Wise Owl Trust

UID 5372·Companies House 08053288·Incorporated May 2012·Compare

Schools

Flags

5 high severity

Finance: 2025/26Ofsted: Jun 2024Performance: 2025/26Workforce: 2026/27Attendance: 2025/26

Total income

£16.1m

2,106 pupils

Avg staff costs

65.2%

of income

Avg reserves

12.3%

of income

Avg absence

More metrics

Avg FSM

67.8%

free school meals

Capacity

91%

2,106 / 2,316 places

Total admin cost

£692k

£329 per pupil

Trust overview

All 5 schools with reported data have staff costs below the DfE's 78% review point.

1 of 5 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 2 percentage points over two years of published returns.

2 of 5 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 3 of 5 schools.

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

3 of 5 inspected schools meet the expected standard or above; 2 have at least one area judged below it. Inspection dates vary — some grades predate current leadership.

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

60%meeting standard or above

Across 5 graded schools.

Sub-judgements — earlier framework

Quality of education

33% Good+

Good 1RI 1Inad. 1

Behaviour & attitudes

67% Good+

Good 2Inad. 1

Personal development

33% Good+

Good 1RI 1Inad. 1

Leadership & management

60% Good+

Good 3RI 1Inad. 1

Performance (trust avg)

Key Stage 2

Expected standard (RWM)

61.0%

+0.0pp

vs national

National averages: 2023/24

Trust details

AddressTrust House C/O Seymour Road Academy Seymour Road South, Manchester, M11 4PR

Companies House08053288

Incorporated1 May 2012

Year	Schools	Pupils	Total income	Total expenditure	Avg staff costs %	Avg reserves %
2021/22	3	1,564	£9.5m	£9.0m	65.1%	21.4%
2022/23	3	1,550	£10.4m	£9.7m	65.6%	19.7%
2023/24	5	2,168	£15.4m	£15.5m	68.8%	11.7%
2024/25partial	5	2,106	£16.1m	£14.4m	65.2%	12.3%
2025/26	5	2,003	—	—	—	—

Central services

2024/25

Centralisation

8.2%

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

£1,283,000

CS staff costs

£672,000

CS income

£178,000

Admin & clerical£313,000

Teaching staff£285,000

ICT£0

Premises£412,000

Legal & professional£75,000

Auditor costs£36,000

Governance

Source: Companies House

Board of trustees

Accounts to Aug 2025

7 current directors · Average tenure: 5.9 years · 1 change in last 12 months

Directors / Trustees (7)

Danielle Professor Mcdermott

director·2 years

Alison Marie Loveday

director·3 years

Harriet Catherine Fisher

director·5 years

Sophie Anne Ford-wilkinson

director·5 years

Rainart Dr Fayette

director·5 years

Kieran Innes

director·5 years

James Battle

director·13 years

13 former officers — most recent departure: Nov 2025

Diane Genevieve Lorgere

director·1 year·Resigned Nov 2025

Emily Kate Lewis

director·3 years·Resigned Mar 2025

Ayoola Quadri

director·3 years·Resigned Mar 2023

Jacob Robert Mason

director·3 years·Resigned Mar 2023

Sheila Sturgeon

director·5 years·Resigned Oct 2022

Mazur Iqbal

Member schools (5)

5 schools|5 with risk flags|5 high severity

School	URN	Phase	Risk flags
Briscoe Lane Academy	138653	Primary	in year deficit
Old Hall Drive Academy	142501	Primary	workforce pressurein year deficit
Park View Community Primary Academy	150600	Primary	in year deficitworkforce pressureofsted concern
Peel Hall Primary Academy	150693	Primary	workforce pressurehigh absenceofsted concernin year deficit
Seymour Road Academy	139078	Primary	workforce pressure