Question to the Department for Education:

To ask the Secretary of State for Education, if he will confirm that he will not bring forward legislative proposals to compel schools to join multi-academy trusts.

The schools white paper set out a clear ambition for all schools to have joined, or be in the process of joining, strong trusts by 2030. Strong trusts act as a family of schools, enabling collaboration and the sharing of expertise.

The policies the department sets out will remove the barriers preventing schools from benefiting from the support of a strong trust. This will ensure that all parts can contribute to building a single, coherent system.

The department will engage with the sector on how best to achieve a fully trust-led system, where every school can benefit from the support of a strong multi-academy trust.