Ascend Learning Trust

UID 16676·Companies House 07569743·Incorporated March 2011·Compare

Schools

7

Flags

9

2 high severity

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

Total income

£39.9m

5,510 pupils

Avg staff costs

70.6%

of income

Avg reserves

0.0%

of income

Avg absence

6.8%

Persistent: 17.4%

More metrics

Avg FSM

19.1%

free school meals

Capacity

87%

5,510 / 6,361 places

At a glance

6 of 10 directors appointed in last 2 years3 schools with absence above 8%2 schools with workforce pressure2 schools in deficit1 school with Ofsted concerns

Ofsted sub-judgements

Quality of education

Good 6RI 1

Behaviour & attitudes

Good 6RI 1

Personal development

Good 7

Leadership & management

Good 6RI 1

Performance (trust avg)

Key Stage 4

Attainment 8

42.5

-3.7

vs national

Key Stage 2

Expected standard (RWM)

50.0%

-11.0pp

vs national

National averages: 2023/24

Trust details

AddressAscend Learning Trust Lime Kiln, Swindon, SN4 7HG
Companies House07569743
Incorporated18 March 2011

Trust growth over time

3
10/11
3
11/12
3
12/13
3
13/14
4
14/15
3
15/16
4
16/17
6
17/18
6
18/19
7
19/20
7
20/21
7
21/22
7
22/23
7
23/24
7
24/25

Schools in trust by academic year

YearSchoolsPupilsTotal incomeTotal expenditureAvg staff costs %Avg reserves %
2021/2275,255£34.8m£32.1m71.1%19.5%
2022/2375,376£37.1m£35.0m69.5%18.3%
2023/2475,510£39.9m£38.5m70.6%0.0%
2024/25partial75,459

Central services — 2023/24

Centralisation

8.3%

of total trust spend

CS expenditure

£3,483,000

CS staff costs

£2,327,000

CS income

£151,000

Admin & clerical£1,216,000
Teaching staff£939,000
ICT£51,000
Premises£17,000
Legal & professional£274,000
Auditor costs£45,000

Governance

Accounts to Aug 2025Source: Companies House

10 current directors · Average tenure: 1.4 years · 9 changes in last 12 months

Directors / Trustees (10)

Daniel Paul Comber

director·< 1 year

Heather Jane Ridgus

director·< 1 year

Martyn Paul Cooper

director·< 1 year

Hazel Cross

director·< 1 year

Kate Rachel Barrow

director·< 1 year

Stephen Andrew Vegh

director·1 year

Nicholas Martin Adams-nel

director·2 years

Peter Sharp

director·2 years

Jane Alison Coley

director·2 years

Jonathan Gibson

director·3 years
57 former officers most recent departure: Dec 2025

Andrew James Plaister Barrow

director·1 year·Resigned Dec 2025

Elspeth Wendy Felicity Dickinss

director·2 years·Resigned Jan 2025

Simon Edward Guy Williams

director·2 years·Resigned Apr 2025

Colin David Ralph

director·2 years·Resigned Jun 2023

Andy Gordon Simpson

director·4 years·Resigned Dec 2023

Susan Karen Brobyn

secretary·4 years·Resigned Mar 2024

Sue Victory

director·4 years·Resigned Jun 2023

Euan Black

director·4 years·Resigned Aug 2025

Jonathan Andrew Stewart

secretary·5 years·Resigned Aug 2021

Stanley Vernon Backhouse

director·5 years·Resigned Jun 2021

Christopher Charles Allen

director·5 years·Resigned Nov 2021

Carolyn Cameron

director·5 years·Resigned Aug 2025

Enam Ul Hague Chowdhury

director·5 years·Resigned Feb 2021

Tracey Anne Miles

director·6 years·Resigned Feb 2024

Nathan John Coombs

director·6 years·Resigned Sept 2024

Mark John Hopkins

director·6 years·Resigned May 2021

Lindsay Allen

director·8 years·Resigned Apr 2019

David Shurland Clarke

director·8 years·Resigned Aug 2020

Jane Helen Hext

director·8 years·Resigned Jun 2020

Justine Julie Doidge

director·10 years·Resigned Feb 2017

Enam-Ul Haque Chowdhury

director·10 years·Resigned Apr 2017

Emily Louise Nash

director·10 years·Resigned Apr 2017

Melanie Hopkins

director·10 years·Resigned Apr 2017

Melanie Jade Warwick

director·10 years·Resigned Apr 2017

Olivia Jane Thomas

director·10 years·Resigned Apr 2017

Johnathan Dudley Bourne

director·10 years·Resigned Dec 2020

Bradley John Hill

director·11 years·Resigned Aug 2015

Karen Hanks

director·11 years·Resigned Aug 2016

Sharon Jane Lazenby

director·11 years·Resigned Mar 2017

Peter Dennis Corrie

director·11 years·Resigned Dec 2015

Adam James Brian Mills

director·11 years·Resigned Aug 2015

Darius Stanley Erry

director·12 years·Resigned Apr 2015

Lindsay Allen

director·12 years·Resigned Apr 2017

Esther Elizabeth Dr Wilkinson

director·12 years·Resigned Nov 2015

Karl Wright

director·13 years·Resigned Aug 2014

Louise Mary Warwick

director·13 years·Resigned Mar 2018

Gillian Frances Campbell

director·13 years·Resigned Dec 2018

Simon John Hannam Wright

director·14 years·Resigned Apr 2017

Andrew David Bacon

director·14 years·Resigned Oct 2013

Angela Bell

director·14 years·Resigned Mar 2014

George Andrew Croxford

director·14 years·Resigned Aug 2023

Susan Patricia Finegan

director·14 years·Resigned Sept 2013

Tristan Michael Foot

director·14 years·Resigned May 2020

Mollie Eileen May Groom

director·14 years·Resigned May 2014

Richard Alan Hunt

director·14 years·Resigned Sept 2012

Nigel Gordon Jobbins

director·14 years·Resigned Oct 2013

Colin Jones

director·14 years·Resigned Oct 2012

Andrew James Mcfarlane

director·14 years·Resigned May 2016

James Ernest Miller

director·14 years·Resigned Oct 2014

Clive Graham Parkinson

director·14 years·Resigned Feb 2015

Peter James Sheppard

director·14 years·Resigned Aug 2015

Marion Sweet

director·14 years·Resigned Aug 2021

Timothy Michael Upham

director·14 years·Resigned Aug 2015

Thomas Mark Bews Canon Woodhouse

director·14 years·Resigned Dec 2013

David John Gardner

director·15 years·Resigned Aug 2015

Philip David Rex Tanner

director·15 years·Resigned Aug 2014

Malcolm Wilford

director·15 years·Resigned Sept 2012

Member schools (7)

7 schools|5 with risk flags|1 high severity
high absence
high absence
workforce pressure
in year deficithigh absence
in year deficitofsted concernworkforce pressure