MERCIA PRIMARY ACADEMY TRUST

Values shown as filed in the company's annual accounts. — indicates the figure wasn't present under that line item in that period. About these numbers

Margins divide P&L lines by turnover. Gearing is liabilities over total assets. Current ratio is current assets over creditors falling due within one year. Interest cover is operating profit over absolute finance costs. Sector-distribution context coming next.

Accounting basis

FRS 102

Reporting scope

Standalone (parent only)

Auditor

TC Group

Audit opinion

Unqualified (clean)

Going concern

Affirmed

“After making appropriate enquiries, the board of trustees has a reasonable expectation that the academy trust has adequate resources to continue in operational existence for the foreseeable future. For this reason, the board of trustees continues to adopt the going concern basis in preparing the accounts.”

Significant events

• “In light of the recent announcement on 4th November 2024 that funding for Academy Conversions will no longer be available, the Trust now faces an uncertain future as do all academies. We recognise that further expansion could place unnecessary strain on resources, as funds that should be directed toward supporting pupils' education would instead need to be allocated to growth-related initiatives-something the trust does not prioritise at this time.”
• “We have a 5-year strategic plan to establish close partnerships with other small trusts, that maintain healthy reserves, with the intention of exploring potential amalgamation opportunities in the medium to long term.”
• “Several key leadership roles are expected to become vacant due to retirements over the next five years. This includes senior positions such as headteachers.”
• “SEND remains a significant concern for the trust, with increasing delays in access to essential services. Nationally, waiting lists for assessments and interventions are growing, and local authorities are shifting more financial responsibility onto schools.”
• “The rising cost of third-party services, including catering, has become a significant concern. Many of our service providers have raised their prices by approximately 5-10% due to inflation and the rising cost of living.”
• “Financially, the trust is committed to investing in infrastructure improvements. In 2023/24 Flax Hill saw the rebuild of their chair store and Lark Hall has seen the site receive a full ICT WiFi upgrade. Last academic year Lakeside kitchen undertook a full renovation along with a full ICT WiFi upgrade.”
• “With exceedingly healthy reserves, the trust can look towards at least five more years running before all reserves are depleted.”

Auditor, going-concern and subsidiary information is drawn from the narrative of the latest annual accounts. About these numbers

Filings

5

last 12 months

Capital events

0

last 24 months

Officers appointed

0

last 12 months

Officers resigned

0

last 12 months

Direct counts from the register. No score, no rating — see the Filing timeline for the underlying events.

• Turnover

  +5.6%

  £3,797,989 → £4,009,798

• Cash

  +17.1%

  £1,174,147 → £1,375,232

• Net assets

  +22.6%

  £4,778,270 → £5,858,838

• Employees

  +12.5%

  64 → 72

• Wages

  +5%

  £2,059,153 → £2,161,402

Each % is (latest − prior) ÷ |prior| for the line item as filed. The comparison is only shown when the latest and prior accounts cover broadly equal-length periods — short or long stubs (typical around incorporation or a year-end change) are suppressed rather than misrepresented. Lines a company doesn't report are omitted. About these numbers