Horizons Specialist Academy Trust

UID 3483·Companies House 08608287·Incorporated July 2013·Compare

Schools

Flags

16 high severity

Finance: 2024/25Ofsted: Mar 2024Performance: 2025/26Workforce: 2025/26Attendance: 2025/26

Total income

£26.1m

934 pupils

Avg staff costs

77.5%

of income

Avg reserves

-0.3%

of income

Avg absence

21.7%

Persistent: 48.6%

More metrics

Avg FSM

68.9%

free school meals

Capacity

109%

934 / 854 places

Trust overview

5 of 8 schools have staff costs above the DfE's 78% review threshold — review against school context.

1 school is operating in deficit — this may reflect planned investment or require financial planning.

2 of 8 schools had expenditure exceeding income this year.

Overall absence is above the national average in 100% of schools (7 of 7).

6 schools have persistent absence above 20%.

2 of 8 inspected schools have a sub-judgement area rated Requires Improvement — see their profiles for context.

Reference points from DfE published guidance. Whether any metric warrants action depends on the trust's context and strategy.

At a glance

7 schools with absence above 8%5 schools with staff costs above 78%3 schools with workforce pressure2 schools in deficit2 schools with Ofsted concerns

Ofsted sub-judgements

Quality of education

80% Good+

Good 4RI 1

Behaviour & attitudes

60% Good+

Good 3RI 2

Personal development

80% Good+

Good 4RI 1

Leadership & management

88% Good+

Good 7RI 1

Performance (trust avg)

Key Stage 4

Attainment 8

4.8

-41.4

vs national

Key Stage 2

Expected standard (RWM)

8.0%

-53.0pp

vs national

National averages: 2023/24

Trust details

AddressAbbey Hill Academy, Stockton-On-Tees, TS19 8BU

Companies House08608287

Incorporated12 July 2013

Trust growth over time

matpulse.co.uk

Schools Pupils

Year	Schools	Pupils	Total income	Total expenditure	Avg staff costs %	Avg reserves %
2021/22	7	849	£18.8m	£17.5m	74.0%	8.5%
2022/23	7	865	£21.0m	£20.1m	76.9%	0.0%
2023/24	7	873	£23.8m	£22.7m	79.1%	0.0%
2024/25partial	8	983	—	—	—	—

Central services — 2023/24

Centralisation

4.8%

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

£1,260,000

CS staff costs

£1,005,000

CS income

-£110,000

Admin & clerical£448,000

Teaching staff£325,000

ICT£2,000

Premises£96,000

Legal & professional£0

Auditor costs£25,000

Governance

Accounts to Aug 2025Source: Companies House

9 current directors · Average tenure: 6.1 years · 1 change in last 12 months

Directors / Trustees (9)

Bridget Mary Elizabeth Watt

director·1 year

Christopher Horn

director·1 year

Alastair James Thompson

director·1 year

Anna Jane Ward

director·3 years

David New

director·4 years

David Walker

director·6 years

Baxi Neeraj Prasad Sinha

director·11 years

Maurice Davison Jones

director·12 years

Colin James Whittaker

director·12 years

Company Secretary

Alison Ruth Ascough

secretary·12 years

14 former officers — most recent departure: Dec 2025

Rosemary Nicholls

director·4 years·Resigned Feb 2024

Siân Wilson

director·7 years·Resigned Apr 2022

Susan Richardson

director·9 years·Resigned Dec 2020

James Bromiley

director·10 years·Resigned Aug 2024

Helen Dyson

director·11 years·Resigned Dec 2019

Alan Carr Chapman

Member schools (8)

8 schools|8 with risk flags|11 high severity

School	URN	Phase	Risk flags
Abbey Hill Academy	139974	Not applicable	workforce pressurehigh absencehigh staff costs
Archway Academy	148694	Not applicable	workforce pressure
Green Gates Academy	141384	Not applicable	high staff costshigh absence
Hollis Academy	143519	Not applicable	ofsted concernhigh absence
Mo Mowlam Academy	146953	Not applicable	high absencehigh staff costsin year deficitworkforce pressure
The Meadows Academy	151483	Not applicable	high staff costsin year deficitofsted concernhigh absence
The Woodlands Academy	139482	Not applicable	high absence
Westlands Academy	141385	Not applicable	high staff costshigh absence