Horizons Specialist Academy Trust

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

Schools

Flags

32 high severity

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

Total income

£28.0m

988 pupils

Avg staff costs

76.9%

of income

Avg reserves

0.0%

of income

Avg absence

More metrics

Avg FSM

71.7%

free school meals

Capacity

116%

988 / 854 places

Total admin cost

£976k

£988 per pupil

Trust overview

4 of 8 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 8 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.

Trust-average reserves have fallen about 6 percentage points over two years of published returns.

Every school with reported data balanced its in-year budget in the latest return.

Absence is above the national average in 7 of 7 schools. Attendance tracks intake and local circumstances as well as school practice.

6 schools report persistent absence above 20%, a level the DfE prioritises for additional support.

6 of 8 inspected schools meet the expected standard or above; 2 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.

Ofsted & results

Ofsted

75%meeting standard or above

Across 8 graded schools, including 2 under the new Report Card framework. The two frameworks are not directly comparable.

Sub-judgements — earlier framework

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

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

Expected standard 2

Achievement

Expected standard 2

Inclusion

Strong standard 2

Attendance & behaviour

Needs attention 1Strong standard 1

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	988	£28.0m	£25.9m	76.9%	0.0%
2025/26	8	987	—	—	—	—

Central services

2024/25

Centralisation

6.2%

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

£1,698,000

CS staff costs

£1,327,000

CS income

-£193,000

Admin & clerical£485,000

Teaching staff£407,000

ICT£5,000

Premises£109,000

Legal & professional£0

Auditor costs£27,000

Governance

Source: Companies House

Board of trustees

Accounts to Aug 2025

8 current directors · Average tenure: 7.1 years · 2 changes in last 12 months

Directors / Trustees (8)

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·13 years

Colin James Whittaker

director·13 years

Company Secretary

Alison Ruth Ascough

secretary·12 years

15 former officers — most recent departure: Mar 2026

Bridget Mary Elizabeth Watt

director·1 year·Resigned Mar 2026

Rosemary Nicholls

director·4 years·Resigned Feb 2024

Siân Wilson

director·8 years·Resigned Apr 2022

Susan Richardson

director·10 years·Resigned Dec 2020

James Bromiley

director·11 years·Resigned Aug 2024

Helen Dyson

Member schools (8)

8 schools|8 with risk flags|15 high severity

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