Heart Academies Trust

UID 16683·Companies House 06969741·Incorporated July 2009·Compare

Schools

Flags

4 high severity

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

Total income

£26.3m

3,470 pupils

Avg staff costs

73.6%

of income

Avg reserves

0.6%

of income

Avg absence

5.6%

More metrics

Avg FSM

31.8%

free school meals

Capacity

95%

3,470 / 3,660 places

Total admin cost

£956k

£276 per pupil

Trust overview

1 of 6 schools report staff costs above the DfE's 78% review point. Staffing ratios reflect phase mix, curriculum and local context as much as efficiency.

1 of 6 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.

Absence is at or below the national average in 5 of 6 schools.

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

5 of 6 inspected schools meet the expected standard or above.

3 of these inspections used the new Report Card framework; its scale is not directly comparable with legacy grades.

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

83%meeting standard or above

Across 6 graded schools, including 3 under the new Report Card framework. The two frameworks are not directly comparable.

Sub-judgements — earlier framework

Quality of education

100% Good+

Good 5

Behaviour & attitudes

100% Good+

Good 5

Personal development

100% Good+

Good 5

Leadership & management

100% Good+

Outst. 1Good 5

Performance (trust avg)

Key Stage 4

Attainment 8

42.8

-3.4

vs national

Key Stage 2

Expected standard (RWM)

58.8%

-2.2pp

vs national

National averages: 2023/24

Trust details

AddressBedford Academy, Bedford, MK42 9TR

Companies House06969741

Incorporated22 July 2009

Report Card inspections (new framework)

About these grades

Grade distribution across 3 schoolsinspected under Ofsted's 5-point scale (from November 2025). Not directly comparable with the earlier 1–4 sub-judgements above.

Curriculum & teaching

Expected standard 3

Achievement

Expected standard 2Needs attention 1

Inclusion

Expected standard 2Strong standard 1

Attendance & behaviour

Year	Schools	Pupils	Total income	Total expenditure	Avg staff costs %	Avg reserves %
2021/22	5	3,221	£19.3m	£17.9m	70.0%	1.9%
2022/23	5	3,270	£21.5m	£19.9m	70.3%	1.2%
2023/24	5	3,260	£23.1m	£21.3m	71.4%	-0.1%
2024/25partial	5	3,279	£25.1m	£22.9m	71.7%	-0.8%
2025/26	5	3,378	—	—	—	—

Central services

2024/25

Centralisation

11.6%

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

£3,160,000

CS staff costs

£1,706,000

CS income

£588,000

Admin & clerical£1,164,000

Teaching staff£313,000

ICT£18,000

Premises£420,000

Legal & professional£198,000

Auditor costs£34,000

Member schools (6)

6 schools|5 with risk flags|4 high severity

School	URN	Phase	Risk flags
Bedford Academy	136085	Secondary	workforce pressurehigh absence
Cauldwell School	144528	Primary	workforce pressure
Goldington Green Academy	139523	Primary	high staff costsin year deficitworkforce pressure
Shackleton Primary School	144545	Primary	high absenceworkforce pressureofsted concern
Shortstown Primary School	144546	Primary	—
Wilstead Primary School	152261	Primary	high staff costsin year deficitperformance declineworkforce pressure