diff --git a/pipeline/dags/school_data_pipeline.py b/pipeline/dags/school_data_pipeline.py
index b8f85da..79529ab 100644
--- a/pipeline/dags/school_data_pipeline.py
+++ b/pipeline/dags/school_data_pipeline.py
@@ -38,6 +38,30 @@ default_args = {
     "retry_delay": timedelta(minutes=5),
 }
 
+# The backend caches the marts DataFrame at startup; after any rebuild the
+# cache must be invalidated or the API serves stale (or empty) data until the
+# container restarts.
+INVALIDATE_CACHE_CMD = """
+set -e
+BACKEND_URL="${BACKEND_URL:-http://backend:80}"
+ADMIN_KEY="${ADMIN_API_KEY:-changeme}"
+
+echo "Calling $BACKEND_URL/api/admin/reload ..."
+
+response=$(curl -s -o /tmp/reload_response.json -w "%{http_code}" \\
+    -X POST "$BACKEND_URL/api/admin/reload" \\
+    -H "X-API-Key: $ADMIN_KEY" \\
+    -H "Content-Type: application/json")
+
+echo "HTTP status: $response"
+cat /tmp/reload_response.json
+
+if [ "$response" != "200" ]; then
+    echo "ERROR: backend cache reload failed (HTTP $response)"
+    exit 1
+fi
+"""
+
 
 # ── Daily DAG (GIAS + downstream) ──────────────────────────────────────
 
@@ -91,7 +115,12 @@ print(f'Validation passed: {{count}} GIAS rows')
         bash_command=f"cd {PIPELINE_DIR} && python scripts/sync_typesense.py",
     )
 
-    extract_group >> validate_raw >> dbt_build >> sync_typesense
+    invalidate_cache = BashOperator(
+        task_id="invalidate_cache",
+        bash_command=INVALIDATE_CACHE_CMD,
+    )
+
+    extract_group >> validate_raw >> dbt_build >> sync_typesense >> invalidate_cache
 
 
 # ── Monthly DAG (Ofsted) ───────────────────────────────────────────────
@@ -121,7 +150,12 @@ with DAG(
         bash_command=f"cd {PIPELINE_DIR} && python scripts/sync_typesense.py",
     )
 
-    extract_ofsted >> dbt_build_ofsted >> sync_typesense_ofsted
+    invalidate_cache_ofsted = BashOperator(
+        task_id="invalidate_cache",
+        bash_command=INVALIDATE_CACHE_CMD,
+    )
+
+    extract_ofsted >> dbt_build_ofsted >> sync_typesense_ofsted >> invalidate_cache_ofsted
 
 
 # ── Annual DAG (EES: KS2, KS4, Census, Admissions) ───────────────────
@@ -153,7 +187,12 @@ with DAG(
         bash_command=f"cd {PIPELINE_DIR} && python scripts/sync_typesense.py",
     )
 
-    extract_ees_group >> dbt_build_ees >> sync_typesense_ees
+    invalidate_cache_ees = BashOperator(
+        task_id="invalidate_cache",
+        bash_command=INVALIDATE_CACHE_CMD,
+    )
+
+    extract_ees_group >> dbt_build_ees >> sync_typesense_ees >> invalidate_cache_ees
 
 
 # ── Annual DAG (IDACI Deprivation) ────────────────────────────────────