Theorising systemic change: learning from the academisation project in England

Abstract

The research reported in this article contributes new understandings of systemic change by studying the form of system redesign known in England as academisation. The data illuminate tensions within the neoliberal policy complex that are surfaced in a single secondary school. Although several studies have described academy conversions retrospectively, there has been little research that both analyses the complex month-by-month realities of decision-making and investigates the changing views of policy actors. Drawing on data from documents, observations and interviews, we argue for academisation to be understood, not as a policy or a complex of policies, but as system redesign. Academisation is not simply a legal process: a school can be academised without officially becoming an academy. The new knowledge from this research speaks to a global audience, because the political, economic and cultural processes on which it reports are under scrutiny in other systems with experiments in school autonomy as a form of publicly funded but ‘independent’ schooling.

Keywords:

• Academies
• change
• local authorities
• policy enactment
• private finance initiative
• sponsors

Acknowledgements

The authors wish to thank the journal editor and anonymous reviewers for their comments on earlier versions of this article.

Notes

1. Academy: see www.gov.uk/types-of-school/academies.

2. Local (Education) Authority: the 150 local authorities in England have a legal duty to ensure that all children have a school place and fulfil their educational potential. See www.local.gov.uk/schools-and-education.

3. Local Management of Schools (LMS) was one of the major provisions of the 1988 Education Reform Act, requiring local authorities to give schools control over almost all of their budget, as part of the promotion of the education market-place. See www.educationengland.org.uk/history/chapter08.html.

4. National Curriculum: a set of subjects and standards used by primary and secondary schools in England. Academies are not required to comply with the National Curriculum, but must teach a broad and balanced curriculum that includes English, mathematics, science and religious education. See www.gov.uk/government/collections/national-curriculum.

5. Special Educational Needs (SEN): The Children and Families Act 2014defines a child as having SEN if he or she has a learning difficulty or disability which calls for special education provision. See childlawadvice.org.uk/information-pages/special-educational-needs/.

6. Comprehensive schools: based on the principle that children of all backgrounds and abilities should be educated in a single school. See: www.timeshighereducation.com/news/comprehensive-schools-the-history/92186.article.

7. Church of England Schools, Voluntary-Controlled and Voluntary-Aided: for explanation of the legal difference see: www.brownejacobson.com/education/training-and-resources/guides/2011/01/converting-from-va-or-vc-to-academy-status.

8. Private finance initiative (PFI) is a procurement method through which the private sector finances, builds and operates infrastructure and provides long-term facilities management. See: www.pppforum.com/current-questions-about-pfi.

9. The Office for Standards in Education, Children’s Services and Skills (Ofsted) is a non-ministerial department of the UK Government that inspects and regulates services for children and young people. See: www.gov.uk/government/organisations/ofsted.

10. The eight Regional Schools Commissioners in England act on behalf of the Secretary of State for Education, deciding on applications from LA schools to convert to academy status.

11. The Director of Education is a senior LA officer appointed as part of statutory functions under the Children Act 2004.

12. The Statutory Notice for conversion from VC to VA status requires only ‘informal’ consultation. See: www.rdbe.org.uk/schools/information-for-schools-3/information-for-schools-2/voluntary-aided-voluntary-controlled-schools/how-to-change-category.