The Learning Partnership Academies Trust

UID 2766·Companies House 07538467·Incorporated February 2011·Compare

Schools

Flags

26 high severity

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

Total income

£51.9m

6,907 pupils

Avg staff costs

77.2%

of income

Avg reserves

1.3%

of income

Avg absence

More metrics

Avg FSM

22.5%

free school meals

Capacity

85%

6,907 / 8,080 places

Total admin cost

£3.9m

£561 per pupil

Trust overview

6 of 15 schools report staff costs above the DfE's 78% review point. Staffing ratios reflect phase mix, curriculum and local context as much as efficiency.

7 of 15 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 12 percentage points over two years of published returns.

7 of 15 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 8 of 15 schools.

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

13 of 15 inspected schools meet the expected standard or above.

1 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.

At a glance

Trust-wide reserves at 0.4%below 5% threshold13 schools with workforce pressure9 schools in deficit8 schools with staff costs above 78%6 schools with absence above 8%2 schools with declining results2 schools with Ofsted concerns

Ofsted & results

Ofsted

87%meeting standard or above

Across 15 graded schools, including 1 under the new Report Card framework. The two frameworks are not directly comparable.

Sub-judgements — earlier framework

Quality of education

75% Good+

Good 6RI 1Inad. 1

Behaviour & attitudes

75% Good+

Outst. 1Good 5RI 2

Personal development

88% Good+

Outst. 1Good 6RI 1

Leadership & management

87% Good+

Outst. 1Good 12RI 2

Performance (trust avg)

Key Stage 4

Attainment 8

36.6

-9.6

vs national

Key Stage 2

Expected standard (RWM)

66.2%

+5.2pp

vs national

National averages: 2023/24

Trust details

AddressCrewe Engineering And Design Utc, Crewe, CW1 2PZ

Companies House07538467

Incorporated22 February 2011

Report Card inspections (new framework)

About these grades

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

Curriculum & teaching

Strong standard 1

Achievement

Strong standard 1

Inclusion

Strong standard 1

Attendance & behaviour

Strong standard 1

Personal development

Growth

Year	Schools	Pupils	Total income	Total expenditure	Avg staff costs %	Avg reserves %
2021/22	14	6,412	£39.9m	£36.7m	70.8%	15.2%
2022/23	14	6,589	£42.1m	£41.1m	74.0%	10.0%
2023/24	15	6,792	£47.0m	£47.5m	77.3%	3.9%
2024/25partial	15	6,907	£51.9m	£50.7m	77.2%	1.3%
2025/26	15	6,957	—	—	—	—

Central services

2024/25

Centralisation

4.5%

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

£2,398,000

CS staff costs

£1,998,000

CS income

£126,000

Admin & clerical£2,300,000

Teaching staff-£387,000

ICT£1,000

Premises-£1,000

Legal & professional£142,000

Auditor costs£50,000

Governance

Source: Companies House

Board of trustees

Accounts to Aug 2025

9 current directors · Average tenure: 5.1 years · 5 changes in last 12 months

Directors / Trustees (9)

Margaret Young Cheshire

director·< 1 year

Sean Owen Alexander Houlston

director·< 1 year

John Dufton Clough

director·2 years

Helen Ranson

director·2 years

Simon Peter Kidwell

director·2 years

Robin Mccluney

director·5 years

Martin John Dr Ashcroft

director·5 years

David Wootton

director·8 years

Andrew Mark Pear

director·15 years

51 former officers — most recent departure: May 2026

Kathryn Mary Dame August

director·2 years·Resigned Apr 2026

Alison Greatbanks

director·2 years·Resigned Jan 2025

Robert David Armstrong

director·5 years·Resigned May 2026

Adam Seth Greenstein

director·5 years·Resigned May 2022

Claire Elizabeth Thomson

director·5 years·Resigned Aug 2023

Deborah Rachel Elizabeth Ascott-meakin

Member schools (15)

15 schools|15 with risk flags|18 high severity

School	URN	Phase	Risk flags
Black Firs Primary School	140981	Primary	in year deficitworkforce pressure
Castle Primary School	141732	Primary	workforce pressureperformance decline
Cheshire Studio School	140813	Secondary	high absenceworkforce pressurehigh staff costsin year deficit
Congleton High School	136655	Secondary	high absenceworkforce pressure
Crewe Engineering and Design UTC	142890	Secondary	workforce pressurehigh absencein year deficit
Daven Primary School	146995	Primary	workforce pressurehigh absenceofsted concernin year deficit
Dove Bank Primary School	150051	Primary	workforce pressurein year deficit
Egerton Primary School	145981	Primary	high staff costsin year deficit
Knutsford Academy	138002	Secondary	high staff costs
Leighton Academy	139752	Primary	workforce pressurehigh staff costsin year deficit
Shavington Primary School	142441	Primary	workforce pressurehigh staff costs
Sir William Stanier School	139953	Secondary	workforce pressurehigh absencehigh staff costsin year deficitofsted concern
The Oaks Academy	147654	Secondary	workforce pressurehigh absence
Wheelock Primary School	142756	Primary	workforce pressurehigh staff costs
Wistaston Church Lane Academy	141568	Primary	workforce pressurehigh staff costsin year deficitperformance decline

Black Firs Primary SchoolPrimary

in year deficitworkforce pressure

Castle Primary SchoolPrimary

workforce pressureperformance decline

Cheshire Studio SchoolSecondary

high absenceworkforce pressurehigh staff costsin year deficit

Congleton High SchoolSecondary

high absenceworkforce pressure

Crewe Engineering and Design UTCSecondary

workforce pressurehigh absencein year deficit

Daven Primary SchoolPrimary

workforce pressurehigh absenceofsted concernin year deficit

Dove Bank Primary SchoolPrimary

workforce pressurein year deficit

Egerton Primary SchoolPrimary

high staff costsin year deficit

Knutsford AcademySecondary

high staff costs

Leighton AcademyPrimary

workforce pressurehigh staff costsin year deficit

Shavington Primary SchoolPrimary

workforce pressurehigh staff costs

Sir William Stanier SchoolSecondary

workforce pressurehigh absencehigh staff costsin year deficitofsted concern

The Oaks AcademySecondary

workforce pressurehigh absence

Wheelock Primary SchoolPrimary

workforce pressurehigh staff costs

Wistaston Church Lane AcademyPrimary

workforce pressurehigh staff costsin year deficitperformance decline

Leadership

Expected standard 1

director·7 years·Resigned Jul 2019

Belinda Boardman

director·7 years·Resigned Jan 2020

Dianne Sinclair

director·7 years·Resigned Aug 2021

David Michael Twambley

secretary·7 years·Resigned Mar 2026

Sharon Clare Bowker

secretary·8 years·Resigned Sept 2018

John Ramon Gavin

director·8 years·Resigned Jul 2020

Christopher Brislen

director·8 years·Resigned Aug 2018

Travis Scott Latham

director·8 years·Resigned Dec 2018

Sharon Dempsey

director·8 years·Resigned Aug 2023

Keith Hollins

director·8 years·Resigned Mar 2019

Victor John Croxson

director·8 years·Resigned Aug 2020

Daniel Adam Thomas

director·8 years·Resigned Sept 2018

Linda Mary Morley

secretary·9 years·Resigned Apr 2018

Jane Millward

director·9 years·Resigned Dec 2021

Julia Esther Leonard

secretary·11 years·Resigned Dec 2016

Gail Marie Cumberlidge

director·11 years·Resigned Oct 2017

David Ian Whitewright

director·12 years·Resigned Feb 2017

Martin John Casserley

director·12 years·Resigned Nov 2016

Uriah Benjamin Smith

director·12 years·Resigned Jul 2014

Gregory De souza

director·13 years·Resigned Jun 2014

Laura Flaherty

director·13 years·Resigned Jul 2014

Sean David Harrop

director·13 years·Resigned Jul 2014

Milne Brendan Horgan

director·13 years·Resigned Jul 2014

Desmond Sebastian Johnson

director·13 years·Resigned Mar 2013

Jane Clare Turner

director·13 years·Resigned Jul 2014

Mark Raymond Hickton

director·15 years·Resigned Jul 2014

Stephen John Archer

director·15 years·Resigned Mar 2013

Judith Ann Shatwell

director·15 years·Resigned Jul 2014

Janet Newton

director·15 years·Resigned Jul 2014

David Anthony Hermitt

director·15 years·Resigned Aug 2020

Graham Hilditch

director·15 years·Resigned Jul 2014

Rachel Clare Hodges

director·15 years·Resigned Nov 2012

David Alexander Hogg

director·15 years·Resigned Jul 2014

Peter Mcnulty

director·15 years·Resigned Jun 2013

Lynne Mary Mellor

director·15 years·Resigned Dec 2013

Craig Priday

director·15 years·Resigned Oct 2013

Torfem Sadat-shafai

director·15 years·Resigned Jul 2014

William Spendilow

director·15 years·Resigned Aug 2012

Carol Taylor

director·15 years·Resigned May 2014

Helen Vale

director·15 years·Resigned Oct 2012

Keith John Vickers

director·15 years·Resigned Jul 2014

Mary Stephenie Scattergood

secretary·15 years·Resigned May 2015

Richard James Benson

director·15 years·Resigned Oct 2017

Richard Hinckley

director·15 years·Resigned Feb 2018

Fiona Hampton

director·15 years·Resigned Nov 2016

Geoffrey Eardley

director·15 years·Resigned Nov 2016