The school was formed in 2012 from a merger of Holgate School and The Kingstone School.[1] The school relocated to a new campus with facilities for leisure, cultural activities and adult learning to be used by the local community. There is capacity, if needs be, to teach groups as large as 65,[2] using classrooms with removable walls.
Previously a voluntary aided school administered by Barnsley Metropolitan Borough Council, in June 2019 Horizon Community College converted to academy status. The school is now sponsored by the Hoyland Common Academy Trust.[4] As of 2020, Nicholas Bowen is now the Executive Principal,[5] Vice Chair of Barnsley College, and the Chair of the Barnsley Schools Alliance, working two days a week to support school improvement across the borough.[6]