Conclusions

To conclude, I return to the original question of why so many governing boards have opted to join MATs, particularly given the opposition to academisation. In all, I outline a powerful set of influences on governing boards making decisions about joining MATs. In one example, I explain how the responsibility felt by governors in school where the previous headteacher was sacked, played heavily on governors, particularly owing to the high levels of accountability that comes in a neoliberal-inspired education system. This leads them to ignore the criticism of MATs taking power away from schools and interpret this as an improvement on the maintained model, especially as the support from LAs has been much reduced through budget cuts. However, I also conclude that there are examples where neoliberalism works against itself to deny the reaching of what Foucault called the “convenient end”. I also speculate whether the influences felt by governing boards are likely to continue to encourage other schools to join MATs in the future and whether the government’s oft-repeated aim of full academisation is/was ever likely.