Pickwick Academy Trust maintains a reasonable average payment time of 26 days, with 81% of invoices settled within 30 days, suggesting generally prompt payment behaviour. However, the 32% late payment rate indicates a notable disconnect between average speed and consistent on-time performance, pointing to irregular payment processing rather than a steadily reliable cycle. The 7% of invoices exceeding 60 days is a flag worth monitoring, as it suggests a proportion of payments face significant delays beyond standard terms.
The gap between the 26-day average and the 32% late payment rate reveals meaningful volatility in payment behaviour, meaning suppliers cannot fully rely on the average figure as a predictor of their own experience. The 19% of invoices paid beyond 30 days, split across 31–60 days (12%) and over 60 days (7%), indicates that when payments do run late, they can extend considerably. This unpredictability introduces moderate cash flow risk for suppliers, particularly those operating on tight margins or short payment terms.
Pickwick Academy Trust presents a moderate payment risk profile — broadly acceptable for most suppliers, but with enough inconsistency to warrant careful terms management. Suppliers should consider setting clear 30-day payment terms in contracts and implementing proactive invoice follow-up processes to reduce exposure to the late payment segment. For higher-value transactions, requesting partial upfront payment or shorter net terms would serve as a practical risk mitigation measure given the 32% late payment rate.
| Reporting Period | Filing Date | Average Time to Pay (days) | Paid within 30 days | Paid 31-60 days | Paid after 60 days | Not Paid within Terms |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 01 Sept 2025 - 28 Feb 2026 | 03 Jun 2026 | 26 | 81% | 12% | 7% | 32% |
This information is as reported by the business, and responses are in their own words.
Standard payment terms
30 days
Were there any changes to the standard payment terms in the reporting period?
No information available
Any other information about payment terms
No additional information
Maximum contractual payment period agreed
60
Any complaints or concerns will be dealt with by the relevant finance manager, escalating to Head of Finance and/or CFOO as required
Has this business signed up to a code of conduct or standards on payment practices?
For example, signatories to The Prompt Payment Code must commit to paying 95% of their invoices within 60 days.
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Does this business offer e-invoicing in relation to qualifying contracts?
This is where suppliers can electronically submit and track invoices. It's not just allowing suppliers to email them an invoice.
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Does this business offer supply chain finance?
This is where a supplier who has submitted an invoice can be paid by a third-party finance provider earlier than the agreed payment date. The business would then pay the finance provider the invoiced sum.
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Under its payment practices and policies, can this business deduct sums from payments under qualifying contracts as a charge for remaining on a supplier list?
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During the reporting period, did the business deduct sums from payments as a charge for remaining on a supplier list?
No information available
Pickwick Academy Trust is an educational charity and academy trust operating within the UK's state-funded schools sector. Structured as a private limited company by guarantee without share capital, the organisation operates under the 'Limited' exemption, a common legal framework for non-profit educational trusts in England.
The trust is registered with Companies House under company number 07557894 and holds active status. Incorporated on 9 March 2011, Pickwick Academy Trust is based in the South West of England, with its registered office situated at Corsham Primary School, Pound Pill, Corsham, Wiltshire, SN13 9YW.
As an academy trust, the organisation is responsible for the governance and management of academy schools within its network. This includes overseeing educational standards, staff employment, financial management, and the delivery of the national curriculum across its member schools.
Academy trusts of this type operate as charitable companies accountable to the Department for Education, holding funding agreements that enable them to provide free state education to pupils. They play a central role in school improvement, strategic leadership, and the professional development of teaching staff within their respective regions.