Minet Infant and Nursery School is currently consulting on a proposal to join the Middlesex Learning Partnership (MLP).

Please click the link below to find out more about MLP.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Joining Middlesex Learning Partnership (MLP) – a multi-academy trust

What is an academy?

Academies are state-funded, non-fee-paying schools in England which operate independently of local authorities (LAs). Academies have more freedoms than schools under local authority control. When a school becomes an academy, the employees of the school become employees of the academy, or of the MAT if the school is joining a Multi Academy Trust.

What is a multi-academy trust (MAT)?

Multi-academy trusts, or MATs, are charities responsible for running two or more academies. MATs are single legal entities, with one set of trustees. A handful of MATs are very large, with 40 or more schools; most MATs are much smaller than this, having between two and 10 schools. The MAT is governed by a board of trustees who are unpaid volunteers. Each school in Middlesex Learning Partnership retains its own headteacher, staff, governing body, uniform, name, curriculum, and day-to-day character.

Why is our school thinking of joining Middlesex Learning Partnership?

The governors believe that joining an established, successful trust like MLP will give us the best possible opportunity to continue delivering excellent, inclusive education for our children and families. Joining the trust will give us access to a supportive network of other local schools and will help us to share knowledge and expertise with other schools.

Trust membership will also bring:

• Stronger professional support for teachers and leaders
• Better training and career opportunities for staff
• Access to specialist expertise, for example in SEND, safeguarding, finance and HR
• The opportunity to make even more efficient use of money, for example by buying some things collectively across schools in the trust
• Greater long-term stability in a changing educational landscape.

Will the school’s name change?

No. The school will keep its current name.

Will the uniform change?

No. There are no plans to change the uniform.

Will the headteacher or staff leave?

No. The headteacher and all current staff transfer across automatically under the same terms and conditions (TUPE regulations).

Will the school day or term dates change? Will they differ from the junior school?

No. There are no plans to change school holiday dates, or the time at which school starts and finishes.

Will joining the Trust affect admissions?

No. The published admissions policy will stay exactly the same.

Will Ofsted inspections change?

No. The school will still be inspected by Ofsted, using exactly the same framework as now. However, school leaders will benefit from additional support and advice from the trust during inspections.

Will religious education or the school’s ethos change?

No. The school’s existing ethos and values are protected in law and in the funding agreement between the trust and the Department for Education.

If my child has special educational needs, or is applying for an EHCP, will it be harder to get support through the academy, as opposed to how the process currently works through Hillingdon Council?

No. The process for providing additional support for children who need it, including applying for an Education, Health and Care Plan, remains the same in both an academy and a local authority maintained school.

How would academisation affect the relationship between Infant and Junior schools and the use of shared resources? 

Academisation does not affect any shared resources or the relationship between the Juniors and Infants. We will be continuing to work closely together as we are now to give the best possible education to children at the Minet schools.

What are the safeguards for vulnerable pupils?

Under the terms of the Funding Agreement - the contract between the trust and the Secretary of State – the school has to act in exactly the same way as it does now in relation to special educational needs, behaviour, exclusions and support for vulnerable children. The inclusive ethos of the school, and of school leaders, will not change. In addition, one of the reasons we have chosen MLP is that we know they share our genuine commitment to inclusive education.

Will the school still have its own budget?

Yes. Each school in the trust has its own budget. The trust receives funding for each school directly from the government. A small percentage (usually 4–6%) of this funding is kept centrally to pay for shared services which all schools in the trust use. This saves each school money overall.

Is this about saving money or making a profit?

No. MATs are charities and cannot make a profit. All of the trust’s resources must be spent on educating the children attending trust schools.

I’ve heard that some MATs have had problems. How do we know MLP is well run?

MLP has been running successfully since 2011, with consistently strong outcomes and positive Ofsted reports across its schools. We have spoken to leaders at the schools already in the trust, and they are positive about the experience of being in MLP. Financially, MLP is in a healthy position. Full accounts are published every year on the government website and on the trust’s own site.

What happens to the school site and buildings?

The land and buildings will continue to be owned by the local authority and will be leased to the trust on a long-term basis – typically for 125 years. The trust would become responsible for maintenance and improvements and can sometimes access extra funding pots that local-authority schools cannot.

Who will make the final decision on whether to join MLP?

The Governing Body will make the final decision after listening carefully to parents/ carers, staff and the community during the consultation period in spring term 2026.

Can we change our mind later and leave the trust?

Once a school becomes an academy. it is very difficult (though not impossible) to return to the local authority. Leaving a MAT is also possible but is rare and complicated. This is why the governors are consulting fully now.

How much say will parents have if we join the trust?

Minet Infant and Nursery School will still have a local governing body, just as we always have done. The ethos of our school will not change, and you will still be consulted on anything that affects your child.

How can I find out more?

You can email questions at any time to Antony Witheyman, the independent expert who is supporting the school and the trust to decide if this is the right decision for our school. Antony can be emailed at: antony@craftededucation.co.uk

The school will publish all questions and answers, as well as a summary of the governors’ final decision, on the school website.