Annual Impact Report 2025
Message from our CEO, Phillip Hedger
This year, we celebrate the 10th anniversary of LEO Academy Trust, a decade exemplifying the ambitious vision established in 2015 with our founding school, Cheam Park Farm JuniorAcademy. Our growth has been extraordinary: we now work with 14 schools, serving over 7,000 pupils and are supported by more than 800 dedicated staff
Over the last decade, we have developed a family of great learning communities, fostering a culture of excellence for all and providing endless opportunities for our pupils, staff and the local communities we are part of Our 800-plus staff empower our schools to support each other, driving improvement across the wider school system. Learning, Excellence and Opportunity are at the heart of our Trust, embedded through our shared mission, values and aim
This report documents a year defined by accelerated innovation and validated quality across every area of our schools. We extend our sincerest gratitude to every member of the LEO community - our pupils, parents, staff, governors, trustees and members - for their relentless commitment to our shared mission.
Key highlights from this year
2025 delivered exceptional results across so many areas: Academically, 80% of our pupils met the expected standard in Reading, Writing, and Maths, validating the success of our robust curriculum strategy
This commitment to excellence was externally confirmed by Cheam Park Farm Primary Academy and Manor Park Primary Academy both receiving an 'Outstanding' Ofsted judgment in 2025.
We enhanced our support for professional growth by developing the work of our National Institute of Teaching (NIoT) Associate College, leading to increased participation in Initial Teacher Training (ITT), Early Career Framework (ECF), and National Professional Qualification (NPQ) programmes.
We embedded the use of Google Gemini AI for all staff and published our Human-Centred Approach to AI in Education, empowering our educators and pupils to become ethical and critical thinkers in a world shaped by technology
Our pupils secured a double victory in the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) Finals at BETT 2025, reinforcing our role as a pioneer in human-centred educational technology and global citizenship.
Our people - our staff, our pupils and our communitiescontinue to make remarkable contributions to the Trust’s success. I would like to take this opportunity to thank every member of our LEO community, our dedicated educators, our partners, our trust board and our academy committees for the profound impact they have every single day. The work you will read about in this report is a testament to the collective power of Learning, Excellence and Opportunity
Chief Executive Officer
Our Impact in 2025
LEO Academy Trust was founded in 2015.
Over 7,000 pupils and 800 staff now collaborate together across 14 schools. Beyond LEO, we have supported hundreds of other schools, educators and young people this year.
Togetherwe empower the communities we serve, we invest in staff to deliver an ambitious curriculum where all children are safe, enjoy learning, and feel included, respected, and valued.
In 2025, through our work across the sector, we impacted more than 250,000
people
3000 pupils were supported to enjoy residential trips across England and beyond
1000 educators visited a LEO school to explore our inclusive practice and digital vision, taking ideas back to their own schools.
Pupil Outcomes
500+
staff attended our LEO Conference, bringing together colleagues for a day of high-quality professional learning opportunities
75% of children saw improved wellbeing from targeted inclusion interventions.
About LEO Academy Trust
Our Mission Since 2015
LEO Academy Trust is committed to developing a family of great schools, where collaboration makes a real difference for our children, staff and communities.
OurVision Since 2015
Learning. Excellence. Opportunity. Great learning communities. Excellence for all. Endless opportunity.
Our Schools
OurAssociate Members
LEO2030 LEO2030
Reimagining
Connecting Communities
LEO2030
Thriving
Supporting our schools
At LEO Academy Trust, we ’ re proud to have developed an extensive central team to support our schools.
School Improvement
The Trust employs a 'Team Around the School' approach, providing tailored support and challenge, which allows Principals to focus on the core quality of education, teaching and learning. Central School Improvement Teams share expertise across the Trust, ensuring all schools benefit from strong leadership in areas like curriculum development and assessment strategies.
Inclusion
Our large Inclusion Team helps schools develop policies and procedures to support all children with additional needs, including special educational needs (SEND) This central support, combined with inclusive digital practices, has been shown to reduce the number of pupils requiring expensive external intervention
Finance
Centralised financial management and strategic oversight ensures robust budget planning, procurement efficiencies and compliance for all academies The Trust manages core expenditure and provides support for finance staff, allowing school leaders to concentrate resources on the frontline educational experience
Operations
The central operations team provides essential services such as central contracts, health and safety management and premises support, standardising processes across all schools This strong operational leadership reduces the administrative burden on individual schools and ensures consistent compliance and efficiency
People
The Trust is committed to the development of its staff through a comprehensive 'Growing Great People Framework' and high-quality professional learning opportunities. Central HR support manages strategic and operational needs, including recruitment, payroll and training. Professional learning for educators is provided by our Associate College, part of the National Institute of Teaching. We offer the complete suite of National Professional Qualifications (NPQs), alongside Initial Teacher Training and a comprehensive programme for Early Careers Teachers.
Digital
Our Digital Vision is driven by pedagogy. Every Key Stage 1 & 2 pupil has their own personal learning device, enabling a blended learning environment at every LEO school This strategy is supported by a central Digital Learning team that provides training and resources, leading to significant positive impacts on attainment and teaching efficiency
Governance & Compliance
A robust governance structure is in place, with a central Governance & Compliance Team providing oversight, support and full clerking services to the Trust Board and local Academy Committees. This centralised support ensures all academies meet statutory and regulatory requirements, allowing Academy Committees to focus on the quality of education in their respective schools.
LEO 2030: Reimagining Education
The challenge
Typical primary classrooms are often visually dense and over-stimulating, relying on traditional designs that inadvertently create barriers to learning and well-being. This traditional model, characterised by excessive clutter and limited flexibility, frequently fails to address the diverse sensory and therapeutic needs of all learners. For many pupils, the environmental overload can lead to increased anxiety, reduced focus and difficulties in regulating attention, meaning the physical space works against the goal of inclusive and purposeful teaching By identifying the classroom environment itself as a critical factor in pupil outcomes, LEO Academy Trust sought a transformative solution.
The solution
LEO Academy Trust implemented the "Reimagining Classrooms" programme to overhaul learning spaces using principles of therapeutic and purposeful design The solution focuses on creating calm, uncluttered and organised environments that maximise concentration and promote independence. This involves equipping spaces with state-of-the-art, accessible resources and making intentional structural changes, such as integrating adjacent quiet rooms for targeted support. By aligning the physical environment with a progressive pedagogical approach, the programme ensures the classroom is a high-functioning tool that actively supports the core curriculum and the emotional needs of every child
Our impact
The transformed learning spaces have created environments that actively promote engagement, wellbeing and enhanced academic success across the Trust. The intentional design fosters greater pupil focus, collaboration and metacognition. As Beth Davey at Cheam Common Junior shares: "Our modern classroom isn't just a space; it's a launchpad for learning With state-of-theart resources and a focused environment, we ' re giving our Year 5 pupils an improved experience where curiosity can thrive and every lesson feels purposeful. Crucially, the dedicated quiet areas ensure flexible 1:1 teaching time, enabling rapid and effective targeted interventions that boost confidence and foster a genuine joy for coming to school.”
2025 in numbers
Case Study: Brookfield Primary Academy Repurposing Space for Enhanced Learning
The Brookfield Solution: A Bold Repurposing Project
Brookfield Primary Academy took the principles of LEO Academy Trust's "Reimagining Classrooms" programme and applied them to a dramatic spatial transformation The goal was to create a high-functioning environment that was calm, purposeful and adaptable.
The project involved the strategic demolition and repurposing of four distinct, adjacent spaces into a single, cohesive learning environment:
1 An old ICT Suite
2 A Shared Learning Space & Staff PPA Area
3 A Leaders' Office
4 A Storage Cupboard
These four distinct areas were merged to create a large, double-connected reimagined classroom that moves beyond the conventional four-walled model.
Key Design Elements:
Integrated Breakout Spaces: The new layout purposefully includes dedicated, acoustically managed breakout zones These are designed for:
Collaborative Group Work: Allowing small teams to work without disrupting the main class
Focus Groups: Providing flexible space for targeted support and interventions
Quiet Areas: Crucially, integrating dedicated, calm spaces for pupils needing time for sensory regulation or 1:1 teaching.
Therapeutic and Purposeful Design: The new space was designed to be visually calm, maximising concentration and promoting pupil independence by only displaying resources that are currently relevant or intentionally organised
State of the Art Resources: The fit-out included modern, accessible and high-quality resources, ensuring the environment is equipped to deliver a progressive curriculum
LEO 2030: Connecting Communities
The challenge
In today's fast-moving world, it's easy for people to feel disconnected. We recognised a growing need to look beyond the school gates and actively knit the fabric of our local communities back together. Our core commitment under the Connected Communities pillar of LEO 2030 is simple: we must bridge divides, ensuring every individual - from our youngest toddlers to our valued older generations - feels a strong sense of belonging and collaboration.
The solution
Our response is an ambitious and multifaceted delivery plan designed to create meaningful points of connection across the entire Trust. The cornerstone of this work is establishing dedicated, accessible Community Hubs and Pop Up Community Cafes at every LEO school. Beyond these welcoming physical spaces, we are preparing to launch a range of programmes that directly address specific community needs These include: Further improve our Mental Health Support offer for children & adults. Mentoring Programmes for Year 5 and 6 pupils.
Supplement our careers education programme through Community Careers Lunches.
Increasing opportunities for Intergenerational Learning and hosting regular Community Lunches
Host Community Lunches in partnership with AgeUK
Our impact
This past year has been defined by action, proving that our community vision is starting to flourish. We are particularly proud of the projects that are already making a visible difference:
Life-Saving Partnerships: Our Community Defibrillator Project, in partnership with the Paul Alan Project, is now active We have schools successfully fundraising and setting up plans to deliver essential CPR training, bringing a life-saving resource directly into the heart of the community
Early Engagement: We've successfully launched our Toddler Engagement events. These warm, welcoming pre-entry events are already boosting connections with families of children aged 12 months+, helping them feel part of the LEO family early on.
Deepening Our Understanding: We've completed crucial initial stakeholder engagement through Community Coffee events This feedback, showing high demand for Mental Health and Wellbeing, SEND Support and Parenting Workshops, is now driving the design of our forthcoming Community Hubs and Pop Up Cafes, ensuring they directly meet the expressed needs of our families for support and connection.
2025 in numbers
Case Study: Intergenerational Learning
The Solution: Co-Designed, Sustained Engagement
In partnership with InCommon, Cheam Fields launched a pilot project based on co-designed, intergenerational workshops
Implementation:
Needs Assessment (Sept 2024): An InCommon facilitator consulted Norman House residents to ensure activities were meaningful.
Relationship Building: Personal connections were initiated via handwritten postcards exchanged between residents and pupils before the first meeting
Structured Workshops: Four subsequent sessions included activities like 'show and tell', a garden tour, 'Guess the Baby' and festive cupcake decorating
Key Highlights:
Historical Connection: During a 'show and tell', a pupil's story revealed their grandparent had served in the same land army as a resident, creating a powerful, personal historical bond.
Emotional Literacy: A resident felt "touched" after a child shared that he carries a comfort stone for anxiety, demonstrating the pupils' vulnerability and the emotional impact on the residents
LEO Pupil Outcome: Active Citizens in a Global Community
This project is a perfect demonstration of our pupils becoming Active Citizens in a Global Community By engaging meaningfully with their local community, pupils are developing the foundation for global citizenship:
Social Contribution: Pupils learned the value of contributing positively to the welfare and emotional wellbeing of others, fulfilling their role as responsible citizens
Empathy and Understanding: Activities facilitated genuine cross-generational dialogue, enabling pupils to understand diverse life experiences, perspectives, and historical contexts outside their immediate family unit
Active Engagement: The sustained motivation and desire to attend reported by the teacher ("all the children had been asking 'When are we going to Norman House?' every week") shows pupils are intrinsically driven to participate in civic action.
-Norman House Resident
Case Study: Community Radio Stations
LEO 2030: Thriving People
The challenge
The demanding nature of the education sector consistently contributes to high levels of work-related stress, mental health challenges and staff absence across the Trust. To truly deliver on the 'Thriving People' pillar of our LEO 2030 strategy, we needed to move beyond reactive support and implement a proactive, accessible and comprehensive wellbeing framework that supports the holistic health of every staff member, helping to retain excellent talent and minimise disruption to learning
The solution
LEO Academy Trust implemented a mutual benefits package with Education Mutual, providing all staff with access to a wide range of premium healthcare and wellbeing services. This package goes beyond traditional staff absence insurance, offering instant, confidential access to essential services, including: Mental Health and Wellbeing Services: Immediate access to counselling, stress management support, and a dedicated Men's Mental Health programme Healthcare Services: A 24/7 GP service, nurse support, surgical assistance programmes, and flu vaccinations
Occupational Health (OH) Services: Essential OH support to help staff return to work quickly and safely, with new employee assessments and a dedicated support line.
Targeted Support: Specific services like Menopause Counselling and Financial Wellbeing Coaching, addressing the diverse needs of our workforce. By including all these services in the membership at no extra cost to staff, the Trust removed financial and administrative barriers to support, embedding a true culture of care
Our impact
The partnership with Education Mutual has significantly enhanced our staff wellbeing offer, directly contributing to a healthier, more resilient workforce and a 'Thriving People' environment. Staff feedback indicates a significantly increased feeling of value and support from the Trust The provision of readily available, confidential support services has helped to destigmatise seeking help for mental and physical health We are seeing a high uptake of services, particularly the 24/7 GP service and Mental Health Counselling, demonstrating that staff are utilising the immediate support available to them. Crucially, by facilitating quicker access to diagnostics, treatment, and occupational health interventions, the Trust is proactively working to reduce the length and frequency of staff absences, ensuring greater continuity of high-quality education for pupils Finally, this comprehensive, freeof-charge benefits package acts as a powerful non-monetary incentive, enhancing LEO Academy Trust's reputation as an employer of choice and supporting the retention of high-quality teaching and support staff.
2025 in numbers
Case
Case Study: Earn while you learn; gain a degree with LEO
June 2025: Secretary of State for EducationVisit
The Rt Hon Bridget Phillipson MP, Secretary of State for Education, along with colleagues from the Department for Education was welcomed to Brookfield PrimaryAcademy in June 2025
The visit was a fantastic opportunity to showcase the innovation, inclusion and ambition that drive our work across LEO Academy Trust. The Secretary of State visited our breakfast club and our fantastic nursery provision.
July 2025: Department for Education Town Hall
We were honoured to welcome Claire Burton, Interim Director General at the Department for Education, alongside more than 300 DfE colleagues, for a virtual visit to LEO Academy Trust as part of the Department’s monthly Town Hall series.
Hosted live from Cheam Common JuniorAcademy, the session showcased LEO's 'pedagogy-first' approach to digital learning across their 12 primary schools. Key aspects shared included their seven-year digital journey, the 1:1 Chromebook programme and the Digital Skills Progression Framework.
A highlight was a live Year 5 lesson demonstrating how digital and assistive technology enhances inclusion and attainment The event also featured the voices of pupils and insights from our PedTech Impact Report, which serves as a replicable model for research-informed EdTech implementation
LEO is proud to have played a leading role in sharing best practice nationally this year, through our Digital Discovery Days, the London EdTech Expo and our continued commitment to innovation through the EdTech Hubs network.
October 2025:Visit from the Department for Education
Manor Park PrimaryAcademy were proud to welcome the Department for Education's English Policy Lead and Senior Policy Officers to look at writing and disciplinary writing in October 2025.
It was an incredible opportunity to share our passion for writing and to showcase many aspects of the aspects of the new DfE writing framework in practice. The morning focused on:
Disciplinary literacy and how we embed writing across the curriculum
Visiting classrooms to see writing in action, including speaking to pupils
Writing and the use of technology and AI to enhance learning
Teaching sentences
Foundational knowledge in KS1 - transcription.
October 2025: SEND Discovery Days
Also in October, we brought together 20 school leaders for a collaborative event focusing on SEND transformation The day focused on our ‘Inclusive Practice and Effective OrdinarilyAvailable Provision (OAP) in Mainstream Schools’ event achieved key objectives such as embedding an inclusive vision, creating an inclusive school environment, and exploring effective use of TAs and assistive technology for SEND learners. The positive engagement and strong attendance demonstrates our commitment to supporting and developing robust pathways to support SEND learners.
2025 in numbers
The demand for high-quality, early years education is increasing, driven by recent changes to government childcare support. At LEO Nurseries, we are proactively responding to this need with significant expansions and the establishment of brand new facilities, ensuring more families in the local area have access to free, high quality education
The Challenge
The Government expanded the working parent entitlement for Nursery children from 9 months to 5 year olds This legislative change has led to a significant increase in the number of working parents who are seeking increased hours and different, flexible options to use a combination of funded hours and paid-for hours. Meeting this heightened requirement for both space and adaptable care models presented a clear imperative for growth.
The Solution
To address this crucial need for expansion, LEO Nurseries has undertaken a multifaceted expansion strategy. We have successfully expanded existing facilities at Brookfield Primary and Manor Park Primary nurseries, increasing their capacity and enhancing their provision. In addition to current sites, LEO has invested in the creation of two brand-new nurseries to serve previously underserved areas: one at Shawley Primary and another at West Ashtead Primary This strategic growth ensures that high-quality LEO early years education is accessible to a wider community of families.
Our Impact
These expansions and new openings have been met with overwhelming enthusiasm from the community The increased capacity and new geographical locations directly address the strain on local childcare, providing new nursery places for children aged 9 months to 5 years At LEO Nurseries, we are now better positioned than ever to support working families by offering the flexible, full-day childcare options they need to balance work and family life. Crucially, this growth allows more young children to benefit from LEO’s commitment to excellent early learning. Setting them on a strong path for future academic success throughout their time at LEO Academy Trust. Our DfE funded nurseries at Shawley and West Ashtead, alongside the expanded Brookfield and Manor Park nurseries, consolidate LEO's role as a key provider of exceptional and accessible early years education
2025 in numbers
LEO Academy Trust has achieved a truly transformative year for international collaboration and global citizenship, thanks to the continued success of the Turing Scheme In 2025, our pupils embarked on two life-changing international placements, with ambitious plans already in motion for four more in 2026 These journeys go far beyond traditional travel; they are powerful engines for personal growth, STEM inspiration, and cultivating global citizens ready for tomorrow’s world
2025: Two Transformative Journeys
The past year saw two Year 6 cohorts immerse themselves in unique educational experiences:
June 2025:Year 6 Explorers in Billund, Denmark
Twenty-three Year 6 pupils travelled to Billund, the birthplace of LEGO. The trip focused on the "pedagogy of play" - a dynamic approach to learning rooted in creativity and collaboration
Key Highlights: Visits to the LEGO Group Campus and LEGO Education provided insight into how play drives innovation Pupils also immersed themselves in local Danish school life at Billund Skolen and engaged in cultural and team-building adventures at LEGOLAND, WOW Park and Givskud Zoo
May 2025:Year 6 Residential to San Francisco & SiliconValley, USA
Eighteen Year 6 pupils spent nine days in California, blending cultural immersion with cutting-edge STEM discovery in the heart of technological innovation.
Key Highlights: Our children toured the Googleplex Campus and even gave a presentation to Google Learning & Education staff - an unparalleled opportunity that directly connected classroom learning to the future of technology. School visits to Oak Avenue Elementary School and Mountain View High School offered a window into the American education system. Cultural experiences included exploring the Golden Gate Bridge, Chinatown, and Alcatraz, complemented by personal development challenges like mastering paddle boarding
LookingAhead: Four More Global Placements in 2026
Building on this success, LEO Academy Trust is expanding its global footprint with four planned Turing Scheme visits in 2026, further deepening our commitment to global education:
Denmark: Continuing to build on our success and explore the pedagogy of play.
Finland: Visiting schools in Helsinki to study one of the world's highest-performing education systems, alongside exploring the unique cultural landscape of Lapland
Singapore: A dedicated focus on global citizenship opportunities and cultural exchange with local students, exploring one of Asia's most dynamic educational environments
USA: Repeating the impactful blend of STEM and cultural adventure in California
These future placements reinforce LEO Academy Trust’s commitment to providing life-changing international learning, shaping not just pupils, but tomorrow’s citizens of the world.
Interested in building an international partnership with LEO Academy Trust or hosting future cohorts? Please get in touch!
Join LEO Academy Trust in expanding global horizons and shaping tomorrow’s global citizens.
2025 in numbers
Financial Information
LEO Academy Trust is dedicated to providing the best education through strategic financial management Our fully centralised Professional Services Model has enabled us to streamline our financial processes and generated significant savings through economies of scale These savings have allowed us to invest more resources in our schools and classrooms, ensuring that our pupils have access to the latest technology, equipment and learning materials
£31 Million Operational Income 2024/25
£2.92 Million Trust Reserves 2024/25
£281 Thousand Capital Reserves 2024/25
Governance and Financial Transparency
LEO Academy Trust is a charitable company limited by guarantee, governed by a number of key documents, including Articles of Association, Schemes of Delegation and Funding Agreements We are committed to financial transparency and make our accounts public annually They are audited by an independent auditor
To learn more about our governance and financial transparency, please visit our website: Roles and responsibilities: www.leoacademytrust.co.uk/962/roles-andresponsibilities Key documents: www.leoacademytrust.co.uk/914/key-documents
We are proud of our financial management and are committed to using our resources to provide the best possible education for our pupils.
Pupils 750+ Staff 12 Schools
2 Associate Members
10 Key Strategic Partners