The Learning Trust is the UK's first private, and importantly, not-for profit company to take over the responsibility of running education services, replacing Hackney's Local Education Authority (LEA) in the running of all education services in Hackney.

We are now responsible for the East London borough's schools, day nurseries, the play service and the adult education service. We are committed to improving standards for Hackney's 27,000 children in 73 schools across the borough.

The Learning Trust:

• recruits teachers
• maintains schools
• operates school transport
• manages the administration of education in Hackney including finances
• coordinates early years and play
• provides IT including a Wide Area Network for schools
• promotes lifelong learning and adult education
• provides for children's special educational needs

We want all Hackney students to have the best possible educational opportunities, cutting edge facilities and resources. One of our main priorities is the renewal of secondary education in Hackney including an ambitious programme to build new schools and rebuild and refurbish all our exsisting secondary schools.

We are dedicated to recruiting and retaining quality staff and increasing capital investment in education to benefit schools, adult learners and the wider community.

The Trust employs 750 staff to work with the borough's education providers. Its chair is Richard Hardie and the Chief Executive is Alan Wood, former Director of Education at Hackney LEA. We are enjoying and benefiting from effective working relationships with our key partners.

The Trust's Board includes head teachers and a school governor, and will concentrate on listening to the priorities, aims and expectations of the local community.

We strive to operate in an open way, accountable to the Department for Education and Skills (DfES ), Hackney Council, external auditors and OFSTED. We answer to our stakeholders, who include parents, pupils, staff, governors and members of the wider community and strive to engage them in our decision-making processes.