Ad Astra Academy Trust

UID 5445·Companies House 09308398·Incorporated November 2014·Compare

Schools

Flags

7 high severity

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

Total income

£25.7m

3,317 pupils

Avg staff costs

73.4%

of income

Avg reserves

1.6%

of income

Avg absence

More metrics

Avg FSM

43.0%

free school meals

Capacity

97%

3,317 / 3,404 places

Total admin cost

£718k

£216 per pupil

Trust overview

3 of 10 schools report staff costs above the DfE's 78% review point. Staffing ratios reflect phase mix, curriculum and local context as much as efficiency.

5 of 10 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 7 percentage points over two years of published returns.

4 of 10 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 5 of 10 schools.

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

All 10 inspected schools meet the expected standard or above — Good or better under the legacy framework, or Expected standard or above under the Report Card.

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

100%meeting standard or above

Across 10 graded schools.

Sub-judgements — earlier framework

Quality of education

100% Good+

Good 6

Behaviour & attitudes

100% Good+

Good 6

Personal development

100% Good+

Good 6

Leadership & management

100% Good+

Good 10

Performance (trust avg)

Key Stage 2

Expected standard (RWM)

59.2%

-1.8pp

vs national

National averages: 2023/24

Trust details

AddressHub Two, The Innovation Centre Venture Court, Hartlepool, TS25 5TG

Companies House09308398

Incorporated12 November 2014

Year	Schools	Pupils	Total income	Total expenditure	Avg staff costs %	Avg reserves %
2021/22	8	3,116	£19.1m	£17.4m	74.9%	8.7%
2022/23	8	3,109	£20.7m	£19.6m	75.5%	9.8%
2023/24	10	3,348	£24.3m	£24.2m	75.1%	4.3%
2024/25partial	10	3,317	£25.7m	£24.3m	73.4%	1.6%
2025/26	10	3,257	—	—	—	—

Central services

2024/25

Centralisation

5.5%

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

£1,407,000

CS staff costs

£904,000

CS income

£93,000

Admin & clerical£459,000

Teaching staff£315,000

ICT£7,000

Premises£64,000

Legal & professional£154,000

Auditor costs£30,000

Governance

Source: Companies House

Board of trustees

Accounts to Aug 2025

8 current directors · Average tenure: 3.8 years · 3 changes in last 12 months

Directors / Trustees (8)

Mary Elizabeth Elwell

director·< 1 year

Alison Anderson

director·1 year

Paul Rickeard

director·1 year

Penelope Norman

director·1 year

David New

director·2 years

Mark Richard Tilling

director·4 years

Richenda Courtenay Broad

director·6 years

Andrew Appleton Brown

director·11 years

18 former officers — most recent departure: Apr 2026

Peter Noteyoung

director·1 year·Resigned Dec 2025

Joanne Louise Dobson

director·2 years·Resigned Jun 2025

Emma Louise Robins

director·2 years·Resigned Apr 2026

Craig James Malarkey

director·3 years·Resigned Dec 2024

Mary Elizabeth Elwell

director·5 years·Resigned Jun 2021

John Gerarde Maddison

Member schools (10)

10 schools|10 with risk flags|7 high severity

School	URN	Phase	Risk flags
Ayresome Primary School	146770	Primary	high absenceworkforce pressurehigh staff costsin year deficit
Barnard Grove Primary School	146856	Primary	high staff costsin year deficit
Brougham Primary School	142965	Primary	high absence
Crooksbarn Primary School	145689	Primary	workforce pressurehigh staff costs
Deaf Hill Primary School	150147	Primary	high absenceworkforce pressure
Kelloe Primary School	150146	Primary	in year deficit
Rosebrook Primary School	143145	Primary	high absencehigh staff costs
Sunnyside Academy	140503	Primary	workforce pressure
West Park Primary School	141717	Primary	high staff costsin year deficitworkforce pressureperformance decline
West View Primary School	141627	Primary	workforce pressure