AP’s place in the school system

The recent Schools White Paper set a clear direction, and not just about the full academisation of the school system under a MAT-led system. In it is also an aspiration to rebalance the way the system is organised away from competition and towards collaboration, especially with regards to the inclusion of at-risk children.

But what does that look like for those who find their way to alternative provision settings? A recent report from the Commission on Young Lives bemoans the poor quality of AP, while advocates for the sector feel they are marginalised from policy and their successes ignored. So how could a MAT-led system transform these vital schools, and what will it take to deliver real change for these vulnerable young people?