The Societas Trust

UID 16378·Companies House 09987031·Incorporated February 2016·Compare

Schools

Flags

2 high severity

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

Total income

£17.9m

2,934 pupils

Avg staff costs

74.1%

of income

Avg reserves

4.1%

of income

Avg absence

More metrics

Avg FSM

36.0%

free school meals

Capacity

83%

2,934 / 3,545 places

Total admin cost

£905k

£308 per pupil

Trust overview

3 of 8 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 8 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 5 percentage points over two years of published returns.

3 of 8 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 6 of 8 schools.

All 8 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 8 graded schools.

Sub-judgements — earlier framework

Quality of education

100% Good+

Good 4

Behaviour & attitudes

100% Good+

Good 4

Personal development

100% Good+

Outst. 2Good 2

Leadership & management

100% Good+

Good 8

Performance (trust avg)

Key Stage 2

Expected standard (RWM)

62.3%

+1.3pp

vs national

National averages: 2023/24

Trust details

AddressThe Hub Office Ellison Primary Academy, Newcastle-Under-Lyme, ST5 0BL

Companies House09987031

Incorporated4 February 2016

Year	Schools	Pupils	Total income	Total expenditure	Avg staff costs %	Avg reserves %
2021/22	7	2,362	£12.9m	£12.5m	70.5%	7.4%
2022/23	7	2,347	£13.8m	£13.7m	73.4%	2.8%
2023/24	7	2,350	£14.9m	£14.6m	77.0%	0.8%
2024/25partial	8	2,934	£17.9m	£17.6m	74.1%	4.1%
2025/26	8	2,847	—	—	—	—

Central services

2024/25

Centralisation

-1.4%

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

-£250,000

CS staff costs

£124,000

CS income

£31,000

Admin & clerical£111,000

Teaching staff£0

ICT£7,000

Premises-£6,000

Legal & professional£160,000

Auditor costs£51,000

Governance

Source: Companies House

Board of trustees

Accounts to Aug 2025

9 current directors · Average tenure: 6.6 years · 1 change in last 12 months

Directors / Trustees (9)

Lynette Jane Beckett

director·< 1 year

Karl Andrew Lawton

director·1 year

Paula Pattison

director·4 years

Christopher Austin

director·6 years

Mary Hughes

director·7 years

Roger Arthur Machin

director·7 years

Gillian Jenkins

director·10 years

Jon Derek Lovatt

director·10 years

Carol Dudson

director·10 years

17 former officers — most recent departure: Jul 2023

Fiona Ramsay Stagg

director·4 years·Resigned Jul 2023

Angela Bradshaw

director·7 years·Resigned Aug 2021

Robert Knight

director·7 years·Resigned Jul 2019

Guy Paul Weir

director·8 years·Resigned Dec 2022

William Martyn Griffin

director·8 years·Resigned Jul 2019

Christine Madeleine Bartley

Member schools (9)

9 schools|8 with risk flags|2 high severity

School	URN	Phase	Risk flags
Alsagers Bank Primary Academy	148720	Primary	workforce pressurehigh staff costs
Ash Green Primary Academy	142990	Primary	workforce pressure
Ball Green Primary Academy	152413	Primary	—
Burnwood Primary Academy	151603	Primary	high absencein year deficit
Carmountside Primary Academy	139846	Primary	high absencein year deficitworkforce pressure
Ellison Primary Academy	142984	Primary	workforce pressure
Gladstone Primary Academy	142991	Primary	workforce pressurehigh staff costs
Goldenhill Primary Academy	142992	Primary	workforce pressurehigh staff costsin year deficitperformance decline
Summerbank Primary Academy	142988	Primary	high absence