Every child deserves a life-changing education. The ambition to raise achievement, strengthen inclusion and ensure that all children thrive is one we fully share. At its best, education changes lives and communities, opening doors to opportunity and building confidence for the future. For that reason, I welcome many of the aspirations presented in “Every child achieving and thriving”, the Government’s new white paper.

Across our schools, we see daily the difference that specialist SEND provision, trained staff and strong family partnerships make. The commitment to ensuring that every secondary, and many primaries, have an inclusion base is a step in the right direction. The focus on wellbeing and belonging as foundations for achievement is one we strongly share. It will be vital, however, that these developments sit alongside a clear, sustainable role for special schools in meeting many of the most complex needs.

I also welcome the paper’s recognition of pupil, staff and family engagement as a core measure of school effectiveness. Engagement is far more than participation. It reflects how people feel about being part of a school community. As a trust, we have long used evidence-based approaches to track engagement and use that insight to improve attendance, retention and outcomes for learners. The move toward national expectations in this area represents a significant—and positive—shift toward a more human, values-led view of success.

Equally important is the acknowledgement that governance must evolve alongside system reform. Strong local governance within trust structures remains essential to ensuring schools stay rooted in their communities, responsive to families, and transparent in their decision-making. At THPT, our local boards provide that crucial layer of accountability and local insight. This aligns with the white paper’s ambition for professionalised but community-connected governance.

What is less clear from the paper is whether the Government fully understands the scale of workforce development, capital investment and system change required. Reform without sufficient funding, resourcing and time risks widening the very gaps this strategy seeks to close.