The Priory Federation of Academies

UID 4253·Companies House 06462935·Incorporated January 2008·Compare

Schools

Flags

13 high severity

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

Total income

£65.9m

8,669 pupils

Avg staff costs

70.9%

of income

Avg reserves

10.2%

of income

Avg absence

6.7%

Persistent: 16.9%

More metrics

Avg FSM

25.6%

free school meals

Capacity

103%

8,669 / 8,406 places

Total admin cost

£2.5m

£284 per pupil

Trust overview

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

2 schools are operating in deficit — this may reflect planned investment or require financial planning.

Overall absence is above the national average in 54% of schools (7 of 13).

4 schools have persistent absence above 20%.

92% of inspected schools are rated Good or Outstanding across sub-judgements.

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

At a glance

8 schools with workforce pressure4 schools with absence above 8%3 schools with staff costs above 78%2 schools with declining results1 school in deficit1 school with Ofsted concerns

Ofsted sub-judgements

Quality of education

89% Good+

Outst. 1Good 7RI 1

Behaviour & attitudes

100% Good+

Outst. 3Good 6

Personal development

100% Good+

Outst. 2Good 7

Leadership & management

100% Good+

Outst. 2Good 12

Performance (trust avg)

Key Stage 4

Attainment 8

42.7

-3.5

vs national

Key Stage 2

Expected standard (RWM)

50.1%

-10.9pp

vs national

National averages: 2023/24

Trust details

AddressThe Priory Federation Of Academies, Lincoln, LN5 8RE

Companies House06462935

Incorporated3 January 2008

Trust growth over time

matpulse.co.uk

Schools Pupils

Year	Schools	Pupils	Total income	Total expenditure	Avg staff costs %	Avg reserves %
2021/22	14	8,531	£56.5m	£52.4m	73.1%	11.2%
2022/23	14	8,590	£58.3m	£56.8m	74.6%	10.7%
2023/24	14	8,669	£65.9m	£62.0m	70.9%	10.2%
2024/25partial	14	8,567	—	—	—	—

Central services — 2023/24

Centralisation

11.0%

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

£7,546,000

CS staff costs

£4,342,000

CS income

£2,402,000

Admin & clerical£2,601,000

Teaching staff£1,623,000

ICT£1,000

Premises£1,830,000

Legal & professional£202,000

Auditor costs£72,000

Governance

Accounts to Aug 2025Source: Companies House

9 current directors · Average tenure: 6.5 years · 3 changes in last 12 months

Directors / Trustees (9)

Emma Louise Murray

director·< 1 year

Kate Beardmore

director·< 1 year

Damien Stephen Keogh

director·1 year

Steve George Dixon

director·4 years

Clare Allen

director·4 years

Lesley Tyreman

director·5 years

Ian Jones

director·10 years

Simon Richardson

director·13 years

Howard David Gee

director·17 years

Company Secretary

Domenico Carchedi

secretary·8 years

29 former officers — most recent departure: Aug 2025

Martin Hickerton

director·4 years·Resigned Jun 2022

Jonathan David Mackinder

director·7 years·Resigned Aug 2025

Laura Gillanders

director·8 years·Resigned Aug 2018

Richard John Partington

director·11 years·Resigned Aug 2021

John Antony Cawdell

secretary·12 years·Resigned Aug 2015

Rosanne Christina Kirk

Member schools (14)

14 schools|11 with risk flags|11 high severity

School	URN	Phase	Risk flags
Bracebridge Heath St John's Primary Academy	137794	Primary	—
Bracebridge Infant and Nursery School	139142	Primary	workforce pressurehigh staff costsin year deficit
Cherry Willingham Primary Academy	146205	Primary	—
Heighington Millfield Primary Academy	137201	Primary	workforce pressure
Huntingtower Community Primary Academy	139618	Primary	high staff costs
Ling Moor Primary Academy	138748	Primary	—
The Priory Academy Lsst	135565	Secondary	workforce pressure
The Priory Belvoir Academy	138819	Secondary	workforce pressure
The Priory City of Lincoln Academy	135564	Secondary	ofsted concernworkforce pressurehigh absence
The Priory Pembroke Academy	145052	Secondary	high absenceworkforce pressure
The Priory Ruskin Academy	136194	Secondary	high absence
The Priory Witham Academy	135563	All-through	high absenceperformance decline
Waddington Redwood Primary Academy	146203	Primary	workforce pressureperformance decline
Willoughby Academy	147414	Not applicable	high staff costsworkforce pressure