joseph Stephen Hinde

director·< 1 year

Morven Eileen Hudson

director·1 year

Alan Robert Beedie

director·2 years

Kathryn Eleanor Sowden

director·4 years

David Halvard Taylor

director·6 years

Janet Mary Adams

director·8 years

Mark Leo Granby

director·8 years

Ian Michael Young

director·8 years

10 former officers — most recent departure: Aug 2025

John Hall

director·6 years·Resigned Aug 2025

Gareth Brandon

director·7 years·Resigned Nov 2019

Richard Moore

director·7 years·Resigned May 2019

Helen Brandon

director·7 years·Resigned Nov 2021

Danielle Davis

director·8 years·Resigned Nov 2021

Alan Barnes

Member schools (7)

7 schools|4 with risk flags|1 high severity

School	URN	Phase	Risk flags
Christ Church Ainsworth Church of England Primary School	152293	Primary	high staff costsin year deficitperformance decline
Christ Church CofE Primary School	144408	Primary	—
Holy Trinity Primary School	146308	Primary	performance decline
Radcliffe Hall Church of England Methodist Primary School	147159	Primary	performance decline
St John's Church of England Primary School, Radcliffe	145560	Primary	—
St Stephen's Church of England Primary School	150409	Primary	ofsted concern
St Thomas Church of England Primary School	146156	Primary	—