The Diocese of Norwich St Benet's Multi-academy Trust

UID 17030·Companies House 11276240·Incorporated March 2018·Compare

Schools

Flags

8 high severity

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

Total income

£19.0m

2,500 pupils

Avg staff costs

69.7%

of income

Avg reserves

12.7%

of income

Avg absence

5.6%

Persistent: 14.7%

More metrics

Avg FSM

19.9%

free school meals

Capacity

71%

2,500 / 3,530 places

Total admin cost

£937k

£375 per pupil

Trust overview

1 of 13 schools have staff costs above the DfE's 78% review threshold — review against school context.

8 of 19 schools have reserves below the DfE's 5% minimum.

1 of 19 schools had expenditure exceeding income this year.

Overall absence is above the national average in 37% of schools (7 of 19).

4 schools have persistent absence above 20%.

5 of 19 inspected schools have a sub-judgement area rated Requires Improvement — see their profiles for context.

Reference points from DfE published guidance. Whether any metric warrants action depends on the trust's context and strategy.

Ofsted sub-judgements

Quality of education

55% Good+

Outst. 1Good 5RI 5

Behaviour & attitudes

91% Good+

Outst. 3Good 7RI 1

Personal development

100% Good+

Outst. 3Good 8

Leadership & management

74% Good+

Outst. 2Good 12RI 5

Performance (trust avg)

Key Stage 4

Attainment 8

42.7

-3.5

vs national

Key Stage 2

Expected standard (RWM)

53.2%

-7.8pp

vs national

National averages: 2023/24

Trust details

AddressOrchard House Hall Lane, Dereham, NR20 3LR

Companies House11276240

Incorporated26 March 2018

Year	Schools	Pupils	Total income	Total expenditure	Avg staff costs %	Avg reserves %
2021/22	10	1,817	£10.4m	£10.3m	76.5%	2.3%
2022/23	13	2,563	£14.3m	£14.4m	69.7%	18.3%
2023/24	18	2,791	£18.9m	£18.3m	70.7%	7.5%
2024/25partial	19	2,699	£1.4m	£1.3m	66.6%	35.5%

Central services — 2023/24

Centralisation

8.4%

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

£1,768,000

CS staff costs

£696,000

CS income

£968,000

Admin & clerical£628,000

Teaching staff£77,000

ICT£10,000

Premises£24,000

Legal & professional£892,000

Auditor costs£38,000

Governance

Accounts to Aug 2025Source: Companies House

11 current directors · Average tenure: 3.5 years · 8 changes in last 12 months

Directors / Trustees (11)

Christopher John Allen

director·< 1 year

Simon Morley

director·< 1 year

Alastair James Smyth

director·< 1 year

Sarah Brownsword

director·1 year

Danielle Williams

director·3 years

Terry Huggins

director·3 years

David Carlin

director·3 years

Eve Dewsnap

director·5 years

Priscilla Crane

director·5 years

Rachel Clare Beeson

director·6 years

Paul Nicholas Dunning

director·8 years

Company Secretary

Hannah Monk

secretary·< 1 year

14 former officers — most recent departure: Apr 2026

Teresa Osborne

director·3 years·Resigned Oct 2022

Kathy Donna Griffiths

director·4 years·Resigned Apr 2026

Roger Wood

director·6 years·Resigned Dec 2020

James Kerr

director·8 years·Resigned Nov 2019

Michael Soper

director·8 years·Resigned Aug 2022

Kathryn Jane Hirst

Member schools (19)

19 schools|18 with risk flags|8 high severity

School	URN	Phase	Risk flags
Acle Church of England Primary Academy	149877	Primary	performance declineworkforce pressure
Alburgh with Denton Church of England Primary Academy	148994	Primary	—
Catfield CofE Primary Academy	150583	Primary	workforce pressureofsted concernperformance declinehigh absence
Dickleburgh Church of England Primary Academy (With Pre-School)	145975	Primary	high staff costsin year deficitworkforce pressure
Diss Church of England Junior Academy	145738	Primary	high absence
Diss Infant Academy and Nursery	146692	Primary	high absenceofsted concern
Garboldisham Church of England Primary Academy	148237	Primary	workforce pressure
Happisburgh Church of England Primary Academy	150067	Primary	ofsted concernworkforce pressurehigh absence
Hickling CofE Infants Academy	150249	Primary	high absenceworkforce pressure
Little Plumstead Church of England Primary Academy	149878	Primary	workforce pressure
Morley Church of England Primary Academy	148996	Primary	workforce pressure
Newton Flotman Church of England Primary Academy	148232	Primary	ofsted concernworkforce pressure
Pulham Church of England Primary Academy	151676	Primary	in year deficitworkforce pressureofsted concern
Scole Church of England Primary Academy	149502	Primary	workforce pressureperformance decline
St Mary's Church of England Junior Academy	137311	Primary	workforce pressure
St Mary's Church of England Primary Academy	150063	Primary	workforce pressurehigh staff costsin year deficit
Sutton Church of England Infant Acdemy	150582	Primary	workforce pressure
Tacolneston Church of England Primary Academy	148995	Primary	high absence
The Harleston Sancroft Academy (a 3-16 Church of England School)	149197	All-through	workforce pressurehigh absenceperformance decline