Organisation representing school partnerships says DfE has no vision for “forcing” schools into academy status
Camden town hall. The north London council is not embracing an all-academy future. Image: iStock.
Area-Based Education Partnerships Association says schools will still have the freedom not to choose academy status. Also in our diary: Catholic trust launches follow-up action following Times report. But will its “review” be the “independent investigation” sought? And: former academies minister’s chain refuses to meet concerned parents. Finally, largest trust set to break the 100-school barrier. But why is one academy missing?
Schools group praises DfE for not forcing an all-academy system
Schools will continue to have the freedom to operate outside of the academies sector – for the foreseeable future, at least, according to a grouping of institutions across several local authorities.
The Area-Based Education Partnerships Association (AEPA) is of the view that the government’s recently-published white paper leaves open the space for schools to continue to operate in the local authority maintained sector, despite the Department for Education’s statement that it wants all to be in “school trusts” at some point in the future.
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By Warwick Mansell for EDUCATION UNCOVERED
Published: 16 June 2026
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