REPORT 2025 : 2026
“The Trustees work with the leaders at every level in all our schools. The combination of their talents ensures consistently high outcomes for our pupils.”
Chris Hobson, CEO
Welcome to the sixth edition of the Hornchurch Academy Trust Annual Report to Parents/Carers.
from the CEO
The academic year 2025/2026 has been one of change and looking to the future. The continued work of the Trust and schools have taken place against the backdrop of a DfE White Paper, national SEND reforms and a new Ofsted Framework. With this in mind, I am filled with immense pride at the resilience, innovation, and unwavering commitment demonstrated by our entire Trust community – staff, pupils, parents, and governors alike in addressing the challenges and changes we navigate. This year under the new Ofsted Framework, we have been delighted with the Ofsted Inspection outcome at Upminster Junior School. Everyone should be very proud of the outcome and the fact that the MAT Performance Measures 2025 identify HAT in the top 7% of Trusts nationally.
This year, we have seen the successful expansion of our nursery provision and the launch of our first Community Hub at the Scargill site, strengthening our support for families and the wider community.
Our focus on staff development remains central, with continued investment in professional learning, instructional coaching, and partnerships with leading training hubs. We never lose sight that excellent teaching is the cornerstone of pupil success, and we are committed to empowering every member of our team to thrive.
Looking forward, we are very excited to open our second nursery provision at Shears Green Infant School in September 2026. We are confident that the nursery will serve the community and contribute towards providing children with the best start to their education.
Thank you for your ongoing support and for being part of our journey. Together, we will ensure that every child at Hornchurch Academy Trust is equipped to succeed and flourish.
It is a privilege to welcome you to the sixth edition of the Hornchurch Academy Trust Annual Report to Parents and Carers, and to do so for the first time as Chair of Trustees.
Mr Matthew Pepper
Stepping into this role is an honour, and I would like to begin by expressing our deep gratitude to Gillian Thumpston, who has led the Trust with exceptional dedication since its formation in 2017, and before that as a long-standing member of the Governing Body at Scargill Infant School. Under her steady leadership and wise counsel, the Trust has grown in confidence, ambition, and community impact. We are grateful that she has agreed to remain within Trust governance, ensuring continuity and the benefit of her experience.
I’m delighted to become the new Chair of Trustees. I previously served as Vice-Chair of HAT and have been a member of the Board of Trustees since the Upminster schools joined the Trust in 2018. All four of my children were educated within our Trust family and are now attending secondary school in Upminster. In my professional life, I work as a Business Manager for the Sustainability function within a global financial institution. I am hoping my extensive organisational knowledge and pragmatic approach to leadership will prove invaluable in this new role.
This year has been one of change nationally, and our Trust community of staff, pupils, parents, and governors has responded to the challenge. That sense of shared purpose has been evident across all our schools and the communities we serve, and is a testament to the Trust’s commitment to improving standards and outcomes for pupils in all of our schools, regardless of any actual or perceived barriers.
I echo our CEO’s pride in the strong Ofsted outcome at Upminster Junior School, and also the MAT Performance Measures 2025, placing Hornchurch Academy Trust in the top 7% of Trusts nationally. These achievements are a testament to the dedication of our staff and the support of our families.
Thank you for your continued trust and support. As Chair of Trustees I am deeply grateful for the way our community comes together –steadfast, caring, and committed to ensuring that every child in Hornchurch Academy Trust is given the opportunity to flourish. Together, we look to the future with optimism and shared purpose.
Effective Professional Development at scale:
• Based on a framework of six universal teaching problems, which every teacher faces.
• All staff are offered effective professional development to become the best classroom practitioners they can be.
• All staff have access to bespoke, personalised, specific and relevant support through Steplab, an online Professional Learning platform.
• Staff surveys:
• 100% – positive impact on practice.
• 100% – helped staff make lasting changes to their day-to-day practice.
• 100% – noticed impact on pupil engagement, learning & behaviour.
Secure attention Has the teacher got the students’ attention?
Create culture
Has the teacher built the necessary routines, environment and behaviour of learning?
ENVIRONMENT
Optimise communication Is the teacher presenting ideas in a manageable way for students?
Drive thought Is the teacher pushing students to think hard?
Gather & give feedback
Is the teacher assessing learning and responding?
Ensure consolidation
Is the teacher helping students to consolidate their learning?
Our aim is to provide all pupils at HAT with a highly inclusive, high-quality curriculum that offers both breadth and challenge, preparing them for future learning and the next stage of their education. Leaders across HAT have collaborated to design a progressive, wellsequenced Trust-wide curriculum, which is implemented consistently across our schools. Our curriculum is continuously evolving. Leaders regularly evaluate its impact through termly subject leader networks, alongside focused working groups that adapt and refine content based on feedback from pupils and staff. We recognise the importance of teachers’ time, so these groups also prioritise the development of high-impact, efficient tasks. This year, leaders have introduced a range of mid-unit and end-of-unit assessment tasks to support teachers in identifying misconceptions and areas where learning requires further consolidation.
At HAT, we have expanded our team of Leading Practitioners across Maths, English, EYFS, Music, History, Geography and Science. These highly skilled teachers play a vital role in driving curriculum development. They also support colleagues by assisting with lesson sequencing, delivering INSET sessions, modelling high-quality teaching, and providing coaching.
We enrich our curriculum through a wide range of experiences that add depth and meaning to pupils’ learning. Each school organises its own enrichment opportunities, making the most of local areas and partnerships. Pupils also benefit from visits further afield, including London’s museums and historic sites in Kent and Essex. In addition, our older pupils develop independence and personal skills through outdoor residential experiences.
We are proud of our current successes but remain committed to continuous improvement.
We are also pleased to report that the Trust is performing in the top 7% in the country according to performance measures published in March 2026. We are also in the top 3% for disadvantaged performance. While celebrating the individual identity of each school, we believe our collective strength enables us to deliver superior outcomes for children that transcend what any single institution could accomplish in isolation.
In response to the DfE white paper, Hornchurch Academy Trust is actively advancing a transformative approach to inclusion, setting a benchmark for excellence across our schools.
We are currently paving the way for a comprehensive Trust Wide Inclusion Strategy, researching best practices and collaborating with high level partners like RISE to ensure our future provision is deeply impactful.
This forward thinking leadership was recently spotlighted during London RISE Fortnight, where we hosted events showcasing our expertise in ‘Removing Barriers through a Universal Design for Learning.’
Our Universal Offer is the foundation of our commitment to every child, ensuring high quality, inclusive teaching is available to all from day one.
We plan around needs rather than diagnosis, integrating adaptive teaching strategies directly into daily classroom practice. By establishing these adjustments as our standard provision, we remove learning barriers early and create a culture where every pupil feels they truly belong.
At Hornchurch Academy Trust, we go beyond basic requirements, constantly refining our practice to ensure every pupil has the opportunity to thrive and achieve, regardless of their starting point.
Building on our evolving strategy, all Hornchurch Academy Trust schools are now pursuing the Inclusion Quality Mark.
This national award provides a rigorous framework to validate and enhance our provision, ensuring exceptional, consistent practice across the Trust. By working toward this accreditation collectively, our schools are sharing expertise and building a powerful collaborative network that benefits every pupil.
The IQM process offers an objective lens to move our provision to true excellence. By streamlining systems and sharing unique strengths, we are quality assuring our promise to families: that every child, regardless of the school they attend, receives an education tailored to their individual needs.
Following on from the DfE’s Best Start initiative, the Trust has developed their own Best Start 0-5 strategy. This is a comprehensive, integrated approach designed to ensure children are developmentally ready for school while closing the disadvantage gap.
Early Outreach & Readiness:
The Trust collaborates with local private/ voluntary providers (PVIs) and uses home visits to assess and support school readiness before a child even starts.
Targeted Education & Inclusion:
Focus is placed on meeting developmental milestones by removing barriers to learning. This is driven by the mantra: Achieve, Belong, Thrive.
Integrated Support:
Services are decentralised through Community Hubs, working closely with external agencies to provide holistic support for families.
Data-Led Strategy:
The Trust has set a clear target of 75% school readiness by 2028, with a specific focus on bridging the gap for disadvantaged students and establishing strong attendance habits early.
The Social Contract:
Engagement is built on trust and belonging. By offering various parent workshops and being active within community hubs, the Trust creates a “social contract” with families to support their child’s journey.
Foundational Literacy & Numeracy:
Aligned with RISE (Regional Improvement for Standards and Excellence) priorities, the curriculum focuses on “Strong Foundations”: word reading, spelling, handwriting, early maths, and high-quality adultchild interactions.
Purposeful Environments:
Our EYFS learning spaces are designed to be inclusive and universal, meeting SEND requirements and adhering to high-quality best practice to support all learners.
This approach is reflected in our successful nursery at Scargill Infant School. Moving from this established nursery to a new school-based nursery at Shears Green Infant School allows us to take those “Strong Foundations” directly into the design phase.
Our 2025/26 highlights:
• Key Stage 2 SATs results 2025 above or in line with national average
• Gold Level Transport For London (TFL) Award
• London Children Flower Society Whitlock Challenge Award
• Woodland Trust Silver Award
• Hosted sessions for the London RISE Open Education Fortnight on a Universal design for Inclusive Practice
• Registered and aiming to achieve the IQM (Inclusion Quality Mark) award in late 2026
• Bikeability training offered to all year groups
• Host school for a community KS2 Writing moderation event for the fourth year running.
What Parents think of our school:
“The school community is like an extended family.”
“Pupils’ behaviour is exemplary. They strive to be the best they can be and support their peers to do the same.”
OFSTED
Community fundraising:
• Hello Yellow (Children’s Mental Health) – £168.70
• MacMillan Coffee Morning – £13.00
• Children in Need – £200.84
• Reindeer Run – £1100 for King George & Queen’s Hospital Charity
• Poppy Appeal – £331.69
• Easter Fun Run for OPAL Resources – £584.21
• Dare to be Different – £23.00 (for Sycamore Trust)
Our 2025/26 highlights:
• Phonics and End of KS1 results for 2025 well above national averages
• TCS London Mini Marathon participants for the 2nd year running
• Working with OPAL and our families to improve our outside learning spaces
• Expanded our nursery from 24 full time spaces to 48
• Registered and aiming to achieve the IQM (Inclusion Quality Mark) award in 2026/2027
• Participated in the Young Voices Concert at the O2 London Arena
• Formed a partnership with the Havering HEST team and PINS project
• Our Community Hub goes from strength to strength: wraparound provision, Toddler Tuesday, workshops and coffee mornings are all taking place.
What Parents think of our school:
“If my child is happy at school we are happy too. Thank you for your patience and responsibility.”
“A fantastic school with a real sense of community. We feel lucky to be part of it.”
“The staff go above and beyond to make learning fun and engaging. We couldn’t ask for more.”
Community fundraising:
• Wear it Pink – £190
• MacMillan Coffee Morning – £45
• Reindeer Run for King George & Queens Hospital Charity – £1462.85
• Choir Concerts for King George & Queens Hospital Charity – £81.36
• Poppy Appeal – £145.16
• Red Nose Day – £200
• Dare to be Different – £114
“Brilliant Infant School.”
Our 2025/26 highlights:
• Key Stage 2 SATs results 2025 above or in line with national average
• Gold Level Transport For London (TFL) Award
• Registered and aiming to achieve the IQM (Inclusion Quality Mark) award in late 2026.
• Awarded Platinum for our OPAL (Outdoor Play and Learning) provision
• Awarded School Games Gold Award
• Awarded Primary Geography Quality Mark
• Awarded Primary Science Quality Mark
• Participated in the TCS Mini London Marathon in schools
• Participated in the Young Voices Concert at the O2 London Arena
• Formed a partnership with the Havering HEST team and PINS project.
“Thank you for supporting my child in your lovely school.”
What Parents think of our school:
“My children are always happy at school. They have developed well and we are very pleased we chose Scargill.”
“This school is very good and excellent for every child. The teachers are very positive, kind, and brilliant. I highly recommend this school to everyone.”
Community fundraising:
• MacMillan Coffee Morning –£772.39
• Wear it Pink – £223.51
• Children in Need – £162.75
• Reindeer Run – £610 for King George & Queen’s Hospital Charity
• Red Nose Day – £369.51
• Number Day – £176.22
• World Book Day – £52.35
• Christmas Jumper Day – £142
• Dare to be Different – £176.22 (for Sycamore Trust)
• Mini-Marathon & Bake Sale – £750 for The Freeman Heart and Lung Transplant Association
Our 2025/26 highlights:
• 84% of Year 2 children achieved the expected standard in Reading, 80% in Writing and 88% in Maths June 2025. 88% of Year 1 children, achieving the expected phonics standards (2025)
• Continual development and refurbished of additional learning areas including designated sensory spaces
• Working with OPAL (Outdoor Play and Learning) to enhance pupil engagement during lunch
• Winner of Quad kid athletics for June 2026
• Gold award for the Travel Plan
• Attendance average is 96.6%. Persistent Absentees is 7.1%
• Relationships with the local community continued to move from strength to strength. The school continues to provide a range of extra-curricular clubs that enhance pupil’s personal development and compliment wider SEMH work
What Parents think of our school:
“We are extremely lucky to have a school like this in Upminster and it is truly the heart of our community.”
“My
child started school in September and is absolutely thriving and is really happy coming to school. As a parent, this is all I could wish for.”
Community fundraising:
The school has a highly active PFA who have raised approximately £24,500.00 this year. They have recently helped the school create a new outside play area.
• Jeans for Genes – £205.00
• St Francis Hospice – £300.00
• British Legion’s Poppy Appeal –£246.80
• Children in Need – £153.20
• Red Nose – £185.00
“My daughter loves her teacher and she has come on in leaps and bounds since being at the school.”
Our 2025/26 highlights:
• Key Stage 2 SATs results 2025 significantly above national average
• 3rd highest achieving school in Havering
• Proportion of pupils achieving 25 / 25 in the Y4 Multiplication Check 41% above national average
• Successful Ofsted across all areas
• Opening of our outdoor sensory area for all pupils
• 152 pupils took part in Young Voices at the O2
• Year 5 and Year 6 girls’ football team became the best in Havering
• Y5 and Y6 mixed rugby tournament winners
• Both cross country teams came 1st place during the Havering cross country event
• Hosting numerous parent coffee mornings –maths, reading and SEND
• Site upgrades have included KS2 bespoke wall art, linked to History and Geography, and media walls in Lower Key Stage 2
• Becoming a smartphone-free school.
“Upminster Junior School has gone above and beyond for all of my children, providing them with a fantastic grounding for the next stage of their learning. The quality of teaching, the supportive atmosphere and the care shown to each child are exceptional. My children are thriving both academically and personally, and I feel incredibly fortunate to be part of such a remarkable school community.”
“My child feels very happy at UJS – staff are very supportive and clearly care about each and every child as individuals.”
Community fundraising:
• Stubbers – £52
• School Parliament have raised £1400 for school resources
• St Francis Hospice – £300.00
• British Legion’s Poppy Appeal –£246.80
• Royal British Legion – £356.77
• PFA – £24.500
• Sycamore Trust – £140.00
• Little Havens £1,231
• Books for schools – £1,759.63
Our 2025/26 highlights:
• Awarded PLATINUM for our OPAL (Outdoor Play and Learning) provision
• Building upgrades have included: new entrance, new office space, canopies demolished and renewed, air conditioning in five classrooms and electric car charging ports
• Successful in our application for DfE funding for a School-Based Nursery. Plans for this are underway and we are due to open in September 2026
• Registered and aiming to achieve the IQM (Inclusion Quality Mark) award in 2026/2027
• New foodbank set up in school to support our parents.
• Continued relationship with EWT (Emotional Wellbeing Team) offering workshops to parents
• Achieved the Healthy Schools Award
• Joined the Woodland Trust’s Green Tree School Awards programme
• Continued to have a wide variety of visitors and trips to enhance and enrich our curriculum.
“My Daughter is very happy and the staff that I have had interactions with have always been kind and helpful.”
What Parents think of our school:
“The staff and teachers are excellent they go above and beyond. Always keeping me up to date with my child’s education.”
(Parent survey Feb 2026)
• Jeans 4 Genes – £111.23
• Macmillan Coffee Morning –£291.38 • Children in Need – £374 • Poppy Appeal – £538.18
Red Nose Day – £51.67
School Fundraising - £2881.87
“Honestly hands down the best school, I was nervous about my son starting but he proved me wrong and made me feel at ease each day he comes home smiling and eager to go in the next day.” Community fundraising:
At HAT, we believe that career development is not just about progression, but unlocking potential. Many of our staff have grown, progressed and achieved new milestones with the support, training and opportunities we provide. We are proud to share inspiring stories from colleagues whose journeys reflect how HAT invests in its people, helping them to thrive and shape brighter futures for themselves and our community.
Amber started her career as an ECT at Scargill Infant School before progressing to Deputy Head. She later went on to become Trust SENDCo, then Director of Inclusion.
Donna first started as a parent volunteer at Whybridge Junior School before beginning her teacher training. Donna later went on to become Assistant Head of School and Group SENDCo.
Maria joined HAT as a Midday Supervisor, before going on to become A Teaching Assistant. As a TA, Maria trained as an ELSA and became The Family Support Worker at WJS, before taking on the lead role of HAT Community Hub Coordinator.
Anne started her career with HAT as an ECT at Whybridge Junior School. She progressed to Year Group and Phase Lead, before taking on the role of Deputy Head of School at Upminster Junior School.
Gemma started her career as an ECT at Scargill Junior School. She has taught all year groups in KS2 and now leads on SEND and inclusion at the school.
Megan started her career as an ECT at Scargill Infant School and developed a real passion for working in EYFS. She is now the Trust Lead for EYFS and also leads the Nursery.
This year marked a significant milestone for our Early Years provision across the Trust, driven by our commitment to ensuring every child receives the Best Start in Life. Thanks to successful bids for the Government’s School-Based Nursery Grant, we have successfully expanded our capacity to deliver high-quality early education. At Scargill Infant School, this funding enabled the creation of “The Hive,” a new learning environment that now operates alongside “Keepers Cottage.”
Building upon the successful momentum generated at Scargill, the Trust has secured an additional £137,000 in Government funding to establish a brand-new nursery provision at Shears Green Infant School. Opening in September 2026, the nursery will expand access to high-quality early education and help young learners thrive from day one.
HAT opened its first Community Hub based at the Scargill site in September 2025. Services we offer at HATCH (HAT Community Hub):
• Health Services and advice – helping with health issues for pre-school and school aged children.
• Havering Emotional Support Team – advising about your child’s emotional wellbeing.
• Stay and Play Sessions – sessions for parents and toddlers to connect with other families.
• School Readiness Support – working with parents and children to ensure everyone gets the best start in life.
• SEND Support – advice, support and guidance from experienced professionals.
