The Government’s White Paper sets out an ambitious and aspirational vision for the future of education, which we warmly welcome.
For more than a decade, HFL Education has played a central role in supporting school improvement, strengthening leadership and ensuring that the needs of our schools shape our solutions.
As an area-based Education Partnership our focus has been on sharing and developing best practice to ensure all schools – whether maintained or academies - have the tools and resources they need to succeed and that every child gets the education they deserve.
We are pleased to see the contribution of Local Education Partnerships like HFL Education recognised for the first time in a national policy document, and we welcome the White Paper’s acknowledgement of the impact that partnership‑led approaches are already delivering.
We remain committed to our collaborative, school-led approach and working with local partners, our colleagues in the national Area-based Education Partnerships Association (AEPA) and policymakers and stakeholders at every level to continue to improve educational outcomes for all children and young people.
The White Paper introduces a number of high‑level strategic proposals, including potential developments around local authority trusts and local partnership trusts.
These ideas suggest how the system might evolve in the coming years, but they remain at an early stage and will be subject to a consultation period.
We look forward to working closely with the Department for Education, RISE, HCC, our school communities and wider policy teams to explore the practical implications of the White Paper during this consultation period.
Our priority is to ensure that any future arrangements build on the strengths of existing local partnerships, maintain coherence for schools and continue to deliver strong educational outcomes for children.
As with any early‑stage vision document, further detail will be required before schools, trusts, local authorities and organisations like ours can make informed decisions.
It is important that we all take the time to fully consider the proposals contained in the White Paper and do not rush into early decisions. The political process still has some time to run and partnerships can play an important role in shaping the policy debate and determining its final outcome.
Born out of the reforms to the education sector in the mid-2010s, Local Education Partnerships have a proven track record of guiding schools and trusts through periods of change in a measured, prioritised and evidence‑led way. We will continue to provide that stability, clarity and local intelligence as the policy landscape develops.
We recognise that the White Paper has prompted questions about future structures, including the potential role of MATs.
For some areas, MAT development may become a relevant option; for others, it may not.
At this stage, nothing in the White Paper requires schools to pursue academisation, and the DfE has been clear that there is no intention to introduce forced academisation beyond schools causing concern.
It is therefore important that schools and trusts do not feel pressured into rapid or speculative decisions based on early interpretations of the White Paper or commentary around it.
HFL stands ready to contribute constructively to the next phase of national policy development.
From our experience of bringing school communities together, we know that there is real strength in collaboration and that this can take many forms.
We are committed to working collaboratively with the DfE to shape a system that is coherent, sustainable and responsive to local and national needs, while providing schools and trusts with the reassurance and practical guidance they need during a period of potential change.
We reiterate our strong welcome for the White Paper’s aspirations. Its emphasis on ambition, coherence and high‑quality provision aligns closely with the values and purpose that have guided us since our inception.
We share the Government’s desire to build a system that delivers excellence for every child and we look forward to helping translate that vision into practical, locally informed action.
