AEP join unions to warn government that academy trust plans 'will reinforce and exacerbate fragmentation'

Unions representing teachers, specialists and school staff have warned that government plans for every state school to join an academy trust will reinforce and exacerbate fragmentation of schools and divert money away from pupils.

After more than two decades of academisation, the education system has become increasingly complex and atomised, with inconsistent transparency, weak local accountability and decision‑making often remote from parents, staff and communities. Serious concerns about excessive chief executive pay and insufficient financial oversight remain unresolved.

With schools facing severe funding pressures, the unions believe it is unjustifiable to divert scarce public resources into further structural reorganisation. The White Paper provides no costings for converting every school, raising major questions about value for money. They also warn that the upheaval will divert leadership time away from delivering the significant SEND reforms set out in the White Paper.

Employment practices in too many trusts have undermined staff workload, wellbeing and pay, contributing to a worsening recruitment and retention crisis among teachers and support staff. Research shows there is no clear evidence that academisation improves educational outcomes, while parents consistently prioritise teaching quality and support over school structures.

In a joint statement the unions are urging ministers to work with the education workforce on reforms that strengthen collaboration, restore coherence and ensure transparent use of public funds. They highlight that schools can already collaborate effectively through existing models, such as federations, without losing local democratic oversight or incurring the financial costs associated with further academisation.