Government officials are working on white paper proposals to encourage all schools to join a group, sources briefed on the plans have said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
It is not known how Labour would define a school \u2018group\u2019. However, it is understood the plan would not force schools into new structures.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Institute of School Business Leadership chief Stephen Morales believes Labour\u2019s schools white paper is \u201clikely\u201d to include \u201cencouragement for schools to collaborate and not operate as islands\u201d. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cGroups of schools coming together makes absolute sense and it’s probably the most sustainable way for our system to prevail given the fiscal backdrop.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The Conservative government tried through various white papers to force schools to join trusts, but the plans always failed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The 2022 white paper included a target for all schools to be in \u201cstrong\u201d multi-academy trusts by 2030. There was also an expectation most trusts would have at least 10 schools, or 7,500 pupils. However the plan was later ditched.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
DfE did not want to comment. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Trusts are not the only school group. Some councils have federations of schools, and other schools also have looser partnerships.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
A report by Kreston auditors showed small MATs \u2013 those with fewer than 3,000 pupils \u2013 had, on average, surpluses \u201cof just \u00a31,000 [last year] compared to \u00a3203,000 in 2022\u201d. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Primary and secondary single-academy trusts also tended to be in deficit, according to the analysis. <\/p>\n\n\n\n