Halliard Trust, which operates 11 schools across Cheshire including Eaton Bank Academy, has reported a year of strong academic performance alongside a stable financial position, despite “significant” organisational change and continued pressures across the education sector.
The trust’s annual report for the year ending 31st August 2025 highlighted rising pupil numbers, improved outcomes at both primary and secondary level, and continued investment.
The trust, which oversees eight primary schools and three secondary academies, recorded a combined pupil roll of 5,335 (plus 84 nursery pupils) against a total capacity of 5,862. Other schools in the trust are Broken Cross Primary Academy and Nursery, Gawsworth and Nether Alderley primary schools, as well as Fallibroome Academy.
Trustees said the trust remained focused on its core aim, ensuring that every child received a high-quality education, regardless of which school they attended.
In the classroom, the trust reported “exceptional” outcomes in 2025, with improvements across key stages and several measures outperforming national averages.
At primary level, 91% of year one pupils passed the phonics screening check, significantly above the national figure of 80%. Year four pupils also performed strongly, with over 40% achieving a perfect score in the multiplication tables check, 6% above the previous year’s national benchmark. At key stage two, 66% of pupils met or exceeded the expected standard in reading, writing and maths combined, a 1% rise on 2024 and 4% above the national average.
Secondary schools also delivered good results. The Fallibroome Academy continued to achieve some of the highest GCSE outcomes in the county, while A-level performance across the trust improved further, with over 86% of students securing a place at their first-choice university.
Trustees said these results reflected the strength of teaching, curriculum design and targeted support across the trust’s schools.
The report said that the trust remained in a stable financial position.
During the reporting period, total revenue expenditure of £41.7 million was covered by grant funding and other resources, with a general annual grant of £29 million, and other national grants bringing this up to £36 million. Local authority grants were £2.4 million.
Hire of facilities brought in £272,018, catering income was £857,331 and after-school income £366,592.
The direct cost of education was £29 million, with wages and salaries £24.4 million. The trust paid out £167,953 in redundancy and severance payments.
:The report said that although nine of the 12 schools – or cost centres as it called them – returned an in-year deficit, only one school was carrying an overall revenue deficit at the end of the year and overall performance compared to budget was favourable.
Plans are in place to reverse the one school’s revenue deficit.
Staffing costs during the year were equivalent to approximately 78% of revenue income, which is below the trust’s target of 80%.
The trust employs 790 people, 309 teachers, 433 administration and support and 48 management.
Eaton Bank Academy cost £7.4 million to run, £5.6 million of which was teaching and support staff costs.
Gawsworth Primary School cost £1 million, Nether Alderley £690,275 and Broken Cross £1.7 million.
The report said that strong pupil numbers across most schools helped maintain funding stability.
The year saw significant internal change, with all schools switching to a new management information system, a project designed to modernise data handling, improve efficiency and reduce risk by moving to cloud-based storage.
The trust also centralised its data management service, which has already improved consistency and intelligence-led decision-making across schools.
An external review of business functions by CJK Associates concluded that the trust’s services were “lean and performing well”, while identifying opportunities for further efficiency.
Leadership changes also shaped the year.
The departure of the chief operating officer in June 2025 prompted a restructuring of the executive leadership team, with the role replaced by a chief financial officer.
The trust this week announced that chief executive officer Jeremy Spencer had resigned and would be leaving in August. He is joining His Majesty’s Inspectorate (HMI), following four years at Halliard.
“While we are sorry to see him go, we are grateful for the significant contribution he has made during his time with the organisation,” said the trust.
