Hcat

UID 16375·Companies House 08654591·Incorporated August 2013·Compare

Schools

Flags

8 high severity

Finance: 2025/26Ofsted: Jan 2026Performance: 2025/26Workforce: 2026/27Attendance: 2025/26

Total income

£42.3m

5,479 pupils

Avg staff costs

68.5%

of income

Avg reserves

8.9%

of income

Avg absence

More metrics

Avg FSM

26.0%

free school meals

Capacity

103%

5,479 / 5,320 places

Total admin cost

£1.6m

£297 per pupil

Trust overview

1 of 14 schools report staff costs above the DfE's 78% review point. Staffing ratios reflect phase mix, curriculum and local context as much as efficiency.

1 of 14 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.

Absence is at or below the national average in 11 of 14 schools.

11 of 14 inspected schools meet the expected standard or above; 3 have at least one area judged below it. Inspection dates vary — some grades predate current leadership.

2 of these inspections used the new Report Card framework; its scale is not directly comparable with legacy grades.

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.

At a glance

13 schools with workforce pressure4 schools in deficit3 schools with Ofsted concerns3 schools with staff costs above 78%3 schools with absence above 8%1 school with declining results

Ofsted & results

Ofsted

79%meeting standard or above

Across 14 graded schools, including 2 under the new Report Card framework. The two frameworks are not directly comparable.

Sub-judgements — earlier framework

Quality of education

75% Good+

Good 6Inad. 2

Behaviour & attitudes

75% Good+

Outst. 1Good 5RI 2

Personal development

75% Good+

Outst. 3Good 3RI 2

Leadership & management

86% Good+

Good 12Inad. 2

Performance (trust avg)

Key Stage 4

Attainment 8

49.8

+3.6

vs national

Key Stage 2

Expected standard (RWM)

66.1%

+5.1pp

vs national

National averages: 2023/24

Trust details

AddressHcat, Unit 7 Dodworth Business Park, Barnsley, S75 3SP

Companies House08654591

Incorporated16 August 2013

Report Card inspections (new framework)

About these grades

Grade distribution across 2 schoolsinspected under Ofsted's 5-point scale (from November 2025). Not directly comparable with the earlier 1–4 sub-judgements above.

Curriculum & teaching

Strong standard 1Needs attention 1

Achievement

Strong standard 1Needs attention 1

Inclusion

Strong standard 1Needs attention 1

Growth

Year	Schools	Pupils	Total income	Total expenditure	Avg staff costs %	Avg reserves %
2021/22	11	5,102	£31.3m	£29.4m	70.2%	12.7%
2022/23	13	5,388	£36.7m	£34.5m	69.1%	9.5%
2023/24	13	5,227	£38.8m	£37.2m	69.9%	9.8%
2024/25partial	14	5,479	£42.3m	£40.1m	68.5%	8.9%
2025/26	14	5,397	—	—	—	—

Central services

2024/25

Centralisation

1.7%

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

£706,000

CS staff costs

£413,000

CS income

£40,000

Admin & clerical£346,000

Teaching staff£66,000

ICT£1,000

Premises£10,000

Legal & professional£39,000

Auditor costs£5,000

Governance

Source: Companies House

Board of trustees

Accounts to Aug 2025

7 current directors · Average tenure: 4.0 years · 5 changes in last 12 months

Directors / Trustees (7)

Sandra Lesley Bailey

director·< 1 year

Gemma Astin-france

director·< 1 year

Michelle Bowen

director·< 1 year

Michael Thomas Knight

director·2 years

Mark Utley

director·4 years

Andrew Kent

director·9 years

Stephen Gallagher

director·9 years

Company Secretary

Victoria Wood

secretary·12 years

33 former officers — most recent departure: Nov 2025

Lee James Hill

director·2 years·Resigned Nov 2025

Michelle Binns

director·2 years·Resigned Feb 2025

Melanie John ross

director·4 years·Resigned Dec 2023

Trudy Morris

director·4 years·Resigned Dec 2023

Ian Dickinson

director·5 years·Resigned Apr 2025

Chris William Webb

Member schools (14)

14 schools|14 with risk flags|7 high severity

School	URN	Phase	Risk flags
Birdwell Primary School	149455	Primary	workforce pressure
Darton Primary School	140602	Primary	workforce pressure
Horizon Community College	146455	Secondary	workforce pressurehigh absence
Hoyland Common Primary School	140242	Primary	workforce pressureperformance decline
Hoylandswaine Primary School	150020	Primary	ofsted concernworkforce pressure
Mapplewell Primary School	147718	Primary	in year deficit
Milefield Primary School	148442	Primary	workforce pressure
Queens Road Academy	139230	Primary	workforce pressure
Summer Lane Primary	152063	Primary	high staff costsin year deficitworkforce pressureofsted concern
The Mill Academy	141097	Primary	high absencehigh staff costsin year deficitworkforce pressure
Upperwood Academy	138615	Primary	workforce pressurehigh staff costsin year deficit
Ward Green Primary School	143431	Primary	workforce pressure
West Meadows Primary School	140460	Primary	high absenceworkforce pressureofsted concern
Worsbrough Common Primary School	147618	Primary	workforce pressure