By Carole Bennett, CEO
Collaboration and community have never been more important than in the ever-evolving landscape of education. HFL Education (previously Herts for Learning) was founded in 2013 by schools, trusts, education settings and Hertfordshire Local Authority. The aim was to ensure that all schools, whatever their legal status and age range, could focus on working together to create local strength. Our founders and shareholders believed that, by sharing experience, curiosity, passion and evidence-based practice across areas and between key stages, we could create an eco-system that would weather difficulties, build strength and embed aspiration in and between educational communities.
Since 2013, based on the early success of local partnerships, a number of area-based partnerships have been formed, including in Camden, Sheffield, Haringey, Surrey, Hounslow and Birmingham. Whilst all of these bodies work in different ways, they work with but are independent of local authorities, embedding the culture of a “family of schools”, bridging national policy and local practice. Local, area-based organisations step in to support government initiatives but shape them around the local priorities of their regions, filling operational and strategic gaps experienced by their local communities.
As the models of partnership have matured, the local groups working together have been able to share what has worked well and lessons learnt for the benefit of each other – expanding local collaboration to enable national impact.
At HFL, we’re incredibly proud to be a part of AEPA, the Area-based Education Partnerships Association. Being a member of this dynamic network allows us to contribute to and benefit from a wealth of shared knowledge and experience. It’s a two-way street, where we can both offer our expertise and learn from the innovative practices of our peers. We have been able to work with other partnerships to share projects and learning around attendance, recruitment, economic exclusion, reading, inclusion and a whole range of live issues, and feed these learnings into our support for and work with schools. We are proud to note that areas with a local, area-based partnership have strong histories of high standards, good outcomes and community cohesion in and between schools.
Crucially, the government has now recently signalled its support for localism in education and for working across the maintained and academy sectors to tackle key issues. The development of the new RISE (regional improvement for standards and excellence) teams in the DfE are one manifestation of this status-agnostic localism. The 20 advisers to the DfE announced in February 2025 are called from trusts, local authorities and fellow AEPA members.
Looking ahead, we’re excited about the opportunities that lie in our continued collaboration with AEPA. Together we can tackle the challenges of today and tomorrow, ensuring that every school within our network has the support it needs to thrive.
Area-based Education Partnerships Association (AEPA)
Find out more about AEPA and their annual conference in 2025, featuring Sir Kevan Collins.
Plus other AEPA round table events, sharing stories and learning from across the AEPA regions.
Alternatively follow HFL social media to learn more about our work.
