The Priory Federation of Academies

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

Schools

Flags

16 high severity

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

Total income

£71.4m

8,580 pupils

Avg staff costs

71.4%

of income

Avg reserves

12.0%

of income

Avg absence

More metrics

Avg FSM

26.4%

free school meals

Capacity

102%

8,580 / 8,406 places

Total admin cost

£2.7m

£311 per pupil

Trust overview

3 of 14 schools report staff costs above the DfE's 78% review point. Staffing ratios reflect phase mix, curriculum and local context as much as efficiency.

2 of 14 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.

Absence is at or below the national average in 7 of 14 schools.

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

12 of 14 inspected schools meet the expected standard or above.

2 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

10 schools with workforce pressure6 schools with absence above 8%4 schools with staff costs above 78%2 schools with declining results1 school in deficit2 schools with Ofsted concerns

Ofsted & results

Ofsted

86%meeting standard or above

Across 14 graded schools, including 2 under the new Report Card framework. The two frameworks are not directly comparable.

Sub-judgements — earlier framework

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

Report Card inspections (new framework)

About these grades

Grade distribution across 2 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 1Needs attention 1

Achievement

Needs attention 2

Inclusion

Expected standard 1Needs attention 1

Attendance & behaviour

Growth

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	8,580	£71.4m	£66.1m	71.4%	12.0%
2025/26	14	8,448	—	—	—	—

Central services

2024/25

Centralisation

10.9%

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

£8,092,000

CS staff costs

£4,527,000

CS income

£3,104,000

Admin & clerical£2,996,000

Teaching staff£1,401,000

ICT£0

Premises£1,678,000

Legal & professional£189,000

Auditor costs£62,000

Governance

Source: Companies House

Board of trustees

Accounts to Aug 2025

9 current directors · Average tenure: 6.7 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·5 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|13 with risk flags|11 high severity

School	URN	Phase	Risk flags
Bracebridge Heath St John's Primary Academy	137794	Primary	high staff costs
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 costsofsted concern
Ling Moor Primary Academy	138748	Primary	workforce pressure
The Priory Academy Lsst	135565	Secondary	high absenceworkforce pressure
The Priory Belvoir Academy	138819	Secondary	workforce pressure
The Priory City of Lincoln Academy	135564	Secondary	high absenceofsted concernworkforce pressure
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 declineworkforce pressure
Waddington Redwood Primary Academy	146203	Primary	workforce pressureperformance decline
Willoughby Academy	147414	Not applicable	high absencehigh staff costsworkforce pressure