A Hull education trust leading more than a dozen regional schools has been served with a Government notice to improve following a whistleblowing investigation which laid bare financial management and governance concerns.
The Hull Collaborative Academy Trust (HCAT) operates 16 schools in and around Hull, the East Riding of Yorkshire and North Yorkshire, including 15 primary schools and secondary school Marvell College. Now the Trust –which has more than 6,000 pupils across the region – faces being terminated and referred to the charity commission after being served with a Department for Education (DfE) notice to improve.
The move comes on the back of a whistleblowing investigation that uncovered 12 breaches of the Academy Trust Handbook, according to the notice published by the Government department. While the DfE acknowledged that the trust has taken “some action” to address matters, the notice states that the “extent of issues identified means that the department does not have sufficient assurance of good financial management and governance within the trust”.
The breaches highlighted in the notice include failures to maintain complete and accurate registers of interests for members, trustees, and senior employees, as well as a failure to consistently identify and record close family and business relationships. The DfE also cited a failure to demonstrate “regularity, propriety and value for money,” noting that in several instances, the trust could not evidence that public funds were used solely for the purposes intended by Parliament.
Additional findings highlighted in the report include inadequate record keeping, with documentation regarding recruitment, pay, appraisal, leave, expenses, and procurement found to be insufficient. It also highlights unapproved spending, saying the trust failed to seek necessary approval for “novel, contentious or repercussive” expenditure, including overseas travel by senior leaders.
Now, as a result of the notice, the trust has had its delegated authorities revoked. That means the trust is now banned from authorising a range of significant financial actions without seeking permission beforehand, from the DfE’s Schools Financial Support and Oversight (SFSO) team.
The trust now has to put in place a comprehensive improvement plan with a number of requirements—including updating policies on related party transactions, recruitment, and pay—due by October 1, 2026. It must also provide the DfE with monthly progress updates, management accounts, and board meeting minutes for the duration of the notice.
The trust is required to publish the Notice to Improve on its website within 14 days of its publication on gov.uk. The notice warns the trust that if it fails to fulfill the conditions, the Government will “explore the contractual intervention options available,” which could eventually lead to the termination of the trust’s funding agreement. In the event of continued non-compliance, the DfE stated it may refer the matter to the Charity Commission or the Insolvency Service for further investigation.
The schools under the HCAT umbrella include Bellfield Primary School, Collingwood Primary School, Dorchester Primary School, Eastfield Primary School, Longhill Primary School, The Marvell College, Pearson Primary School, Stockwell Academy, Sutton Park Primary School, Thoresby Primary School, Wansbeck Primary School, Westcott Primary School, and Wheeler Primary School, all in Hull. It also covers Gilberdyke Primary School, Malton Primary Academy in North Yorkshire, and Withernsea Primary School.
A statement from the Trustees of Hull Collaborative Academy Trust said many of the required actions have already been addressed. It said: “We can confirm that Hull Collaborative Academy Trust has received a Notice to Improve from the Department for Education following a review process that began in 2024.
“The Notice relates to historic Trust-level systems, processes, and governance arrangements. It does not relate to the quality of education, teaching or care provided in our schools, which continue to deliver strong outcomes and positive experiences for children and young people across our communities.
“Over recent years, the Trust has undertaken a significant programme of improvement across governance, finance, operations and organisational systems. This work has been led collaboratively by the Board of Trustees and executive leadership team, with a clear focus on strengthening accountability, transparency and organisational effectiveness.
“Alongside this, an independent external review was commissioned to examine the findings and governance arrangements referenced during the process. The review was undertaken by an organisation with no prior relationship with the Trust and has helped inform the improvements already implemented.
“The Trust has also benefited from a substantially new Board of Trustees, bringing fresh perspectives and strengthened governance and oversight. As a result, many of the actions reflected within the Notice have already been addressed, with further work continuing in partnership with the Department for Education.
“Our focus remains firmly on delivering the very best education for pupils, supporting our staff and communities, and ensuring the organisation continues to operate to the highest possible standards. We are committed to ongoing improvement and welcome the opportunity to build on the progress already made.”
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