The Link Education Trust

UID 17692·Companies House 14987303·Incorporated July 2023·Compare

Schools

Flags

8 high severity

Finance: 2025/26Ofsted: Sept 2023Performance: 2025/26Workforce: 2026/27Attendance: 2025/26

Total income

£23.8m

2,051 pupils

Avg staff costs

79.7%

of income

Avg reserves

-1.8%

of income

Avg absence

6.0%

Persistent: 17.0%

More metrics

Avg FSM

43.2%

free school meals

Capacity

Trust overview

4 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.

3 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 8 percentage points over two years of published returns.

4 of 6 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 above the national average in 3 of 5 schools. Attendance tracks intake and local circumstances as well as school practice.

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

All 6 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 6 graded schools.

Sub-judgements — earlier framework

Quality of education

100% Good+

Good 1

Behaviour & attitudes

100% Good+

Good 1

Personal development

100% Good+

Good 1

Leadership & management

100% Good+

Outst. 1Good 5

Performance (trust avg)

Key Stage 2

Expected standard (RWM)

55.6%

-5.4pp

vs national

National averages: 2023/24

Trust details

Address2 City Approach The Link Education Trust, Eccles, M30 0BL

Companies House14987303

Incorporated7 July 2023

Year	Schools	Pupils	Total income	Total expenditure	Avg staff costs %	Avg reserves %
2023/24	6	2,030	£16.1m	£15.4m	69.2%	13.2%
2024/25partial	6	2,051	£23.8m	£23.7m	79.7%	-1.8%
2025/26	6	2,092	—	—	—	—

Central services

2024/25

Centralisation

2.1%

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

£514,000

CS staff costs

£373,000

CS income

£38,000

Admin & clerical£106,000

Teaching staff£209,000

ICT£2,000

Premises£4,000

Legal & professional£31,000

Auditor costs£29,000

Governance

Source: Companies House

Board of trustees

Accounts to Aug 2024

8 current directors · Average tenure: 3.0 years · 1 change in last 12 months

Directors / Trustees (8)

Christopher William Moore

director·2 years

Paul Daly

director·3 years

Joanne Martin

director·3 years

Lynne Moody

director·3 years

Michelle Sharon Morris

director·3 years

Darren Richardson

director·3 years

Susan Grace Woodgate

director·3 years

Jonathan Allen

director·3 years

2 former officers — most recent departure: Oct 2025

Stephen Paul Starling

director·3 years·Resigned Oct 2025

Paul Ronald Wilson

director·3 years·Resigned Feb 2024

Member schools (8)

8 schools|6 with risk flags|7 high severity

School	URN	Phase	Risk flags
Alder Brook Primary Partnership Centre	150193	Not applicable	workforce pressurein year deficit
Clarendon Road Community Primary School	152536	Primary	—
Grosvenor Road Primary School	150180	Primary	high staff costs
Hilton Lane Primary School	152537	Primary	—
Irlam Primary School	150186	Primary	high staff costsin year deficit
James Brindley Community Primary School	150187	Primary	in year deficitworkforce pressure
Springwood Primary School	150199	Not applicable	workforce pressurehigh absencein year deficithigh staff costs
Wharton Primary School	150185	Primary	high absencehigh staff costsin year deficit