Do DfE white paper proposals move England towards blanket academisation, or not? What an almighty mess
Where is the DfE going with its academies policy? The SEND white paper leaves much unclear. Image: iStock.
Government seems curiously reluctant to talk about “academy trusts,” preferring the less specific term “school trusts”. Which makes it unclear what its intentions are.
Most media discussion of yesterday’s education white paper is focusing on its reform of special educational needs. And rightly so, given that this is the main point of the document, and a subject of huge importance to many people, including my own family.
However, of especial interest to Education Uncovered is the section of this document which has not received overwhelming coverage so far, and yet which has far-reaching implications for aspects of policymaking which are constantly under scrutiny by this website.
I am talking, of course, about the section which appears to be about the academies policy – though the a-word seems remarkably – and confusingly – absent from much of what it says.
These are early days, as we seek to digest the full implications of this far-reaching document, whose title is “Every Child Achieving and Thriving”, and with some details seemingly left for further setting-out in future papers.
But, from my initial attempt to understand what is set out here, the section on a greater role for “school trusts” appears to be a dog’s breakfast – a complete mess, beset by vagueness even over basic terminology.
The problems:
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By Warwick Mansell for EDUCATION UNCOVERED
Published: 24 February 2026
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I think you're right. The DfE has been captured by the academy lobby and the potential for this govt and new sec of state for educ to sort things out appears to have been de-railed by powerful and influential figures like Cruddas. Very depressing.
An exceptional piece of analysis. A white paper for lobbyists. The continued lack of joined up thinking is a concern. Ideologues will be pleased that a right wing agenda is alive and well. However, maybe there is some powerful politics going on here and if it stimulates a fundamental debate and a rethink that would be interesting. Not sure though that Bridget could say no to Leora. In the 1970s the government was at the mercy of the unions, now it’s the lobbyist! Let self interest rule as the quiet invisible majority stay quiet.
Warwick = great questions, but first analogy that comes to mind is 'Back to the Future'? In earlier days we had Umbrella trusts whereby the joining academies retained their autonomy. We also had much activity after 2010 (David Hargreaves) about school-led self-improvement though partnership, followed by TSAs and many examples of soft federations. If we go to this White Paper and explore motives, there does appear to be interest in enhancing children's learning experiences. Someone (maybe even you) mentioned the Cooperative School trusts which followed core principles. Is the government revisiting some of these issues and got confused over the word 'trust'?
The DfE has absolutely been captured by the Academy Trust lobby with so many of its key advisors either current or ex CEOs as are people in key positions in other parts of the education world (e.g. Ofsted) and often the more controversial trusts at that. It is unsurprising the inclusion bill includes this measure as the inclusion advisor is the CEO of a trust who has stated that inclusion would be better if all schools were in Academy Trusts. Cruddas is a paid lobbyist so would of course support this. Academy Trusts are BY DESIGN anti-democratise. They get their funding and their authority from the DfE, many of them trample over the rights of parents and the local communities, and there has been scandal after scandal after scandal the latest of which at Mossbourne should have resulted in much more severe action than has taken place. If they were truly "civic" organisation they would operate under the Nolan principles.