Time is up for the current school system
Judging by the newspaper headlines, time is up for state-funded
schools overseen by local authorities in England.
The Budget 2016, the associated education white paper
(Educational Excellence Everywhere) and the Commons Education
Select Committee's inquiry into multi-academy trust (MAT)
governance have confirmed what many suspected: the future of
state-funded schools is academy shaped and MAT governance is in
much need of support.
Introduced in 2000, academy schools were initially seen to
replace failing state-funded schools. Since 2010 there has been a
significant drive for all state schools to become academies. Now,
of almost 3,390 secondary schools just over 2,000 are academies.
Primary schools have not been so quick to become academies, with
only around 2,400 converting out of almost 17,000. The direction of
travel has been chalked on the blackboard for some time and the
pre-budget announcement of all state schools to
