Buckinghamshire Learning Trust, an organization that has been a key provider of school improvement, governor support, and various educational services to numerous schools across Buckinghamshire, is set to liquidate. This decision comes as a result of shifts in national education policy that have significantly impacted its funding and operational viability.
Established in 2013, Bucks Learning Trust was initially formed to manage services outsourced by Buckinghamshire County Council. However, trustees have confirmed the cessation of trading after exploring various avenues to sustain the organization.
Despite exploring a range of options with potential partners, the trustees were unable to secure the future of the trust
This closure follows a period of considerable upheaval for the trust. Accounts indicate a “significant transformation” in 2018, which involved the transfer of council-contracted services back to County Hall. This restructuring occurred against a backdrop of sustained pressure on local authority budgets, driven by reductions in the education services grant and other crucial funding streams. The increasing trend of schools becoming academies has also diminished the demand for local authority-led support services, further straining the trust’s operational model.
Jerry Baker, from EdisonLearning, a commercial school improvement company, highlights a broader concern regarding the accessibility of support services for schools maintained by local authorities. He points out the diminishing commercial viability of these services as schools transition into academy chains, which often do not procure services from local authorities in the same way. “Some of these services aren’t commercially viable,” Baker stated, emphasizing the financial challenges faced by commercial entities compared to local authorities that can operate at a reduced cost.
A spokesperson for Bucks Learning Trust expressed regret over the closure, stating, “It is with much regret that the trustees of the Buckinghamshire Learning Trust have taken the very difficult decision to cease trading. The predominant reason for this is the continuing change in national policy for school improvement responsibilities and the consequent reduction in the funding sources available to organisations such as the trust.”
Last July marked the end of the trust’s contract with the council, prompting a shift towards a “leaner operation” reliant on traded activities. While accounts projected “strong interest” in its offerings, the financial transition proved unsustainable. In 2017, the trust had received £6.8 million from the council and employed a substantial workforce of 277 staff, including 139 teachers, illustrating its significant scale of operation at its peak.
Post-2018, Bucks Learning Trust had aimed to expand its reach “beyond Buckinghamshire,” according to company accounts. The organization’s website, which currently exhibits some inactive sections, displays a logo for the “National Learning Trust” alongside its original branding, suggesting ambitions for broader national service provision.
Bucks Learning Trust website displaying National Learning Trust logo
Financial records from 2017 indicate that Bucks Learning Trust provided governor services to an impressive 97 percent of schools. While the precise number of schools continuing to utilize its services after the council contract ended remains unclear, sources suggest that over 200 schools were still purchasing governor support services as recently as last year. At the time of ceasing operations, the trust employed 15 staff and maintained service contracts “with a number of schools.”
The trust spokesperson reiterated the unsuccessful attempts to find a sustainable path forward, “Despite exploring a range of options with potential partners, the trustees were unable to secure the future of the trust.” Efforts are underway to minimize disruption to schools, with “on-going discussions with other providers,” and creditors are to be informed of the liquidation’s implications by the appointed liquidator.
A Buckinghamshire Council spokesperson acknowledged the significant impact of the closure: “This is a great loss to those staff working for the trust and for the schools using its services.” The council is actively collaborating with Bucks Learning Trust to mitigate the impact of the closure and is “looking to find solutions to support schools who have commissioned school improvement, data protection and governor services.”
Neil Collins, a director at GovernorHub, revealed that his company is owed over £20,000 by Bucks Learning Trust, which acted as a reseller of GovernorHub products to schools. Despite this financial setback, Collins affirmed his commitment to supporting affected schools: “We’re not about to turn our backs on those schools, however, and we’re committed to continuing to provide the service to them – at our cost if that’s what it takes.”
The immediate repercussions of the closure are already being felt. Headteachers in Buckinghamshire are reportedly scrambling to reschedule a talk by the renowned educationist Dylan Wiliam, originally planned for June 7. School leaders had invested £250 per attendee for the event, which was scheduled to be held at the Bucks Learning Trust’s learning campus in Aylesbury, highlighting the immediate service disruption caused by the trust’s sudden liquidation. The closure of Bucks Learning Trust underscores the precarious landscape for educational support services amidst evolving national policies and constrained funding environments, leaving Buckinghamshire schools to navigate the resulting service gap.
